VIDEO: Peter rebuilds Kinka home from scratch after Marcia
LIFE will carry on as normal in about three weeks' time for cyclone victim Peter Bickhoff.
That's about the time when the repairs to Peter's beach house in Kinka will be finished, after Tropical Cyclone Marcia caused between $70,000 and $80,000 worth of damage to his property.
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The extent of the damage meant the majority of the house had to be rebuilt; and with it, the opportunity to rebuild it to contemporary cyclone building standards, which it did not have previously.
Marcia ripped the roof off Peter's property and tossed it about 500m up the road and into a nearby caravan park. When that happened, rain drenched the house and damaged inside walls, carpet and furniture.
Repairs to the cosy two-bedroom home are just about finished, three months after the cyclone hit.
Peter lives in north Rockhampton. He bought his Kinka Beach home in 1988 so he and his family could holiday near the ocean.
The day after the cyclone, Peter drove to Yeppoon and ripped up everything that was damaged. He placed all the material out the front of his house to be picked up by council crews.
"It was a massive shock for me, especially the damage that was done inside," he said.
Peter's home is one of hundreds that Suncorp Insurance has been working to repair in the aftermath of the cyclone.
Suncorp Insurance spokesman Joshua Cooney said the insurer was making strong progress with homes being rebuilt to cyclone standards.
"We're pleased to say that within three months of the cyclone 47% of our customers are either back in their homes, have had their cars repaired or they've received payment for their claim," he said.
"More than 3500 home and motor repairs have been carried out, with a focus on repairing homes to cyclone standards."
Key cyclone stats
More than 10,700 claims were lodged with Suncorp Insurance following Cyclone Marcia (10,100 home claims and 615 motor claims)
47% of claims finalised to date, including 3500 home and motor repairs
Majority of the most severely damaged homes and cars came from Rockhampton (42%), Yeppoon (41%) and Biloela (12%)
