River peaks at Ipswich

The Bremer River has peaked below expected levels at Ipswich but a third of the
Queensland city is under water.
The peak came just after 4pm (AEST) on Wednesday and floodwaters appear to have
declined, leaving a ribbon of debris behind.
Authorities in the city say the peak has come in at 19.5 metres, slightly below the
1974 level, and well under the original peak prediction of 22 metres.
Nevertheless, about a third of the city is under water and 3,000 houses have been
inundated, some of them with even their rooftops under water.
Authorities expected a surge of people into evacuation centres on Wednesday night.
Already 1,100 people had registered at evacuation centres throughout the city of
170,000.
Mayor Paul Pisasale told reporters that 43 streets in the city had been closed.
He said it should take 24 to 36 hours for the water to recede from most areas, and
he warned people not to rush back into their homes.
"We know that in the past, especially in 1974, there were a number of people
electrocuted by not being aware whether the electricity has been disconnected."
After days of torrential rain, Wednesday dawned with a blue sky, a sign of hope.
However residents - those who hadn't already left their homes ahead of the
unrelenting tide - had to watch as the waters slowly continued to rise.
A downgrading of the expected flood level gave further hope as the day progressed,
and it now appears the flood, although causing immense devastation across the city,
is not as bad as expected.
Mr Pisasale said community spirits remained high and the city would emerge from the
floodwaters stronger and more united.
He said the 1974 flood was a turning point for the city, and one that would stand
the city in good stead now.
"It created a sense of community that survives to this day and we'll emerge from
this disaster better and stronger, as we did then," he said.
He said stories of people helping others filled him with immense pride in the city.
Tales of total strangers offering to help others leave their homes, or to save
possessions, are being told throughout the city.
State Transport Minister Rachel Nolan, also the local MP, said she was packing in
the dark late on Tuesday night and several people had stopped to offer their help.



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