CAIRNS and Townsville Church properties have come through Cyclone Yasi in remarkably good condition.
Cairns diocese, which bore the brunt of the category 5 cyclone’s ferocity as it crossed near Mission Beach, has reported some damage to schools and churches around Tully and Silkwood.
Cairns diocese Catholic Education Services communication officer Andrea Gregory said damage at schools was mainly to guttering, fencing, signage and water in classrooms although there was some relatively minor structural damage in a couple of instances.
She said St Clare’s School, Tully, and St John’s School, Silkwood, which had been amongst the most damaged schools, were aiming to open tomorrow (February 14).
“However, a definite reopening date is yet to be advised,” she said.
Townsville diocese Catholic Education communications officer Julie Plath said schools around Ingham – Our Lady of Lourdes, Gilroy Santa Maria College, Canossa at Trebonne and St Peter’s at Halifax – were to open last Tuesday.
Cyclone Yasi’s damage bill will exceed $500 million, but a clearer picture will be known in the next few days.
Queensland Treasurer Andrew Fraser said he hoped to “provide greater precision” on the cyclone repair bill when state parliament returned, on February 15.
He said a proper assessment of damage could not be made until authorities had finished reconnecting water and electricity.
