SOUTHEAST Queensland communities hit by last year's devastating floods will be able to prepare for any future disasters more quickly.
The federal government has given $46,000 to the Ipswich State Emergency Service (SES) to buy a new sandbagging machine to resist flood.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard says although she heard amazing stories of volunteers making 100 sandbags an hour, the new machine would allow one person to create 300 an hour.
"Because our SES works together and shares resources right across the region, indeed right across the state, it'll make a difference for the SES throughout," she told reporters in Ipswich on Tuesday.
About 2.5 million people were affected and at least 35 died when more than 70 per cent of the state was flooded last summer.
Ipswich, west of Brisbane, was one of the hardest hit communities.
