BRISBANE-based warehousing and distribution company DNV Transport is using its transport services to deliver goods to Lismore in the aftermath of a major flooding event.

The company is receiving donations at several locations around south-east Queensland to drive to the flood-affected community.

The initiative inspired a similar relief operation in New South Wales, organised by Sydney-based logistics company Mondiale VGL.

Co-ordinated by DNV Transport director David Carswell, three semi-trailer loads and three trailer loads of donations have already been transported into Northern New South Wales as part of the flood relief drive.

Mr Carswell told DCN he was driven to help the community after seeing the how the floods had devastated customers’ and clients’ homes and businesses.

“Some of them have lost everything. One customer lost his whole business, and another customer has roughly 20 staff who were couch-hopping because they’d lost everything in their houses.

“We put together sleeping bags, air mattresses, cooking equipment, food, water, and cleaning supplies, just to let them know they’re not alone.

“It’s just part of the Aussie spirit – you help your neighbour.”

He said some of his company’s staff were moved to help and raise awareness after seeing the crisis first-hand, and many of the donations have come from unexpected places.

“A lot of the people helping are the ones who are less fortunate than others. People are giving their own shirt off their back. There’s a lot of generosity out there in the community.”

He said even store managers have contributed once learning of the motivation behind the purchase of unusually large quantities of goods.

“One store noticed we’d been in three times in three days and had spent a thousand dollars and asked what it was all for. They said, ‘here, have an extra camping mattress and a sleeping bag as well’.”

Located in Brisbane, DNV Transport also experienced the extreme east-coast weather event behind the flooding.

Though the business itself was not significantly impacted, local logistics took a hit, with many trucks and drivers unable to travel on Queensland roads.

“We couldn’t go to some deliveries for some customers because of the flooding in the low-lying areas. Everything was held up in the yard, or it was staggered.

“We had one truck stay in Gympie for four days, because he couldn’t make it through the flood waters.”

Mr Carswell said the flooding situation in Brisbane is what prompted him to make his first delivery of a pallet of water, and five shopping trolleys’ worth of food and cleaning supplies to Northern NSW. He described his first visit as an eye-opener.

“You get absorbed into what’s happened down there, and you can only feel for the people it happened to.

“You can only hope that, if this happened to us, someone would reach out and do the right thing.”

Mr Carswell encouraged Queenslanders to contribute to the flood relief drive by donating clothes and homely essentials such as white goods and furniture, which should be clean and in good condition.

“They’re good-hearted, hard-working Australians; they deserve more than unwanted goods. They deserve something like what we have at home.”

For more information, contact David Carswell DNV Transport at dave@dnvtransport.com.au, or Chris Roberts at Chris@3dlogistics.com.au.