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Creation Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2011 GMT

Skilled construction works urgently needed for flood recovery

Authorities say the clean-up and recovery in the Lockyer Valley, west of Brisbane, is being hampered by a lack of civil construction expertise.

Local Federal Member Scott Buchholz says one of the biggest needs in the Lockyer Valley right now is for men and women who can drive heavy earth-moving machinery such as excavators.

Businessman Gerry Keogh has donated several machines to clean up the community of Murphy's Creek, but he says he needs skilled operators urgently who know how to handle excavators in dangerous conditions.

"For what we are doing, which is the major civil and construction side of it, we really need skilled people, like skilled pipe layers and skilled operators, because if we get any more floods we have floating missiles in the creek - we really need them removed," he said.

Mr Buchholz says another company has donated up to $200,000 worth of pipelines for drainage but there are not enough pipe layers to do the work.

'In-kind donations'

A website has been set up for businesses wanting to make in-kind donations to those affected by the Queensland floods.

Firms with tradespeople or equipment can offer help via the State Government's flood website at www.qld.gov.au/flood.

Reconstruction Authority chairman Major General Mick Slater says cash donations remain the best way to help, with $135 million raised so far.

Francis Tapim, 'ABC News', 23 January 2010