The mayor of Lockyer Valley Steve Jones, has called for a
reduction of bureaucracy within the Queensland Reconstruction Authority.
THE mayor of the area worst hit by the 2011 summer of disaster says he wants a "clean out" of the organisation set up to oversee the state's recovery effort, saying it has become a "savage bureaucratic beast".
Lockyer Valley Mayor Steve Jones said his council was $11 million out of pocket and struggling to deal with the bureaucracy of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, which had been created by the former government.
"The bureaucracy has now become a quite savage beast chasing its own tail," Cr Jones said. "The previous Labor government used the QRA as some sort of a powerful device that was political.
"The (QRA) needs to get back to simplicity and use the dollars the way they need to be used."
However many other councils are largely satisfied with the pace of implementation of the Flood inquiry's 177 recommendations, 123 of which relate directly to councils.
Mayors including Maranoa's Robert Loughnan, whose shire includes Roma, said the QRA had been extremely helpful in both the recovery effort and planning for future floods.
"We have found them good in following up on things we need and giving advice on mitigation strategies," he said.
But local governments across the state were concerned the most important issue the Flood Inquiry examined - more integrated planning - was still being addressed.
Cr Loughnan said there were serious gaps in flood preparation that still needed to be addressed.
"We have areas such as between Mitchell and St George which are completely without mobile phone coverage," he said.
"When the floods come the first thing that goes are the landlines, so it's a real concern."
Cr Jones said his council was frustrated with the bureaucratic requirements of the QRA.
"You go round and round the merry-go-round. There's trips to Brisbane, reports," he said.
"Sometimes these things become so complicated, with so much work involved, it's simply not worth claiming because it is costing you more to claim than what you'll get out of it."
The QRA is answerable to the Australian Government Reconstruction Inspectorate, which audits all its expenditure.
Premier Campbell Newman said the QRA would eventually be wound up ash the legislation establishing it would expire on February 22, 2013.
But he said it had an important job to do.
"I am sure every Queenslander would expect that the QRA rigorously assessed all submissions for reconstruction funding to ensure the money was going to where it was most needed," Mr Newman said.
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12.7.12
