The Australian and Queensland Governments are assisting in the clean-up of debris from farms and tourism businesses affected by the impact of Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi.

The project is a partnership between all levels of government and industry organisations, with the Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI), as lead agency.

We are working with Industry Recovery Officers (IROs) ), local governments and natural resource management groups to prioritise the clean-up, which will be undertaken by Operation Cleanup work teams.

Why is DEEDI implementing the program?

DEEDI has extensive experience in managing employment interventions and implementing local solutions through a vast network of DEEDI regional staff.

Operation CleanUp Queensland has been developed based on a similar successful intervention managed by the Queensland Government following Severe Tropical Cyclone Larry that was operated by a former agency now part of DEEDI. .

Q. In which council areas will Operation Clean Up Queensland be available?

A. Eligible council areas are those severely impacted by Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi for which NDRRA Category D measures have been introduced.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi NDRRA Category D activations include the local Government areas of Cassowary Coast, Hinchinbrook, Palm Island and part Tablelands*.

*The portion of Tablelands Regional Council east of the Sundown-Springfield Road and Gingerella-Fossilbrook Rds from the southern boundary of the Tablelands Regional Council to Almaden. South of the Burke Developmental and Mareeba Dimbulah Rds from Almaden to Mareeba and south of the Kennedy Hwy running east to the Tablelands Regional Council boundary. Primary producers and small business owners who reside in the Mareeba Dimbulah Irrigation Area (MDIA) may also be eligible.

Am I eligible for assistance?

Only bona fide primary production businesses or tourism businesses that are located in areas declared under Category D of the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) Activation Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi and have been affected by STC Yasi are eligible for assistance under Operation Clean Up Queensland.

You may also be eligible for assistance if your employment situation has been affected as a result of natural disaster by finding employment under this program.

How long will the program operate?

Operation Clean Up Queenslandwill run until December 2011. This will allow time for the removal of debris from canefields during harvest, and allow sufficient time for lower priority activities to be addressed.

How do I apply for assistance?

To lodge a request for assistance, phone DEEDI on 13 25 23, between 8am and 6pm weekdays.

What happens after I apply?

When we receive your call we will record the details you provide and forward your request for assistance to the Project Coordinator and relevant Industry Recovery Officer (IRO) on your behalf. If your property is eligible for assistance, a job will be logged with the Operation Clean Up Queensland work team and the work will be completed based on priority. Priority will be given to requests for assistance that are an emergency (e.g. where human safety and animal welfare is a concern).

Please do not delay your own clean-up and recovery efforts in anticipation of Operation Clean Up Queensland assistance, as there is no guarantee that every request for assistance will be met.

How will priorities be set?

Urgency of assistance required will influence work team deployment:

• Emergency (wandering stock causing animal welfare and human safety concerns, unsafe OH&S issues for resort facilities)

• Moderate urgency where timeliness is an issue (e.g. salvage of orchard trees or timber, crop harvest)

• Low urgency (assistance is needed, but can wait)

I have already cleaned up the debris on my property, or I am outside the NDRRA Category D declared area. Am I entitled to compensation?

Producers and small businesses such as tourist operators in Category C areas can utilise the Category C Recovery Grants and in both Category B & C areas standard NDRRA concessional loans from QRAA for financial assistance with debris clearing. There is no additional compensation available for private clearing of debris.

What role will Industry Recovery Officers undertake ?

Industry Recovery Officers (IROs) are the first point of contact for assistance and direction to relevant agencies IROs will assist landholders determine their recovery needs, refer individuals and businesses who need additional support via financial counsellors, mental health professionals and farming system technical advice

IROs will provide feedback to Government and industry on the success of existing recovery programs as well as advice with regards to any new programs / issues or initiatives that may be required. A key role will also be to assist with the identification and development of measures that will help to minimise effects of a similar event in the future.

How will Industry Recovery Officers be deployed and for how long ?

IROs will be deployed on an as needs basis until 31 December 2011, with arrangements determined in consultation with Industry/Peak Bodies, and other relevant agencies. The deployment will also be in conjunction with the development and implementation of Industry Recovery Plans. This period of deployment will allow for the timely cleanup and recovery efforts that some industries will have due to timing of plantings, harvest, and production cycles.

How will the use of Industry Recovery Officers enhance the recovery effort and future resilience of industry ?

It is important that all stakeholders have an adequate communication pathway to enhance the efficiency of any program delivery. It is vital that DEEDI coordinates the program to ensure consistency delivery and appropriate prioritisation of clean up activities in the recovery process.

The best possible delivery model to fit each industry will be utilised. In most cases the best delivery method may be via an industry group employing the IRO directly and providing specific expertise.

IROs will also assist in the Industry Recovery Planning process and provided valuable feedback for the development of future assistance programs.

What is a work-placement?

Work Placements are a component of the Queensland Governments Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative and are a valuable employment assistance measure that provides paid employment and training to individuals.

A similar strategy after the devastation of Cyclone Larry provided recently displaced and unemployed people with gainful employment undertaking clean up/recovery activity work on local farms. While this provided employment opportunities for local displaced workers, it also assisted with the immediate recovery process.

How many work placement participants will be deployed?

Operation CleanUp Queensland has provision to provide an opportunity for up to 500 local displaced residents to assist with the recovery efforts across the affected areas.

Will teams be under adequate supervision?

A standard work team will consist of a small number of labourers and a supervisor. Small enough for the owner of the enterprise to oversee and large enough to ensure timely progress is made by each work team. Ideally two members of each work crew will be chainsaw accredited.

How will work teams by supported by contractors?

Contractors will be engaged to work in parallel with Operation Cleanup Queensland work teams when ever heavy machinery requiring skilled operation is required, or for occupational health and safety reasons. Examples would be for some clearing in waterways or the removal of extra large tree trunks.

Professional accreditation trainers will be engaged to ensure appropriate skills are available to the work teams.

Will specialist skill sets be employed for categories of clean up work?

Contractors will be utilised for some aspects of the work that require the use of heavy machinery or other certification for use. Members of work teams will receive training on the use of equipment such as chainsaws, as well as first aid.

I have been laid off because of a disaster event; can I get a job on an Operation Cleanup Queensland work team?

The Operation Cleanup Queensland project will, wherever possible, employ local farm and tourism labour that has been recently displaced as well as local unemployed. It will provide gainful employment undertaking clean up/recovery activity work on local farms. This will provide employment opportunities for local displaced workers,helping them to stay in the local community, but also assists with the immediate recovery process for the industry.

Workers employed under the Operation Cleanup Queensland program will be provided training on the safe use of equipment by accredited professional trainers and receive the appropriate accreditation (eg. for chainsaw use).

How long can I be employed by Operation CleanUp Queensland and how will employees be paid?

Individual employment with a Clean Up Queensland work team could be up to 26 weeks. However, it is likely that individual periods of employment will be less to allow local workers to return to local employment opportunities.

To maximise the number of people that are able to benefit from paid employment, Operation Clean Up Queensland employees will be paid a training wage from $270 a week to over $500 a week depending on age and skill levels.

What are the benefits of joining an Operation CleanUp Queensland work team?

Operation CleanUp Queensland allows affected residents to take an active role in re-building their communities, and the opportunity to remain in their communities. Employees will be managed by appropriately qualified Supervisors and will receive training and personalised employment assistance to help them turn their experiences into sustainable work.

Who do I contact to be employed by the Operation Cleanup Queensland program?

Operation CleanUp Queensland will collaborate very closely with all other assistance measures being implemented across the affected areas.

To join a Operation Clean UP Queensland CleanUp work team workers must be Queensland residents from within the affected areas.

DEEDI will manage a streamlined process to assist local people into these employment opportunities. These processes will include making use of Industry Recovery Officers, other local Employment Co-ordinators and departmental regional resources.

How does this interact with existing debris clearing programs?

Operation Clean Up Queensland is focused in assisting with the clean up of debris from local farms and some affected tourism areas in the area most severely impacted by STC Yasi.

The recovery work being undertaken by Operation Clean Up Queensland will complement the great deal of effort already being undertaken by local councils, the Army, and State Government Agencies.

The Queensland Green Army has also been mobilised to assist with recovery efforts across the State. Operation Clean Up Queensland will ensure a collaborative approach to recovery efforts with the Queensland Green Army remaining focused on restoration of community infrastructure.

To lodge your request for assistance under Operation Cleanup Queensland, phone DEEDI on 13 25 23.

For more information about Operation Clean Up Queensland, phone DEEDI on 13 25 23, between 8am and 6pm weekdays.