Hinterland community members who became cut off during the recent south-east Queensland floods say their local council was nowhere to be seen in their time of need.
They are also questioning why a vital council-run causeway, the only way in and out for many, was under construction during a La Niña and the wet season.
According to the Scenic Rim Regional Council, due to a number of reasons it was unable to carry out the works in the dry season.
In February, a large section of the temporary causeway at Illinbah Road on the Gold Coast Hinterland washed away in raging floodwaters.
Hundreds of residents on one side were left stranded, unable to access food, medical supplies, or get to school or work for a week.
They said while the Scenic Rim Regional Council was nowhere to be seen on the ground, members of the community created a makeshift flying fox to carry over food and items like baby formula, fuel, and medicine for cut-off residents.
Illinbah resident of 16 years, Grant Kelly, is half of the duo who created the flying fox.
He said the causeway should never have been under construction at that time, with the area known to flood.
"It was predicted that it was going to be a very wet summer.
"That there, it's like a dry creek, so when it rains it will go. It's a lot of water and they did know it was wet season.
"It was a silly time to do it."
Fellow Illinbah resident of 29 years, Becky Bell-McNee, said it showed poor planning.
"I think some people feel there are certain questions to be answered about why you would choose to pull down a bridge during a La Niña, in wet season," she said.
"Perhaps if they spoke to some locals, we would have said 'Hey, this isn't a great time'."
According to a Scenic Rim Regional Council statement, "budget timing, resource availability, and external funding requirements" meant it was not possible for the works to be carried out as planned in the dry season.
"Council is reviewing its projects for opportunities to undertake waterway works in the dry season," it said.
"Where works are not avoidable, mitigation strategies will be reviewed to limit the potential impacts from flooding.
"Council officers are undertaking a long-term risk assessment of the future use of side tracks, including contingency planning, in the event of a natural disaster."
Mr Kelly said the council should also have done more to help those residents who were cut off from emergency supplies, and sooner.
"They kept saying 'Oh well, if you're in danger call triple-0', but they don't send a helicopter out here for someone needing medication unless it's life threatening.
"I asked them 'Why aren't you getting a footbridge across just in the meantime, for connection, so people can get food, go to work or whatever?' Seriously, there are ways to do it.
Joanne Kelly said residents were quite fearful at first, particularly families with children and animals.
"It was a long time for people who need the money.
"A lot of people down here weren't prepared for that, but once we got the flying fox going people were a lot calmer."
According to council it was "monitoring multiple locations" with the focus on ensuring the community's safety, and the engineering team were working to come up with solutions for once the flood levels reduced.
It said it was in contact with some directly impacted residents about possible detours and was updating its social media pages, website, and Queensland Traffic for road updates.
"Contingency planning was also undertaken for alternative options to reinstate access if the heavy rain persisted for a longer duration, including temporary bridge structures," the council statement said.
"Together with a contractor, council worked closely with the community to allow safe access to this [flying fox] facility, maintaining regular contact with the contractor onsite regarding any possible need for immediate emergency evacuation of residents."
Country camaraderie
Ms Bell-McNee, who lives at the head of the Coomera River, said the event showed why people moved to the country — the community spirit and camaraderie.
"Certainly the older locals can tell you when the big floods come, quite often we're locked down. But this one was a bit different because [of the causeway washing away] you felt much more cut off.
"We kept calling it Illinbah Island because it was like being on an island.
"It was such a good set-up, it was amazing.
"I think being in the bush you get used to everyone pitching in. I think that's why people want to move to this area because that's what people tend to do."
