Queensland Floods
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Seven rescued as Mt Isa floods
SEVEN people were rescued from the same Leichardt River crossing in Mt Isa as flood waters rose after a night of heavy rain in the region.
Police were called just after 11.30pm after reports a man and a woman had attempted to cross the river on foot.
Around 5.20am, police were again called after five people were washed from the crossing.
All people have been accounted and none were injured as a result.
Police are urging motorists and pedestrians to remember - if it is flooded, forget it.
SEVEN people were rescued from the same Leichardt River crossing in Mt Isa as flood waters rose after a night of heavy rain in the region.
Police were called just after 11.30pm after reports a man and a woman had attempted to cross the river on foot.
Around 5.20am, police were again called after five people were washed from the crossing.
All people have been accounted and none were injured as a result.
Police are urging motorists and pedestrians to remember - if it is flooded, forget it.
Anyone with information which could assist with this matter should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au 24hrs a day.
16.12.12
Plan shows Sunshine Coast hasn't learnt a thing
By Bill Hoffman
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| Flooding on Brisbane Rd, Mooloolaba. |
JUST two years on from the devastating Queensland floods and little more than a year after the Floods Commission of Inquiry handed down its findings, Sunshine Coast councillors have produced a draft planning scheme that indicates how little we have learnt.
Examination of the document quickly draws attention to flood overlay mapping which reveals the true extent of this region's vulnerability.
Yet rather than steer our future away from more harm, councilors and planners have simply bowed to pressure from the State Government and development lobby and given us more of the same.
It is possible to make a stand and simply say "no, enough is enough". But that would take courage and require a vision beyond that of self.
Let me quote from the documents.
"The purpose of the Flood hazard overlay code is to ensure development protects people and avoids or mitigates the potential adverse impacts of flood and storm tide inundation on property, economic activity and the environment, taking into account the predicted effects of climate change."
What could possibly be wrong with such a sentiment, you may ask?
Well as always the devil is in the detail.
It goes on:
"The purpose of the Flood hazard overlay code will be achieved through the following overall outcomes:-
(a) development does not occur on land subject to flooding except where:-
(i) the development satisfies one or more of the following criteria:-
(A) the development is on land already committed to urban development by an approval granted prior to the commencement of the planning scheme;
(B) the development is on land identified in a structure plan as an area intended for urban development;
(C) the development is infill development within an existing developed area;
(D) there is an overriding community need in the public interest for the development; or
(E) the development is for the infrastructure identified on the planning scheme maps; and
(ii) the impacts of flooding on the development can be effectively ameliorated such that there is no foreseeable risk to life or property;
(b) development protects floodplains and the flood conveyance capacity of waterways;
(c) development in areas at risk from flood and storm tide inundation is compatible with the nature of the defined flood or storm tide event;
(d) the safety of people is protected and the risk of harm to property and the natural environment from flood and storm tide inundation is minimised;
(e) development does not result in a material increase in the extent or severity of flood or storm tide inundation."
In other words we won't accept development on land subject to flooding except, well, choose your excuse.
www.Sunshine CoastDaily.com.au
12.12.12
More flood warning systems for southern Queensland
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| Farms near Oakey Creek were inundated during the 2011 flood |
Toowoomba Regional Council is planning to extend the Gowrie Creek flood warning system across the Oakey catchment.
Mayor Paul Antonio says even though there was no loss of life in the town during the 2011 flood, "we certainly had real problems around inundation of houses."
Farming properties were also badly affected by the flood.
"We know water didn't get away in Oakey," the mayor explains. "I think there are a number of factors people really need to have a hard look at. Maybe the impact of the railway line. The impact of the bypass."
"There's not a lot of history left around there. The last serious flood in Oakey was way back in the mid 80s. A lot of knowledge has been lost."
Councillor Antonio hopes the study, and the implementation of the monitoring system, will be completed during 2013.
The flood warning system is expected to cost $510,000. The state government will contribute $204,000 through the Local Government Grants and Subsidies Program Flood Response.
Retention basins in Toowoomba
Councillor Antonio says one of the big issues in Toowoomba city is houses and businesses built close to the creeks.
The plan is to reduce the amount of water that flows in the streams by extending the network of water retention basins.
"All of that has been forward budgeted without any additional levy on anybody. We certainly need to make sure that in Toowoomba we have an early warning system as well as a flood mitigation system."
Paul Antonio says the region is "reasonably" well prepared for floods. "We've learned a lot from the event of 2011," he says.
www.ABC.net.au
28.11.12
