 |
The 2011 flood affected 29,000
homes and businesses in Brisbane and Ipswich. |
IPSWICH councillor Paul Tully says the State Government faces a payout of more than $1 billion if it is proven Wivenhoe Dam was negligently managed in the lead-up to the 2011 flood.
Cr Tully said Australia's largest class action was going ahead against the State Government over the 2011 Brisbane River flood.
He said Maurice Blackburn Lawyers confirmed they will be proceeding with the lawsuit in the Queensland Supreme Court on behalf of victims of the flood which affected 29,000 homes and businesses in Brisbane and Ipswich.
The announcement, he said, was the "best news for flood victims since January 2011".
"I am urging all flood victims, including home and business owners, renters and anyone else who has suffered losses as a result of the 2011 flood, to sign up for the class action," Cr Tully said.
"This is likely to be the first and only opportunity for flood victims to recover the losses they suffered in the flood. Flood victims have nothing to lose and everything to gain by signing up for the no-win, no-fee class action."
Cr Tully who lost his home at Goodna said it was hardest-hit suburb in south-east Queensland with 600 properties destroyed.
"The Floods Commission of Inquiry specifically found the Wivenhoe Dam had not been managed in accordance with the official operating manual from 8am on the Saturday preceding the flood on Tuesday, January 11, 2011," he said. "I am confident the class action will be successful.
"I am urging the State Government to act as a model litigant in this matter and not rely on legal technicalities to resist the legitimate claims of flood victims who have suffered enough."
A Maurice Blackburn spokeswoman said: "Maurice Blackburn will be providing an update to people and businesses who have registered for the floods class action shortly, and we will be making an announcement on the status of the action after that."
Cr Tully said Australia's largest class action was going ahead against the State Government over the 2011 Brisbane River flood.
He said Maurice Blackburn Lawyers confirmed they will be proceeding with the lawsuit in the Queensland Supreme Court on behalf of victims of the flood which affected 29,000 homes and businesses in Brisbane and Ipswich.
The announcement, he said, was the "best news for flood victims since January 2011".
"I am urging all flood victims, including home and business owners, renters and anyone else who has suffered losses as a result of the 2011 flood, to sign up for the class action," Cr Tully said.
"This is likely to be the first and only opportunity for flood victims to recover the losses they suffered in the flood. Flood victims have nothing to lose and everything to gain by signing up for the no-win, no-fee class action."
Cr Tully who lost his home at Goodna said it was hardest-hit suburb in south-east Queensland with 600 properties destroyed.
"The Floods Commission of Inquiry specifically found the Wivenhoe Dam had not been managed in accordance with the official operating manual from 8am on the Saturday preceding the flood on Tuesday, January 11, 2011," he said. "I am confident the class action will be successful.
"I am urging the State Government to act as a model litigant in this matter and not rely on legal technicalities to resist the legitimate claims of flood victims who have suffered enough."
A Maurice Blackburn spokeswoman said: "Maurice Blackburn will be providing an update to people and businesses who have registered for the floods class action shortly, and we will be making an announcement on the status of the action after that."
www.QT.com.au - 6.6.13
