Merry Christmas to the people of Greater Goodna



Cr Paul Tully


Merry Christmas to the people of Greater Goodna, Ipswich and Brisbane.

 

To all victims of the disastrous floods of January 2011 and their families, my wife Liza and I wish you a very special Christmas and we trust that 2013 will be better for you than 2011 and 2012.

 

Hopefully, the New Year will bring a positive announcement regarding the proposed legal class action by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers.

 

Stay strong and have a happy and peaceful time during the festive season.

- PaulGTully@gmail.com


Cr Paul Tully   LLB  JP (Qual)  MMIA  MMA
Councillor for Division 2
City of Ipswich

18 Queen St
PO Box 1
Goodna QLD 4300

Queensland's Longest-serving City Councillor 1979 - 2012

25.12.12

Floods force more people to sleep rough around Greater Goodna

Russell Witham with Sue and Ernie Welfare who are
 a part of Access which helps to feed the disadvantaged.

IT'S an ever-increasing problem across the south-west.

More pensioners, young adults and families are being forced to seek charitable help or even sleep it rough.

They are camping under bridges, in tents and caravan parks - not knowing when they will see their next meal or hot shower.

 

 Darra-based charitable organisation Access is seeing a steady rise in the number of needy families.

 

The Christian organisation feeds more than 1500 families across Darra, Goodna and Inala each week and hands out bags of fresh fruit and vegetables to about 40 pensioners.

 

Pastor Russell Witham said there were people in need of help but they were unaware of the service.

 

"We fill our bags with a good variety of food including eggs, vegetables, mushrooms and more.

 

"We also teach people the gospel because drugs are a major issue."

 

Volunteer Sue Welfare, who has been helping to feed the homeless since the 2011 floods, said the circumstances in which many people lived were "heart wrenching".

 

She said the rising cost of living, including rates and power, were major factors behind the increase in homelessness.

 

"You don't realise how many there are until you pull up in the van and they all come out of hiding," she said.

 

"While there are many in the city, there are also lots in the suburbs hiding under bridges and living in parks.

 

"I love helping them and seeing their faces light up when we give them a hot drink or a blanket."

 

For more information about Access phone 0415 467 137 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 0415 467 137 FREE 

end_of_the_skype_highlight

www.TheSatellite.com.au

29.11.12

At last! Colleges Crossing is open after 2011 flood

 

Liam Smith leaps around one of the new
play grounds at Colleges Crossing.
The recreation park has reopened.


IPSWICH'S favourite pleasure ground - Colleges Crossing - is back better than ever and ready to see families whoop it up.

The recreation area was inundated and obliterated during the 2011 floods but lots of money and hard work have created an even better park.

Liam Smith, 7, of Oxley, was the first to try out the play equipment yesterday, just before Colleges Crossing opened to the public.

Liam came with his dad Ian and Ian's mates who brought their dogs for a play on their day off from work.

 "We just thought we'd come down and bring the dogs for a swim," Mr Smith said, as Liam played.

 It's the first time I've been here but we were just saying we're going to come here all the time now. It's a nice spot.

Mayor Paul Pisasale said Ipswich City Council had received tremendous financial support from the Queensland Reconstruction Authority since it was established soon after the January 2011 flood to administer allocations of federal and state funding to local councils.

"The much anticipated $11m restoration of Colleges Crossing has been made possible with funding of $9m under Natural Disaster Recovery and Relief Arrangements, a joint federal (75%) and state (25%) government initiative," Cr Pisasale said. "The remainder has been funded by council

"Practical completion this week allowed the majority of the park to open, and access will be through the original entrance.

"Safety fencing has been removed, but some sections of the park may remain closed to allow the finishing touches to be completed.

"The kiosk will not open until early next year."

Official opening celebrations are being planned for late February or early March when the community will be invited to take part and thank the many organisations for clearing the mountain of debris left by the flood.

www.QT.com.au

22.12.12

Latest SEQ Dam levels

 

The following link provides the latest available information about southeast Queensland's dams:

 

SEQ Latest and Historical Dam Levels

Information about the major dams is updated Monday to Friday around 9am, the smaller dams at least weekly. Dam levels are not updated on weekends.

For information about flood levels, contact your local Council:

 

Brisbane City Council

Ipswich City Council

For information about road impacts, contact Transport and Main Roads.

For information about river levels, see the Bureau of Meteorology website.

Second anniversary of deadly 2011 floods to be private affair

Last year's dawn service at Grantham for flood victims.

COMMUNITIES across the Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley will hold private memorial services next month to commemorate the second anniversary of the tragic floods which claimed 25 lives.

On January 10, 2010, a wall of water tore through Toowoomba killing two people who became trapped in their car at a city intersection.

Later that afternoon, an inland tsunami tore through Murphys Creek, Postmans Ridge, Helidon and Grantham before continuing on to Ipswich then Brisbane.

It has been described as one of Australia's worst natural disasters.

The tiny town of Grantham in the Lockyer Valley was the worst hit with 12 residents loosing their lives.

Grantham resident Julie Johnson said the community wanted to do something out of the glare of the nation to mark the second anniversary.

"The community wanted to do something low-key to mark the anniversary where they can pay their respects in private," Ms Johnson said.

"January 10 will always be a memorial day.

"After a small service, we will gather in the park and have a community lunch.

"The community definitely did not want any pressure or a big hoo-hah to mark the second anniversary," she said.

Ms Johnson said the community had slowly started to move on with their lives.

"It will certainly be a day of reflection for many people," she said.

"Where the memorial is placed it is very symbolic for the families of those who lost loved ones.

"The day will be about moving forward but also paying respects to those who lost their lives," she said.

Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio said no plans had been made to mark the anniversary in the city.

"We certainly want to remember those who lost their lives," Cr Antonio said.

"The impact of the floods in this region was enormous.

"We also want to keep the awareness going that Toowoomba can flood," he said.

It is understood that Federal Attorney-General and Minister for Emergency Management Nicola Roxon will visit the region on January 10 and meet with Cr Antonio and his Lockyer Valley counterpart Cr Jones.

www.thechronicle.com.au

22.12.12

Free flood search for all Brisbane and Ipswich properties - Online 24/7

Do you want to verify what the owner or real estate agent has told you?

Are you buying a property in Brisbane or Ipswich?

Do you want to check the flood levels of your property?

Are you curious about flood levels across a particular suburb?

Check the flood level of a property free online 24/7:

BRISBANE PROPERTIES FREE FLOOD SEARCH:

Click here













 

IPSWICH PROPERTIES FREE FLOOD SEARCH:

Click here
 

Today's SEQ Dam levels

The following table provides the latest available information about the region’s dams. Information about the major dams is updated Monday to Friday around 9am, the smaller dams at least weekly. Dam levels are not updated on weekends.

For information about flood levels, contact your local Council. For information about road impacts, contact Transport and Main Roads. For information about river levels, please see the Bureau of Meteorology website.

21 Dec 2012
Storage	Full Supply Capacity (ML)*	Current Capacity (ML)	% Full	Latest Observation
Grid Twelve	2,220,181	2,066,341	93.1	21/12/2012 00:00AM

The Grid Twelve is made up of the 12 dams which contribute to the water supply system. These dams are Wivenhoe, Somerset, North Pine, Hinze, Baroon Pocket, Leslie Harrison, Ewen Maddock, Cooloolabin, Lake Kurwongbah, Lake Macdonald, Little Nerang and Wappa.

 

 

The Grid Twelve % Full is calculated by dividing the combined current capacity of the dams in the group by the combined full supply capacity.

 

 

*Full supply capacity does not include the flood mitigation storage capacity of Wivenhoe and Somerset Dams.

 

 

Please note the capacity of the Hinze Dam increased from 161,073 ML to 310,730 ML on Friday 15 July 2011.

21 Dec 2012
Storage	Full Supply Capacity (ML)*	Current Capacity (ML)	% Full	Latest Observation
Atkinson Dam	30,401	26,913	88.5	21/12/2012 06:00AM
Baroon Pocket Dam	61,000	48,810	80.0	21/12/2012 09:30AM
Bill Gunn Dam	6,947	5,732	82.5	21/12/2012 07:40AM
Borumba Dam	45,952	44,155	96.1	21/12/2012 07:15AM
Bromelton Dam	8,210	6,356	77.4	21/12/2012 07:26AM
Cedar Pocket Dam	730	459	62.9	21/12/2012 06:00AM
Clarendon Dam	24,276	20,681	85.2	21/12/2012 06:00AM
Cooloolabin Dam	13,800	11,800	85.5	21/12/2012 08:52AM
Enoggera Dam	4,567	4,472	97.9	21/12/2012 08:28AM
Ewen Maddock Dam	16,587	11,440	69.0	21/12/2012 09:13AM
Gold Creek Dam	801	750	93.7	21/12/2012 08:09AM
Hinze Dam	310,730	268,373	86.4	21/12/2012 07:30AM
Lake Kurwongbah	14,370	10,635	74.0	21/12/2012 07:00AM
Lake Macdonald	8,018	6,136	76.5	21/12/2012 09:21AM
Lake Manchester	26,217	25,703	98.0	21/12/2012 09:23AM
Leslie Harrison Dam	24,868	21,439	86.2	21/12/2012 06:30AM
Little Nerang Dam	6,705	5,820	86.8	21/12/2012 08:00AM
Maroon Dam	44,319	41,988	94.7	21/12/2012 06:00AM
Moogerah Dam	83,765	74,384	88.8	21/12/2012 06:00AM
Nindooinbah Dam	322	290	90.0	21/12/2012 08:25AM
North Pine Dam	214,302	202,796	94.6	21/12/2012 07:00AM
Somerset Dam	379,849	371,515	97.8	21/12/2012 09:31AM
Wappa Dam	4,694	4,464	95.1	21/12/2012 09:30AM
Wivenhoe Dam	1,165,238	1,103,114	94.7	21/12/2012 07:00AM
Wyaralong Dam	103,000	97,707	94.9	21/12/2012 07:30AM

Current and historic dam levels:

 http://www.seqwater.com.au/public/dam-levels

21.12.12

Get ready for bad weather and emergencies over the Christmas holiday period

 

GET ready! That is the message Emergency Management Queensland is reinforcing these school holidays.

While many people are taking time off to be with family there is still a need to be prepared for adverse weather or other emergency situations.

EMQ Moreton Bay Region area director John Hannan said there were four steps to preparing for emergencies.

Preparing a household emergency plan, preparing an emergency kit and evacuation plan, preparing your home and staying tuned into warnings was vital, Mr Hannan said.

He said having emergency phone numbers or other contact details was key to preparing a plan.

``You need to have those numbers available on the fridge or in your evacuation kit,'' Mr Hannan said.

``There are a range of things people need to prepare for - things that can happen all through the year.''


NECESSARY CONTACTS:

* Life-threatening emergencies: Phone Triple 0 from landlines or 112 from mobile phones.

* SES flood and storm assistance: Phone 132500.

* Brisbane City Council: Phone 3403 8888.

* Moreton Bay Regional Council: Phone 3205 0555.

* Ipswich City Council: Phone 3810 6666.

* Logan City Council: Phone 3412 3412.

* Fires: To report a fire phone Triple 0; For news and bushfire alerts visit www.fire.qld.gov.au

* Road conditions and closures: Phone 131940 or visit www.131940.qld.gov.au

* Power supply/outages: Dangerous situations or downed power lines phone 13 19 62; Loss of supply phone 13 62 62.

* Weather and warnings: Phone 1900 969 922 or visit www.bom.gov.au

* Wildlife emergencies: Phone 1300 130 372.

* Animal welfare concerns: Phone RSPCA Inspectorate on 3426 9971 or 1300 852 188 or Queensland Primary Industry call centre on 3239 3111.

* Tsunami warnings: Phone 1300 878 6264.

* Health and hospital information (non-urgent): Phone 13 43 25 84.

* Telstra: To report faults and damage to Telstra property phone 132 203.

* Optus: Phone 1300 307 937.

www.CourierMail.com.au

21.12.12

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