Peter's Fish Shop owner George Kontakos reflects on the flood’s impact.
Photo by
Hailey Wight
Every winter, Mooroopna Hardware co-owner April Campanelli finds herself watching the rivers and wondering how much water is coming down from the mountains.
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Four years after the 2022 floods hit the region, the financial and emotional effects are still being felt across the business community.
“The flow-on effects … they’re not a short period of time thing,” she said.
New research from insurer QBE has found communities affected by major natural disasters had almost 10 per cent fewer small businesses than expected two years after an event, representing about $43 million in annual economic activity that was never realised.
The Recovery Gap analysed seven major bushfires, floods and cyclones between 2018 and 2023, including the 2022 floods.
Ms Campanelli said Mooroopna had experienced significant business turnover since the floods, with fewer businesses being around also affecting those that remained.
Mooroopna Hardware owners Joey and April Campanelli have highlighted the ongoing impacts of natural disasters.
Photo by
Hailey Wight
“There has been significant business turnover in quite a few of the shop spaces,” she said.
“There’s less businesses around, so there’s less customers.”
She said the risk of future flooding could also influence whether prospective business owners chose to establish themselves in the area.
“Any business, any person that’s business savvy that’s looking at opening a business is going to consider those things,” she said.
For The Sanctuary Church senior leader Pastor Ryan Black, the lasting effects are evident in both the damage to the church and the loss of its Life Op Shop, which never reopened.
“It’s the same bricks but everything else is new,” he said.
Changes to reduce future damage included concrete flooring and removable carpet squares, but Pastor Black said the threat of another flood remained a source of anxiety for many.
The Sanctuary Church senior leader Pastor Ryan Black says he hopes the reopened church is a place of hope for the community.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
“The rivers were up not that long ago; you think, is this going to happen again? And am I equipped to go through that again?” he said.
The Life Op Shop could not recover from the damage and loss of stock.
“We couldn’t keep paying our full-time wages when there was no stock to sell,” Pastor Black said.
“We had to step down good people, which was the worst thing.”
“Don’t get me wrong, insurances and all that — that’s all gone skyrocketed up too,” he said.
Mr Kontakos said he did not want the story to focus solely on the negatives, pointing to his family business’s recovery as a positive outcome.
Volunteer Sue-Ellen Russell at Peter’s Fish Shop during the 2022 floods.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
QBE Australia Pacific general manager Ming Yiu Song said recovery was often measured by what had been rebuilt, overlooking businesses that never reopened and economic opportunities that disappeared.
“Every small business lost can mean fewer jobs, fewer services, less investment and fewer opportunities,” she said.
The report found affected communities had about three per cent fewer businesses than expected in the year of a disaster, increasing to four per cent after one year and nine per cent after two years.
Ms Song said disaster preparedness, reliable infrastructure, local employment and strong community connections could help communities recover.
Pastor Black said community support helped locals navigate the immediate aftermath and long-term challenges.
“I’ve seen the community come together,” he said.
While the church had recovered, Pastor Black said he remained conscious of those still facing the economic and emotional strain of the floods.
“As a church, we’re on the other side. What about those who haven’t [made it]?” he said.
The Life Church reopened as The Sanctuary Church in 2025.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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