Queensland floods - industry pushes on

QUEENSLAND'S floods have had a devastating impact on the lives and property of countless people across the state. While it's too early to predict the long-term effect of Australia's biggest natural disaster on the marine industry, a few stories, good and bad, are starting to filter through from a handful of Queensland-based companies.

Marine Queensland CEO Don Jones said the flood events across Queensland have caused significant damage to infrastructure, property and a number of businesses.

Marine Queensland has reported at least five of its members with flood damage. The industry body said two members in Ipswich, two in  Brisbane and one in Bundaberg experienced significant flood damage.

"A number of marinas in the Fraser Coast region and Bundaberg have suffered extensive damage. Dealerships to the west of Brisbane have also suffered extensive damage to property and of course the businesses," said Jones.

"Boat owners have also experienced loss and damage of vessels, pontoons and equipment," he said.

Marine Queensland has commenced a range of measures to assist the industry and their customers.  These initiatives include:
1. Assisting businesses access flood assistance from the various  government agencies;
2. Coordinating assistance from other industry participants such as the provision of stock, fittings and fixtures, expertise to help  re-establish after the flood event;
3. Seeking to place affected employees in other marine businesses on a short term basis while operators seek to re-establish  their businesses;
4. Commencing an industry specific flood appeal fund for members.

Iconic Brisbane company The HaineGroup escaped the flood, but was kept busy in other ways. Haines Group director Greg Haines told Marine Business the company's factory, along with most of its dealers, escaped the rising waters. Ironically, the original Haines Group factory in Brisbane, was affected by the 1974 floods and the new location was purchased soon afterwards by John Haines Snr.

“We were fine, although we did prepare for it. If it had gone as high as predicted, we could have been flooded. If we were still at the old  factory, we would have been affected,” said Haines.

Staff and management at the Haines Group were kept busy servicing rescue boats during the flood and volunteering for the clean up.

“We were getting bits and pieces out to the rescue guys over the  period. Pretty much every boat on the Brisbane River, VMR Coast Guard, water police, etc, were all Suzuki powered. We were doing deliveries of impellers and other parts at midnight during the flood,” Greg Haines  said.

Haines Suzuki is offering a free inspection and report on flood victims' damaged boats.

“We'll do free inspection and reports. If it's only minor damage, just to get the boat running, we can probably do it, but anything major we will have to push on to one of our mobile guys or one of our  dealerships. It's pretty much just an inspection report to say whether the boat is seaworthy, whether we can fix it, or if it's just a write  off,” said Haines.

The Haines Group also announced a dealer incentive to raise money for  the flood appeal and will be giving away one of its Walker Bay rescue  boats to the individual dealer with the highest donation.

Suzuki Motor Corporation in Japan is donating some engines to SES and other volunteer organisations as a show of support.

Marine Business also spoke to Yamaha Marine's national marketing co-ordinator, Grant Binskin, who reported that most of the company's dealers luckily escaped significant flood damage. Yamaha's  headquarters, located just below the Gateway Bridge on the Brisbane  River, also remained high and dry.

“We were safe and Cruise Craft just down the road from here were okay too. We've seen hundreds of pontoons, boats without drivers, and boats on dry docks floating past us down the river,” said Binskin.

Mark Crockford, national marketing manager for Nautilus Marine, said the company had received about $750,000 in claims so far (late January).

Crockford said more claims would be likely when people sorted insurance claims for houses and cars. Nautilus has a team of people in Queensland helping out with the salvage of vessels, regardless of insurer, to minimise further damage to boats and return them to their  owners.

“Our focus here is to give priority to all the flood victims and  claims,” he said.

“We have dedicated resources to give immediate resources to any  claims relating to the floods and give priority as much as we can so we  can expedite the claim.

“If we can relieve the burden of people who have lost homes and property by settling their boat claims as soon as possible, it certainly  lightens their load.”