Queensland’s big waterway clean-up kicks off

The sad bit? A number of these vessels appear to have suffered extensive damage, and may not be salvageable.

MSQ has set up an incident control centre to manage the removal of debris washed into waterways, including the Brisbane River where a number of sunken and semi-submerged boats and jet skis will need to be recovered.

“While it is unknown exactly how many boats, jet skis and pontoons have been swept away in the flood, MSQ is trying to reunite owners with their items where possible,” a spokesman for the authority told boatsales.com.au.

“We have asked owners to send us email with registration numbers, ID plates or identifying features to brisbaneICC@tmr.gov.au,” he said.

The number of pontoons washed downstream in the devastating flash floods has sparked calls for them to be registered so that their owners could be traced more easily.

Flood debris, including pontoons, is washing up in places such as Moreton Island near the mouth of the Brisbane River. 

Yet more boats and pontoons washed out into Moreton Bay are yet to be located.

Of concern is the fact that while the level of floodwaters on the Brisbane River is lower than flooding in 2002, a higher number of pontoons have come adrift in this flood.