The Townsville City Council, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and the Australian Defence Force will commence a three stage clean up from Thursday 7 February to Tuesday 12 February in the worst impacted suburbs including Railway Estate, Hermit Park, Oonoonba, Idalia, Rosslea, Annandale, Mundingburra and West End.
Stage 1 sees the Townville City Council and Australian Defence Force starting road cleaning and debris pick up on Thursday 7 February and Friday 8 February.
Stage 2 sees Queensland Fire and Emergency Service and Team Rubicon move in from Friday 8 February to Sunday 10 February to clean houses and yards and move hard rubbish to the curb for collection.
Stage 3 will see the Townsville City Council and Australian Defence Force begin the collection of hard waste from Monday 11 February.
Townsville Water and Waste Committee Chair Russ Cook said the community understandably wants to begin cleaning up, but it must be done safely, urging residents not to place spoiled or damaged items on the footpath until Council advises it is safe to do so.
"The city remains in a disaster response and is still at risk of flood events in the next few days."
"We are still seeing water moving in flood-affected suburbs due to storm rain or tidal activity – so we don't want old furniture, mattresses and garden waste being placed on the kerbside interfering with the important recovery work of Ergon and SES.
"I encourage residents to take advantage of the free access to waste facilities at Stuart, Hervey Range and Magnetic Island, which are open for residents to dispose of flood waste items."
Ergon Energy has specifically requested residents do not place waste items near electrical pillar boxes and power poles.
Food waste dumps are open at Bunnings Domain Central and North Shore for residents to dispose of food waste. An additional food waste disposal site will be open in the carpark at the Murray Sporting Complex soccer field carparks on Murray Lyons Crescent, Annandale from 9am tomorrow.
Council's normal rubbish collections have resumed for households on streets not impacted by flooding.
