ID :
156429
Sun, 01/09/2011 - 09:01
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/156429
The shortlink copeid
Maryborough next to fall victim to floods
Maryborough will be the next town to fall victim to Queensland's massive floods
after St George was inundated on Saturday and Rockhampton residents were told they
would be awash for another week.
Maryborough residents have been confronted by road closures after more than 300mm
fell in the region on Friday night, creating havoc for Queensland's emergency
services and disaster management.
At worst, 20 Maryborough homes and businesses may be inundated, but that will not be
known until the Mary River peaks at nine metres on Sunday, the highest level since
1968.
The Bruce Highway, which runs through the major cities along the eastern coast of
Queensland, has been cut in several places because of flooding during the past two
weeks.
It's prompted Prime Minister Julia Gillard to commission a feasibility study in the
wake of the disaster to ensure the major supply route will never again be cut off
because of flooding.
"The Bruce Highway was cut and that's why we have commissioned a feasibility study
on flood-proofing the Bruce Highway," Ms Gillard told reporters.
"That feasibility study will be available for the middle of this year and that
points to having a road that is flood-proof."
Ms Gillard warned the true cost of the disaster would only be known once swollen
rivers and swamped townships returned to normal.
"Until we see these floodwaters recede, we won't see the true extent of the damage,"
Ms Gillard said.
Rockhampton mayor Brad Carter has called on self-evacuees to register with
authorities to make sure the flood recovery flows smoothly.
He told reporters that Rockhampton's airport and the Bruce and Capricorn highways
would remain closed with floodwaters expected to stay at 8.5 metres or higher until
Friday.
"We know there's been 490, almost 500 power disconnections. We need to consider how
best to bring those connections back on, how to engage with our community for those
who have moved out ... how we get them back in.
"We will try and contact every one of those people that have self-evacuated."
Mr Carter said he was grateful for Ms Gillard's swift action in commissioning a
study, but was keen to get specific infrastructure started once the clean-up was
finalised.
"I'll be doing my best to put on her (Gillard's) radar that they are nation-building
projects that will be critical to the economic growth of this nation as a result of
the rich resources in this region," Mr Carter said.
"The issues around flood-proofing this (Rockhampton) airport, in my view, include
everything from the highway-rail corridor that's required to get supplies into this
community through a flood-free corridor across the Fitzroy River."
The southwest Queensland town of St George received some minor good news when its
flood peak was revised down, sparing it further destruction.
Locals were told to prepare for the Balonne River to peak at a record 14 metres and
beyond during the weekend, but on Saturday morning, that was amended to 13.4 metres.
"At least it gives us a flood peak that puts our mind at rest," Balonne Shire mayor
Donna Stewart told AAP.
"But the water is going to be high for a prolonged amount of time and it will be
high for at least 10 days. But it won't get much higher than it is now."
The hospital and nursing homes were evacuated and about 10 homes were inundated.
New Zealand help arrived in Brisbane to assist with the clean-up.
Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said 15 response team volunteers from New
Zealand were heading to Condamine on Saturday after 42 of the town's 60 homes were
inundated.
The town's entire population of 150 was ordered to evacuate on Thursday last week as
the Condamine River reached a record 14.25 metres.
Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce, who is based in St George, said a multi-prong
approach would be needed to help the town recover and fortify it against future
floods.
He said low-interest loans should be made available to rejuvenate the economy, and
the construction of levees and dams needed to be considered.
"Mitigation effects, levees being one, and the obvious one is the construction ...
of dams," Senator Joyce said.
"If it holds ... water out for a brief period of time, it will mitigate the effects
of the flood."
after St George was inundated on Saturday and Rockhampton residents were told they
would be awash for another week.
Maryborough residents have been confronted by road closures after more than 300mm
fell in the region on Friday night, creating havoc for Queensland's emergency
services and disaster management.
At worst, 20 Maryborough homes and businesses may be inundated, but that will not be
known until the Mary River peaks at nine metres on Sunday, the highest level since
1968.
The Bruce Highway, which runs through the major cities along the eastern coast of
Queensland, has been cut in several places because of flooding during the past two
weeks.
It's prompted Prime Minister Julia Gillard to commission a feasibility study in the
wake of the disaster to ensure the major supply route will never again be cut off
because of flooding.
"The Bruce Highway was cut and that's why we have commissioned a feasibility study
on flood-proofing the Bruce Highway," Ms Gillard told reporters.
"That feasibility study will be available for the middle of this year and that
points to having a road that is flood-proof."
Ms Gillard warned the true cost of the disaster would only be known once swollen
rivers and swamped townships returned to normal.
"Until we see these floodwaters recede, we won't see the true extent of the damage,"
Ms Gillard said.
Rockhampton mayor Brad Carter has called on self-evacuees to register with
authorities to make sure the flood recovery flows smoothly.
He told reporters that Rockhampton's airport and the Bruce and Capricorn highways
would remain closed with floodwaters expected to stay at 8.5 metres or higher until
Friday.
"We know there's been 490, almost 500 power disconnections. We need to consider how
best to bring those connections back on, how to engage with our community for those
who have moved out ... how we get them back in.
"We will try and contact every one of those people that have self-evacuated."
Mr Carter said he was grateful for Ms Gillard's swift action in commissioning a
study, but was keen to get specific infrastructure started once the clean-up was
finalised.
"I'll be doing my best to put on her (Gillard's) radar that they are nation-building
projects that will be critical to the economic growth of this nation as a result of
the rich resources in this region," Mr Carter said.
"The issues around flood-proofing this (Rockhampton) airport, in my view, include
everything from the highway-rail corridor that's required to get supplies into this
community through a flood-free corridor across the Fitzroy River."
The southwest Queensland town of St George received some minor good news when its
flood peak was revised down, sparing it further destruction.
Locals were told to prepare for the Balonne River to peak at a record 14 metres and
beyond during the weekend, but on Saturday morning, that was amended to 13.4 metres.
"At least it gives us a flood peak that puts our mind at rest," Balonne Shire mayor
Donna Stewart told AAP.
"But the water is going to be high for a prolonged amount of time and it will be
high for at least 10 days. But it won't get much higher than it is now."
The hospital and nursing homes were evacuated and about 10 homes were inundated.
New Zealand help arrived in Brisbane to assist with the clean-up.
Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said 15 response team volunteers from New
Zealand were heading to Condamine on Saturday after 42 of the town's 60 homes were
inundated.
The town's entire population of 150 was ordered to evacuate on Thursday last week as
the Condamine River reached a record 14.25 metres.
Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce, who is based in St George, said a multi-prong
approach would be needed to help the town recover and fortify it against future
floods.
He said low-interest loans should be made available to rejuvenate the economy, and
the construction of levees and dams needed to be considered.
"Mitigation effects, levees being one, and the obvious one is the construction ...
of dams," Senator Joyce said.
"If it holds ... water out for a brief period of time, it will mitigate the effects
of the flood."
