Acting Prime Minister Wayne Swan and Acting Premier of Queensland Andrew Fraser today joined Maroons State of Origin legend Darren Lockyer to officially reopen Suncorp Stadium's refurbished dressing rooms, ruined in January's floods.
Almost a year to the day since the flooding of Theodore, one of the first of many Queensland towns flooded last summer, the reopening of the dressing rooms is yet another demonstration of how the state is back bigger and better than ever.
"Queenslanders watched on in awe this year as Darren Lockyer played out much of his final season of footy here at the Cauldron," Mr Swan said.
"Of course Locky was far from alone in demonstrating his guts and determination in the past year, with everyday Queenslanders from all over the state pulling together to battle through the worst natural disasters in our lifetime and rebuild better than ever."
About 93 per cent of state roads and 97 per cent of the rail network has been recovered. All 411 schools affected by the disasters are up and running from their original location and more than 90 per cent of Queensland's national parks have been reopened.
"The Gillard Government has stood shoulder to shoulder with the Bligh Government and the people of Queensland through one of the toughest times in our great state's history," Mr Swan said.
"We've been right in there helping to rebuild Queensland, investing $5.6 billion to help get the job done."
Mr Fraser said that Queensland was better prepared than ever in the event of another summer of wild weather.
"Last month we released the disaster readiness update, and the Queensland Reconstruction Authority has undertaken comprehensive flood mapping, and planning and building guidelines to ensure that Queensland is well prepared for this wet season," Mr Fraser said.
Mr Swan said the Gillard Government is ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with Queensland again should the state experience extreme weather events over summer.