Australia's Port of Brisbane reopens after floods
Shipping operations at the Australian port of Brisbane will resume on Sunday after debris, including freezers and yachts sent hurtling downriver in last week's floods, closed the port, government officials said.
Queensland state Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said the first ship, a crude oil tanker, would berth on Sunday with a second tanker due on Monday. But she said it would be weeks before the port was fully operational again.
"The Port of Brisbane is a critical part of Queensland's trade and freight network," Nolan said in a statement.
"This is an important step in getting goods moving in and out of Brisbane and helping guarantee the thousands of jobs our transport network supports. This will take a long time and I urge people to be patient."
Patrick Quirk, general manager of Maritime Safety Queensland, said freezers, yachts, uprooted trees and truck tyres were among the debris found in the area of the port.
"Some of the debris has already been removed so safe shipping movements can begin again," he said. "But there will be more work needed over coming months."
A massive clean-up operation is under way in Brisbane, where waters have largely receded from last week's floods. State Premier Anna Bligh said on Sunday that the death toll had risen to 17, with several people still missing.
The floods have affected all Australia's eastern states.
Dozens of towns in southeastern Victoria state were inundated on Sunday and hundreds of homes flooded, with water levels still rising.
In Queensland, the southeastern town of Condamine was also bracing for another crest, with water levels of 14.65 metres recorded in the Condamine River early on Sunday, Australia's Bureau of Meteorology said.
Queensland state Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said the first ship, a crude oil tanker, would berth on Sunday with a second tanker due on Monday. But she said it would be weeks before the port was fully operational again.
"The Port of Brisbane is a critical part of Queensland's trade and freight network," Nolan said in a statement.
"This is an important step in getting goods moving in and out of Brisbane and helping guarantee the thousands of jobs our transport network supports. This will take a long time and I urge people to be patient."
Patrick Quirk, general manager of Maritime Safety Queensland, said freezers, yachts, uprooted trees and truck tyres were among the debris found in the area of the port.
"Some of the debris has already been removed so safe shipping movements can begin again," he said. "But there will be more work needed over coming months."
A massive clean-up operation is under way in Brisbane, where waters have largely receded from last week's floods. State Premier Anna Bligh said on Sunday that the death toll had risen to 17, with several people still missing.
The floods have affected all Australia's eastern states.
Dozens of towns in southeastern Victoria state were inundated on Sunday and hundreds of homes flooded, with water levels still rising.
In Queensland, the southeastern town of Condamine was also bracing for another crest, with water levels of 14.65 metres recorded in the Condamine River early on Sunday, Australia's Bureau of Meteorology said.