Essential services are slowly being restored in north Queensland communities hit by Cyclone Ului at the week-end.

Residents in the coastal town of Seaforth lost power on Saturday night as Cyclone Ului battered the coast.

Seaforth shop keeper John O’Hara says his store is one of only a few in the area that has a generator.

“We’ve had no sleep since Friday night and I have to keep up all night to make sure that everything’s running smoothly so we have cold milk and stuff for people the next day,” he said.

25,000 homes and businesses are still without power and Ergon Energy says the majority will be restored by Tuesday night.

Water rationing orders have been lifted in Mackay and the Whitsundays.

The Whitsunday Regional Council has assured residents the water is safe to drink and the town water supply has not been contaminated with sewage.

Queensland Primary Industries Minister Tim Mulherin says he hopes to have an accurate figure later this week on crop damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Ului.

Mr Mulherin says fruit and vegetable growers in the Bowen region have not experienced significant losses because many had not yet planted seedlings.

He says it is hoped that damaged sugarcane can recover if the rain eases, although 10 to 20 per cent of the Proserpine crop may be lost.

He has told Parliament fishing boats have been kept off the water by the wild weather.

“Local seafood retailers have warned there may be fresh seafood shortages at Easter,” he said.

“However the impacts to the fishing industry will not be known until fishing resumes.”

Disaster relief

Special outreach centres have also been set up to make contact with small towns isolated by the cyclone.

West of Mackay in the Pioneer Valley, many smaller rural communities have been without power and phone lines for days.

The SES has set-up outreach centres in Mirani, Finch Hatton and Eungella to address the concerns of residents who have not been able to contact emergency services.

SES worker Errol Sander says only a handful of tasks have been received at the centres but he is expecting more.

“People might be at work in town so once phones start getting back on line we might be receiving calls through the call centre,” he said.

Disaster relief centres have been set up at the Mackay Churches of Christ, Cannonvale TAFE and the Proserpine Community Centre, but there has not been a big rush for financial help in cyclone affected areas.

Community Services Minister Karen Struthers says department staff handed out financial assistance grants to 30 people as of early Tuesday morning and fielded about 140 calls.

People can claim grants of up to $170 while families can get up to $780.

Premier Anna Bligh says most areas of the state are eligible for natural disaster relief following floods and a cyclone.

Ms Bligh says Ergon crews are still working to restore power in areas of north Queensland.

She says the state has had its fair share of natural disasters this wet season, including the floods in the south-west

“Around 80 per cent of the state is under natural disaster relief and recovery arrangements,” she said.

“It’s not that long ago that roughly that percentage was under drought declaration.

“Some are still experiencing drought but I think it is a measure of how quickly things have turned around for some regions.”

- Reporting by Sigrid Brown and Melinda Howells