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| Brisbane River flood at Goodna |
DOWNSTREAM residents and business-owners, hit hard by last year's historic flood deluge, have thrown their support behind a possible class action against the State Government.
Brisbane-based firm Maurice Blackburn and litigation funder IMF Australia are investigating a claim with Queensland's flood victims over actions of the Wivenhoe Dam operators between January 7 and 12 last year.
The investigation is focused on whether the State Government and the flood operations engineers breached any duty of care by not causing greater releases of water earlier in the flood event, which could have reduced peak release rates and peak flood levels.
Hundreds of people turned out to meetings in Brisbane on Sunday and Monday regarding the progress of the class action.
A majority of the crowd was residents and business owners from flood affected areas of Ipswich, Brisbane and the Lockyer Valley.
The class action alleges the Wivenhoe Dam operators waited too long to release water and failed to protect businesses and landowners.
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers principal Damian Scattini said the vast majority of people who attended the meetings had joined forces.
The firm had engaged experts to assess aspects of the claim and they were due to provide response in July.
"We will report back by the end of July on whether we will proceed with our action, and I expect we will," he said.
"It is a big effort but it is very important case."
About 3000 people have signed up to the class action.
Brisbane-based firm Maurice Blackburn and litigation funder IMF Australia are investigating a claim with Queensland's flood victims over actions of the Wivenhoe Dam operators between January 7 and 12 last year.
The investigation is focused on whether the State Government and the flood operations engineers breached any duty of care by not causing greater releases of water earlier in the flood event, which could have reduced peak release rates and peak flood levels.
Hundreds of people turned out to meetings in Brisbane on Sunday and Monday regarding the progress of the class action.
A majority of the crowd was residents and business owners from flood affected areas of Ipswich, Brisbane and the Lockyer Valley.
The class action alleges the Wivenhoe Dam operators waited too long to release water and failed to protect businesses and landowners.
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers principal Damian Scattini said the vast majority of people who attended the meetings had joined forces.
The firm had engaged experts to assess aspects of the claim and they were due to provide response in July.
"We will report back by the end of July on whether we will proceed with our action, and I expect we will," he said.
"It is a big effort but it is very important case."
About 3000 people have signed up to the class action.
www.TheSatellite.com.au
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25.6.12
