Qld: Farmers count the cost of devastating Qld storms

AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-2006
Qld: Farmers count the cost of devastating Qld storms

Farmers say fruit and vegetable crops were wiped out in wild storms that lashed south-east
Queensland at the weekend.

The horticulture industry group Growcom says small crop growers in the Cooroy district
and areas near Childers .. are assessing millions of dollars worth of damage to their
farms.

The area was hit by severe hail storms on Saturday .. with wind gusts of up to 200 kilometres.

They pulled down trees and power lines .. damaged buildings .. and ripped roofs from
homes on the Sunshine Coast .. at Toogoolawah and Esk .. west of Brisbane .. and at Tiaro
.. north of Brisbane.

Growcom chief executive JAN DAVIS says initial reports indicate that mango .. lychee
.. pineapple .. avocado .. pumpkin .. ginger .. passionfruit and stonefruit crops are
among hit.

AAP RTV rm/sc/wz/rt

KEYWORD: STORM QLD (BRISBANE)

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