Thousands of homes could have been saved from the flood that struck Queensland in early March if the government acted on the basis of a 2014 report to build additional protection against floods.
The study was compiled by the then Energy and Water Supply Authority of Queensland following the 2011 catastrophic floods that flooded Toowoomba, Ipswich, and the large strips of Brisbane, the capital of Queensland. I did.disaster Killed 33 peopleAffected 200,000 people and caused damage of about A $ 2 billion.
Former Queensland Prime Minister Campbell Newman commissioned the report to plan further feasibility studies of construction work before losing the 2015 elections.
The next Labor government has since shelved the report and is now investigating new options for upgrading the existing Somerset Dam and Waiven Hordam, the main water supply to the Greater Brisbane region. This must be completed by October 2035.
Wivenhoe was credited by the state’s waters, SEQWater, during the recent 2022 flood disaster that flooded major densely populated areas of Australia’s east coast. Refrain Over 2.05 million megaliters of rainwater.
Meanwhile, the 2014 plan has three major proposals to protect more than 8,000 assets, including increasing storage capacity by raising Wivenhoe by 4 meters and building a new dam near Linville in the north. Was proposed.
The third measure was to build an additional dam downstream of Warrill Creek, southwest of Ipswich, to prevent flooding through the creek network and provide additional mitigation measures under Wivenhoe.
“Analysis shows that, with the right infrastructure in place, Brisbane and Ipswich will be flooded if any of the three largest floods dominated by the Brisbane River recurs, compared to the current situation. Buildings can be reduced by 8,000 to 10,000, “said the Epoch Times.
“I hope it will be built,” Newman, now a Liberal Democratic Senate candidate, told The Epoch Times. “In the last couple of weeks, I’ve pointed out that the state government under (Anastasia) Parasek has for some reason completely shelved and resumed things.”
He also questioned why state opposition leader David Krisafuri did not put pressure on the government for its inaction on building flood mitigation.
“They come across something like this. Why didn’t they pursue it? Why didn’t they ask the government for an explanation?” He added.
“We are happy to be able to spend money on the Olympics. We are happy to be able to spend money on the stadium. We are happy to be able to waste money in every way.” “But certainly, it’s fundamental to try to mitigate the effects of these horrific floods on the state capital.”
Newman said it would be difficult to approve the new dam because of the large number of environmental activists “embedded” in the state government’s sector and political leaders being caught “living in the media circle.”
The Epoch Times has contacted the Queensland Premier’s residence, but has not yet responded.
The damage caused by the recent floods from February to March is expected to surge to A $ 2 billion, with disaster payments of 242,000.
Floods are also used As proof At the same time as the release of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, the need for further action to address climate change.
However, Newman disagreed, saying that Brisbane had more floods in the first 100 years (after 1823) than in the next 100 years.
“It also tells us that floods will increase and that these floods are not uncommon and can happen,” he said. “We actually take action and act on will, dollars, steel and concrete. You can’t protect Brisbane from floods, but you can actually protect more homes. “
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Daniel Y. Teng is based in Sydney. He focuses on national politics, including federal politics, COVID-19 response, and relations between Australia and China. Do you have a hint? Contact him at [email protected]