IT took a major clean-up but trading got underway in a limited capacity at the flood-damaged Brisbane Markets early yesterday morning.
An overnight clean-up on Tuesday (February 1) saw wholesalers work around the clock to open on Wednesday morning to ensure buyers had access to fresh produce.
A clearer picture will emerge of what will be required to restore the Brisbane Markets to full capacity as waters recede.
The facility is owned by Brisbane Markets Limited (BML).
BML chair Anthony Kelly said there was still a lot of work to do to ensure the area is fully functioning.
"But we know what we have to do and how to do it," Mr Kelly said.
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The clean-up efforts were impacted by ongoing road closures leading to difficulties accessing the site via main arterial roads.
"Now that there is better access back to site, we are undertaking essential reinstatement works to clean up and restore all services and warehouses," he said.
"I cannot speak more highly of the efforts shown by BML staff, our contractors and our tenants in going above and beyond to get the site back up and running.
"Their strength of character in the face of ongoing challenges is remarkable."
The Brisbane Markets site was inundated by flood waters which reached a peak on site of about 8m on Monday morning, about 1m lower than the 2011 flood peak.
"We learned a lot from 2011. We have flood mitigation strategies and planning in place to allow BML to get the site back up and running as soon as possible," Mr Kelly said.
"The resilience of the fresh produce industry, and in particular, the wholesalers here in the Markets is inspiring.
"They have moved mountains to ensure fresh produce is on the shelves of local fruit and veg shops."
Vegetable growers keep copping it
WHILE Queensland's largest fresh produce central trading venue aims to get back on its feet, vegetable growers within southern Queensland and northern New South Wales are assessing their losses.
Ausveg national manager - communications Shaun Lindhe said it was yet another blow to growers in the region, and all over Australia, who have faced significant hardship and challenges over the past two years due to COVID-19, supply chain disruptions and input cost rises.
"This is another challenge that growers will work to overcome in the coming weeks and months," Mr Lindhe said.
"The affected regions are some of the most productive in the Australian vegetable industry and were experiencing good seasonal conditions prior to this extreme weather event, which is particularly devastating for growers impacted by these floods.
"Not only this, but the floods are having flow-on effects throughout the broader supply chain, such as road closures and disruptions to a wide range of businesses, including flooding in the Brisbane Produce Market.
"The impact on supply is unclear at this stage, but we call on consumers to support local growers and the local industry through this difficult time and buy fresh produce to help those businesses that have been significantly impacted by floods."
To assist with the collection of flood impact data in Queensland, Ausveg, along with Queensland state member Growcom and the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, are encouraging primary producers to complete the online Natural Disaster Impact Survey and keep records of the impact of the floods on their properties and businesses, including photos.
This information will ensure DAF is able to capture relevant information required to prepare applications for assistance more quickly to support recovery.
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