A FEDERAL politician has slammed the Somerset Regional Council (SRC) for not demanding more money from State and Federal governments to fix their flood ravaged region.

SRC has requested $48 million from the Queensland Reconstruction Authority to fix flood ruined infrastructure in towns such as Fernvale, Esk and Lowood.

But Federal member for Blair, Shayne Neumann, whose electorate covers the majority of the Somerset region, said the figure was too low and questioned whether SRC had properly investigated the extent of the flood damage.

“I'm very surprised at the small amount of money the Somerset council is asking the government for considering the Somerset Regional Council covers the most land of any south-east Queensland council,” Mr Neumann said.

“I'm no engineering expert but I thought they would have needed millions more to fix the amount of damage that occurred in January's flood.

“That whole region was absolutely devastated.”

SRC chief executive Bob Bain said the figure was only preliminary.

He said the council had hired an independent group of engineers to investigate how much infrastructure needed to be fixed.

“We have to go on what our engineers tell us and that's the figure they came back to us with,” Mr Bain said.

“We can't just write down we want this and we want that.

“If the government wants to give us more money we will take it.”