Queensland is flooding 09/01/2011 and is not cruise related

[thied]

South Bank has canned the annual Australia Day fireworks display because of damage caused by the floods

 

IT will be a subdued Australia Day in Brisbane, with South Bank officially cancelling its fireworks after floods, mX reports.

The park won't host any of the events originally scheduled for next Wednesday including the free concert, family activities and flag-raising ceremony.

The planned AusSounds concert, featuring Guy Sebastian, has been transferred across the road to the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Premier Anna Bligh has vowed to find another home for the traditional flag-raising and said it was important for Queenslanders to keep their spirits up.

 

full story at

 

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/south-bank-has-canned-the-annual-australia-day-fireworks-display-because-of-damage-caused-by-the-floods/story-e6freon6-1225991878146

[thied]

Storm warning reissued

Storm warnings have been reissued for southeast Queensland, expected to affect northern parts of the Lockyer Valley this afternoon.

However, Brisbane and Ipswich were not expected to be affected.

 

full story at

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/weather/storm-warning-reissued-20110120-19xew.html?from=brisbanetimes_sb

 

 

 

 

 

.......................

[thied]

King tide warning

 

20 Jan 11 @ 03:21pm

 

BRISBANE: The Bureau of Meteorology and the Flood Information Centre have advised that a higher than usual king tide peak of 1.7 metres Australian Height Datum (AHD) is expected around 10.30am at the Brisbane City Gauge (Edward Street).

It is expected to cause localised flooding around this peak. The king tide is expected to be 150 millimetres higher than today’s tide of 1.55 metres AHD and 150 millimetres lower than the one experienced on 22 and 23 December 2010.

There is also the potential for storms and rainfall to contribute to localised creek and overland flow flooding. This could increase water levels and the potential for flooding. Residents are encouraged to monitor local radio and the Bureau of Meteorology website for storm updates.

 

 

 

full story at

 

http://springfield-news.whereilive.com.au/news/story/king-tide-warning/

[thied]

Australia flags taxpayer levy to pay for floods

SYDNEY (AFP) - – Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has raised the prospect of a one-off levy on taxpayers to pay for rebuilding after epic floods, as she refused to back away from bringing the budget to surplus.

Crops, roads and railway lines were washed away and thousands of homes destroyed by vast floods which swamped northeast Australia this month in what the government has said could be the nation's most costly natural disaster.

Gillard said difficult decisions lay ahead as the government rebuilds devastated Queensland state but recommitted herself to bringing the budget back into surplus in 2012-2013.

 

fully story at

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20110121/tap-australia-weather-floods-5a1703c.html

 

 

 

 

....................

[thied]

Riverside restaurants, buildings reopen after Brisbane floods

 

The office tower housing the Federal Government's Brisbane offices is expected to reopen next week following the flood.

Waterfront Place's management company hopes to open its doors on Monday once its high speed lifts are deemed safe.

It is better news for the nearby Eagle Street Pier.

Cafes and restaurants resumed trade today after a big clean up effort over the past week.

 

 

full story at

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/21/3118520.htm

 

 

 

 

 

.....................

[thied]

Brisbane - the flood we had to have

 

 

 

If we don’t learn from history we are condemned to repeat it. So true where urban floods are concerned. The Australia Day 1974 flood in Brisbane was only 37 years ago. It is often discussed in that city, but its lessons are consistently ignored. Land that was submerged then will be submerged again - and again.

Detailed maps showing the flooded areas are available. Throughout Australia local councils and State governments attempt to zone flood prone land for suitable forms of development, usually excluding residential, commercial and essential infrastructure. However, flood prone land is often very attractive for development because of its location, offering water views, low cost building and proximity to highly attractive focus points such as transport hubs, shopping precincts or freeway access ramps.

Even with the best intentions of the land zoning authorities, the pressures from urban planners, real estate developers and current land owners usually becomes so great that local elected officials are eventually unable to resist the lobbying and “good economic sense” of allowing, little by little, unwise developments to creep into areas that are clearly likely to be badly impacted by the next (and all subsequent) flood event.

 

full story at

 

http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=11520

 

 

 

 

 

.......................

[thied]

Q&A - Dam expert analyses Wivenhoe

 

 

Within days of the devastating Brisbane flood, questions were being raised about the handling of water releases from the Wivenhoe Dam.

Wivenhoe was originally designed to mitigate the possibility of a similar flood event to the 1974 floods.

ABC Online spoke to Professor Hubert Chanson, an expert in dam and reservoir engineering who has extensive firsthand knowledge of the Wivenhoe system.

While stressing his comments were not based on real time data from the dam, he offered these observations on the situation.

Q. How does the Wivenhoe Dam work, both as a water supply and a flood mitigator?

 

 

 

many more question

 

full story at

 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/21/3118379.htm?section=justin

 

 

 

 

..............................

[thied]

Go-Anna for a good cause

Toowong's famous pub, now a veteran survivor of Mother Nature's fury, is inviting everyone to a “back yard true blue Aussie barbie” this Australia Day, with all proceeds donated to the Premiers Flood Relief Appeal.

 

 

fully story and photo's at

 

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/your-brisbane/goanna-for-a-good-cause-20110121-19zp9.html

 

 

We had our xmas party at the The Regatta Hotel and it was flooded as well.

 

 

 

 

................................................

[thied]

Teachers watch out for kids with flood trauma

 

January 24, 2011 16:14:00

 

As thousands of children across Queensland head back to school this week after recent devastating floods, psychologists are warning teachers to be on the lookout for signs of mental distress.

Psychologists say while the routine should be reassuring, the widespread disruption and devastation caused by the floods will have many children asking questions.

The warning comes as classes resume at all but three of the state's 92 flood-affected schools.

Senior lecturer in psychology at QUT Dr Jane Shakespeare-Finch says children will have varying reactions to the flood disaster.

 

 

full story at

 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/24/3120500.htm?site=brisbane&section=news&date=(none)

 

 

 

 

 

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[thied]

how low can some one get?

When there are people with nothing left.

 

 

A Brisbane father of three has been jailed for fraudulently claiming disaster relief funding for flood and bushfire victims.

 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/27/3123100.htm?site=brisbane&section=news&date=(none)

 

 

 

.........

[thied]

Aussie floods cost billions in lost crops, mining

 

BRISBANE, Australia – Deadly floodwaters that have swamped huge parts of Australia will cost the nation 1 billion Australian dollars ($990 million) in agricultural losses and billions more in lost coal exports, the nation's treasurer said Friday.

The damage figures released by federal Treasurer Wayne Swan were the first official estimates of the financial fallout from the floods, and come one day after the government unveiled a proposal to institute a temporary tax to help pay for the disaster.

"This is going to be, most likely, our most costly economic disaster in our history," Swan said.

Heavy rains that began in November caused massive flooding across the country that has claimed 35 lives and damaged or destroyed 30,000 homes and businesses. Brisbane, the country's third-largest city and the capital of hard-hit Queensland state, was under water for days.

Initial estimates of the overall damage plus the cost of emergency grants to flood-affected communities for the federal government is AU$5.6 billion and likely to rise, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Thursday as she announced a plan for a temporary tax to help pay the bill.

The tax would apply to those with above-average incomes and exclude anyone affected by the floods. Those with incomes between AU$50,001 and AU$100,000 would pay 0.5 percent, and those above would pay 1 percent, raising an estimated AU$1.8 billion. The legislation will be introduced to Parliament next month

 

 

 

 

full story and photos at

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110128/ap_on_bi_ge/as_australia_flooding

 

 

 

..........................

[thied]

Cyclone headed for Australia's flood-ravaged north

 

BRISBANE, Australia - A cyclone raced toward Australia's flood-ravaged northeast Sunday, rattling nerves in a region that has already suffered billions of dollars worth of damage from a monthslong crisis.

 

Cyclone Anthony intensified to a Category 2 storm with winds of 80 mph (130 kph) and was expected to cross the Queensland state coast early Monday morning. The Bureau of Meteorology warned residents in coastal communities to brace for destructive winds and more flooding.

 

"You just think, can any more cruel blows land on Queensland and the nation? And unfortunately the answer seems to be yes," Prime Minister Julia Gillard said. "We're all made of tough stuff and we'll get through this, but this is another big, cruel blow coming on top of what has been a summer of tragedy already."

 

Heavy rains that began in November have caused massive flooding across Australia, killing 35 people and damaging or destroying 30,000 homes and businesses. Brisbane, the country's third-largest city and the capital of Queensland, was under water for days.

 

The federal government has estimated the cost of the damage is already at 5.6 billion Australian dollars ($5.6 billion) and likely to rise.

 

Forecasters are watching another tropical weather system developing in the South Pacific that could hit Queensland later in the week.

 

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said disaster management officials throughout the state were on alert and evacuation centres were available if needed.

 

http://www.metronews.ca/calgary/world/article/757955--cyclone-headed-for-australia-s-flood-ravaged-north

[thied]

Daily flood clean-up in Brisbane

 

lots of Photo's

 

and full story at

 

http://www.echonews.com.au/photos/galleries/flood-clean-brisbane/#id=flood-clean-brisbane&num=2

 

 

 

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[thied]

Fish stressed by floodwaters

 

 

The Queensland Government says fish are starting to show signs of being affected by the Brisbane floods.

Heavily contaminated sewage has been flowing into local waterways since treatment plants were damaged.

The head of the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM), John Bradley, says fish are showing signs of red spot - a fungus that appears when they are stressed.

"What we have at the moment is an agreement with the fishing industry that there will be a voluntary stoppage on the harvesting of fish in Moreton Bay for the immediate future in that area that's been impacted by the flood plume," he said.

 

full story at

 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/31/3125746.htm

 

 

 

 

 

...............................

[thied]

Drinking water may be sacrificed as cyclone threat looms

 

The state government is considering releasing some of southeast Queensland's drinking water supply from Wivenhoe Dam, as the north braces for the potential onslaught of a second tropical cyclone.

Although the dam's operation is already under formal review, Natural Resources Minister Stephen Robertson will meet with dam managers this morning to discuss the effectiveness of increasing the dam's flood buffer for the remainder of the wet season.

“It is important to note that substantial reductions in the water level at Wivenhoe dam can be achieved within a matter of days,” Mr Robertson said in a statement.

Advertisement: Story continues below

“While the Bureau of Meteorology has advised that it is very unlikely either cyclone will cross the coast south of Hervey Bay, we must be ready to respond if the situation changes."

The release of water from Wivenhoe would afford dam managers more time to mitigate further flooding in Brisbane this bumper wet season, but could see an under supply of drinking water in the future.

 

 

full story at

 

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/drinking-water-may-be-sacrificed-as-cyclone-threat-looms-20110131-1aa1j.html

 

 

 

 

......

[thied]

Qld flooding impacts Fiji tourism

 

 

Monday, 31 January 2011

Resort managers and tourism operators in Fiji are concerned recent Queensland flooding has affected the country’s tourism.

 

a fiji Resort & Spa general manager Michael xxxxxxx said flooding could reduce the number of people visiting Fiji, with up to 65 percent of Fiji’s tourists visiting from Australia, FBC Radio reported.

 

“I’m personally a little concerned about what’s happening in Australia in terms of Queensland, in terms of the damages which has been caused there,” Mr xxxxxx said.

 

“We are in a dangerous situation... I have 80 percent of my guests coming from Australia.”

With Australian visitors ranking among the top of Fiji’s tourism arrival figures, Tourism Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the country is working on diversifying its market,

 

“If it is going to have an impact we need to make sure that our source markets are diverse and varied, because an event for example like the floods in Queensland can have a major impact,” he said.

“We must ensure we don’t become solely dependent or become handicapped by that.

 

“We must have diversified source markets.”

 

 

sorry can not give link.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

I dont understand...

 

Now you are posting that Queenslanders should visit Fiji.

 

Sorry , but arent the Fiji Tourist people more worried about Queenslanders taking a cruise and not staying in Fiji and spending their dollars there?

 

This is a cruise board,for people who like to cruise.

[Sandielle]

I dont understand...

 

Now you are posting that Queenslanders should visit Fiji.

 

Sorry , but arent the Fiji Tourist people more worried about Queenslanders taking a cruise and not staying in Fiji and spending their dollars there?

 

This is a cruise board,for people who like to cruise.

 

Agreed, David!

[thied]

INSURANCE companies now are processing $1.51 billion worth of claims from victims who suffered property and business losses in the Queensland floods.

So far 38,460 individual claims have been lodged with insurers.

Claims from flood-affected householders and businesses in Victoria are still being calculated.

The Queensland figures, released by the Insurance Council of Australia yesterday, show 53 per cent of all claims lodged until Saturday were made by those living in Brisbane.

 

full story at

 

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/business/queensland-flood-insurance-claims-top-15b/story-e6frfh4f-1225997292454

 

 

 

 

....................

[thied]

How the floods coverage killed tourism

Rockhampton airport - the only major airfield closed by the recent flooding - reopened this morning as Queensland does its best restore business as usual. However, you'd be forgiven for assuming that, for the past month, the whole of Queensland has been underwater from Camooweal to Coolangatta, Cooktown to Charleville.

As politicians and the media have dramatised the extent of the floods, this has led to what the Queensland Tourism Industry Council terms "a wave of perception-driven cancellations".

“We tell them that we haven’t been affected by the flooding, but, for some reason they won’t believe you – it's very frustrating,” says Kim Marsden, director of online booking agency Travstar.

Advertisement: Story continues below

None of the main tourism centres of far North Queensland (chiefly Cairns and Port Douglas), the Whitsundays, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast were affected by the floods and remain fully open for business.

Yet Daintree Ecolodge owner Cathy Maloney says: "International travel agents who were due to visit Tropical North Queensland have cancelled their familiarisation trips due to the dramatic coverage of floods – floods that are more than 1000 kilometres away."

 

full story at

 

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/blogs/travellers-check/how-the-floods-coverage-killed-tourism/20110124-1a25x.html?comments=57

 

 

 

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[thied]

How the floods coverage killed tourism

Tourist numbers dwindle on back of Qld floods

 

Tourism operators in the state's central west says they are already feeling the affects of Queensland's floods.

The Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach is reporting a drop of more than 40 per cent in visitor numbers last month, compared to the previous December.

The museum's general manager, Tony Martin, says there should be a turnaround in the coming months.

"I'm very, very optimistic about our season out here and I think we're still going to see a very good season," he said.

"We've probably still a lot of rain yet to come, we haven't had our full wet season yet but given all the rain we had mid to late last year in 2010, the outback has never looked as better, it's absolutely amazing, it's like flying over the African Savannah."

 

fully story at

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/18/3115157.htm

 

 

 

 

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[thied]

The tourism industry in Queensland is facing very difficult times. Our thoughts are with those people and families directly affected by the flood damage from Rockhampton, Western Queensland and now Brisbane. The emergency situation will continue for some time and the immediate disaster response will preoccupy governments and support agencies. However, it is very clear that the entire state, every person and every business will be impacted by these events. Our tourism industry is in the front line.

Tourism operators are already experiencing hardship, not just from direct flood damage but from loss of access and supply routes and - most significantly across the state - from the perception amongst would-be-visitors that Queensland has been knocked out as a destination.

There is intense media interest and we are fielding questions form TV networks, radio and newspapers virtually from around the world, including Reuters, CNN, News Ltd etc. Generally the media are very sympathetic to our plight. Our key messages at the moment are:

 

http://www.qtic.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=912&Itemid=163

 

 

........................

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Dear Thied,

 

Thank you for all your updates on Queenslands disaster.

 

I have been passing your messages on to the many retired folk who live around here,

and who normally go to the Gold Coast for a break,

but this year will stay home,

thanks for your advice.

 

Trust it all comes right for you.

 

Our thoughts are with you in these troubled times.

[thied]

Dear Thied,

 

Thank you for all your updates on Queenslands disaster.

 

I have been passing your messages on to the many retired folk who live around here,

and who normally go to the Gold Coast for a break,

but this year will stay home,

thanks for your advice.

 

Trust it all comes right for you.

 

Our thoughts are with you in these troubled times.

sence the gold coast was not flooded has bad and mostly flash flooding from storms and mainly in the inter land which is not realy the gold coast it self.,they will do very well there, but the northern rivers of nsw did not do so well nor did brisbane and west and north of brisbane and parts of vic they got flooded

 

here is a list of what raods were closed and if you look at a map and that will show you that all raods are not near the coast

•Chindrina St Hope Island

•Old Pacific Hwy 300m north of the BP Oxenford

•Berrigans Rd causeway near Springbrook

•Hope Island road vicinity of Monteray Keys

•Maudsland Rd Maudsland

•Tamborine-Oxenford Rd at Hugh Muntz causeway

•Old Coach Rd Upper Coomera

•Discovery Dr Helensvale

•Days Rd Upper Coomer

•Henry Roberts Drive near Landman Ct at Clagiraba

•Clagiraba Rd at Mount Nathan

•Gerara Ct Clagiraba

•Guanaba Rd at Coomera River Crossing

•Somerset Dr Mudgeeraba

•Siganto Dr at Salt Water Creek

•Chisholme Rd Carrara

•Beaudesert-Nerang Rd at Coomera River crossing

•Somerset Drive near Franklin Dr Mudgeeraba

•Giessman Rd at North Tamborine

•White Rd (goat track) North Tamborine

•Alpine Tce Mount Tamborine

[Kiwi Kruzer]

sence the gold coast was not flooded has bad and mostly flash flooding from storms and mainly in the inter land which is not realy the gold coast it self.,they will do very well there, but the northern rivers of nsw did not do so well nor did brisbane and west and north of brisbane and parts of vic they got flooded

 

here is a list of what raods were closed and if you look at a map and that will show you that all raods are not near the coast

•Chindrina St Hope Island

•Old Pacific Hwy 300m north of the BP Oxenford

•Berrigans Rd causeway near Springbrook

•Hope Island road vicinity of Monteray Keys

•Maudsland Rd Maudsland

•Tamborine-Oxenford Rd at Hugh Muntz causeway

•Old Coach Rd Upper Coomera

•Discovery Dr Helensvale

•Days Rd Upper Coomer

•Henry Roberts Drive near Landman Ct at Clagiraba

•Clagiraba Rd at Mount Nathan

•Gerara Ct Clagiraba

•Guanaba Rd at Coomera River Crossing

•Somerset Dr Mudgeeraba

•Siganto Dr at Salt Water Creek

•Chisholme Rd Carrara

•Beaudesert-Nerang Rd at Coomera River crossing

•Somerset Drive near Franklin Dr Mudgeeraba

•Giessman Rd at North Tamborine

•White Rd (goat track) North Tamborine

•Alpine Tce Mount Tamborine

 

 

Thanks for the info...

passing it on and maybe next year when you have sorted your selves out we may come and visit.

Senior Net and the TA's in the village , are so thankful for your info.