Lismore floods crisis becomes a food crisis

NATIONAL NEW SOUTH WALES| QUEENSLAND

disruption to rail links and the derailment of a freight train near Gympie, and the flooding of warehouses.

MGA TMA members did their absolute best to keep stores open and stocked as was possible but faced significant supply difficulties given road closures.

The Metcash Warehouse did an astonishing job attempting to get deliveries to as many locations as possible, sometimes having to navigate almost impassable road routes.

The Fresh Produce markets at Rocklea in Brisbane were completely submerged and could not trade. Metcash, together with many fresh suppliers, set up a fresh produce warehouse at the Dry Grocery Warehouse in Crestmead. These initiatives demonstrate the agility and determination to supply food and groceries to the independent network around Queensland and NSW.

In Longreach, Central Queensland, which was well out of reach of the flood waters, some grocery stores had to shut entirely. The Longreach Fruit Barn shut because there was hardly any fresh produce available to sell. This created a knock-on effect for other local businesses, who used it as their source of fresh produce. Longreach FoodWorks owner and operator, Rose Leggett said Longreach had, thankfully, avoided the kind of panic buying seen in cities during the pandemic.

This natural catastrophe has left many people suffering significant trauma and hardship. On behalf of all members around Australia, MGA TMA extends our best wishes to all affected members. To members who have lost their businesses and homes in this unprecedented rain bomb and flooding event, wishing you a swift recovery back to normality.

MGA TMA stands with our members in flood-impacted regions over this challenging time. Our Employment Law team are available to support and aid members. Please call 1800 888 479 extension 1.

Lismore with a population of 45,000 quickly became a town enduring a food crisis. As catastrophic flood waters regressed, four major supermarkets were besieged, and the remaining three had shelves left bare from the devastation that emerged. Resupplies of food and petrol were restricted, with the town’s supply lines being cut off by road.

Jeff Sykes, store owner and operator of SPAR Lismore, had his whole shop guttered, and had no option but to throw out compromised food items from their shelves. He was unable to save the spoiled supplies to give away to the community. However, a small amount of tin food was able to be salvaged which was donated to evacuation centres.