Flood information - links

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https://twitter.com/weatherzone/status/1204904174665621504

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1205038767616057345

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Brisbanetimes --> Queensland government rules out 2011 flood class action appeal

A historic class action win by 6800 homeowners impacted by the 2011 floods will not be appealed by the Queensland government.

Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath announced the decision in a short statement released on Thursday night.

"This decision is separate to any action that may be taken by other parties to the NSW Supreme Court decision," she said.

"The government will not be making any further comment, as there are still other matters that need to be determined by the courts."

State-owned Seqwater and Sunwater, which were found liable along with the government, may still decide to appeal.

The government's Mid-Year Fiscal and Economic Review, which was released Thursday and revealed debt would balloon out to $91.8 billion, made no plans for the class action payout.

Some law firms suggest the bill could run to a billion dollars.

"At this stage, the state is not in a position to reliably estimate the financial implications of the judgment for the state and its entitites," the review read.

In the NSW Supreme Court last month, Justice Robert Beech-Jones found the four flood engineers working for the government and state-owned dam management bodies were negligent in their control of both Wivenhoe and Somerset dams in the lead-up to the 2011 event.

Justice Beech-Jones ruled the engineers did not properly use the rainfall forecasts required by the dam operating manuals, resulting in increased flood heights.

More than 23,000 Brisbane and Ipswich properties were affected by the floodwaters, which raised the Brisbane River to a peak of 4.46 metres. The Bremer River would reach a height of 19.4 metres.

Statewide, the financial cost totalled $3.2 billion across about 90 towns. Thirty-five people lost their lives.

Responding to the news on Twitter, Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said compensation for flood victims was a long time coming.

She also called on Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to apologise for the actions of the government of the day.

"It has taken eight years for flood victims to get the compensation they deserve," Ms Frecklington said. "The court's decision was clear."

"[Ms Palaszczuk] must now apologise for the incompetence of the Bligh Labor government - a government she was part of."

Former Ipswich councillor Paul Tully described the decision as an "early government Christmas present" for his Goodna community, adding the premier should be congratulated for putting an end to the "costly litigation".

Four test cases were put forward for the class action by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, who lodged it on behalf of 6780 victims.

On the delivery of the complex ruling last month, Rebecca Gilsenan, the firm's class actions principal lawyer who led the five-year investigation, described the outcome as "so very sweet".

She said the firm intended to work towards an "aggregated claim" for the victims.

Others case studies will be evaluated ahead of a further hearing in the NSW Supreme Court on February 21 next year.

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http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2019/12/12/statement-from-the-attorneygeneral-re-southeast-queensland-flood-class-action

Media Statements

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice
The Honourable Yvette D'Ath

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Statement from the Attorney-General re South-East Queensland Flood Class Action

Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath said:

"The Queensland Government will not appeal the NSW Supreme Court decision concerning the South-East Queensland Flood Class Action.

"This decision is separate to any action that may be taken by other parties to the NSW Supreme Court decision.

"The government will not be making any further comment, as there are still other matters that need to be determined by the courts."

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https://twitter.com/Schrinner/status/1205392432952537089

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Couriermail --> 2011 floods compensation hopes dashed as agencies appeal

THOUSANDS of 2011 flood victims are at risk of losing long-awaited payouts, with the Queensland Government's water bodies set to challenge a court decision blaming them for the devastation.

The Courier-Mail can reveal SunWater and Seqwater will today lodge intention-to-appeal documents in the NSW Supreme Court despite a push within the Government to get the action shelved.

Almost 7000 victims, many under-insured or not insured at all before the flood, will again be left in limbo because of lengthy legal process after joining the class action and fighting for years for ­justice.

It is understood that the State Labor Government, which has ruled out appealing its proportion of the blame, sought urgent legal advice about ordering the water ­bodies to drop appeal plans through a ministerial direction.

However the Government was warned that ordering the bodies to side-step the appeals process would not stop a challenge from insurers and risked voiding SunWater and Seqwater's insurance, which is expected to cover the bulk of the payout bill.

Estimated figures on the cost of victims' claims vary between $500 million and $1 ­billion.

Without an appeal, the cost would have likely been borne by the budget bottom line, given the water bodies are already laden with debt.

In a joint statement, Treasurer Jackie Trad and Natural Resources Minister Anthony Lynham confirmed they considered directing the water bodies to drop the appeal.

"Seqwater and SunWater are public entities overseen by independent boards and each has its own insurance policy," they said.

"The relevant insurance companies now have a legal right to determine their next steps.

"If a ministerial direction to Seqwater or SunWater to not appeal the court decision could be given, it would not bind their insurers and it may compromise their insurance policies."

However Ms Trad and Dr Lynham insisted the NSW Supreme Court decision was a "defining moment" for victims and urged the insurers of the water bodies to drop their plans.

"The Queensland Government has already announced it will not appeal the NSW Supreme Court decision, and it now calls upon the insurers of Seqwater and SunWater to do the same," they said.

Maurice Blackburn principal Rebecca Gilsenan said while the firm welcomed the Government's decision not to appeal, it had not been informed of Seqwater and SunWater's plans.

"For our clients to get the compensation they deserve promptly, a whole-of-government approach is needed and that includes the two state-owned entities," she said.

The huge lawsuit was launched in 2014 and successfully argued engineers controlling the Wivenhoe and Somerset dam system allowed too much water to build up in the flood compartment ahead of a forecast deluge.

It forced enormous volumes of water to be released when rain rivalling the 1974 flood fell over the catchment, inundating tens of thousands of properties.

The trial began December 2017. It took almost two years to finalise.

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Couriermail --> Dam spillway 'well below' safety standards

THE strength of the Paradise Dam spillway is "well below" required safety standards, a new report into the central Queensland dam has revealed.

The Government yesterday released the Inspector-­General's Paradise Dam Preparedness Review, which found that the calculated risk to life from a dam-related failure had grown six-fold since January 2015.

The review made several recommendations and findings, pointing out that nearby communities did not "fully understand" the risk the dam could pose.

"The strength of the Paradise Dam spillway is well below the required factor of safety rating," the report found.

"The life safety risk for Paradise Dam exceeds the limits set in the guidelines and is more than what society would tolerate."

The review found that information about the increased risk from Paradise Dam had not effectively reached the thousands of casual and tourism workers in the region.

It also suggested that a dam failure be classed as a separate disaster event. But it also noted that the North Burnett Local Disaster Management Group and the Bundaberg District Disaster Management Groups had significantly enhanced their disaster management plans and preparedness in ­recent years.

Natural Resources Minister Anthony Lynham welcomed the report's findings, acknowledging that it showed there was "room for improvement".

"The report has found that the communities of North Burnett and Bundaberg are well prepared," he said.

"Government agencies are acting on the report and its recommendations."

A survey conducted during the review found 93 per cent of nearby residents were confident they could respond to a local disaster event, while 64 per cent said they had prepared an emergency kit.

All 17 recommendations made in the report have been accepted or endorsed by the Government.

The Government announced earlier this month that a commission of inquiry would be carried out to determine what had contributed to the structural and stability issues at the dam.

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1209366784127561728

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1209407493706670080

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Couriermail --> Severe thunderstorms bring damaging winds and flash flooding

Severe thunderstorms have caused chaos in southeast Queensland, with trains cancelled, nearly 15,000 homes without electrictiy and fallen powerlines causing a hazard for motorists.

A SERIES of dangerous storms have smashed southeast Queensland, causing flash flooding, fallen powerlines, public transport chaos and leaving nearly 15,000 homes without power.

At 8.58pm, BOM said that the threat of severe thunderstorms in the Brisbane City, Logan, Ipswich, Somerset, Toowoomba, Lockyer Valley, Redland City, Sunshine Coast, and Moreton Bay council areas had temporarily eased.

However, redevelopment of severe thunderstorms remains likely, with areas affected including Maroochydore, Caboolture, Gatton, Laidley, Lowood and Nambour.

At its peak, Energex said 14,931 customers across Brisbane and southeast Queensland were without power due to the storms.

TransLink advised multiple train services were suspended after a main power outage due to the storms, with delays of up to 90 minutes.

The Airport, Gold Coast, Beenleigh and Ferny Grove train lines were stopped in both directions about 6.49pm.

TransLink said alternative transport has been arranged with buses arriving at Kuraby, Beenleigh and Coomera stations from 7.51pm.

Overhead lines were damaged at at Holmview and Omeau stations.

Multiple powerlines have fallen on Airy Street and Wacol Station Rd in Wacol and Archerfield Rd and Boundary Road in Darra causing a hazard for motorists.

Motorists are urged to avoid both areas until further notice with Energex struggling through a sudden uprise in jobs.

Police do not have an estimated repair time crews will arrive at either scene as the energy provider are currently attending to "a long list of jobs".

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services advises that people should:

■ Beware of fallen trees and powerlines.

■ Never drive, walk or ride through flood waters. If it's flooded, forget it.

■ For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.

Severe thunderstorms are no longer occurring in the Central Highlands and Coalfields, Central West and Capricornia districts and the warning for these districts is cancelled.

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https://twitter.com/BOM_Qld/status/1217640254578008070

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Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Damaging Winds, Heavy Rainfall and Large Hailstones

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology Queensland

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for DAMAGING WINDS, HEAVY RAINFALL and LARGE HAILSTONES

For people in Central Coast and Whitsundays, Southeast Coast and parts of Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders, Herbert and Lower Burdekin, Central Highlands and Coalfields, Wide Bay and Burnett and Darling Downs and Granite Belt Forecast Districts.

Issued at 10:11 pm Friday, 17 January 2020.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds, heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and large hailstones over the next several hours in the Central Coast and Whitsundays and parts of the Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders, Herbert and Lower Burdekin and Central Highlands and Coalfields districts. Locations which may be affected include Proserpine, Charters Towers, Bowen, Townsville, Collinsville and Hamilton Island. Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours in the Southeast Coast and parts of the Wide Bay and Burnett and Darling Downs and Granite Belt districts. Locations which may be affected include Warwick, Toowoomba, Brisbane, Dalby, Maroochydore, Kingaroy, Stanthorpe and Ipswich. Severe thunderstorms are no longer occurring in the Central West district and the warning for this district is CANCELLED. 82mm recorded in an hour at Mt Sylvia alert earlier this afternoon, southeast of Toowoomba. 57mm recorded in an hour at Spicers's Peak late this afternoon, east of Warwick. 85 km/h wind gust recorded at Cooktown at 4:24pm.

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1218189668002324482

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https://twitter.com/BOM_Qld/status/1218202858916663300

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https://twitter.com/SEQUESTRADIO/status/1218251422069710849

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https://twitter.com/BOM_Qld/status/1218385708907409409

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1219131145859715072

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https://twitter.com/BOM_Qld/status/1219130944889806848

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1219314789312126976

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https://twitter.com/7NewsSC/status/1219440664552722432

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1219491010373242880

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1219501171489902592

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https://twitter.com/BOM_Qld/status/1219883544048259072

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1220777969032974341

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Heavy rains forecast for NQ & CNQ in the coming week or so.  This is a later start than usual for the seasonal monsoonal rains.

Travel train north of Mackay will probably be disrupted.

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1221446688511934466

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https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1221688280325844993

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https://twitter.com/thomaslmajor/status/1221922465363791872

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http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDQ20900.html

IDQ20900

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland

This Flood Watch provides early advice of possible flooding within the specified catchments.

Initial Flood Watch for coastal catchments south of Maryborough to the NSW border and southern inland catchments

Issued at 3:02 pm EST on Tuesday 4 February 2020

Flood Watch Number: 1

Minor flooding is possible from Thursday across parts of the Flood Watch area.

South east coastal catchments: Showers, thunderstorms and rain areas are expected from Wednesday afternoon through to Thursday afternoon. Locally heavy falls are likely, especially close to the coast and ranges of the Sunshine Coast.

Southern inland catchments: Persistent widespread showers, thunderstorms and rain areas are expected over southern inland catchments during Wednesday and Thursday, with locally heavy falls.

The weather will remain very unsettled towards the end of the week and into next week, with further significant rainfall possible over parts of the Flood Watch area.

The majority of catchments within the Flood Watch area have received rainfall over the last few weeks meaning rivers are more likely to respond to heavy rainfall.

Riverine flooding is possible during Thursday over coastal catchments, whilst inland catchments are more likely to see riverine flooding later in the week.

Localised flooding and minor disruption to transport routes is possible throughout the Flood Watch area.

Catchments likely to be affected include:

Mary River
Noosa River
Sunshine Coast Rivers and Creeks
Pine and Caboolture Rivers
Upper Brisbane River
Lower Brisbane River(Specifically the Bremer River, Warrill Creek and Brisbane Creeks)
Logan and Albert Rivers
Gold Coast Rivers and Creeks
Condamine Rivers
Macintyre River
Weir River
Moonie River
Balonne River
Wallam and Mungallala Creeks
Warrego River (QLD)
Paroo River (QLD)(Covered by an existing flood warning)
Bulloo River (QLD)

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1225068641420365828

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http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2020/2/5/statement-re-paradise-dam

Media Statements
Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy
The Honourable Dr Anthony Lynham

Wednesday, February 05, 2020

Statement re Paradise Dam

Sunwater and the Government's primary concern is community safety.

We understand the importance of water security for the region both now and into the future.

The decisions this Government have made regarding Paradise Dam have not been taken lightly.

We have sought to balance our obligations to make the community safe with the needs of industry for water security.

But let me be clear, public safety must be our priority.  As stated in October last year, the wall needs to be lowered in the dry season and waiting is simply not an option.

This vital amendment to the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008 ensures that spillway modification work can occur without delay.

I am informed that Sunwater facilitated a tour of the Dam for Dr Paul Rizzo from Rizzo International last Wednesday to assist in his review.

It also comes following the release of technical reports which clearly outline the risks to community safety posed by the dam wall.

Thirteen national and international experts last year provided advice that urgent action is needed.

It was assessed that a lowering of the wall was required for safety reasons in the event of major flooding. This work must be undertaken commencing this dry season.

It would be reckless for Sunwater to avoid the overwhelming advice.

The long-term options for the dam are still being looked at by Building Queensland.

The independent Commission of Inquiry is also underway into the facts and circumstances that contributed to the structural and stability issues at the Paradise Dam.

Sunwater looks forward to receiving a copy of the Rizzo International report once it is finalised and will consider the report and its findings in the context of the Building Queensland analysis.

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Another Queensland botch!   

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https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1225241792372563968

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1225437299661393920

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1225993811513372673

https://twitter.com/BOM_Qld/status/1225994465464193024

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1226302366007193600

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http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ21035.shtml

DQ21035
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Severe Thunderstorm Warning - Southeast Queensland
for HEAVY RAINFALL
For people in parts of Ipswich, Logan and Brisbane City Council Areas.

Weather Situation:

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours.
Locations which may be affected include Greenbank, Redbank Plains, and Wacol.
55mm was observed in an hour at Pullenvale.
48mm was recorded in 30 mins at Wacol.

Issued at 10:22 am Sunday, 9 February 2020.

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http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ21035.shtml

IDQ21035
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Severe Thunderstorm Warning - Southeast Queensland
for HEAVY RAINFALL
For people in Gold Coast and parts of Logan, Scenic Rim, Redland City and Brisbane City Council Areas.

Issued at 11:55 am Sunday, 9 February 2020.

Weather Situation:

Slow moving severe thunderstorms are producing heavy rainfall.
The Bureau of Meteorology warns that, at 11:35 am, severe thunderstorms were detected on the weather radar near Beenleigh, Logan City, Logan Village, Woodridge, Sunnybank Hills and Camp Hill. These thunderstorms are slow moving.
They are forecast to affect Numinbah Valley, Little Nerang Dam, Canungra, Nerang, Slacks Creek and Tingalpa Reservoir by 12:05 pm and Springbrook, Mudgeeraba, Coomera and Mount Cotton by 12:35 pm.
Heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding is likely.

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https://twitter.com/BOM_Qld/status/1226326130191409153

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1226358465456508928

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1226529797142016000

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IDQ21035
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Severe Thunderstorm Warning - Southeast Queensland
for HEAVY RAINFALL and DAMAGING WINDS
For people in Ipswich and parts of Somerset, Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley, Brisbane City and Moreton Bay Council Areas.

Issued at 3:07 pm Monday, 10 February 2020.

Weather Situation:
The Bureau of Meteorology warns that, at 3:05 pm, severe thunderstorms were detected on the weather radar near Laidley and Gatton. These thunderstorms are moving towards the east. They are forecast to affect the area south of Esk by 3:35 pm and Ipswich by 4:05 pm.
Heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and damaging winds are likely.

https://twitter.com/BOM_Qld/status/1226735746188529665

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https://twitter.com/BOM_Qld/status/1226744587680731137

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https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1226760182257971200

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Brisbanetimes --> Cyclone tipped to bring 'hazardous' surf, erosion to Queensland coast


Tropical Cyclone Uesi could cross into Australian jurisdiction by Friday.CREDIT:FIJI METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE

A Coral Sea cyclone is likely to track south and into the sights of the national weather bureau this week, bringing hazardous surf and coastal erosion to Queensland but no "direct" impact to the coast.

Tropical Cyclone Uesi, a category 3 storm, was located north-west of Noumea on Thursday afternoon with a Fiji Meteorological Service forecast map tipping the system to pass into Australian jurisdiction as a category 1 storm by Friday.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Kimba Wong said the cyclone was expected to track south-south-west closer to the Australian mainland "over the coming days".

"But at this stage we're not expecting direct cyclone impacts on the Queensland east coast, as it's expected to remain offshore at the time being," she said.

From Thursday, however, areas south of Fraser Island into northern New South Wales could see swells of up to 2.5 metres, increasing to 3.5 metres by Friday.

"So some quite hazardous surf conditions there, and it will be quite windy by the end of the week with that system coming a little bit closer as well," Ms Wong said.

"And just coincidentally with the high tides this week as well, and the increasing swell, we could see some some beach erosion as well."

The system could bring increased rain to the Gold Coast on Saturday, though it is expected to move to the south "quite quickly".

"So the rainfall wouldn't be ... particularly prolonged," she said.

The potential for wild weather follows a wet start to February, which saw storms and heavy rain deliver flash flooding and river rises across large parts of southern Queensland into NSW.

Severe storms across the region late Monday brought falls of between 50 and 100 millimetres for parts of the Darling Downs, Somerset and greater Brisbane areas, Bureau of Meteorology data showed.

The highest totals fell around Kilcoy, with a flood warning issued for Gregors Creek, 21 kilometres west along the Upper Brisbane River, after it recorded 137 millimetres.

Similar heavy falls are expected daily this week before becoming isolated to the state's south-east corner and easing into the weekend.

This could mean more rain for drenched towns of Dalby, Oakey, Applethorpe, Warwick, and Roma which have already surpassed their average February rainfall total.

Dalby residents have been warned to prepare for more potential flooding, with Myall Creek expected to peak below three metres early on Tuesday.

Moderate to minor flood warnings remain in place across the state, including a flood watch for coastal catchments between Bundaberg and the NSW border.

And though some areas had experienced above-average February rainfall, Ms Wong the chance of significant "drought-breaking" rain over the next few months remained a "very, very slim chance".

"What we really need is widespread, consistent rainfall to make up for that for that multi-year drought that we're facing."

Shark nets and baited hooks were on Monday being pulled from beaches along the coast ahead of the wild weather.