FS35

print post approved pp 424022/00429

ISSUE: THIRTY-FIVE APRIL/2011

#

01-11

Magazine of Brisbane Markets Limited

u nfolded

How the floods

p8

Expert volu nteers volunteers answered the call p29

Managing

a massive Markets recovery

p17

source

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3

There is no escaping the devastation that

personal tax cuts and the issues of reducing

Another cost that will also be replicated

occurred in mid January and its effects on

carbon emissions. There has been little

across all shopping centres.

the Brisbane Markets. Yet it is a tribute to the

information that provides detail of what is being proposed and its ramifications for the

North Queenslanders are likely to use air

many tenants, staff, local, state and federal

services who helped get the site back up and

business community.

running in a limited capacity just

This is of concern because according to

60 hours after the floodwaters receded.

right across regional Australia, the cost of

the Federal Government’s implementation

The flood feature on Pages 14 to 29 shows

all goods will increase so as to reflect the

timeframe, we are now just a little more

the amazing recovery effort that occurred.

additional transport costs involved in having

than a year away from the introduction

the carbon tax on fuel, warehousing and

Rocklea, along with almost 70 suburbs in

of the promised tax. The information

refrigeration.

the Brisbane area, was subjected to flood

made available to date suggests that the

inundation. This event affected the entirety

economists and other advisors framing the

of the Brisbane Markets from Tuesday,

proposed tax for the Federal Government,

11 January to Friday, 14 January, rendering

may not fully understand the complex cost

the site inaccessible.

implications of simply imposing a tax on

All businesses and premises were affected to

the “major polluters”, as they call them, and

varying degrees by the flood event and the

letting the costs trickle through both the

recovery process is both enormous, costly

economy and community with cost increases

and time consuming.

While there is some speculation as to the reasons that the flooding was so severe, it does nothing to help those who were so badly affected. Many home and businesses are still suffering and we can only hope that

and implications of varying and unknown magnitude and significance.

While the growing sector of the fresh produce industry may yet be excluded from parts of the tax, the fact is that most growers have a heavy reliance on transport

conditioners more than their southern counterparts, all at an extra cost, while

It is now difficult to see how any proposed reduction in personal tax rates will equitably compensate those who pay more for cooling or for transport because of where they live in Australia, or who buy Australian made and produced goods ahead of imported substitutes – all because of a tax on production in Australia, which does not exist in other countries.

The Government’s approach to the introduction of any new tax needs to be within a context that it does not distort the competitive ability of Australian businesses.

and refrigeration – both major energy users

The Government does have a responsibility

both with potential cost implications past

to look at ways to reduce carbon emissions.

the farm gate. Central Markets and major

But it also has a responsibility to ensure

retail warehouses all have significant carbon

there is informed debate, full and proper

footprints. The cost of the carbon tax to the

consideration of the impact of the proposed

While the natural disasters that have

fresh produce industry between the farm

tax, and an honest and open dialogue with

occurred across the eastern states and other

gate and retail outlets will be in the order of

the business community regarding the impact

areas of the world have occupied the news,

many millions of dollars.

on and costs, especially small to medium

the proposed carbon tax is likely to cause

This will be replicated across all other supply

sized businesses.

much angst for businesses across Australia

chains in the food industry.

over the coming months.

Our political leaders need to do must more to

Major shopping Frontcentres cover:all rely on electricity

ensure this issue is addressed responsibly.

the lessons learned will go some way to reduce the risk of this happening again and the impact that such an event has.

Carbon Tax

A carbon tax is back on the agenda.

Most of the debate appears to have been focused on the higher level political arguments of the impact of a new tax, the magnitude of any compensatory

for lighting and air-conditioning. A medium to large sized shopping centre is likely to

Australian Defence Force Private see a total carbon tax liability of between Adam Skinner helps clean up the $500,000 to $1 million annually, all of which Brisbane Markets after the January will flood. be passed to tenants courtesy and consumers.

2011 Photograph of CPL Janine Fabre.

Front cover: Australian Defence Force Private Adam Skinner helps clean up the Brisbane Markets after the January 2011 flood.

Photograph courtesy of CPL Janine Fabre.

BRISBANE MARKETS LIMITED ABN 39 064 983 017 PO Box 80, Brisbane Markets, Rocklea, Queensland 4106 e: admin@brisbanemarkets.com.au w: www.brisbanemarkets.com.au ADVERTISING AND EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES Marketing and Communications Manager Brisbane Markets Limited p: 07 3915 4200 or 1800 631 002 e: admin@brisbanemarkets.com.au

Fresh Source is the magazine of Brisbane Markets Limited. New editions of the magazine are printed bi-monthly.

Advertising and editorial inquiries are welcome and media outlets are invited to use material with or without acknowledgement.

DESIGN Effigy p: 07 3040 4343 | PRINT Buckner Printing p: 07 3865 9677 | PAPER Dalton Paper p: 07 3326 6800

Fresh Source is printed on Australian made recycled stock.

Contents FRESH UPDATES

p4

FEATURE: QUEENSLAND IN CRISIS How the floods washed away January. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p6 Dodging a bullet through Cyclone Yasi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p7 How it unfolded. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p8 Premier inspired by Markets recovery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p9 Fresh produce weathers floods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p9 Buy Australian - blemished or not. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p10 Fruit and vegetable always great value. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p10 Queensland’s January floods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p11 Financial help for flood and cyclone recovery. . . . . . . . . . . . p12 Online first-aid kit website. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p12 Text messages kept truckies updated. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p13 Big wet brings out the bugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p13

Updates Wild weather could auger well for horticulture The chaotic thumping from rain, floods and cyclones since the start of 2011 could see ongoing ramifications for the fresh produce industry in the months to come.

The adverse weather conditions have impacted the majority of Australia’s growing regions, functionality,

FEATURE: FLOOD RECOVERY

supply volumes and prices.

Brisbane Markets pays tribute to volunteers. . . . . . . . . . . . . p14 Markets development continues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p14 Not quite business as usual. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p15 Weather couldn’t dampen romance of Valentine’s Day ����� p15 Commission of Inquiry established into flood disaster ����� p16 Managing a massive Markets recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p17 Sacrifice for safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p18 Wivenhoe Dam facts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p18 Dam releases behind a man-made catastrophe. . . . . . . . . . p19 Preventing future heavy losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p19 Brisbane Markets flood facts and gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p20 Volunteers turn out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p22 Foodbank’s show of support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p22 Looking back at the 1974 floods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p24 Saving history as history was made. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p25 Commitment to rebuilding Lockyer Valley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p26 Disaster demands change to government priorities. . . . . . p27 A smashing time at chinchilla melon festival. . . . . . . . . . . . . p28 Expert volunteers answered the call. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p29 Brismark credit service data saved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p29

Federal Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig said Australia’s

FEATURE: CYCLONE YASI

is still the threat of the La Nina producing more

A cyclonic start to the year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p30 Bowen misses floods but cops cyclones. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p31 The aftermath is more than physical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p33 Returning to the farm a relief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p33

flooding and cyclonic weather conditions.

future economic outlook for agriculture remains “positive and buoyant”, despite the weather setbacks.

The forecast value of farm exports in 2010/11 represents an upward revision of around $1 billion from the forecast released by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) in December.

Mr Ludwig said the Federal Government would establish a National Food Plan, to identify the opportunities and risks facing the long term sustainability of food production in Australia, with excessive government red tape one of its primary targets.

La Nina could bring us more As this edition of Fresh Source goes to print, there

The 2010/11 summer brought double the average rainfall to some areas within Queensland, a lot of it in heavy downpours which led to major destruction.

FRESH RETAILING

Continued rains have proven a setback for

Fresh aproach for Fresh Tastes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p34 Fresh Tastes Retailer of the Month winners. . . . . . . . . . . . . . p34

reconstruction work, which is still in progress across

FRESH INDUSTRY

Long range weather forecasters are predicting the

Threat of mines still on the agenda. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p36 Skeptism over agriculture exclusion to carbon scheme ����� p36 Busy conference year ahead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p37

heavy rains to continue until June this year.

FRESH AND HEALTHY

sending a tremor through Cairns and the growing

Weather won’t affect fruit & vegetable eating message ����� p38

regions to the north and south, but no damage

much of the state due to flood and wind damage.

To add to the unsettled conditions, in mid March a small offshore earthquake rattled North Queensland,

was reported.

5

Monster cabbages for Brisbane Markets Brisbane Markets wholesalers have been scratching their heads over the size of the monster cabbages that arrived for sale from South Australian grower Leigh Samwell, weighing up to 11kg each.

In 42 years, GNL Produce vegetable salesman Dario Vescovi said he had never seen the size or quality of such a vegetable or such a buzz as buyers hovered around the display bins, snapping them up, more for the novelty.

had to go home early,” Mr Vescovi said.

The irony is that grower Mr Samwell, of Eastbrook Farms, in Mt Barker is best known for his “little cabbages”, being one of the biggest brussel sprouts growers in Australia.

TRAGEDY Mr Samwell said he grows cabbages

as a sideline, usually to supply a local

processor but when he heard Brisbane

Markets was looking for cabbages, in the

“Their cabbage heads are so big the guys

wake of recent floods and wild weather

in the field were mentally and physically

knocking out other suppliers, he sent

exhausted after cutting them all day and

them north to GNL Produce.

GNL PRODUCE VEGETABLE SALESMAN DARIO VESCOVI WITH A MONSTER CABBAGE.

Markets to celebrate the Queensland spirit The Brisbane Produce Market 2011 Gala

entertainers, dance and the announcement

Dinner has been rescheduled – pencil

of the Fresh Tastes Retailer of the Year.

Friday, 13 May into your diary for an event that will celebrate the Queensland spirit.

The dinner was postponed from March in the wake of the floods, with the incredible recovery and community spirit shown at this time, sparking the theme for this year’s event.

For more information, contact

The “From Boots to Suits” will be held at

Amy Kearns on 07 3915 4200,

the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition

akearns@brisbanemarkets.com.au

Centre and include fine dining, music,

or check for details on www.brisbanemarkets.com.au.

Land valuations postponed by floods Queensland’s statutory land

31 March, to 30 June,” said Premier

The Premier said fair and accurate

valuations, due to be issued in

Anna Bligh.

valuations would be an important

March, have been delayed until the effects of recent extreme weather events are fully assessed.

“The State Valuer-General Neil Bray

part of the rebuilding process in

TRAGEDY “The valuations were assessed in the final months of last year and we now want to ensure that the

many regions.

Mr Bray has forecast that the full impact of recent natural disasters

has recommended we postpone the

full impact of Queensland’s recent

on the market value of land

release of the new valuations, which

extreme weather events is taken

throughout Queensland may not

were scheduled to be declared by

into account.”

be evident for some time.

e r u t a fe

Queensland in crisis

How the floods washed away January

January 2011 began with a splash, more

Sitting above Brisbane, the 2.6 million

than a bang.

megalitre Wivenhoe Dam was 190% full

The incessant November/December

and rising. The dam would have broken

rains had continued into the New Year,

its walls if waters were not released.

filling rivers and creeks across Australia’s

Within hours, the people of Ipswich and

east coast. There were reports of floods

Brisbane were racing for cover as the

devastating whole tracks of land, from Emerald in the State’s north-west, down the eastern coast through the Burdekin

and their livelihood.

and Bundaberg, and they hammered the

The Brisbane Markets was among

rich farming lands of the Darling Downs

its victims.

and west to Chinchilla.

What was to come shocked even the hardened bushy who was used to looking at the rain clouds and predicting the weather’s next move.

The falling rains had nowhere left to

In total, since rains began in November 2010 to the mid January 2011 South East Queensland floods, 35 people were dead and nine were missing.

From page 14, the rest of the flood story is

go, and an inland tsunami crashed

a saga of bravery, community spirit

through farmlands around the Darling

and recovery.

Downs, bursting through the streets of Toowoomba, destroying anything in its path, and flowed its way to low lying townships including Grantham, in the

BRISBANE PRODUCE MARKET INUNDATED WITH FLOOD WATERS.

muddy water deluge hit them, their homes

This edition of Fresh Source examines the January 2011 floods and the amazing recovery as Brisbane Markets, growers

Lockyer Valley. It knocked houses from

and townships across Queensland mop

their stumps, killed people, livestock

up and get on with the job of returning

and dreams.

to normality.

A WATERLOGGED FARM IN THE LOCKYER VALLEY, FLANKED BY BOBBING CONTAINERS.

BUNDABERG EXPERIENCED ITS WORST FLOODING IN DECADES.

7

Dodging a bullet through Cyclone Yasi By the end of January, two weeks into

houses, wrecked buildings, brought

affected by the mid January

the flood recovery across Queensland,

down power lines and palm trees.

Brisbane floods, were quickly on the

North Queensland faced its first a Category 2. The eye hit Bowen which

"It is just a scene of mass devastation. (Cyclone) Larry was a boy compared to this."

was already water logged from earlier

- Cassowary Coast Councillor Ross Sorbello in Tully.

cyclone for the year – Cyclone Anthony,

rains. It drew some media coverage and the cyclone-prepared coastal

Many of the region's banana

phones checking on their growers

communities of Bowen, Airlie Beach and

plantations and exotic fruit farms

and reassuring their support help

Sarina weathered the storms,

were wiped out.

get them back on their feet.

then mopped up.

However, the cities of Townsville

By mid March, Cardwell and

What was to come just a few days later

and Cairns were largely spared.

areas of cyclone ravaged North

struck fear into the hearts of even the

Amazingly, no one was killed.

hardiest cyclone weather watcher.

Queensland had dodged a

A Category 5 tropical cyclone, named Yasi,

lethal bullet, even though it left

For more news on North

was bearing down on North Queensland

devastation in its wake.

Queensland’s recovery, turn to

and its wrath was expected to be far worse than Cyclone Larry’s Category 4

Brisbane wholesalers, already

Queensland were hit by water again, this time from flood waters.

page 30 for a Cyclone Yasi feature.

destruction, just five years before.

To put the cyclone in perspective, it was so large it was the size of Italy.

The pre-landfall core was over 500km wide and its associated activity stretched well over 2,000km.

Its eye was the size of a small city.

Mission Beach and Tully, just south of Cairns, and its surrounding horticultural lands took the full force of Cyclone Yasi.

The cyclonic winds ripped roofs off

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HOUSES AROUND INNISFAIL LOST THEIR ROOFS AND WERE SNAPPED IN HALF BY THE FORCE OF CYCLONE YASI.

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always thinki

How it unfolded Jim and Ross would like to thank the staff, friends, relations and other volunteers for their great efforts in the cleanup after the January flood. A special thank you to Energex, and contractors who reinstated power so quickly after the event and to BML for its efforts to get us up trading so quickly.

We are ever so grateful.

Queensland in crisis DATE EVENT 1893 JANUARY 1974

Floods hit Queensland and the whole eastern seaboard. Reputed to be almost as bad as a previous flood in mid 1850’s Brisbane’s most devastating floods occurred after weeks of rain and a cyclone.

SEPTEMBERNOVEMBER 2010

After years of drought, the La Nina weather phenomenon drenches Queensland with its wettest spring on record.

DECEMBER 2010

Torrential rains and flooding damage crops and close coal mines.

25 DECEMBER

Tropical cyclone Tasha crosses North Queensland. Heavy rains in Brisbane, Gold and Sunshine Coasts, Bundaberg and Rockhampton.

28 DECEMBER

Disaster declared in several southern Queensland towns, where flooding prompts mass evacuations.

30 DECEMBER

Bundaberg experiences its worst flooding in decades, with about 300 homes inundated.

2 JANUARY

Floods affect 22 towns as the crisis reaches “biblical” proportions, according to the Queensland state treasurer.

3 JANUARY

Rockhampton residents flee their homes as the city of 75,000 is almost entirely cut off by rising floodwaters.

5 JANUARY

Officials say floods have inundated or cut off 40 Queensland towns while dozens of coal mines are flooded.

10 JANUARY

Eight die including four children and 72 are missing when flash floods smash the mountainside town of Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley.

11 JANUARY

Officials warn the death toll is likely to rise as continuing rain and washed-out roads hamper rescue efforts. Brisbane Markets tenants placed on notice that floodwaters will affect the site. Wivenhoe Dam prepares to release water.

12-13 JANUARY

Brisbane Markets is closed. Floodwaters have entered buildings and the site is inundated. They peak at a depth of 3m on various parts of the site and 1.5m on the Central Trading Floor.

14 JANUARY

Waters have receded. Brisbane Markets becomes accessible.

Centimetres of contaminated mud lies over mountains of debris.

Temporary alternate trading site sought but due to flooding in other parts of the city, decision made to mop up current area and trade.

16-17 JANUARY

Mammoth cleanup operation at Brisbane Markets, aided by Australian Army, Queensland Police, fire and rescue brigade units from Queensland, NSW and Brisbane Airport, and hundreds of volunteers.

17 JANUARY

Brisbane Markets opens for trade in a limited capacity. The cleanup operations continue in other areas of the site.

30 JANUARY

Tropical Cyclone Anthony, a category 2, batters North Queensland around Townsville, Bowen and the Whitsundays.

3 FEBRUARY

Tropical Cyclone Yasi, a category 5, hits North Queensland, devastating the coastal region, south of Cairns, and leaving destruction and flood waters in its path, right into Central Queensland.

MARCH

Heavy rains continue with the threat of cyclonic conditions.

Continued minor flooding through the state.

9

Premier inspired by Markets recovery Premier Anna Bligh shows a huddle of newspaper and radio reporters standing out the front of a Brisbane Markets wholesale section, some photos she has kept on her phone from when she flew in a helicopter over the site just before the peak of the January floods.

QUEENSLAND PREMIER ANNA BLIGH (RIGHT) SPEAKS WITH BRISBANE MARKETS LIMITED CHAIR TONY JOSEPH (LEFT) AND CEO ANDREW YOUNG.

She told the group she had watched Brisbane Markets closely to gauge the magnitude of the flood waters to show her staff just how severe the flood was.

“You could only see the roofs,” Ms Bligh said.

“So this Market is a remarkable story of resilience. I’ve been so impressed and people all over Brisbane have found it an unbelievable recovery story.”

Ms Bligh was one of a throng of politicians and their policy advisors to visit the Markets and congratulate all on the amazing recovery.

FROM LEFT, PERSHOUSE PRODUCE’S ROB MANN CUTS A TASTE OF WATERMELON FOR FEDERAL LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION TONY ABBOTT AND STATE MEMBER FOR BRISBANE TERESA GAMBARO.

Visitors included Federal Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott, Foreign Minister and former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, LNP Senators Barnaby Joyce and Russell Trood, former State LNP Leader John Paul-Langbroek, State Member for Brisbane Teresa Gambaro, State Member for Yeerongpilly Simon Finn and former Brisbane Mayor Campbell Newman.

Fresh produce weathers floods The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) has discussed its assessment to date of the $2.3 billion impact of the recent floods on Australia’s agricultural production and exports.

The analysis was released in early March at Outlook 2011, which is the agricultural sector’s key annual conference; attended by the business leaders, policy makers and producers.

ABARES estimates that around $225 million of fruit and vegetables have been lost in Queensland as a result of the flooding.

BRISBANE LORD MAYOR CAMPBELL NEWMAN GIVES A MEDIA CONFERENCE ON THE BRISBANE MARKETS TRADING FLOOR.

There has also been damage to production of fruit and vegetables in the flood-affected areas in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.

ABARES’ chief commodity analyst Dr Jammie Penm said Outlook 2011 has examined how the recent, extraordinary weather affected production.

“While individual farmers have suffered as a result of the floods, overall the national outlook for agricultural production and exports looks positive,” Dr Penm said.

“Loss of agricultural production and exports due to the recent adverse climatic conditions is estimated to have been $2.3 billion in 2010/11, with significant impacts on production of cereals, sugar, fruit and vegetables, cotton and grain sorghum.”

He said Outlook 2011 also looked at how Cyclone Yasi caused significant damage to banana and sugar production in North Queensland, which accounts for around 90% of Australia’s banana production.

Queensland in crisis Buy Australian - blemished or not A number of political figures toured the Brisbane Markets to examine the extent of recent flood damages and to provide support where possible.

In a joint visit, Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and Liberal National Party Senator Barnaby Joyce set aside political differences to meet with wholesalers and make an impassioned plea for Australians to buy local goods to keep growers, transport drivers and fruit and vegetable packers in work.

Wiley would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the management, staff and traders of the Brisbane Markets on their effort in getting the market up and running in record time.

The adversity of this event has shown the amazing spirit and sense of community within the markets.

The message was clear: Buy Australian and be prepared to buy blemished fresh produce.

like this to fundamentally alter your long term supply lines from Queensland industry.

“Remember that what we produce here in Queensland is the highest quality, best priced fruit and veg you’ll find anywhere in the country,” Mr Rudd said.

“Therefore, I would join any appeal to the major retailers in the country to make sure we don’t simply use this as some sort of excuse to substitute Queensland products for imports when that is not necessary.”

‘’Consumers have a very big role,” Senator Joyce said. “You’ve just got to say, ‘Look, mate, I’m going to live with the blemish because I want to keep the Australian farm’.’’

He said that importing large amounts of fruit and vegetables in response to the flooding could encourage a long-term alternate supply source that would harm local agriculture.

Mr Rudd backed Senator Joyce saying, “You can’t just take an unusual event

FROM LEFT, SENATOR BARNABY JOYCE, FOREIGN MINISTER KEVIN RUDD AND BRISBANE MARKETS CEO ANDREW YOUNG DISCUSS AN IMPASSIONED PLEA TO BUY BLEMISHED PRODUCE.

Fruit and vegetable always great value The team at Crisp Power & Control would like to thank BML & Brisbane Markets tenants for their trust and patience during this tough time.

We appreciate the hardship and losses caused and are fully committed to continue to do whatever is required to get the job done.

We wish all concerned a speedy recovery.

Despite weeks of rain, floods and cyclones, there is still plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables on the greengrocers’ shelves as Australia’s horticulture industry has filled the gaps left by shortages in some growing regions.

Brisbane Markets CEO Andrew Young told the ABC Landline program that consumers had plenty of fresh products to choose from, particularly as product flowed through the supply chains into the Central Market System across Australia.

“Other food options do exist for people when they are being price sensitive,” Mr Young said.

“It may mean eating an apple instead of a banana, but fruit and vegetables are always good value and great eating,” Mr Young said.

“In times like these (flood and cyclone) when prices go up, they should compare the cost with with the price of other products, such as snack foods. Fruit and vegetables are always cheap in terms of what they offer value-for-money wise,” Mr Young said.

11

Queensland’s January floods In January 2011, three quarters of Queensland was declared a flood zone: Disaster declarations were made for the Brisbane, Bundaberg, Dalby, Gladstone, Gold Coast, Gympie, Ipswich, Logan, Maryborough, Rockhampton, Roma, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Warwick and Redcliffe disaster districts.

1

2

3

1

Townsville - Much of the heavy rain which engulfed the state began in Townsville when ex tropical cyclone Tasha crossed the Queensland coast on Christmas Day.

2

North West Queensland - Emerald is totally isolated and a flood disaster declared. Similarly, Jericho and Alpha were isolated and/or evacuated as much of the central Queensland region went under water.

3

Fitzroy and Central West - Much of the world’s media first took notice of the Queensland flooding when the City of Rockhampton was cut off by floodwaters described as being a bigger geographical area than France and Germany combined.

4

Wide Bay Burnett - Bundaberg, Gympie and Maryborough each suffered through some of the worst flooding seen in 70 years.

5

Darling Downs and South West - Flood disaster is declared in Dalby, Chinchilla, St George and Theodore with mass evacuations.

6

Sunshine Coast - Large parts of the Sunshine Coast weren’t spared the impact of the flooding with many roads blocked and intensive rainfall over the regions.

7

Darling Downs and Lockyer Valley - Southern Queenslanders will remember the Christmas and New Year of 2010/11 as the time the region was inundated by some of the most destructive flooding ever experienced.

More than 20 people lost their lives as a result of heavy rain falling in Toowoomba on January 10.

8

Ipswich and surrounds - Flood waters inundated 4000 properties in Ipswich. Toogoolawah and Esk were isolated.

4

5 7

6 8

9

9

Brisbane - The state’s capital looked on for much of Queensland’s initial flood crises. The city soon became a focus as Wivenhoe Dam filled to capacity and heavy rain from the Lockyer Valley hurled towards Brisbane.

Some 33,000 properties were fully or partially flooded.

Queensland in crisis Financial help for flood and cyclone recovery

Murray Bros would like to sincerely thank everyone who helped get us back trading so soon. They include: • All Murray Bros staff • Alkar Refrigeration (Particularly David Reed & Henry Turk) • Electromaster (David Waldren) • Freshchef • Turners Transport • Queensland Forklifts (Ian Parker) • Willtrac (Bob Leck & Dan Williams) • Minitankers (Callum Sheradon) • Darko Equipment (Generator Suppliers) • Yes Optus (Phil Wright) The many volunteers who helped (apologies if we have missed anyone) • Warren Smithson • Mal Jensen • Jim Joyce & Family • Wayne, Rowan, Ellie & Jaaron Edwards • Jeff Barnett • Harry Costi • Tyrone Tongia

Flood and cyclone affected farmers in Queensland have government assistance and services available to them during the recovery process:

To find out more about the grants and

• The Queensland Government has been running workshops in affected communities to provide information on the assistance and services available.

www.qraa.qld.gov.au.

• A statewide Farm Financial Counselling Service is available to Queensland’s flood affected primary producers to help get them and their families back on their feet. The counsellors provide a free, confidential service to help farmers understand their financial position and assess carry-on finance requirements for recovery.

• Special disaster flood assistance grants of up to $25,000 are also available to help Queensland primary producers and small businesses in disaster declared areas. These grants are now available for primary producers and small businesses in 27 local government authorities.

• Primary producers and small businesses may also be eligible for concessional (low interest) loans of up to $250,000. Primary producers can also access freight subsidies of up to $5,000.

loans available, contact Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority QRAA on freecall 1800 623 946 or

The Federal Government is offering concessional loans of up to $650,000, with a grant component of up to $50,000, for eligible businesses, primary producers and not-for-profit organisations in 33 government areas affected by recent floods.

These Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements Category D assistance loans are offered over a 10-year period, with the first two years interest and repayment free.

The Category D payment was extended to parts of Balonne, Banana, Barcaldine, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Central Highlands, Cherbourg, Fraser Coast, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Moreton Bay, North Burnett, Rockhampton, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Western Downs, Woorabinda, Burdekin, Cairns, Palm Island, Townsville, Yarrabah, Blackall-Tambo, Gladstone, Goondiwindi, Isaac, Maranoa and Murweh.

Online First-aid Kit website The Queensland Government has assembled an online ‘first-aid kit’ to aid Queensland small businesses affected by flooding.

The kit contains comprehensive information about State and Federal Government assistance and grants available to help primary producers and other businesses.

Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) officers have been visiting recovery centres, holding workshops and going doorto-door in affected regional centres to inform small businesses about assistance available to them during the recovery process.”

DEEDI’s information for business is available at www.business.qld.gov.au, or call 13 25 23.

13

Text messages kept truckies updated SMS proved to be an invaluable tool for truckies navigating the flooded road system between Cairns

Your Brismark Big wet brings out FreshTest the bugs team Queensland’s big wet has brought out the bugs with Queensland Museum’s biodiversity curator and entomologist Christine Lambkin, warning conditions were perfect of breeding insects and spreading viruses.

Dr Lambkin said mosquitoes, flies and biting midges were bred in ponded water, mud and damp.

and Brisbane, and ensuring North

A Brisbane City Council spokesman said grassland areas adjacent to the

Queensland fruit made it to Brisbane

Brisbane Markets, Oxley Creek, south to the Ipswich Motorway and

Markets and beyond during the

Durack had been treated.

floods.

Dr Lambkin said mosquito-borne diseases would not be nearly as much

The State Government established an

a problem in the southeast as they would be in the north because they

SMS update service to instantly get

faced the much more serious dengue fever.

the latest road closure information to

She said people could reduce mosquito numbers by ensuring all

truck drivers on the road.

containers around homes and buildings were emptied to prevent breeding.

On New Year’s Eve, five refrigerated transporting companies had about 50 semi-trailers loaded with bananas, other tropical fruit and dairy products destined for southern market.

With the highway to be blocked off at Rockhampton, they were desperate to find routes south but once on the road it’s difficult for truckies to easily gain accurate information about which roads are closed and where.

Using SMS, the State government was able to instantly get the latest transport intelligence to them as it came to hand from the State Disaster Coordination Centre.

In addition, Brisbane Markets adopted its own SMS service for Market users after it was inundated with water in mid January, managing to quickly reach its tenants, contractors and staff members with the latest information.

ef a t u r e

Flood recovery

Brisbane Markets pays tribute to volunteers helping its recovery The Brisbane Markets has paid tribute to the hundreds of volunteers and emergency services personnel who helped in its swift recovery after January’s flood disaster, with wholesalers able to receive and distribute produce in a limited capacity just 60 hours after the clean up began.

We would like thank our family, dedicated staff and volunteers who helped during the massive cleanup operation after the floods.

It was hard work and without your help we would not have been trading as quickly as we were.

Thank you also to BML for their coordinated and quick response.

Christensen’s Flower Auction and Flower Lovers.

To our friends at BML and the Brisbane Markets, we offer our well wishes and support for a speedy recovery from the disastrous floods in January. We were astounded at the total community spirit in the cleanup operation and we were overwhelmed by the efforts of all involved in order to get the Market open for trading within the shortest possible time. We hope all businesses are fully operational soon and look forward to seeing the Markets return bigger and better in the future.

The team at Civil Unlimited.

However, the Queensland-wide flood and rain events affecting growers have wholesalers predicting it could be up to two years or more before the industry is fully back on its feet.

On Wednesday, 12 January, the 77ha Rocklea site took the full force of the flood with water, mud and sludge rising to a depth of 1.5 metres in its Central Trading Area, and up to 3 metres in some warehouses, engulfing ground floor offices, storage sheds and cold rooms.

Damage of over $100 million has been estimated, given the fresh produce lost, vehicles and equipment destroyed and infrastructure damage.

By Friday 14 January, Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) staff members, contractors and tenants were joined by the Australian Army, State Emergency Services, NSW and Queensland Fire and Rescue Brigades and hundreds of volunteers to begin the cleanup effort.

By Sunday 16 January, limited receivals had recommenced on the Central Trading Floor using generator power for lighting and by the next morning, Monday 17 January, wholesalers were distributing the fresh produce that had arrived overnight.

Markets development continues Refurbishment of the three-storey Fresh Centre building is on track for a midyear completion after only minor delays caused by the January 2011 flood.

There are obvious changes to the outside of the building as the work progresses.

The project will result in new offices for Brisbane Markets Limited and Brismark

In addition, work also continues on the 4,700m2 northern warehouse, adjacent the IGA Distribution facility, with the installation of the steel frames finalised before the flood event and the construction of the panel walls progressed.

The anticipated completion date of this building is August 2011.

together with up to an additional 2000m2 of lettable space.

BML will relocate to the top level of the building which will also house a history collection room. Level one is dedicated to office space while the ground level will incorporate offices, a retail café, two training rooms, a demonstration kitchen, a Market service centre and a provision for serviced offices.

CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES ON THE 4,700M2 NORTHERN WAREHOUSE.

15

Not quite business as usual Brisbane Markets Chairman Tony Joseph said to the untrained eye, it looked like it was business as usual just a number

Did you know?

Food safety became an important element during the recovery, with the Central Trading Floor sanitised daily and wholesalers requiring Brisbane City Council certification of their premises before trading could take place.

of days after the flood but behind the scenes, it was far from the truth.

He said in the first week, the Brisbane Markets were at 30% capacity. A week later, it was at 50% and over the ensuing days, fresh produce volumes and efficiencies continued to increase as power was reinstated and warehouses were given Brisbane City Council Health Department tick of approval to begin operations.

Wholesalers have taken a financial blow by having to pay growers for lost produce as well as for damaged infrastructure and assets.

“At first I predicted it would be up to five years before we would see our industry return to what it was before this flood but after seeing the resilience of our people, I know it will be much better than that and more like two years,” Mr Joseph said.

“There was quite a bit of general media misreporting of the site taking up to weeks and months before it would be

Weather couldn’t dampen romance of Valentine’s Day Wild weather and floods couldn’t dampen the ardour of South East Queensland romantics with increased flower orders over last year’s Valentine’s Day records leading up to Valentine’s Day, on 14 February.

For some, it was a race for the best flower quality while for the flower wholesalers themselves, it had been a race to get their sections mopped up, electricity back on and their storerooms full in time for the event.

Valentine’s Day was just over a month after Brisbane Markets’ Flower Market was submerged under three metres of flood waters. It was also a fortnight since Queensland growers were hit by cyclonic conditions and days since Victorian growers rescued their flowers from rising flood waters.

Brisbane Markets Marketing and Communications Manager Maree Peterson said it was certainly a time for expressing what the one’s closest to us meant in our lives after such a challenging start to the year.

“It took an extraordinary effort to get the Brisbane Flower Market mopped up after the floods and readied for what is the biggest day on the flower wholesaling calendar,” Mrs Peterson said.

“Every flower bought was a vote of confidence to get the flood affected flower industry back on its feet.”

operational. It was also thought that with the need to distribute to retailers, secondary wholesalers, and other food service businesses, shortages of fresh fruit and vegetables would see a dramatic escalation in prices.

“Obviously product supplies returned quickly, and price rises have, in reality, been quite moderate, given what has occurred with floods in all eastern States.

“Brisbane Produce Market received a steady supply of produce from the southern states, filling the hole left by many of the Queensland growers who were also flood and rain affected.”

A MONTH AFTER THE FLOODING, FLOWER WHOLESALERS SEBASTIAN MIRCOV AND MARION MARTIN, OF BRISBANE MARKET FLOWERS WERE BACK IN BUSINESS SELLING ROSES ON VALENTINE’S DAY.

ef a t u r e

Flood recovery

Commission of Inquiry established into flood disaster The Queensland Government is holding

so devastatingly on the small townships

a year-long, statewide independent

in its path.

Commission of Inquiry to forensically examine Queensland’s unprecedented flood disaster.

With the inquiry team commissioned to visit the towns and cities inundated by the floods, it will be especially important for local people to attend the hearings and give evidence.

preparation and planning by federal, state and local governments, as well as the emergency services.

The role played by the Weather Bureau also is expected to fully scrutinised as affected communities ask whether any more forecasts or warnings could

The Inquiry is headed by Queensland

have been sounded in the run-up to an

Justice Cate Holmes aided by Deputy

“inland tsunami”.

Commissioners Jim O’Sullivan, a former Queensland Police Commissioner and Phil Cummins, an international expert on dams.

It is expected to deliver an interim report in August 2011, and its final report by January 2012.

“This is an inquiry that will have to visit all of the towns affected and give people an opportunity to provide evidence,”, Ms Bligh said.

“It will be important that the commissioners take into account the very traumatic experience that some

The Inquiry has the powers of a Royal

people had and they may want to give

Commission and is taking public

evidence in private, they may need the

submissions from across Queensland

assistance of councillors to provide

so it can make recommendations in its

that evidence.

interim report for future wet seasons.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our dedicated staff and the countless volunteers who helped us during the recovery after the floods.

With your help we were able to return to 100% trading within weeks of the floods.

The spotlight will also fall on the

“We should make it as possible as we

In announcing the Inquiry, Premier

reasonably can for people who want to

Anna Bligh said a budget of around

tell their story and have their experience

$15 million was required.

documented and validated.

Ms Bligh said people in the Lockyer

“I will certainly be expecting the

Valley - where the greatest loss of life

commission to obviously be as public

was reported - were rightly asking how

as reasonably possible. But, I think the

the dreadful flash-flood that cascaded

public will understand that for some

down the Great Diving Range impacted

people that is not possible.”

The Inquiry’s terms of reference can be found at www.floodcommission.qld.gov.au.

Managing a massive Markets recovery

17

Federal, state and local government

debris from across the suburbs.

cleaning contractors, tenants and

politicians have congratulated Brisbane

Water pressure also destroyed some

many volunteers, the mud army to

Markets Limited (BML) on its remarkable

of the coolrooms but fortunately,

whom we are extremely grateful.

recovery operation which enabled

there was minimal structural

wholesalers to get back to business just

damage to the buildings.

60 hours after the floodwaters receded.

Basic services that had been destroyed were reinstated

How do you recover from a flood

as quickly as possible. This

Initial Bureau of Meteorology warnings

that has knocked out all essential

included fire services, electrical

were that Brisbane’s low lying areas

services systems and left a thick,

and sanitary systems as well as

could expect moderate flooding

contaminated mud over every

telecommunications, lighting,

however, in a matter of hours, this was

surface? There was no water,

distribution boards, water meters,

upgraded to severe flooding, with waters

power or toilets let alone food and

electrical meters, roadways, access

at Rocklea predicted to equal or exceed

drink for the many hundreds of

control/security and drainage to

the 1974 flood.

volunteers who turned up in droves.

name just a few.

With flooding imminent, BML distributed

Over the ensuing days, more than

Over the ensuing weeks, many of

urgent email warnings throughout the

12,000 tonnes of debris including

our staff worked for two to three

course of the day. During the event and

the filthy, rotting produce and

weeks without a break, stretching

in the massive clean-up operation that

animal carcasses was removed.

people physically and mentally.

followed, tenants were kept up to date

The work was supported by

The impacts to the Markets overall

via email and SMS to ensure they were

civil contractors, fire and rescue

have been financial, operational and

receiving information as it came to hand.

services, Australian Defence Force,

personal, particularly for the many

Brisbane City Council, Police,

tenants, and their staff.

Whilst the site was still in flood, BML’s contingency plan swung into action. This included evaluation of alternate sites, preparing for cleaning and waste removal and ordering electrical and plumbing components. Contractors of all types were primed to move onto the site as soon as access was regained.

As the waters receded, the damage was inspected: the site inundation varied from 1.5m to 3m; 300 vehicles were lost

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(including 200 forklifts). Although many were moved to higher ground when the initial warnings came, the severe flooding came too late to move more vehicles off site. Sherwood Road was cut by rising waters isolating the site long before the flood waters devastated the Central Trading Area.

Friday morning revealed a heart-breaking sight. Flood waters had destroyed all ground floor offices, warehouses, and selling floors. Produce was strewn across the site in rotting piles, mixed with flood

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e r u t a fe

Flood recovery

Changing the landscape forever

Sacrifice for safety Wivenhoe Dam facts

In announcing the February/

normal drinking water capacity.

March 2011 planned Wivenhoe Dam water releases, Peter Burrows from SEQ Water, said the recent floods and the natural disasters across Queensland “have changed the landscape for all of us”.

“Let me put that in perspective,” he said. “The inflow into the Wivenhoe

Since the January floods, Wivenhoe Dam, near Ipswich, has released thousands of megalitres of drinking water as part of a plan to drop the dam level to 75% of its

The dam's operation has come under scrutiny following the January 13 Brisbane River peak, with critics arguing more water should have been released

Important facts and figures on Wivenhoe Dam: • Wivenhoe Dam is built across the Brisbane River and creates the artificial Lake Wivenhoe.

It is located 80km west of Brisbane.

• It was built in response to the 1974 Brisbane flood, as well as to provide water storage for South East Queensland.

• The dam’s reservoir has a total storage

in the lead up to the downpour so extra

capacity of 2.61 cubic kilometres of which

dam capacity was available for flood

1.16 cubic kilometres is used for urban

mitigation.

water storage.

The issue will be examined by the $15

• During a flood the dam is designed to hold

million Commission of Inquiry set up in

back 1.45 million megalitres of additional

the wake of the state's flood disaster.

water for flood mitigation or 225% capacity.

Dam from this January flood

Wivenhoe Dam can hold a total of 2.6

• Under the water release plan which is

event was almost double that

million megalitres but is deemed to be

defined by law, excess water must be

of the 1974 event.

“full” of drinking water when it reaches

released from the dam within seven days of

1.15 million megalitres.

it reaching 100% capacity.

“Water was flowing into

• On 11 January 2011, Wivenhoe Dam reached

Wivenhoe Dam 50% faster

The remaining space is used to store

than what it was flowing

water from heavy rain events in a bid to

its highest level ever, 191% and rising.

in 1974. So the January

reduce floods along the Brisbane River.

• The dam was not designed to spill over

events clearly created a new

its crest or overtop. Because it is an

benchmark that must be

embankment dam, there is a risk that if

acted on.”

waters spilled over the crest, this could erode the dam wall and potentially cause the dam to fail. Realising this, the dam designers included a second emergency spillway.

• During the peak of the flooding event, the dam water level reached 60 centimetres

Fresh Computers supports all Wholesalers who were affected by the flood.

Thanks to all staff who worked after-hours and over the weekend to reconfigure client systems in temporary accommodation with no loss of data.

Brismark clients were also able to access their data over the Internet when the Server was moved.

below the auxiliary spillway height.

Dam releases behind a man-made catastrophe Brisbane’s January flood inundation, swamping more than 50 suburbs and severely damaging the Brisbane Markets, is being referred to in an expert report as a “dam release flood”. The reference adds weight to suspicions that the $2billion catastrophe was largely man-made.

19

Preventing future heavy losses Numerous media representatives have pressed a thorny question on Brisbane

The report by an independent panel of hydrologists, WorleyParsons,

Markets leaders during tours of the

WARM and Water Matters International showed the Wivenhoe Dam

Rocklea site: Should Brisbane Markets

water releases caused the Brisbane River to rise an additional 10 metres.

move from its flood plain location?

It was rainwater in the river and creek catchments that caused the

Brisbane Markets CEO Andrew Young

main flood but it was the releases that caused the “floodwave” that

said a study was being progressed that

made it a “dam release flood”, the report said.

would assess the various options including

Another independent engineer, Michael O’Brien, has produced a detailed document titled ‘Brisbane Flooding January 2011: An Avoidable Disaster’, that will shock many as it analyses the human element in the water inundation.

O’Brien has joined other critics by noting the Wivenhoe Dam operators reacted too slowly, before and during the rainfall event, by failing to release water earlier.

Brisbane Markets CEO Andrew Young said that Brisbane Markets was bought from the State Government in 2002. At the time, the State Government reported that the Wivenhoe Dam, completed in 1985, would have the effect of reducing a major flood event such as the 1974 flood from 10,150 to 5,000 cubic metres per second.

That is equivalent to a reduction in flood height from 2.9 metres in the vicinity of the Brisbane Markets. Should a flood occur, the overall losses and damage caused would have been much less than the 1974 flood.

relocation, construction of levees, raising of certain areas within the site and progression of other actions to mitigate the impact of flooding.

“BML has had initial discussions with the Brisbane City Council (BCC) and State Government in relation to a number of these issues,” Mr Young said.

“Obviously, given the size of the site, the investment in infrastructure that exists and the costs involved, it will take time to assess the options and plan the actions to follow.”

He said BML would also be taking into consideration the position the BCC and the State Government will be taking in relation to other south east Queensland’s flood

“If the prediction was correct, it would have meant the peak would

mitigation strategies, and any proposed

have been about 1.9 metres lower than the actual recorded peak,

changes following on from the State

resulting in much lower levels of inundation and a substantial

Government’s Commission of Inquiry.

reduction in the loss of product, vehicles and infrastructure,” Mr Young said.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said to relocate these Markets that have built up

Dam operator SEQwater has released a report which it says vindicates

their infrastructure over half a century

its actions. It says was the inability of the weather bureau to

would be a big undertaking.

accurately predict the extent of the rain event that was to blame.

“If I was them, I would be doing what they are doing – waiting until the Commission of Inquiry is able to give us a better idea as to what other things we can do to protect the city of Brisbane in the future.”

Photo courtesy of Paul Heymans, Paul Computers.

Brisbane Markets flood facts • Waters rose to a depth of 1.5 metres in the Central Trading Area and up to 3 metres in some warehouses. Flood waters engulfed ground floor offices, storage sheds and cold rooms.

• An estimated 12,000 tonnes of flood debris, waste produce and building demolition material was removed from the site in the first week of the clean-up operations.

• A total of over 300 vehicles were inundated on the site, including approximately 200 forklifts.

• More than 40 snakes were removed from the site after the rising waters flushed them from their homes.

Fresh market information Fruit & Vegetable Marketing Consultants Totally Independent and Impartial

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Ph (07) 3379 4576 Fax (07) 3379 4103 Infocall 1902 262 580 E-mail adminmis@ausmarket.net.au Web www.ausmarket.net.au

|

ef a t u r e

Flood recovery

Volunteers turn out Brisbane Markets said the response of the

community in providing assistance and support was incredible.

The “mud army” turned out in droves to assist the clean-up effort. People arrived at the site wanting to support those doing the clean up.

Individuals assisted in setting up barbecues and providing water and food, while larger corporate

VOLUNTEERS FROM THE VANTAGE PERFORMANCE TEAM JOIN THE MUD ARMY HELPING THE BRISBANE MARKETS FLOOD CLEAN-UP EFFORT.

organisations donated food and drink.

“What we experienced was a community wanting to help,” said Brisbane Markets CEO Andrew Young.

“They responded to the positive examples of the determination being shown and the very visible effort being made to clear the site of the debris and waste.”

MORE VOLUNTEERS SORT OUT THE MESS IN THE BRISBANE MARKETS COMMERCIAL CENTRE.

Foodbank’s show of support Cool Dynamics Refrigeration Qld would like to extend our heartfelt sincerity to all of the traders in the Brisbane Markets who were affected by the floods. We have been and will continue to work tirelessly to help you get your business operational as quickly as possible.

Brisbane Markets is one of the biggest donors of fresh fruit and vegetables to Queensland organisation, Foodbank. Ironically though, it was the supplies from Foodbank that was helping feed the volunteers in its hour of need.

Foodbank Australia is a not-for-profit, non-denominational organisation that seeks and distributes food and grocery industry donations to welfare agencies.

Initially, its Morningside warehouse looked like it would be flooded but it managed to put its stock up high and get to work distributing food to food agencies across the state.

“We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity of the food industry in

Our thoughts are with you in these difficult times and we will continue to support you in overcoming this devastating event.

this time of desperate need – we put out a ‘cry for help’ to our donor partners and

The team at Cool Dynamics Refrigeration (Qld) Pty Ltd

wishing to make donations, which are a tax deduction, can arrange free transport

within a few days had been offered sufficient key staple food and grocery items to fill over 40 trucks,” said John Webster, CEO of Foodbank Australia.

Foodbank continues its work with heavy demand on its food supplies. Growers by phoning (07) 3395 8422 or visit www.foodbank.com.au.

23

The Brisbane Markets would like to say...

Thank you!

Queensland’s marketing and distribution hub for fresh produce is up and running again thanks to the many volunteer groups, State Government agencies, individuals, contractors and service providers who all came together to assist in the huge clean-up and the work required to get the site operational again following the recent floods.

A special acknowledgement is made for the supreme round-the-clock effort by Peter McMahon and his team at Civil Unlimited, the crews of Crisp Electrical and Agnola Plumbing and Energex.

Heartfelt thanks to: Australian Army Reserves and Disaster Response Team Brisbane City Council NSW Fire & Rescue (Lismore and Ballina) Queensland Fire & Rescue Service Queensland Rural Fire Brigade QFRS Aviation Brisbane Airport Queensland Police Moorooka (traffic management) Queensland Police Sherwood (anti looting patrols) Volunteering Queensland Brisbane Markets management, staff, family and friends Special acknowledgement and thanks to: Brent Carter, Chief Superintendent Queensland Police Service, Metropolitan South Medical assistance: Australian Army Medics Emergency Medics Volunteer Nurses Queensland Health Owners/operators of heavy machinery, trucks, bobcats: A special thanks to the many owners/ operators of trucks and machines used in the massive operation to clear debris from the site.

Cleaning: Maxi Clean Pristine Ultra Clean TSS Westaff Vantage Financial Plus hundreds of people who just turned up on site to help clean!

Suppliers and service providers who assisted: A1 First Aid Supplies Agnola Plumbing Alex Milanovic & Associates Arbon Equipment Aus IT Bulk Fuel Australia Civil Unlimited Cool Dynamics Coates Hire Crisp Electrical Energex Industrial Fitting Sales, Rocklea JA Evans Crane Mini Tankers Nalco Company Onsite Rentals Qld Decorative Concrete Finishes SafetyQuip Stowe Electrical Schultz and Burns Tech Services Veolia Environmental Services Wiley & Co Wanless Enviro Services

Food and drink providers: All About Meat Cosie Rosies Café Eagle Boys, Acacia Ridge Lions Club, Logan Village with assistance from the Tamborine Village and Holland Park Lions Michels Patisserie Mr Coffee, Barista Noodle Box Rotary Club Subway Tip Top Streets Ice creams Wok On, Carina Triple M And to the many other companies and individuals that donated food and water without waiting for thanks!

A special thank you to all who gave so generously in our time of need.

There were many unnamed people who assisted but due to the magnitude of the event and its impact on our entire site, we apologise if we have missed acknowledging your efforts.

Andrew Young CEO Brisbane Markets Ltd Tony Joseph Chairman Brisbane Markets Ltd

“To all the ‘unsung heroes’ who helped throughout flood affected Queensland, we salute you.”

Our thoughts and best wishes are also with the growers of North Queensland during their recovery from Tropical Cyclone Yasi.

ef a t u r e

Flood recovery

Looking back at the 1974 floods When the waters hit the Brisbane Markets

Barr in 1974 and clearly remembers the

in the 1974 floods, the water was higher

camaraderie when trading from Curzon

than but not as destructive as the January

Street, then returning to his own section

2011 inundation, although the Rocklea

after work to mop up the mess.

site itself was a much smaller enterprise.

“We were mighty proud of what we

The Brisbane Market Trust reported

achieved in those four days although it

damage of up to $180,000, to be borne by

was a much smaller Market back then and

the wholesalers. However, its 1974 annual

our volumes were different from today,”

report reported the damage bill “would

said Mr Martin.

have been much greater if, in the cleaning

“I remember standing ankle deep in

up operations, voluntary assistance on a

water, cleaning up the rotting fruit from

large scale had not been forthcoming”.

floating coldrooms and hosing down the

Brisbane Markets was closed for four

walls. It was a mess and it was mainly left

days. The problem of receival and

to each business to clean up its own site.

distribution of fruit and vegetables was

“I don’t remember the mud though, not

partially solved for two days by moving

like we had in the recent floods.”

the trade to the Committee of Direction’s Curzon Street premises, adjacent to the Markets.

For a period after the inundation, Brisbane Markets varied its selling times and halted any fruit and vegetables being

History Task Force Chairman Arch Martin

placed on the selling floors before the

was the principal of wholesaler AS

time of trade.

1974 vs 2011 flood in perspective To put the impact of the floods in perspective, in the 37 years since the 1974 flood: • 23 new warehouse buildings have been constructed, • New offices have been built Following this year’s devastating weather events across Queensland, the Brisbane Markets and surrounds were among the hardest hit in Brisbane impacting every business in the precinct. Linde Material Handling extends our thoughts and ongoing support to each and every business as the job of cleaning up and rebuilding businesses continues.

• Selling Floors and Buildings I and Z have been extended, and • There has been massive growth in the associated infrastructure. The gross floor area of buildings within the site has increased by over 500%.

In 1974, the damage bill to the Brisbane Markets Trust was $180,000. The 2011 flood damage bill is estimated in excess of $20 million for Brisbane Markets Limited and over $100 million for Market tenants.

In 1974, the Brisbane Markets closure was for four days, with trading from Curzon Street on two of these days. In 2011 it took 60 hours (two and half days) from the time the waters receded, to when limited operation recommenced.

25

Saving history as history was made As the floodwaters rose at Brisbane

collection was evacuated, resting high

his days as a wholesaler and Brismark

Markets, the alert went out to

and dry in the corridors of Brisbane

Executive Member in 1974, when the

evacuate of the office equipment,

Markets upper floors. It is now in

Markets were deluged.

files and ephemera, including the

the process of being inspected,

priceless history collection that had

catalogued and filed back into its

been stored in its lower floor South

storage room.

Gate East office space.

“Fortunately, the collection will be displayed on the top floor of the Fresh Centre building, when its

History Task Force chairman Arch

refurbishment is completed later

As they responded, two of its rescuers

Martin said his team had taken 12

this year, and well out of the reach

brushed past a black and white

months to collect some of the pieces,

of any floodwater.

photograph hanging on the Brisbane

including an old trolley from the

Markets Limited office wall showing

Mr Martin said the fascinating work

former Roma Street markets, which

of collecting oral histories, ephemera

was used to wheel out the collection

and photos continued.

the devastation of the 1974 floods.

“Let’s grab the camera and go get ourselves a colour photo of that,” quipped one of the staff members.

As the flood waters rose, the

boxes to safety.

Anyone with items to donate

“I never thought I would see another

should email Mr Martin at

flood of this magnitude in my life

history@brisbanemarkets.com.au

time,” said Mr Martin, recollecting

or phone 0417 399 968.

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ef a t u r e

Tony, Maree, Anthony, Paul, Nicole and Catherine and families would like to send our thanks for all the support for Alfred E Chave Pty Ltd during the 2011 floods.

To David Shields from Northcliffe SLSC, a big thanks for bringing up the club bus filled with the crew and cold drinks from the Coast.

To Big Stevo and his crew for the help to Chaves with the pressured water cleaner and many other businesses around the Market, thank you!

Flood recovery

Commitment to rebuilding Lockyer Valley As the Lockyer Valley comes to

“We need to look forward and make

terms with devastating flood losses,

plans to take advantage of improved soil

the Queensland Government has

moisture and full water storage which

committed to make sure people are

gives some optimism for future pastures

aware of the assistance available to

and crops,” he said.

them to help to rebuild their communities.

Queensland Minister for Agriculture, Food and Regional Economies, Tim Mulherin, said it would take time, but the Lockyer Valley would regain its

To Mick Twaddel and Damien Craig for use of their fire hoses and assistance to Chaves and other business in the Market, thank you!

iconic recognition as a leader in

To our Goondiwindi mates, David Tait, Red, Billy-Ray, Johnny, Cookie, Lachy and Matt, who brought their own equipment, including water trucks, tip trucks, bob cats, fire hoses and the GATOR for TJ, their tireless help for Chaves and the whole Market was inspirational and beyond anything we could have expected.

the loss of life and significant damage to

To our family and friends, it was heart warming and unbelievably overwhelming to see you all come out in force to clean, remove rubbish and feed us, truly lasting memories.

And finally, a very special thank you to Tony’s lifelong friend, Richard Johnson, who worked around the clock for Chaves, thanks mate!

“I’ve heard reports of some growers already commencing the planting of summer crops such as sweetcorn and green beans, and preparing the ground for winter crops such as lettuce and broccoli.”

primary production.

“The people of Lockyer Valley have coped with tragic circumstances with property, infrastructure and land,” Mr Mulherin said.

“Many farms have been out of operation, and delays in winter vegetable plantings will mean severe income impacts for producers over the coming months.

What happened?

“Effectively what we’ve seen is a wall of water, in some places up to eight metres at a time, coming down that Valley. So as it moves through, the water is dropping reasonably quickly behind it but leaving a trail of destruction and leaving people isolated”.

“With roads cut, there have been

– Queensland Premier Anna Bligh,

shortages of some fresh produce across

10 January 2011

the region, as producers have been unable to get stock to markets.

“One of our main flood recovery priorities is getting regional transport moving again.

“The repair of roads and bridges is necessary to facilitate economic recovery for rural and regional Queensland,” he said.

Mr Mulherin said while much of the region’s horticultural land had been inundated with water, there were encouraging signs for production increases ahead.

LOW LYING FARMLANDS OF GATTON ARE CUT OFF BY FLOOD WATERS.

27

Flood disaster demands change to government priorities

BY BUNDABERG FRUIT AND VEGETABLES EXECUTIVE OFFICER, PETER PETERSON The wet season in Queensland

months before Bundaberg port is

a repeat of what we have been and

brings with it the inconvenience of

fully operational.

are still going through, remembering

road closures every year, a situation that is understood by all.

The horticulture industry in the

this is still early in our wet season.

Bundaberg region alone is worth over

Now is the time for the Federal

However, never have we seen the

$450million at farm gate injecting well

Government to reprioritise its

wet season close every major road so

over $1billion into the economy and

spending away from the National

often or for so long. Road closures

for several days, the local industry was

Broadband Network and not simply

have crippled supply routes up and

at a standstill with no produce being

repair the damaged infrastructure

the down the east coast and centre

able to move north, south or west.

with our rail, road, air and sea

of Queensland.

Whilst some growers have lost crops

networks, but upgrade them ensuring transport networks remain

Not only has the road network been

and orchard trees to the floods and

affected by flood waters but also rail

continual rain, the crops that had

lines, ports and even some airports.

been harvested were not able to be

The Federal Government must

moved due to the flooding of the

also invest in levee systems to

transport networks.

protect critical assets, people and

Australia, “the lucky country”, which we are, has a third rate transport system, unable to maintain

Not being able to transport crops to

the distribution of food and medical

market has only increased losses to

supplies to not only small towns but

the farming sector and contributed

also regional cities.

to increased prices for fresh fruit and

Rockhampton, a city of over

townships similar to what we saw in Goondiwindi.

vegetables as demand exceeds supply.

75,000 people didn’t have an

Climate experts have been warning

operational airport let alone the rail

that El Nino and La Nina events such

and road network.

as these will be more severe and

Both Brisbane and Bundaberg ports

open in any such future events.

occur more frequently in the future.

were closed. While the Brisbane

If we accept the expert information

port has reopened, it will be many

from these scientists, we can expect

Bundaberg inundated twice Floodwaters hit Bundaberg twice in a fortnight in January, with the Burnett River peaking at 7.9 metres on 30 December 2010 on the first flooding, its highest level since 1942, and 5.75 metres in mid January 2011.

With the first deluge, floodwaters split Bundaberg in two, inundating 120 properties and forcing almost 400 evacuations.

By the second deluge, many people had not yet returned to their homes so fewer evacuations were necessary.

Cleaning up after the carnage caused by Cyclone Yasi and the torrential floods is a massive operation.

It will take time, effort and huge amounts of resources, but making it that little bit easier for farmers are the drumMUSTER and ChemClear industry stewardship programs.

ChemClear has been around since 2003 and works in partnership with shire councils to help users responsibly dispose of their obsolete or out-of-date chemicals. These chemical products are classified as either group one or group two varieties; the former being pre-registered chemicals purchased from participating manufacturers and accepted free of charge, while the latter are unlabelled or unregistered and may include a fee-perlitre for disposal. drumMUSTER organises and maintains the collection and disposal of pre-cleaned, eligible chemical containers and has helped recycle over 16.5 million containers in its 13-year history to date.

Queensland Regional Consultant Colin Hoey wants the state’s users to know the service is in full swing and very enthusiastic about helping in the big clean-up.

ef a t u r e

Flood recovery

A smashing time at Chinchilla melon festival Brisbane Markets wholesalers have

This crazy melon smashing, weighing,

helped up to 15,000 people ski, bungy,

lunching, game playing, grand parading,

slide, smash, spit and revel in one of the

arts and craft and cooking celebration

biggest Chinchilla Melon Festivals since

drew international interest and

its inception.

thousands of dollars worth of media

The iconic biannual festival was held

coverage for the township.

in the face of devastating floods in

Chinchilla melon farmer Kyran Sturgess

December and again in January, that

took out the biggest melon weigh-in

had inundated the western downs

with a 50.4 kilogram whopper, beating

community and its prized melon crop.

out his father Murray by six kilograms.

Chinchilla claims to be the melon capital

However, the winning melon was

of Australia, with the area producing a

nearly 30kg less than the 2009 winners,

quarter of the nation’s melons.

evidence of the tough season that

The festival was originally a way to pull the community together during a devastating

melon growers across the Chinchilla district have experienced.

drought in 1994. This year's event was a show of community support to show how a township can rally after floods.

Although the floods saw much of the local watermelon and rockmelon crops destroyed, festival organisers were able to import melons from South Australia.

Brisbane Produce Market’s Queensland Kids Fresh Net (QKFN) team staged two

It’s time for us to help clean up Queensland!” he said.

performances on Foodie Friday for 600

“All of the collection sites are up and running and we urge users to bring in their containers so we can get rid of them the right way.”

of eating healthy.

To register for ChemClear, simply call 1800 008 182 and to find out more about drumMUSTER sites in your area, call 1800 008 707.

Cash, the Pershouse Produce Melon

ONE OF THE BRIGHTLY DECORATED CHINCHILLA MELON FESTIVAL FLOATS CELEBRATING THE MIGHTY MELON.

children to let them know the benefits

Brisbane Markets wholesalers were also be out in force sponsoring events such as the Alfred E Chave Melon Dash for Bungy and the Lind and Sons Free Melon Feast.

The festival included a busy program from cricket matches, luncheons, Red Tie dinner, street parade, free concerts, farm and tours to games, all with a melon theme.

CHANNEL 7 SUNRISE WEATHER PRESENTER GRANT DENYER READS A COPY OF THE CHINCHILLA NEWS BEFORE TRYING HIS HAND AT MELON SKIING.

29

Expert volunteers answered the call Among the thousands of people who selflessly turned up to mop up Brisbane Markets’ 77ha Rocklea site were a corp of professionals whose back breaking work got the site back on its feet.

These included Australian Defence Force personnel from D Company, 9th Battalion Royal Queensland Regiment who had travelled to Brisbane from different locations around the state.

They were joined by Queensland and NSW Fire and Rescue personnel and Air Services Australia fire tenders, who all worked together to remove rotting food and flood damaged debris as well as hose down and sanitise buildings and fence lines.

Throughout the early days of the recovery, hundreds of volunteers turned up, most in gumboots and gloves, to offer support whether it was feeding the volunteers or getting down and dirty in the mud to remove the debris.

Brisbane Markets CEO Andrew Young paid tribute to the volunteers whose effort and cooperation got businesses operating again.

A heartfelt thank you advertisement was published in the Courier-Mail and can be found on page 23.

MEMBERS OF THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE ASSIST WITH THE HUGE CLEAN-UP EFFORT AT THE BRISBANE MARKETS. PHOTOGRAPH BY: CORPORAL (CPL) JANINE FABRE.

Brismark credit service data saved Brismark’s ground floor Credit Service may

In 2011, the volume of work was much greater and

have suffered water inundation, along with the

could have caused major problems.

organisation’s training rooms, but it didn’t lose its data.

“This time we got all our data in the computer system

The wholesaler service organisation’s staff members put

and we managed to back it up and save it,”

in a mammoth effort on the day the floodwaters rose to

Mrs Batchelor said.

save as much of the weekly buyer transactions as possible.

Their actions meant up to 1,000 buyers and 54 wholesalers were saved from a nightmare in financial confusion and reconciliations if the work had been lost.

Information Systems Manager Margaret Batchelor said she was on staff during the 1974 floods and

“I think there are always lessons learned and saving the data is one that I have remembered well.”

Brismark staff members have gradually returned to their office space after weeks of refurbishment, although it will be temporary accommodation.

remembered the dilemma of lost records causing

The team will relocate to the three-storey Fresh Centre

headaches for Credit Service users for weeks to come.

building on its completion later in the year.

ef a t u r e

Cyclone Yasi

A cyclonic start to the year The upper reaches of Queensland’s

south of Innisfail with devastation

central coast were hit by a cyclone on 20

centred on Tully and Mission Beach

January which battered some areas with

down to Cardwell.

winds of up to 140km/h.

Avocado growers were preparing for

The category 2 cyclone, named

a bumper crop but much of the fruit

Anthony, made landfall near Bowen, 120

ended up on the ground or battered,

kilometres south-east of Townsville, and

resulting in an estimated $10 million loss

brought torrential rain to the state.

to the industry.

Just three days later, North Queensland was facing the biggest cyclone in its living history. Its name was Cyclone Yasi, it was a category 5, and it was heading for the farming communities south of Cairns.

When it did appear, Cyclone Yasi was the size of a small country and deadly.

The area was battered by 300km/h (190 m/h) winds. It arrived on the tail of the floods and only five years after Cyclone Harry devastated the same area.

Fresh produce losses Cyclone Yasi wiped out an estimated $225 million of fruit and vegetables.

Some of the tally includes: • $10 million in the avocado industry; • $200 million in the banana industry;

Banana growers across Far North Queensland, in particular Innisfail and Tully, were the worst affected, according to the Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC).

ABGC Chairman Cameron MacKay said the industry has taken a significant battering with 95% of major production affected in the Tully and Innisfail region, approximately 20% on the Atherton Tablelands and a further 80% in the Kennedy area south of Cardwell.

“With industry worth $400 million, a total of 75% has been affected,” Mr MacKay said.

• $6 million in the papaw

“The majority of Australian bananas are

and papaya industry.

grown in tropical north Queensland, so

The agricultural areas

TULLY BANANA GROWERS MARK AND ELISE NUCIFORA RETURNED TO THEIR HOME AND BANANA FARM TO FIND THEM DESTROYED.

this is a fairly significant disaster for our

hit are also known

industry,” he said.

for their exotic fruit

Papaw and papaya and tropical tree fruit

trees, passionfruit and

crops like rambutans and lychees had

potatoes.

also been destroyed across the region

AS BANANA PRICES INCREASED IN THE WAKE OF CYCLONE YASI, BRISBANE RETAILER, SUPERIOR FRUIT, RAISED A WARNING SIGN FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS.

31

Bowen misses floods but cops cyclones

BY BOWEN AND GUMLU DISTRICT GROWERS ASSOCIATION INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER DENISE KREYMBORG The past few months has seen some

The town barely had time to recover

What we went through was

really devastating weather in the

when Cyclone Yasi, one of the largest

harrowing but spare a thought for

North of Queensland.

cyclones ever seen in the world,

those further North in Cardwell,

headed straight for North Queensland.

Tully and Mission Beach where there

Bowen was lucky early in the year

was a direct hit. I can’t image what

with rain but not enough to flood

In the hours leading up to Yasi, locals

the region as it did in Rockhampton,

tried to stock up on food, water and

Bundaberg and further south in

other equipment such as generators

Brisbane.

and portable burners in the case of

While we were sympathising with the

long term loss of power. No one

other flooded regions, a couple of

knew where the cyclone would cross

Growers in Bowen fortunately

cyclones started to form in the Coral

because it was so unpredictable.

hadn’t started planting and the two

Sea sending many residents and farms

Many residents left town and headed

into cyclone preparedness mode.

season’s production. However, after

to Rockhampton as Yasi approached.

talking to Premier Anna Bligh at the

Many growers, local businesses and

My family waited it out and watched

recent Community Cabinet in the

home owners boarded up windows

the weather sites online to see where

Whitsundays, there is no guarantee

and cleared their properties as best

it would hit.

that we won’t have more rain before

they could and waited.

The wind in Bowen, as Yasi crossed,

Cyclone Anthony, a category two

was the same as if we had a Category

cyclone, crossed the coast on 30

3 cyclone cross over us. The house

January 2011 at around 9.15pm with

I stayed in severely vibrated with

wind gusts up to 155km/h.

each gust of strong wind and in some

After inspection of damage the next

they went through that night.

We can thank the man upstairs that with a cyclone of that magnitude there weren’t more lives lost.

cyclones will not impact on this

April this year.

cases, felt like the house would lift off.

day, it seemed that many growers

The power did go out for a few

and the local community had

days for many residents and there

survived with minor damage such as

was quite a bit more damage to

tin off sheds, trees down and debris

properties with large trees uprooted

over roads.

around Bowen.

THE FORCE OF CYCLONE YASI LEFT UPROOTED TREES AND DEBRIS AS FAR SOUTH AS BOWEN.

Brismark’s COMMITMENT to Growers Our wholesalers have a demonstrated commitment to growers trading in the Brisbane Produce Market.

Just some of the hands-on initiatives to support growers include: • • • • • • •

Sponsorships Conference participation Grower kits Grower delegations Dedicated Industry Liaison Officer Grower Hotline Handy publications

Brismark and its members have worked hard over many years to put systems in place to provide the highest levels of service for produce marketing and distribution.

Brisbane Markets, Sherwood Road, Rocklea, Brisbane, Qld 4106, PO Box 70, Brisbane Markets, Qld 4106 Ph: (07) 3915 4222 Fax: (07) 3915 4221 Email: admin@brismark.com.au Web: www.brismark.com.au

BMK9585/C

To find out more about your Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Wholesalers, visit www.brismark.com.au or phone the free Grower Hotline on 1800 631 002.

33

The aftermath is more than physical North Queensland Bananas Co-operative CEO Barry Kanowski huddled between mattresses in his Tully home taking shelter from what he described as two bombs hitting, as Cyclone Yasi raged across the township at full force.

“It was pitch black and the roar of the winds was frightening,” Mr Kanowski said.

“Physically we came out of it alright, with damage to our homes and businesses, but emotionally, it has been hard for anyone who went through it.”

Mr Kanowski said he, and his neighbours who had gone through Cyclone Larry, understand the anxiety, lack of sleep and even the change of food and housing that can affect a person during the crucial clean up stages.

He said he knew to pace himself this time, to make sure he could sleep and eat properly, but it was still a struggle, particularly as he saw others around him fall to ‘cyclone fatigue’.

“It’s a miracle we didn’t have a loss of life but there have certainly been a lot of

NORTH QUEENSLAND BANANAS CO-OPERATIVE CEO BARRY KANOWSKI.

injuries since,” he said.

Mr Kanowski welcomed the State Government’s ruling that cyclone affected fruit could be salvaged and sold. However, he expected a difficult six months ahead, just as it was after Cyclone Larry, getting his growers and banana supplies back on track.

Returning to the farm a relief Eve Hopp took photos of their Bramston Beach property, south of Cairns, in the hours leading up to Cyclone Yasi, still determined that the family would ride it out, like they had Cyclone Larry.

Eve and husband Ken Hopp’s passionfruit and dragonfruit farm is nestled beside World Heritage rainforest. They had finished their planting.

The season looked promising.

However, as Yasi neared and its intensity was better known, the couple packed their primary school aged children Jenna and Hayden into the car and headed for relatives, west of Townsville.

Five days later when the roads cleared, they returned to the farm to find it had sustained thousands of dollars of damage. Trellises and new plants were strewn among fallen trees and debris. Fortunately, it wasn’t passionfruit season so no fruit was lost.

“It’s hard to believe but I think we lost more in Cyclone Larry than we did this time around because we were more prepared and it hit us at a different time in the season,” Mr Hopp said.

KEN AND EVE HOPP’S BRAMSTON BEACH PASSIONFRUIT PLANTS FARED BETTER THROUGH CYCLONE YASI THAN WHEN THE SMALLER CYCLONE LARRY HIT.

“In some ways Cyclone Larry had cleaned the place up for us.”

The Hopp’s have months of work ahead of them to tidy their usually manicured farm.

Retailing Fresh approach for Fresh Tastes With unplanned events marring the start of the year at the Brisbane Markets, things will be a little different for the Fresh Tastes program in 2011.

The Brisbane Markets Limited Marketing Department, located in the Commercial Centre and South Gate East offices, lost everything during the floods, including all Fresh Tastes brochures, posters, aprons, banners and costumes. A plan to replace or update some of these items is in process at the moment.

The top 25 Retailer of the Year finalists were announced before Christmas and they will compete in their ‘finalist’ round of mystery shopping during March.

The announcement of the ultimate Retailer of the Year will be held on Friday, 13 May at the Brisbane Produce Market Annual Gala Dinner, at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

What will be different with the program? Retailer of the Month mystery shopping will begin a little later this year and will be condensed into a six month period from July through to December.

A few new incentives and programs will also be rolled out throughout the year and it is hoped that retailer support for this year’s program will be at an all time high.

Fruit and veg not just on the side in Chapel Hill

The fresh produce section of the store houses an impressive variety and quality of fruit and vegetables and as a result, the store has been awarded the Brisbane Produce Market ‘Fresh Tastes’ Retailer of the Month award for October.

Owners Glenn and Gail Brown began their career as cattle farmers but moved into the city and opened Simon’s Gourmet Gallery nine years ago.

Gail manages the administration for the shop plus the two other store-branded butchers in Toowong and Ascot. Glenn has taken on the

‘produce’ side of the business and is self taught in the best buying methods at the Brisbane Produce Market, with his main criteria being quality.

“If it looks good, tastes excellent and has full shelf life, my customers will buy it. We don’t just stock a few token lines of fruit and vegetables, we are a small, full service greengrocer,” said Mr Brown.

“It is the additional steps we take which attracts our customers. Our pre-prepped vegie packs are hugely popular. You can buy a stir fry mix, rosemary sweet potato chips or even a roast vegie pack. It is all prepared on site every day and only the freshest items are kept on the shelf.”

Produce and Deli Manager, Emma Battis has a firm hand in all of the stores fresh produce initiatives

and is ecstatic with the mystery shopping results.

“We scored five out of five for customer service and with roughly 30 staff members, we are proud of that achievement. It shows our training is working at the front of store as well,” said Ms Battis.

A GALLERY OF GREAT STAFF, FROM BACK LEFT SARA AND SIMON’S GOURMET GALLERY OWNER GLENN. FRONT LEFT HOLLY, RENEE AND MANAGER EMMA.

OCTOBER 2010

Simon’s Gourmet Gallery is well known to local residents who appreciate the range of meats, deli, grocery and fresh produce on offer, along with some of the best coffee served in Chapel Hill.

35

NOVEMBER 2010

The fruit proves fabulous at Northlakes Northlakes greengrocer Fabulous Fruit was announced as Brisbane Produce Markets Fresh Tastes Retailer of the Month for November.

Partners John Torcaso and Gino Senese have owned the store for the past seven years but have worked together in various other stores around Brisbane.

John makes the trip to the Brisbane Produce Market at Rocklea every day and walks the selling floor to select the best fruit and vegetables for their customers.

Back at the store, Gino takes charge of the quality produce selections

and trains his staff members on the seasonal varieties and how to best showcase them.

Gino Senese is particularly proud of the win considering the store scored 100% in customer service and product presentation.

‘the best’ has rewarded a whole team of people who work hard to provide this level of service to local families.”

“We all have responsibilities but I am proud that not only our carefully selected produce but also our staff awareness and customer service has been rated as one of the best,” Mr Senese said.

“We are in direct competition with the supermarkets in our shopping centre, so the fact that our mystery shopping results were given as

FABULOUS TEAM MEMBERS, FROM LEFT, FRANK TORCASO, JENNIFER ELIVE AND DANIEL DAVIES.

DECEMBER 2010

Boonah locals are the winners Boonah Fruit Supply on Railway Street in Boonah was awarded the Fresh Tastes Retailer of the Month for December.

the best produce at the best prices.

Jolene is on top of all the business administration and marketing,” Mr Martin said.

The monthly accolade, from the Brisbane Produce Market, recognises excellence in fruit and vegetable retailing.

“We are also grateful for our long serving staff member Karen Wenzel, we couldn’t possibly do it without her commitment to customer service and her sense of pride in the work. When we win an award like Retailer of the Month, it just shows us that all of our hard work is paying off.”

The husband and wife duo of Scott and Jolene Martin are first time winners in the Fresh Tastes monthly award program and also qualify as a Retailer of the Year finalist.

Scott and Jolene both work in the store, bringing different skills to the business which is proving to be a successful formula.

“I am responsible for all the buying at the Brisbane Markets selecting

Over the past two years, Jolene has re-branded the store with an update to the logo, uniforms and signage.

“Boonah Fruit Supply is one of the longest standing greengrocers in town but we recognise the need to

create a contemporary, fresh brand for modern retailing - still keeping the tradition of personal service,” said Jolene.

AMAZING DUO, JOLENE AND SCOTT MARTIN IN FRONT OF THEIR AWARD WINNING SHOP BOONAH FRUIT SUPPLY.

Industry Threat of mines still on the agenda The threat of mines swallowing up

• Renewed calls for more landowners

valuable farming lands in the Darling

to join in the high-profile 'locking the

Downs is still causing a noisy protest

gate' campaign.

from growers while they wait on State

• Cougar Energy flagging it will

Government legislation to protect prime

challenge the Queensland

agricultural land after mining companies.

Government's proposal to halt its underground coal gasification

Demonstrators made their thoughts known at a Country Cabinet in Toowoomba recently, some two and a half years from the initial promise of legislation to protect prime cropping country.

activities at Kingaroy.

• Friends of the Earth lodging an objection to Xstrata Coal's massive open cut coal mine proposed for Wandoan district.

With hundreds of properties under threat,

Farm lobby groups at odds with

the issue shows no sign of disappearing

government over the food versus

off the political agenda with:

mining debate, say their cause has national implications, principally

• Mining company Bandanna

because food security, or lack of it,

announcing plans to mine the 'Golden

helped trigger the outbreak of riots in

Triangle' in Central Queensland.

the Middle East.

Skeptism over agriculture exclusion to carbon scheme Farm groups are extremely skeptical

In announcing the government's carbon

despite the Federal Government

pricing framework, Prime Minister Julia

pledging htat agriculture is excluded

Gillard said the government wanted a

from its proposed carbon pricing

scheme in place, by July 1, 2012.

scheme to allow more time to get the

Ms Gillard said the scheme, as it stood

sector's emissions pricing right.

now, did not propose agricultural

Growers have warned the final carbon pricing scheme could potentially create collateral damage for farmers and rural businesses from rising input costs, such as electricity, fuel and fertiliser.

emissions in the carbon pricing system because the measures and mechanisms for counting agricultural emissions were "simply too complex".

She said the government wanted to keep working with farmers and the

Groups say they are "under no illusion"

agricultural community to ensure they

the scheme would insulate them from

"get the benefits of changing practices

the broader impacts of a carbon price.

and changing carbon”.

events

Calendar

37

Busy conference year ahead 2011 has a busy few months ahead on the conference and industry events calendar:

12-14 April

13 May

1-4 June

GROWING LEADERS FORUM, VARIOUS VENUES, BRISBANE, QLD

QUEENSLAND STRAWBERRY GROWERS CONGRESS, CROWNE PLAZA PELICAN WATERS, CALOUNDRA, QLD

AUSTRALIAN BANANA GROWERS COUNCIL CONVENTION, HYATT REGENCY, COOLUM, QLD

For more information contact Lourens Grobler on 0438 752 177, enquiries@qldstrawberries.com.au or visit www.qldstrawberries.com.au.

For more information contact Robert Seaman or Marion Powell on 07 3254 0522 , email bananacongress@ acclaimsemm.com.au or visit www.abgc.org.au.

For more information contact Dianne Fullelove on 0413 101 646 or email diannefullelove@optusnet.com.au.

National leadership program for the vegetable industry designed for people wishing to take up leadership roles

14-16 April AUSVEG CONVENTION, SEBEL-CITIGATE HOTEL, BRISBANE, QLD For more information contact William Churchill on (03) 9822 0388 or email convention@ausveg.com.au.

Up to 800 delegates to join exhibitors for a congress that examines the Australian vegetable and potato industries.

22-26 April EASTER AND ANZAC DAY HOLIDAYS

13 May BRISBANE PRODUCE MARKET GALA DINNER, CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE, BRISBANE, QLD For more information contact Amy Kearns on 07 39 15 4200, akearns@brisbanemarkets.com.au or visit brisbanemarkets.com.au.

The annual dinner and awards night is a must for the markets community with this year’s theme From Boots to Suits, celebrating the spirit of Queenslanders.

Annual congress with speakers and networking opportunities.

14 May BOWEN DISTRICT GROWERS ASSOCIATION GALA DINNER, BOWEN, QLD For more information contact Denise Kreymborg on (07) 4785-2860 or email bdgainc@bigpond.com.

The annual gala dinner and networking function for Bowen growers and the horticulture Industry.

18-21 May AUSTRALIAN MANGO INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE, CROWNE PLAZA, DARWIN, NT For more information contact Trevor Dunmall on contact Trevor Dunmall on 0400 808 689, email IDM@mangoes.net.au or visit www.mangoes.net.au.

A biannual national conference including a field day, plenary sessions, workshops and great networking opportunities.

Public holiday closures Brisbane Produce Market will be closed on all public holidays during the Easter period, Anzac Day and the Labour Day holiday.

For further information on fresh produce deliveries and purchases, please contact your wholesaler or check trading hours on line at www.brisbanemarkets.com.au.

A forum to report and discuss important issues that are relevant to the future development of the Australian Banana Industry.

8-10 June PRODUCE MARKETING ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE AND TRADESHOW, BRISBANE CONFERENCE AND EXHBITION CENTRE, QLD For more information contact Sharnah Coulthart on 0428 491 408 or email sharnahc@producegroup.com.au.

An annual forum including conference, tradeshow and field trips where all sectors of the fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain come together to discuss marketing and distribution.

4-13 June GAYNDAH ORANGE FESTIVAL, GAYNDAH, QLD For more information contact Judy Shepherd on 07 4161 1967, email sheps@bigpond.com or visit www.orangefestival.com.au.

A celebration of Gayndah’s citrus industry featuring street parades, competitions, dinners, entertainment and sporting events.

30 June – 1 July MELON MARKETING FORUM, JUPITER’S CASINO, TOWNSVILLE, QLD For more information contact Dianne Fullelove on 0413 101 646 or email idp@melonaustralia.org.au.

Event includes a tradeshow, field trips and presentations on national and international approaches to marketing.

and

Healthy Weather won’t affect fruit and vegetable eating message While wild weather events brought

‘Crunch Time’ school classroom

challenging times to the Queensland

presentations, which are tailored to

fruit and vegetable industry, it’s even

years 2-4 and 5-7 respectively.

more important that the Brisbane Markets Queensland Kids Fresh Net (QKFN) program’s healthy eating message be served up to thousands of children.

“There has been excellent support for the program over the years and this has continued this year despite the wild weather that greeted the beginning of the school year,” said Mrs Peterson.

Brisbane Markets Marketing and

“Term one bookings are at capacity with

Communications Manager Maree

over 2000 students to be educated.”

Peterson said it was relatively easy to put fresh fruit and vegetables on the table throughout most of the year.

However, parents needed some helpful ideas from the kids when fresh produce carried blemishes, or when family favourites were difficult to source after the recent dramatic weather conditions.

Both QKFN presentations are free and designed to improve healthy eating habits in children, parents, teachers and tuckshop convenors.

Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) launched the program in 2003 with the support of the wholesaler representative organisation Brismark, in response to

Mrs Peterson said Brisbane Produce

research which demonstrated that diet

Market QKFN team was helping all

related health problems such as obesity,

they could, by continuing to present

cancers, high cholesterol and diabetes

its popular ‘Apples ain’t Apples’ and

were increasing in children.

STUDENTS FROM ST OLIVER PLUNKETT SCHOOL (CANNON HILL) TAKE PART IN AN APPLES AINT APPLES PRESENTATION.

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*Source: Logistik Journal 2009

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