Flood Damage Restoration Sunshine Coast

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred (March 2026) produced some of the worst flooding in Sunshine Coast LGA history. The Noosa River rose to levels not seen in decades, inundating low-lying properties in Tewantin, Noosaville, and Noosa Heads. The Maroochy River corridor — encompassing Maroochydore, Buderim approaches, and Yandina — flooded across its flat floodplain as 200mm-plus rainfall in 24 hours overwhelmed drainage capacity. The Mooloolah River overflowed its banks in Mooloolaba and Alexandra Headland, affecting both residential and commercial properties in low-lying streets.

Across South East Queensland, Alfred generated more than 132,000 ICA claims. The Sunshine Coast LGA and Noosa Shire accounted for a significant portion of that total. Many properties remain in various stages of incomplete restoration more than a month after the event — structural drying is complete in some, but reinstatement works (plastering, flooring, painting) are still outstanding as contractors work through the backlog.

Our network carries contractors with dedicated Sunshine Coast presence who can pick up mid-restoration scopes, provide supplementary assessments for underquoted repair work, and document additional damage discovered during wall cavity opening.

The Sunshine Coast's canal estate precincts — Kawana Waters, Bokarina, Wurtulla, and Birtinya — present a specific flood restoration challenge. Canal water levels rise during sustained rainfall events, inundating properties that sit at or near canal height. Unlike river flooding which recedes as catchments drain, canal estate flooding can persist as long as the broader waterway system remains elevated.

Critically, during Alfred, parts of the Sunshine Coast's older sewer infrastructure were overwhelmed by the volume and speed of rainfall. Stormwater and sewer overflow mixed with the floodwater entering properties in some areas of Maroochydore, Mooloolaba, and lower-lying residential streets. This creates Category 3 contamination under IICRC S500:2025 — the most serious classification, requiring full decontamination protocols rather than standard drying procedures.

Category 3 restoration involves:

• Full PPE for all restoration workers throughout the decontamination phase
• Opening of all affected wall cavities to inspect and treat concealed wet framing, insulation, and internal linings
• Antimicrobial treatment of all surfaces that contacted Category 3 water
• Air quality testing before any wall reinstatement to confirm mould risk has been addressed
• Detailed documentation of the contamination source and treatment methodology for insurance purposes

If a previous contractor treated your flood-affected property as Category 1 (clean water) when the source was actually Category 3, mould growth behind walls or in subfloor cavities may now be present. We provide reassessment and remediation for these scenarios.

Our contractor network covers all flood-affected areas across the Sunshine Coast LGA and Noosa Shire.

Noosa River corridor: Noosa Heads, Noosaville, Tewantin, Cooroibah, Lake Cootharaba, Boreen Point, Peregian Beach

Maroochy River corridor: Maroochydore, Cotton Tree, Buderim, Yandina, Bli Bli, Nambour, Eudlo, Palmwoods, Woombye

Mooloolah River and coastal: Mooloolaba, Alexandra Headland, Minyama, Parrearra, Bokarina, Wurtulla

Canal estates: Kawana Waters, Birtinya, Bokarina, Wurtulla, Currimundi

Northern Sunshine Coast: Coolum Beach, Marcus Beach, Peregian Springs, Noosa Springs, Doonan, Tinbeerwah

Southern and inland: Caloundra, Landsborough, Beerwah, Glenview, Forest Glen, Sippy Downs, Little Mountain