DEFENCE FORCE AT WORK IN QUEENSLAND FLOODS:
Northwest Queensland:
* Joint Task Force 646, based on the Australian Army's 16th Aviation Brigade, has been set up to help farmers in the shires of Richmond, McKinlay, Cloncurry and Carpentaria to sustain livestock cut off by flooding.
* 150 Australian Defence Force members supporting the operation, with about 70 working in the Queensland towns of Richmond, Julia Creek and Cloncurry.
* Delivered 32,000 litres of fuel to affected communities using transport aircraft.
* Three Taipan helicopters have also been delivering livestock feed and have so far delivered more than 41 tonnes to McKinlay and Cloncurry shires.
* Defence planners and advisers working with local, state and federal government at Julia Creek. The ADF team includes three engineering officers, an aviation officer, a vet, a logistics officer and an environmental health specialist.
* RAAF delivering 500 sets of personal protective equipment on Friday for five shires: Cloncurry, McKinlay, Richmond, Winton and Flinders.
* RAAF Spartan aircraft to deliver fuel drums into Normanton on Friday to assist flood-affected farmers in the Carpentaria Shire.
* Civilian contractors to transport these fuel drums closer to properties.
North Queensland:
* 2800 Defence members involved in the response to the flooding event in Townsville and the immediate region.
* At the height of the response, 1200 personnel assisting civil agencies.
* Currently 200 personnel continue to assist the Townsville City Council with clean up efforts.
* Equipment involved ranges from giant Globemaster transport aircraft to basic tools.
* 3rd Brigade and Townsville based units will gradually begin to resume scheduled activities.
* Work ongoing to help Defence personnel and their families affected by the flooding.
Australian Associated Press
