Met with the smiles and gratitude from local residents, and a chance meeting with the Queensland Premier, personnel from Brisbane's 11th Brigade are assisting state agencies in clearing access to essential infrastructure following recent storms across the Gold Coast region.
About 80 ADF personnel with high-clearance vehicles are working with the Queensland Police Service and Energex during recovery efforts in the Gold Coast, Logan and Scenic Rim areas after storms caused widespread damage on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Sappers Cameron Gough and Claire Lowe were on the ground with chainsaws clearing roads when they crossed paths with Queensland Premier Steven Miles and Federal Minister for Emergency Management Senator Murray Watt, who thanked them for their hard work.
"It has been a very busy day responding to requests. The chainsaw has not stopped as we have moved from location to location to clear debris from roads and power infrastructure," Sapper Lowe said.
"We were busy at work and were surprised to meet the Premier and the Senator but had a good chat with them and they even offered to help."
Commander of Joint Task Group 629.3, Brigadier Richard Peace, said he couldn't be more pleased with the way personnel were helping a community in need.
"Often our soldiers are stepping into their own community or places they have previously resided to provide assistance," he said.
Following a request from the Queensland Police Service on January 2, about 50 ADF personnel, along with high-clearance vehicles, were deployed to assist with recovery efforts in the Gold Coast, Logan and Scenic Rim areas.
On January 3, ADF reconnaissance and coordination teams worked with emergency authorities to prioritise tasks for ADF personnel.
The region is strewn with damaged buildings, infrastructure and fallen trees.
Army personnel are enabling workers to restore key services, including electricity networks, communications, water supply and sewage treatment plants.
