 |
| An aerial picture of the city at the height of the flood which followed the release of water from the Wivenhoe Dam. |
A CLASS action against the Queensland Government is firming with Maurice Blackburn solicitors expecting the results of flood modelling back within weeks.
Maurice Blackburn hired US-based dam operators earlier this year to carry out modelling on where floodwater would have reached had the dam been operated correctly during the devastating January 2011 floods.
Maurice Blackburn principal solicitor Damian Scattini said the indication was that the modelling would give the firm the evidence it needed to file the class action.
"We are well advanced in the modelling and we have got experts that are answering the question, 'was it operated to the level of a reasonable dam operator?'" he said. "If - and only if - the answer was 'no' to that question, what difference did it make?
"We are well advanced in both, and the dam was not operated adequately, and it made a significant difference."
The law firm held public meetings around Ipswich earlier this year telling the public of its intention to pursue a case against the State Government.
"We are getting very much closer. There's a huge amount of data, but we are getting closer.
"We'll certainly have enough information to make a decision one way or the other, but as we get closer the class action is likely."
It has been rumoured flood victims could stand to receive $200,000 pay outs, but Mr
Scattini said there was no way on estimating what each individual could receive.
"It depends very much on what you lost. It's too soon to be saying what they will receive.
"The aim of this sort of law is to make you whole again as much as money can.
"We haven't turned our attention to a figure for each person."
The process has been rigorous with the Maurice Blackburn team spending close to a year collating information.
"It's been many months. We've been working on this for a year. We were at the inquiry every day. We've lived and breathed this for a long time now, which makes us appreciate the scope of it."
www.QT.com.au
27.11.12
