AAP
Queensland's big wet may have caused more infrastructure damage than Cyclone Larry, the Infrastructure Association of Queensland says.
Most parts of the state have been hit by floods, from the remote far north to the drought-stricken southwest.
In January, cyclones Olga and Neville dumped heavy rain across the state's north and central regions, causing widespread flooding.
And this week's deluge has left swathes of the southwest under water.
Almost three-quarters of Queensland's local government areas - or 52 of the state's 73 councils - have qualified for disaster relief to help with the costs of extensive flooding.
A report on the clean-up after Cyclone Larry in March 2006 put economic damage at $550 million.
In addition, insurance claims came to $370 million, and $216 million in disaster aid was paid to local councils to repair roads and other public assets.
The Infrastructure Association of Queensland says the vast area of Queensland hit by floods this wet season could result in a bill to rival the one Larry left behind.
"Given the extensive spread of the rain that we've had and the flooding that accompanied it you could, in fact, possibly be looking at a larger bill because it seems to have affected a much greater area," the association's executive director Paul Clauson said.
He said assessors would have to be patient and wait for the floodwaters swamping the southwest to subside.
"Sure we've had a lot of flooding, but it may well be that bridges and other infrastructure may have withstood that quite well. Until the floodwaters subside, we really don't know."
The former attorney-general said the government must limit economic damage by quickly repairing roads and other facilities critical to agriculture and other industries.
"They must get onto it very quickly. These roads at the best of times are now what you'd call A-class roads. They're always under a maintenance program, and that will have to be stepped up dramatically," he said.
