The new Seqwater can't be any worse than the old Seqwater

Minister for Energy and Water Supply The Honourable Mark McArdle

Taps on for new Bulk Water Authority The State Government has announced the name for south east Queensland’s (SEQ) new single statutory bulk water authority which will commence operations on 1 January 2013.   Minister for Energy and Water Supply Mark McArdle said “Seqwater” had been chosen for its cost-efficiencies and ease of transition for the new entity, its customers and suppliers.   “Seqwater will replace three former water authorities, LinkWater, the South East Queensland Water Grid Manager and the former Seqwater,” Mr McArdle said.   “The Queensland Water Commission (QWC) will also be abolished on 31 December 2012.   “The new Seqwater, which will be staffed by committed and trained professionals, will commence operations on 1 January 2013 with a commitment to excellence in service delivery and catchment management at the lowest possible cost.   “Legislation covering Seqwater’s operations is in place, and between now and New Year’s Day, the necessary administrative changes will be finalised to wind up the existing entities and transfer responsibility to Seqwater.”   Mr McArdle said Seqwater would focus on creating a safe, reliable, sustainable and lowest cost possible water supply that met the needs of SEQ’s three million water users.   “Amalgamating the former entities and abolishing the QWC to form a single bulk water supply authority servicing SEQ will reduce board and executive costs and enable the new business to rationalise administrative and corporate costs,” he said.   “Creating the new Seqwater delivers on the Government’s election commitment to simplify the complex, costly bulk water supply sector and reduce cost of living increases pressures for SEQ households.”   Mr McArdle said the new Seqwater had a charter to deliver effective planning and efficient infrastructure.   “Seqwater will deliver the Government’s vision to plan properly for south east Queensland’s future water needs and in early 2013 will develop its corporate strategy and plan setting out its objectives and priorities and their expected outcomes,” he said.   “Cutting duplication and creating a single, more streamlined water authority will result in improved planning and efficiencies for the state’s future water needs.   “This will ultimately translate into less upward pressure on water prices, which will benefit Queensland families who have battled rising water charges for several years.” 21 December 2012 COMMENT: Who will be the CEO of the new Seqwater?  Will it be the current CEO Peter Borrows who was in charge during the disastrous Brisbane River flood of 11-12 January 2011?

Terrible flood

Cr Paul Tully -
promising to continue
to help local flood victims.

It is almost 2 years since the devastating Brisbane River flood of 11 and 12 January 2011.

 

The Greater Goodna Flood Group was established to help all flood victims to get back on their feet as part of a support network with Goodna Flood Friends.

 

Goodna was the worst affected suburb in southeast Queensland last year with over 600 homes and businesses destroyed.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in 2013 as we all stick together and provide the mutual help and support which has been forthcoming from our local community during the past two years. - PaulGTully@gmail.com

 

Now, just for a little fun at Christmas time:

It had been raining for days and days and a terrible flood had come over the land. The waters rose so high that one man was forced to climb onto the roof of his house.

As the waters rose higher and higher, a man in a rowboat appeared, and told him to get in. "No," replied the man on the roof. "I have faith in the Lord; the Lord will save me." So the man in the rowboat went away. The man on the roof prayed for God to save him.

The waters rose higher and higher and suddenly a speedboat appeared. "Climb in!" shouted the man in the boat. "No," replied the man on the roof. "I have faith in the Lord; the Lord will save me." So the man in the speedboat went away. The man on the roof prayed for God to save him.

The waters continued to rise. A helicopter appeared and over the loudspeaker, the pilot announced he would lower a rope to the man on the roof. "No," replied the man on the roof. "I have faith in the Lord; the Lord will save me." So the helicopter went away. The man on the roof prayed for God to save him.

The waters rose higher and higher and eventually they rose so high that the man on the roof was washed away, and alas, the poor man drowned.

Upon arriving in heaven, the man marched straight over to God.

"Heavenly Father," he said, "I had faith in you, I prayed to you to save me, and yet you did nothing. Why?"

God gave him a puzzled look, and replied "I sent you two boats and a helicopter, what more did you expect?"

21.12.12

Power boat racing could pollute Wivenhoe Dam with oil and petrol

If Sean Choat’s plans materialise,
we could see powerboats such
as these at Wivenhoe Dam.

POWERBOAT racing on Wivenhoe Dam as part of a heavily promoted Somerset Water Festival is something Ipswich West MP Sean Choat is committed to bringing about as part of his 2013 program.

  Mr Choat would like to see rules currently preventing powerboats from operating on Wivenhoe Dam overturned.

 He sees great potential for a water festival featuring powerboat racing as a major tourist attraction that would be embraced by the public and boost the economy in the Somerset and Lockyer Valley area.

 "Any sort of carnival needs to cater for all parts of the community, but I think people want to see a bit of competition," he said.

 "Some of the powerboat racing I've seen on the tele is fantastic and I reckon people would love to see it locally. Spectators would come from all over to watch it.

 "If that happened we could have a 'Somerset Water Festival' going over a couple of weekends.

 "There are not too many bodies of water that size that would be conducive to this sort of thing in Queensland.

 "A dam like Wivenhoe is made for it and you could do it without taking out the whole thing.

 "There are plenty of inlets and places where they can do other activities when that is going on.

 "The potential for this is amazing."

 Mr Choat acknowledged that "SEQ Water has been against it".

 "But I think that is short-sighted and a mistake," he said.

 "A lot of people have said to me, 'Why can't we have powerboats on Wivenhoe?' They are on Somerset and it is the same water.

 "I believe Wivenhoe is something people should be able to use and be proud of. It is big enough for powerboats.

 "SEQ Water has got to change its current policy of no power boats on Wivenhoe. There are ways to safeguard water quality.

 "The business community see it as a big drawcard. Fernvale would be a big winner but also places like Esk, Lowood and even some of the smaller places like Toogoolawah would get something out of it too.

 "I have already spoken to the minister (for energy and water supply) Mark McArdle to say it is something I will be pursuing."

www.QT.com.au

17.12.12
 

Dodgy insurance companies face Government crack down on unfair insurance claims



One disgruntled RACQ policy
holder at Goodna who
eventually beat the
 company before the
Insurance Ombudsman.

The federal government has announced plans to crack down on unfair clauses in insurance contracts following loud protests from consumers that such clauses have caused them to be short-changed on fire, floods and natural disasters claims, according to The Australian Financial Review.

Labor outlawed unfair terms in consumer contracts last year, but insurance industry lobbying convinced the government to exempt general insurance contracts, which includes most motor vehicle, life, home and contents and public liability policies.

Under draft laws to be released in early 2013, an insurance contract will be deemed unfair if it would cause a significant imbalance in the parties' rights, cause detriment to a claimant or is not reasonably necessary.

“Consumers should not have to fight insurance claims with one hand tied behind their back because of unfair contract terms,” Assistant Treasurer David Bradbury said, according to the AFR.

“These new protections will allow consumers, or the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) as the regulator, to challenge a term in the courts.”

Concerns spiked following flooding in Queensland last year. The Queensland flood inquiry found that insurer CGU had rejected about 12 per cent of claims, while AAMI rejected 23 per cent of claims and QBE rejected nearly two-thirds of total claims.

www.BusinessSpectator.com.au

20.12.12

COMMENT: This is an important initiative by the Australian Government.  It will ensure that dodgy insurance companies like RACQ Insurance are held to account when they try to use dubious practices such as highly-selective definitions of what is - or is not - a flood.  Thanks to RACQ Insurance, which many people believe is nothing more than a rapacious revenue collector, thousands of residents of Ipswich, Goodna and Brisbane found to their detriment after the 2012 Brisbane River flood that they were not covered for riverine flooding.

This was something which was hidden deep within the fine print of their policies and was readily decipherable only by a High Court Judge or an Oxford Law Graduate. If rotten insurance companies were made out of electricity, RACQ Insurance would be a giant powerhouse!

Warning to flood victims - Be prepared to sign up for the proposed flood class action

Residents at Goodna being briefed in 2012
on the proposed class action by
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers.

 

Maurice Blackburn Lawyers in conjunction with Litigation Funder IMF (Australia) is still undertaking the key preliminary work to determine if their proposed class action will proceed against the State Government and/or Seqwater, the operator of the Wivenhoe and Somerset Dams.

 

The issue at stake will be whether or not there was negligence in the operation of the dams in the lead up to the devastating Brisbane River floods of 11 and 12 January 2011.

 

The Greater Goodna Flood Group has consistently recommended that flood victims signs up for the Maurice Blackburn class action.

 

You can sign-up online 24/7 by clicking here.

 

There is one individual still going around telling people NOT to sign up for any class action.

 

The latest missive from that person states: "I still recommend folk do not sign for any legal action until it is clear which, if any, is preferable."

 

This reminds us of the person who waited for the post-Christmas sales and then missed out on the item they so desperately wanted.

 

The Greater Goodna Flood Group is committed to helping people to receive justice on fair and reasonable terms following their losses almost 2 years ago.

 

Dilly-dallying in signing up for the flood class action is probably the dumbest thing flood victims could do.

 

Flood victims should seriously consider signing up now to ensure their rights are fully protected.

 

By listening to merchants of doom, flood victims might inadvertently miss critical deadlines which will apply to everyone seeking to join the class action.

20.12.12

Brisbane Flood Sequel: Welfare for Kiwis in Australia mooted

Australia should grant Kiwis living long term across the Tasman greater access to public services and welfare, a report by the two countries' Productivity Commissions says.

In a report to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Closer Economic Relations (CER) released today, the commissions made 30 recommendations to increase competitiveness, productivity and economic integration between the two countries.

  

The findings noted the lack of access to public services and welfare for some Kiwis living in Australia, "many of whom have paid taxes for many years".
 

While New Zealanders are able to live and work in Australia with almost no restrictions, those who moved there since 2001 are on a special visa, which many Australian agencies put in a class of temporary residents.

 

 The resulting lack of social provisions has hit headlines here, especially after it emerged Kiwis were missing out on emergency payments following the Queensland floods last year.

 

The joint commission report recommends a clear pathway for Kiwis to become permanent residents, improve access to training and education through the provision of student loans, and develop "explicit" principles for access to social security.
 

Other recommendations include:

• Developing a trans-Tasman tourist visa for foreigners visiting both countries.
• Eliminating the remaining trans-Tasman tariffs under CER's rules of origin.
• Lowering mobile roaming charges.
• Mutual recognition of imputation credits on dividends.

The report appears to offer greater immediate benefits to New Zealand than Australia.
 

It acknowledges that mutual recognition of imputation credits - which prevent both company and shareholder being taxed on the same profit - would probably hit Australia's national income more than New Zealand's.
 

The report acknowledges some of its 30 policy initiatives "will require more-detailed consideration".
 

A joint statement from Prime Ministers Julia Gillard and John Key welcomed the report, but did not refer directly to its findings.

www.stuff.co.nz

13.12.12

COMMENT: The current situation for New Zealanders living in Australia (and vice versa) is a disgrace.  It's about time trans-Tasman citizens who have lived in the other country and paid their taxes for a specified period should be able to gain the benefits of permanent residence and citizenship. 

The current arrangements were set up by both countries in 2001 and are unfair and unreasonable and constitute a major impost on good, law-abiding people who will never have the chance to be fully absorbed into their adopted country. - PaulGTully@gmail.com 

 

Could the 2011 Brisbane River flood have been avoided?

Cr Paul Tully at the Goodna Pillar
of Courage and Historic Flood Marker.
The yellow segment represents the height
of the 2011 flood at Goodna.
  Could the Goodna Town Centre
have been high and dry if the
Wivenhoe Dam had been
better managed in 2011?

Maurice Blackburn Lawyers in conjunction with litigation funder IMF (Australia) have been examining a re-modelled version of the events leading up to the Brisbane River flood of January 2011.

 

This is part of the decision-making process regarding a possible class action against the state government and/or Seqwater.

 

Without doubt, the review by world-class engineers and hydrologists will examine the key issues including the capacity of the Wivenhoe and Somerset Dams, actual and achievable water releases, the flow of water from the Lockyer Valley into the Brisbane River system, rainfall leading up to and during the crisis, as well as weather forecasts during this critical time.

 

The Queensland Floods Commission has already found that Wivenhoe Dam was not managed in accordance with the Dam Operating Manual from 8:00am on Saturday 8 January 2011 - a full three days before the flood struck on the following Tuesday.

 

The Commission also found that had the dam been operated differently, the flooding would have been lower.

 

The tantalising question is by how much - if any - the flood could have been avoided if the dam engineers had gone down a different path.

 

Would Ipswich, Goodna and Brisbane have been spared the brunt of the flood?

 

It should not be long before these questions are answered by the battlers' only hope - Maurice Blackburn.

18.12.12

Beware of flood class action prophets of doom

All Brisbane and Ipswich flood victims should be careful of doomsday prophets urging people NOT to sign up for a class action.

The Greater Goodna Flood Group has consistently advised flood victims of their rights and why it makes sense to sign up for a class action now - rather than later - when time constraints might see some flood victims fail to exercise their rights.

Maurice Blackburn Lawyers in conjunction with litigation funder IMF (Australia) are the only legal firm in Australia which appears to be well-advanced with their potential class action against Seqwater and/or the Queensland Government over the Brisbane River flood of 11 January 2011 believed by many to have occurred as the direct result of the mismanagement of the Wivenhoe and Somerset Dams in the days leading up to the flood.

There has been some huffing and puffing from some other legal firms but, at the end of the day,  they will probably just want to piggyback on a Maurice Blackburn class action.

The doomsday soothsayers are claiming that other firms can do things for a lot less than Maurice Blackburn and IMF (Australia) - if those other firms do anything at all, of course.

The sort of advice being given by some prophets of doom could end up hurting the very people they are claiming to try to help.

Hopefully, if any flood victims follow any dud advice to their detriment, Maurice Blackburn might be prepared to initiate a separate class action against these purveyors of dubious Chinese whispers.  Only then, might these self-appointed expert advisers realise the harm they have caused.

The other so-called "advice" being peddled by these self-appointed and self-opinionated suburban experts is that individual flood victims will be able to piggyback onto any successful claim by Maurice Blackburn.
 

Self-appointed flood experts might be
"smoking too much opium".

What they are saying is that after the "class" of claimants is defined and after a successful legal claim (through the Supreme Court or by agreement between the parties), the Premier Campbell Newman will suddenly become Santa Claus and open the state's coffers to an even greater array of claimants.

People who think this are either smoking too much opium or have just arrived from the planet Utopia.

17.12.12

Time for the Premier to compensate flood victims

As the second anniversary of the January 2011 Brisbane River flood rapidly approaches, it's time for the Queensland Premier Campbell Newman to acknowledge the legitimacy of any claims for compensation and to act honourably in the matter.

 

It is also time for him to formally announce that in the event of a class action claim that the State Government will act as a model litigant in the matter and not resort to legal chicanery and pedantic trickery to resist legitimate claims.

 

Maurice Blackburn Lawyers in conjunction with litigation funder IMF (Australia) is believed to be on the threshold of announcing a class action against Seqwater - the operator of the Wivenhoe and Somerset Dams - and/or the State Government for the failure of the Wivenhoe Dam engineers to comply with the Dam Operating Manual from 8:00am on Saturday 8 January 2011 prior to the flood which devastated Ipswich, Goodna and Brisbane 3 days later.

The Floods Commission of Inquiry specifically found the Manual had been breached from that time and that had the dam been differently managed, flooding in the Brisbane River would have been lower.  How much lower was not determined.

 

Since then, a lot of mutual backslapping by engineers in Australia and the United States has seen part of this learned profession come together like Super Glue.

 

Meanwhile, the efforts by Maurice Blackburn and IMF (Australia) have seen over a million dollars spent with the world's best flood engineers and hydrologists to undertake detailed Brisbane River flood modelling based on different professional approach to the management of the impending flood in January 2011.

 

If those investigations reveal the flood could have been lowered or eliminated, former Premier Anna Bligh and former Water Utilities Minister Stephen Roberston will have a lot to answer for.

 

In those circumstances, a class action would seem like a statistical certainty at this stage with similar claims by insurance companies who were forced to pay out on an avoidable flood.

 

Because of the change of government in 2012, it would be the Newman LNP government forced to carry the can for the previous government's mistakes.

 

Premier Newman would be well aware that carrying the can for the Labor Party's management of Wivenhoe Dam during the January 2011 flood crisis could make him a working class hero, rather than an ogre if he tries to resist the claims of the battlers - and his own supporters - of Ipswich, Goodna and Brisbane.

 

16.12.12

Flood sensation: Engineer Ian Chalmers says 2011 Brisbane River flood "could have been avoided"

Paul Tully

This letter was sent to the Minister in August 2012.  It is a telling indictment of the methodologies used (or, worse still, not used) in the January 2011 Wivenhoe Dam Flood crisis which led to major flooding of the Brisbane and Bremer River systems destroying thousands of homes and businesses in Ipswich, Goodna and Brisbane.

Ian Chalmers is a highly respected Engineer whose views cannot be dismissed or pigeon-holed.  His revelations are sensational and debunk many of the theories and explanations - and hearty doses of mutual back slapping - by engineers at the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry.  Any sensible person would put more reliance on what Ian Chalmers says than other engineers who have reputations - and their engineering mates - to defend and jobs to protect. 

It will be very interesting to see if the current professional engineering and hydrological data being obtained by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers as a precursor to Australia's largest legal class action coincides with the advice and data collated by Ian Chalmers.  Somehow, I think it will.  All of which will put Premier Campbell Newman in totally invidious position.

 

I will continue to fight for all flood victims to ensure they get the compensation they deserve.  Ian Chalmers has made this task one giant step easier.

 

PaulGTully@gmail.com

 

 

 

Dear Minister,

Wivenhoe Dam Gates/ Flooding January 2011.

 

Ian Chalmers
debunks flood
claims

After a considerable amount of research and calculation, I have formed the opinion that this flood and devastation could have been avoided.

Worse still, even after the Lawyers’ Picnic called the “Flood Inquiry” the risk of a repeat of such a flood has diminished little.  I suggest that you look up Albert Einstein’s definition of “Insanity”.
 

However the risk of repetition of the flooding can be dramatically reduced quite simply and at no expense. All it requires is for you to instruct the bevy of bean counters, biro pilots and others that constitute the board of SEQ Water to adopt the following Mindset, Strategy and Tactics in any future flood.

Nobody can predict with sufficient accuracy the intensity and location of rainfall let alone the parameters of the resultant flooding.

 

Strategy: Therefore every inflow into Wivenhoe dam is to be treated as the precursor of a flood of biblical proportions and the following tactics adopted. These tactics are to be maintained until it becomes obvious that the dire assumption is incorrect.

Tactics:  The gates are to be opened when the dam water level rises through Full Supply Level (El.67.00).

The purpose of opening the gates is to stop (or preferably reverse) the rise of the water level in the dam.   In large floods this may take considerable time.

The rate of gate opening is a minimum of 5 gates x 0.50 metres opening per hour.

Such a gate opening regimen has been tested against the January, 2011 floods with favourable results. A copy of the graphs and tabulations is attached for illustration. The raw data is available if you so desire.

As the board members have shown a reticence to do the “right thing” and resign, each January and June I assiduously study the honours awards in the expectation that each of the SEQ Water Board members has been awarded a D.C.M.    (Don’t Come Monday).

Please acknowledge receipt of this submission as I do not wish to die wondering of its receipt.

After this you are free to do with it what you wish.

Yours Faithfully

Ian Chalmers B.E.,B.Econ.

15.12.12

"Chutzpah" - A Marvellous Example: Original Wivenhoe Dam Engineer Ian Chalmers makes startling revelations

 

Ian Chalmers -
highly respected
Engineer

Wivenhoe Dam as built (Mark 1) had sufficient reserve storage capacity to cope with the January 2011 floods (even allowing for the less than optimal operating manual that was the result of a suspect "Public Consultation" process.)
 

At the turn of the century, a revision of the hydrology indicated that the catchment was more fecund than previously thought and as a result the risk for a flood of any size had increased significantly!
 

To ameliorate this perceived increased risk an additional "Fuse-Plug" Spillway was installed, (Wivenhoe Dam Mark II).

However this was at the cost of  -

 

(a) a significantly reduced reserve storage in absolute terms and

 

(b) a significantly increased demand for reserve storage in relative terms.

All in all, a lose/lose situation.
 

In January 2011, a flood of sufficient magnitude to exploit this flaw arrives producing the Flood Debacle of January 2011.
 

Seqwater comes out with the enigmatic mantra "We followed the Manual" and nothing much else.

However, a passive "hometown" inquiry is set up at which a lot of evidence of dubious independence is forthcoming.

 

Following this Lawyers' picnic when it is perceived that the Inquiry is about to give its blessing to the action/inaction of Seqwater, the cumquats of Seqwater reward themselves with salary increases and performance bonuses.
 

In my humble opinion, this is defined as follows:

Seqwater's surfeit of poor decisions/incompetence/negligence? caused the flooding and then they reward themselves!!
 

THAT IS CHUTZPAH par excellence!!
 

And what is ever more bemusing is that governments of both persuasions meekly acquiesce to it !
 

" Oh what a web we weave

When we conspire to deceive"

 

- Ian Chalmers

 

2.12.12

 

 

COMMENT: This cannot be ignored. Ian Chalmers provides an insight rarely given into the operation of the Wivenhoe Dam.  He should know because he was responsible for oversighting its construction!  His views must be given the highest importance because they reflect what a lot of people have been thinking for the past 2 years.  I

t's time for Seqwater CEO Peter Borrows to put up or shut up over the specific issues raised by Ian Chalmers or hand back his handsome bonuses paid to him by the people of Queensland. - PaulGTully@gmail.com

Letter from Goodna's Frank Beaumont demands Floods Royal Commission



Frank Beaumont and his daughter Amanda with the
family chook, Steggles, which came home 11 days
after the flood hit Frank's Goodna home in 2011.

CONGRATULATIONS, Mr Premier, on your Queensland Health royal commission but I think you applied it to the wrong incident a commission into the operation of Wivenhoe Dam in January 2011 would be more appropriate.

Of course, it would cost the Government far more than the Health payroll debacle but it will still be coming out of state coffers.

You promised assistance before the election, now keep your promise.

Frank Beaumont, Goodna

www.CourierMail.com.au

13.12.12

Dam engineer who was unregistered while working through the 2011 flood disaster fined $1500 but Seqwater "organ grinders" go free



Dam engineer John Ruffini received a $1500 fine and
was ordered to pay costs when he appeared
in Brisbane Magistrate's Court.

A DAM engineer who pleaded guilty to unlawfully working while unregistered during Queensland's disastrous 2011 floods has been fined $1500.

John Lawrence Ruffini, 47, was prosecuted by the state's Board of Professional Engineers on a charge of "carrying out a professional engineering service when not a registered engineer".

Mr Ruffini worked as a flood operations engineer for Brisbane's Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine dams during the floods crisis in January 2011.

He was charged in September after allowing his registration with the board to lapse on June 30, 2010 until he was re-registered on March 22, 2012.

Prosecutor Dan Piggott said Mr Ruffini was a flood operations engineer from January 7 to 17, 2011, when he issued directives on the release of water from the dams based on calculations; produced situation reports and performed other ancillary tasks.

''It was unlawful for Mr Ruffini to do those things in circumstances when he was not a registered professional engineer and when he was not under the direct supervision of someone else who was,'' Mr Piggott said.

''The Board does not make any submission about the competence or otherwise of the professional engineering services provided by Mr Ruffini.''

He argued Mr Ruffini was providing professional engineering services in respect to significant public infrastructure at a time when he was not a registered engineer, which was contrary to the requirements of the dam's operating manuals at the time.

Defence lawyer Alan MacSporran, for Mr Ruffini, said his client's offending was a ''technical breach'', adding he was a ''vastly experienced engineer'' who first became qualified in 1982.

Mr MacSporran said his client was the director of Water Planning and Coastal Services during the floods crisis and was ''well-regarded'' in the industry, having worked on at least 20 similar flood events since 1997 in his time as a flood operations engineer.

He said Mr Ruffini had been on a family holiday to Bundaberg before the Queensland flood crisis in 2011 and had been called back to work.

''The role is, as you would understand, one that carries huge responsibility, it's extremely onerous and on most occasions when the work is carried out, it's stressful because it's usually a crisis situation,'' Mr MacSporran said.

''His work as a flood operation engineer is not dependant upon, or conditional upon, his registration as a professional engineer and it doesn't affect the quality of his work.

''He has done this role many times before January 2011, always with distinction and professionalism.''

He said Mr Ruffini was hospitalised in April 2010 and did not see reminder notices asking him to renew his engineering registration with the board.

Magistrate Anne Thacker fined Mr Ruffini $1500 and ordered he pay costs of $2578.

She said there was no doubt Mr Ruffini was well qualified, not just by his studies over the years but also because of his professional experience.

''The point that I am making here is you have been providing vital services to the community for a very long time,'' she said.

''You have been providing services to the community with respect to being a flood engineer operating the dams of southeast Queensland since 1997.''

She said Mr Ruffini's failure to be a properly registered engineer had no bearing on the quality of his work and did not put the public at risk.

''There has been much written about the January 2011 floods; what happened, how it could be improved, whether anyone could be blamed and that's something that is investigated after a disaster and was investigated by the Holmes commission,'' she said.

''An internal review was conducted by the US Army Corp and the engineers of Australia came out in support of what had been done by those investigations and the evidence across the board, that the best that could be done was done at the time to mitigate the floods.

''Four engineers, you being one of them, who worked 12 hour shift throughout that period of crisis have all been commended for the work that you did but that is not what this prosecution is about.''

Ms Thacker likened Mr Ruffini's lapse in registration as similar to a person who hadn't renewed their driver's license, adding the whole purpose of professional registration was ''linked to public safety''.

No conviction was recorded.

The operation of the dams during the crisis was a key focus of the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry, led by Commissioner Cate Holmes, which found Wivenhoe operators had not escalated their flood mitigation strategy as required by the dam manual.

12.12.12

COMMENT: This court report provides an extraordinary insight into the circusmtances of the 2011 flood.  In the critical days leading up to and after the flood crisis at Wivenhoe Dam on 11 January 2011, the plain facts of the matter are that John Ruffini was not registered as an Engineer.  This is a damning indictment in itself of the failure of Seqwater management to perform basic checks on the legal registration requirements of its staff.

 

Someone in Seqwater must have been asleep at the wheel to have allowed this to happen.  Yet, instead of of being quietly shown the door, they have probably been given an annual bonus or promoted to their proper level of incompetence.

 

The most-disturbing aspect of this report in The Courier-Mail is:

 

 

Prosecutor Dan Piggott said Mr Ruffini was a flood operations engineer from January 7 to 17, 2011, when he issued directives on the release of water from the dams based on calculations; produced situation reports and performed other ancillary tasks.

''It was unlawful for Mr Ruffini to do those things in circumstances when he was not a registered professional engineer and when he was not under the direct supervision of someone else who was,'' Mr Piggott said.

''The Board does not make any submission about the competence or otherwise of the professional engineering services provided by Mr Ruffini.''

He argued Mr Ruffini was providing professional engineering services in respect to significant public infrastructure at a time when he was not a registered engineer, which was contrary to the requirements of the dam's operating manuals at the time.

 

 

Three disturbing issues arise from this report:

 

1.  What Mr Ruffini did whilst unregistered was unlawful by issuing directives "on the release of water from the dams based on calculations".

2.  This was "contrary to the requirements of the dam's operating manuals".

3.  No submission was made by the prosecution regarding Mr Ruffini's "competence or otherwise".  Is this the smoking gun in the Brisbane River flood of 2011?  Did Mr Ruffini give competent advice or was it "otherwise"? 

All of this must be a total embarrassment to Peter Borrows, CEO of Seqwater under whose stewardship this debacle took place.  Peter Borrows now has a duty to explain to the public how this arose, why insufficient checks - or no checks at all - were in place to weed out unregistered professional engineers like John Ruffini.



The Seqwater organ
grinders go free

While he has paid the price for his lapse, it is his bosses who have let down the people of southeast Queensland.  They are the ones who allowed this situation to occur right under their very noses.

They should have taken responsibility for checking the mandatory credentials of all of their staff instead of wasting any time on long lunches and the devouring of cream buns, donuts and coffee  at their regular morning teas.

As one erudite Brisbane Engineer puts it:

"Oh well done;

Punish the monkey and let Organ-Grinders go free!
Chutzpah Chutzpah Chutzpah."

Wivenhoe Dam engineer fined for working unregistered during flood but what happens to those who should have checked his credentials

Unregistered Engineer
John Ruffini

After months of delays, the court case for a Brisbane dam engineer who wasn't registered with his professional body when he worked through the 2011 flood crisis, was decided in hours.

John Lawrence Ruffini, 47, pleaded guilty in a Brisbane Magistrates Court to working as a professional engineer while unregistered for almost nine months.

The court was told that after suffering an illness that required hospitalisation, Mr Ruffini had forgotten to renew his registration with the Board of Professional Engineers and allowed it to lapse between the end of June 2010 and March 2011.

His memory lapse was revealed during an inquiry into the handling of the south east Queensland floods, when Mr Ruffini had been called in to assist as a duty flood engineer between January 7 and January 17 2011.

But magistrate Anne Thacker found on Wednesday that there was never a question of the public's safety being jeopardised by Mr Ruffini's unregistered status.

Fining Mr Ruffini $1500, the minimum sought by the Board of Professional Engineers, plus $2578 in court costs, Magistrate Thacker described Mr Ruffini's credentials as "impeccable" and said his failure to keep his registration current had no bearing on the high quality of his work.

"There was never a potential for the public to be put at risk," Magistrate Thacker said to Mr Ruffini about his failure to register, adding that Mr Ruffini had served Queensland to high standards on several occasions.

The maximum fine for the charge is $100,000, however the Queensland Board of Professional Engineers only sought a fine of between 1.5 and 3 per cent of the maximum.

It did not seek to have Mr Ruffini convicted.

www.BrisbaneTimes.com.au

12.12.12



Peter Borrows - Seqwater CEO

COMMENT: It beggars belief that Seqwater would employ an unregistered engineer. 

Seqwater boss Peter Borrows has a duty to the public to explain why there were no checks on the mandatory credentials of its engineers or if there were, why those checks failed. 

To have an unregistered engineer involved in the management of the 2011 Brisbane River flood crisis is unforgivable but to do nothing about it in the wake of this court case is tantamount to treating the public with total disdain. 

Peter Borrows needs to reassure the public that Seqwater takes this issue seriously and to explain what checks, if any, are now in place to stop this farce ever happening again. 

Failure to acts promptly and publicly on this issue will ultimately lead to calls for his sacking - something which is likely to happen in any event if the promised class action by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers gets serious traction. 

Peter Borrows is regarded in the industry as an honourable person but whoever is providing media advice to him should be shown the door before they back their boss further into the corner.

Ruffini Persecution

Brisbane Erudite Engineer

BEE (Brisbane's Erudite Engineer) writes:

Oh well done;

Punish the monkey and let the Organ-Grinders go free!

Chutzpah Chutzpah Chutzpah

12.12.12

Premier Campbell Newman should consider compensating flood victims

 

 

 

Almost 2 years after the disastrous Brisbane River flood of 11 January 2011, flood victims are still waiting for the Queensland Government to acknowledge legal liability for the incredibly stupid actions of the Wivenhoe Dam engineers who were found by the Floods Commission to have departed from the strict requirements of the Dam Operating Manual from 8.00am on Saturday 8 January 2011.

 

Had those engineers not taken it upon themselves to give their number one priority to the protection of cows and low-level bridges around Fernvale rather than protecting thousands of homes downstream in Ipswich, Goodna and Brisbane, there is every likelihood of a completely different result - one far less serious than the tragedy which enveloped the two cities.

 

Maurice Blackburn Lawyers in association with litigation funder IMF Australia is the leading light in a potential class action against Seqwater and the State Government which promises to be the largest class action in Australia's history.

 

Potential claimants are urged to sign up with Maurice Blackburn to protect their rights.

Flood victims are waiting anxiously for a decision on the class action by Maurice Blackburn.

 

Meanwhile, Campbell Newman had a lot of soothing words to say before the state election about this issue but has subsequently ducked for cover when it comes to acknowledging the State Government's potential responsibility in the matter.

With his upcoming holiday at a secret location, Premier Newman would be well-advised to take a daily double dose of Epsom salts as he prepares himself for a massive class action in 2013.

 

His response to the commencement of any legal class action might be enough to make or break his government.

 

12.12.12

700 days of suffering since the flood of 11 January 2011

 

It is exactly 700 days since the devastating Brisbane River flood of 11 January 2011.

 

700 days of torment and suffering for tens of thousands of families in the path of the Brisbane River in Ipswich, Goodna and Brisbane.

 

700 days for families to rebuild their lives from the ruins of destruction.

 

Both Premier Anna Bligh and LNP Leader Campbell Newman promised the world when the Floods Commission Report was handed down on 16 March 2012.

 

 

Premier Bligh must have thanked her lucky stars she was not condemned by the Floods Commission while Water Utilities Minister Stephen Robertson (pictured) seemed to have woken up from his annual summer siesta just in time to accept the report which did little to praise the lack-lustre administration over which he presided.

 

Unbridled promises were made by our leaders to ensure people's legal rights were not trampled on and that the State of Queensland would act as a model litigant in this muddy mess.

 

700 days after this tragedy, Morris Blackburn Lawyers seem to be the only ones keeping the candle of hope alight in their bid to show the Wivenhoe Dam Operating Manual had been breached and that the negligence of the dam engineers caused the massive downstream flooding, which could have been avoided if the engineers had put more emphasis on protecting the people of Brisbane and Ipswich rather than a herd of cows and some low-level vehicular bridges around Fernvale.

 

Anna Bligh has skipped Queensland in the wake of this disaster and now all flood victims wait in earnest anticipation of Maurice Blackburn's decision whether or not to proceed with potentially Australia's largest ever class action.

 

The ball will then be well and truly in Premier Campbell Newman's court to do the right thing by the people of Queensland.

 

700 days and exactly 23 months later, all flood victims deserve a fair go by the state government.

11.12.12

BP re-opens at Goodna on the 700th day after the 2011 flood

The BP Service Station Goodna under water January 2011.

 

The new Wild Bean Cafe is looking good.

Cr Paul Tully opens the new BP Service Station at Goodna.

It was a big day with the official re-opening of the BP Service Station at the corner of Brisbane Road and Bertha Street Goodna.

In the afternoon of Tuesday 11 January 2011, the floodwaters started to steadily rise causing the evacuation of the site.

The flood went to the roof the building when it reached its peak around 2pm on Wednesday 12 January 2011.

But today, local Councillor Paul Tully officially re-opened the service station, praising BP for its magnificent new facility.

"It was well worth the wait.

"This is now a great site greeting drivers coming off the Ipswich Motorway into Goodna," Cr Tully said.

Monday 10 December 2012 is the 700th day since the 2011 Brisbane River flood which saw 600 homes and business premises in Greater Goodna go under water.

10.12.12

What one Engineer thinks of the 2011 Brisbane River Flood

Writing to the Premier, this erudite Engineer states:

Brisbane Erudite Engineer

"With an illegitimate, less than optimal gate operating manual and a compromised reserve temporary flood storage

 

Flooding downstream of the dam was a debacle waiting to happen!!!

 

All that was required was a massive flood upon a full storage La Nina provided these!!!

The dreadful irony was that it was all unnecessary!!!

A proactive release strategy based upon trends in the dam water level was all that was necessary.

BURN THE MALEVOLENT MANUAL"

 

 

 

COMMENT:  This says it all.  Let's hope the proposed class action by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers in conjunction with IMF (Australia) will eventually get to the truth of the matter. 

Tomorrow is 700 days since the flood but truth will eventually conquer!  -  PaulGTully@gmail.com

Somerset flood early warning system taking shape



Somerset Mayor Graeme Lehmann inspects
the installation of Flood Early Warning
System sirens off Schmidt Rd at
Fernvale with Greenspan
employees Graydon Carter
and Peter Sayer.

A SERIES of flood early data stations and sirens are being installed across the Somerset.

Stations at Fernvale and Lowood will send data to the council offices in Esk as part of a Flood Early Warning System.

The stations will collate and transfer collected data to the base station located in the Esk Council office.

This data will assist in the early detection of a significant river or rain event in the areas downstream of Wivenhoe.

The system has been designed so it can be expanded over time to include additional river and or rain gauges and warning sirens.

The gauging stations have been built with multiple levels of redundancy to ensure if one piece of equipment fails there will be a back-up.

Warning sirens being installed at Schmidt Rd, Fernvale and Lindemans Rd, Lowoodwill be activated in the event of a flood and will act as a warning signal to residents that flooding is imminent and evacuations may be necessary.

The $750,000 system is being funded by the state government.

www.QT.com.au

3.12.12