IT'S been a busy start to 2018 for Southern Downs Regional Council officers, who have responded to a number of large and destructive storms across the region.

During the Christmas and New Year period, Council staff attended several callouts across the region including Wallangarra in the South to Goomburra in the North to Leyburn in the West.

On Christmas Day, crews attended to fallen trees in the Stanthorpe and Eukey area and later, over the New Year long weekend, responded to another fallen tree on Pyramids Road at Wyberba.

On Boxing Day, Leyburn, Applethorpe, Girraween and surrounding areas were impacted by significant storms, which immediately resulted in flooded roads and public recreation areas as well as a number of fallen trees.

A swift and strategic response meant Council's rostered officers were on site in the Leyburn, Ballandean, Eukey, Sugarloaf, Wyberba, Saxby Hill and Wallangarra areas from December 27 - 29 undertaking a coordinated clean-up. The crews also attended to isolated fallen trees at Spring Creek, Killarney.

This week Stanthorpe crews have continued clean-up efforts, attending several locations to place Water Over Road and Road Closed Road Flooded signs, while Warwick crews completed cleaning up storm debris in the Leyburn and Allora areas, as well as the Washpool Camping Reserve.

The long term impacts of the storms, if any, will be assessed once all floodwaters have receded.

SDRC Mayor and Local Disaster Management Group Chair, Cr Tracy Dobie said the storms had impacted the community during a time meant for family and celebration.

"The storms had a direct impact on many residents, with trees coming down, restricting access to homes and in some cases affecting livelihoods,” Cr Dobie said.

Cr Dobie said the decision to keep Council operational during the festive period allowed crews to respond to storm damage swiftly and strategically and ease the impacts of the storms on residents.

"In previous years Council offices were closed during the week between Christmas and New Year with all staff taking leave,” Cr Dobie said.

"In 2017, however, Council resolved to remain operational during this period, which meant that there were many staff, which opted not to take leave, on duty.

"This made it much easier for Council to respond to flooding and storm damage which occurred from Christmas Day onwards.

It was very pleasing to see the quick and effective response from operational staff, which are experienced, know their jobs well and are confident in their own and their team's capabilities to deal with these situations.”