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The floods were a result of heavy precipitation caused by [[Tropical Cyclone Tasha (2010)|Tropical Cyclone Tasha]] that combined with a [[Trough (meteorology)|trough]] during the peak of a [[La Niña]] event. The 2010 La Niña weather pattern, which brings wetter conditions to eastern Australia, was the strongest since 1973.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/01/3104737.htm |title= La Nina to break down later this year |accessdate=1 January 2011 |date=1 January 2011 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News Online]] |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] }}</ref> This La Niña event caused a prolonged period of heavy rainfall over Queensland river catchments. Record or near to record [[sea surface temperature]]s were recorded off the Queensland coast in late 2010.<ref name="scs24"/> December 2010 was Queensland's wettest on record, with record high rainfall totals set in 107 locations for the month. The state average rainfall level of {{convert|209.45|mm|in|2}} exceeded the previous record of {{convert|200.1|mm|in|2}} set in 1975.<ref>[http://reg.bom.gov.au/climate/current/month/qld/summary.shtml "Queensland in December 2010: The wettest December on record"] ''Monthly Climate Summary for Queensland''. 4 January 2011. Bureau of Meteorology. Product code IDCKGC24R0. Retrieved 12 January 2011</ref> 2010 was also recorded as the state's wettest spring since 1900<ref>[http://reg.bom.gov.au/climate/current/season/qld/summary.shtm006C "Queensland in spring 2010: The wettest spring"] Wednesday, 1 December 2010. Bureau of Meteorology. Product code IDCKGC14R0. Retrieved 12 January 2011</ref> and the Australian continent's third wettest year.<ref name="hrq">{{cite web |url=http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=48521 |title=Heavy Rains in Queensland |date=12 January 2011 |work=[[NASA Earth Observatory]] |publisher=NASA |accessdate=15 January 2011 }}</ref> [[Kevin Trenberth]] sees [[climate change]] as a contributing factor in the unusually high precipitation rates.<ref name="ssccl"/> He attributes a half degree celsius rise in ocean temperatures around Australia to global warming which produces extra [[water vapor]] and intensifies the monsoon. Other scientists say that it is too early to draw such a conclusion.<ref name="ssccl">{{Cite news |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70B1XF20110112 |title=Scientists see climate change link to Australian floods |author=David Fogarty |accessdate=25 January 2011 |date=12 January 2011 |publisher=Reuters }}</ref>
The floods were a result of heavy precipitation caused by [[Tropical Cyclone Tasha (2010)|Tropical Cyclone Tasha]] that combined with a [[Trough (meteorology)|trough]] during the peak of a [[La Niña]] event. The 2010 La Niña weather pattern, which brings wetter conditions to eastern Australia, was the strongest since 1973.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/01/3104737.htm |title= La Nina to break down later this year |accessdate=1 January 2011 |date=1 January 2011 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News Online]] |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] }}</ref> This La Niña event caused a prolonged period of heavy rainfall over Queensland river catchments. Record or near to record [[sea surface temperature]]s were recorded off the Queensland coast in late 2010.<ref name="scs24"/> December 2010 was Queensland's wettest on record, with record high rainfall totals set in 107 locations for the month. The state average rainfall level of {{convert|209.45|mm|in|2}} exceeded the previous record of {{convert|200.1|mm|in|2}} set in 1975.<ref>[http://reg.bom.gov.au/climate/current/month/qld/summary.shtml "Queensland in December 2010: The wettest December on record"] ''Monthly Climate Summary for Queensland''. 4 January 2011. Bureau of Meteorology. Product code IDCKGC24R0. Retrieved 12 January 2011</ref> 2010 was also recorded as the state's wettest spring since 1900<ref>[http://reg.bom.gov.au/climate/current/season/qld/summary.shtm006C "Queensland in spring 2010: The wettest spring"] Wednesday, 1 December 2010. Bureau of Meteorology. Product code IDCKGC14R0. Retrieved 12 January 2011</ref> and the Australian continent's third wettest year.<ref name="hrq">{{cite web |url=http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=48521 |title=Heavy Rains in Queensland |date=12 January 2011 |work=[[NASA Earth Observatory]] |publisher=NASA |accessdate=15 January 2011 }}</ref> [[Kevin Trenberth]] sees [[climate change]] as a contributing factor in the unusually high precipitation rates.<ref name="ssccl"/> He attributes a half degree celsius rise in ocean temperatures around Australia to global warming which produces extra [[water vapor]] and intensifies the monsoon. Other scientists say that it is too early to draw such a conclusion.<ref name="ssccl">{{Cite news |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70B1XF20110112 |title=Scientists see climate change link to Australian floods |author=David Fogarty |accessdate=25 January 2011 |date=12 January 2011 |publisher=Reuters }}</ref>


Isolated flooding started across parts of the state in early December. On 24 December a [[Monsoon trough|monsoonal trough]] crossed the coast from the [[Coral Sea]], bringing torrential rain that fell in a broad swath from the [[Gulf of Carpentaria]] to the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]]. The widest range of intense rainfall occurred on 27 December with CHLOE MILLER & CECELIA TAYLOR very high daily totals recorded on 25 December near where Cyclone Tasha crossed the coast.<ref name="scs24"/> By 30 December vast areas of Southern and [[Central Queensland]] were affected by the flood. About 300 roads were closed, including nine major highways.<ref name="hrc">{{Cite news | url = http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/hundreds-of-roads-closed-in-flooded-qld-20101228-198z7.html | title = Hundreds of roads closed in flooded Qld | accessdate = 30 December 2010 | date = 28 December 2010 | newspaper = The Sydney Morning Herald | publisher = [[Fairfax Media]] }}</ref> Coal railway lines were closed and numerous mine sites flooded. The conditions also led to a large influx of snakes in the Rockhampton area, as well as some crocodiles.<ref name="braced">{{Cite news | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12124805 | title = Flood-hit Queensland braced for fresh storms |author=| accessdate = 6 January 2011 | date = 5 January 2011 | work = bbc.co.uk | publisher = BBC}}</ref>
Isolated flooding started across parts of the state in early December. On 24 December a [[Monsoon trough|monsoonal trough]] crossed the coast from the [[Coral Sea]], bringing torrential rain that fell in a broad swath from the [[Gulf of Carpentaria]] to the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]]. The widest range of intense rainfall occurred on 27 December with very high daily totals recorded on 25 December near where Cyclone Tasha crossed the coast.<ref name="scs24"/> By 30 December vast areas of Southern and [[Central Queensland]] were affected by the flood. About 300 roads were closed, including nine major highways.<ref name="hrc">{{Cite news | url = http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/hundreds-of-roads-closed-in-flooded-qld-20101228-198z7.html | title = Hundreds of roads closed in flooded Qld | accessdate = 30 December 2010 | date = 28 December 2010 | newspaper = The Sydney Morning Herald | publisher = [[Fairfax Media]] }}</ref> Coal railway lines were closed and numerous mine sites flooded. The conditions also led to a large influx of snakes in the Rockhampton area, as well as some crocodiles.<ref name="braced">{{Cite news | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12124805 | title = Flood-hit Queensland braced for fresh storms |author=| accessdate = 6 January 2011 | date = 5 January 2011 | work = bbc.co.uk | publisher = BBC}}</ref>


==Extent==
==Extent==

Revision as of 02:15, 4 February 2011

2010–2011 Queensland floods
A woman trapped on the roof of her car awaits rescue during the Toowoomba flash flood
DateDecember 2010 – present
LocationMuch of central and southern Queensland including Brisbane, Rockhampton, Emerald, Bundaberg, Dalby, Toowoomba, and Ipswich
Deaths35 confirmed dead and 9 missing
Property damageA$30 billion[1]

A series of floods hit Australia, beginning in December 2010, primarily in the state of Queensland including its capital city, Brisbane. The floods forced the evacuation of thousands of people from towns and cities.[2] At least seventy towns and over 200,000 people were affected.[2] Damage initially was estimated at around A$1 billion.[3] The estimated reduction in Australia's GDP is about A$30 billion.[1]

Three-quarters of the state of Queensland was declared a disaster zone.[4] The 2010–2011 floods killed 35 people in Queensland.[5] As of 26 January, an additional nine persons were missing.[6] The Queensland floods were followed by the 2011 Victorian floods which saw more than fifty communities in western and central Victoria also grapple with significant flooding.

Background

Brisbane experienced major flooding in 1893 and 1974 as the Brisbane River broke its bank and inundated low lying areas. Towns including St George and Theodore had dealt with major flooding earlier in 2010.

The floods were a result of heavy precipitation caused by Tropical Cyclone Tasha that combined with a trough during the peak of a La Niña event. The 2010 La Niña weather pattern, which brings wetter conditions to eastern Australia, was the strongest since 1973.[7] This La Niña event caused a prolonged period of heavy rainfall over Queensland river catchments. Record or near to record sea surface temperatures were recorded off the Queensland coast in late 2010.[8] December 2010 was Queensland's wettest on record, with record high rainfall totals set in 107 locations for the month. The state average rainfall level of 209.45 millimetres (8.25 in) exceeded the previous record of 200.1 millimetres (7.88 in) set in 1975.[9] 2010 was also recorded as the state's wettest spring since 1900[10] and the Australian continent's third wettest year.[11] Kevin Trenberth sees climate change as a contributing factor in the unusually high precipitation rates.[12] He attributes a half degree celsius rise in ocean temperatures around Australia to global warming which produces extra water vapor and intensifies the monsoon. Other scientists say that it is too early to draw such a conclusion.[12]

Isolated flooding started across parts of the state in early December. On 24 December a monsoonal trough crossed the coast from the Coral Sea, bringing torrential rain that fell in a broad swath from the Gulf of Carpentaria to the Gold Coast. The widest range of intense rainfall occurred on 27 December with very high daily totals recorded on 25 December near where Cyclone Tasha crossed the coast.[8] By 30 December vast areas of Southern and Central Queensland were affected by the flood. About 300 roads were closed, including nine major highways.[13] Coal railway lines were closed and numerous mine sites flooded. The conditions also led to a large influx of snakes in the Rockhampton area, as well as some crocodiles.[14]

Extent

NASA image showing swollen rivers and cloud cover.

Flooding was widespread across Queensland from mid December 2010 with several separate rain events causing rivers to rise over a three week period. Many places, including Condamine and Chinchilla were inundated by flood waters on multiple occasions.

Fitzroy River basin

Rockhampton seen from the air on 31 December; the Fitzroy River can be seen to have burst its banks.
View of the swollen Fitzroy River, which surrounds the western half of Rockhampton.

The flooding initially forced the evacuation of 1,000 people from Theodore and other towns, described as unprecedented by the acting chief officer of the Emergency Management Queensland.[15] The military transported residents by helicopter to an evacuation centre at Moura. The total evacuation of a Queensland town was a first for the state.[16] Major flooding at Theodore persisted for more than two weeks.[8]

Emerald was cut-off by road on 29 December as the Nogoa River rose.[17] By the next day, the river surpassed the 2008 flood peak level of 15.36 metres (50.4 ft).[18] At the peak of the flooding, 80% of the town was flooded, the worst the town ever experienced.[19] 1,200 Emerald residents registered as evacuees.[20]

Rockhampton had nearly a week to prepare for an expected flood peak from the Fitzroy River, which courses through the centre of the city.[21] The airport was closed on 1 January.[22] A metal flood barrier was erected around the terminal to prevent flood-borne debris from causing damage to the structure. An evacuation centre was set up at the Central Queensland University.[20] The Bruce Highway leading south out of Rockhampton was closed to traffic. The river peaked at 9.2 metres (30 ft) just short the of the predicted 9.4 metres (31 ft) maximum.[23]

The Port of Gladstone reduced its export capacity because the coal stockpiles at the port were saturated and further coal deliveries could not be made by rail.[24] The Goonyella railway line which services a number of coal mines in the Bowen Basin was closed for one week and shipments of grain were also delayed.[25]

Burnett River basin

The swollen Burnett River at Gayndah, 350 kilometres (220 mi) north west of Brisbane.
Churchill Drive flooded in Warwick.

The central Burnett towns of Gayndah and Mundubbera saw major flooding on 28–29 December. The Burnett River peaked at 18.25 metres (59.9 ft) at Mundubbera—the highest river height since 1942—inundating more than 20 houses. Downstream at Gayndah, the river peaked at 16.1 metres (53 ft) with floodwaters reaching two houses.[26] Both towns were isolated for several days and there was major disruption to the potable water supply and local agricultural production.[26][27]

Bundaberg experienced severe flooding, the worst in 40 years,[21] after the Burnett River flooded the city. This resulted in the evacuation of 300 homes.[21]

Condamine/Balonne River basin

Chinchilla and Jericho were also inundated.[17] At least 40 residents were evacuated from Chinchilla.[28]

Flooding in Dalby was the worst since 1981.[29] The town's water purification system was flooded, resulting in water restrictions that have hampered clean-up efforts. 112,500 liters (24,700 imp gal; 29,700 U.S. gal) of water were transported to the town of 14,000 residents.[30] Warwick was isolated when all roads into the town were cut-off.[31]

The Condamine River reached 14.25 metres (46.8 ft) on 30 December, its highest level ever recorded.[32] Condamine was mandatorily evacuated on 30 December.[33]

A second rain event on 9–10 January saw floodwaters again threaten Chinchilla and Condamine with Chinchilla residents again asked to evacuate.[34]

The Macintyre River, which forms part of the border between the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland, began to threaten the town of Goondiwindi on 13 January. While the town is protected by a 11 metres (36 ft) levee, the local hospital and aged care home were evacuated as a precaution and an evacuation centre was established.[35]

Mary River basin

Heavy rain in the Mary River catchment on 8–9 January 2011 led to flooding at Maryborough and Gympie. The Mary River at Maryborough was expected to initially peak at 8.5 metres (28 ft) at midday 9 January with some houses and businesses inundated.

Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley

Long and Mackenzie Streets in Toowoomba flooded.

The city of Toowoomba, in the Darling Downs, was hit by flash flooding after more than 160 millimetres (6.3 in) of rain fell in 36 hours to 10 January 2011; this event caused four deaths in a matter of hours.[34][36][37] Toowoomba sits on the watershed of the Great Dividing Range, some 700 metres (2,300 ft) above sea level. A three week period where it had rained on all but three days had left the soil around Toowoomba saturated and when a line of storms hit the city on 10 January, the resulting torrential rain rapidly ran off down gullies and streets. The central business district of the city sits in a small valley where two small water courses—East Creek and West Creek—meet to form Gowrie Creek. Unable to cope with the volume of water heading toward them, the creeks burst their banks, pushing a devastating wall of water through the city centre.[38]

Nearby Gatton saw voluntary evacuations as the Lockyer Creek rose to a record height of 18.92 metres (62.1 ft), exceeding the previous record set in the 1893 Queensland floods.[34] The surge passed through the Lockyer Valley town of Withcott, where the force of the water pushed cars into shops and forced the evacuation of hundreds of people. The scene was described by an onlooker as "like Cyclone Tracy has gone through it ... If you dropped an atom bomb on it, you couldn't tell the difference."[39] Grantham was also devastated by the surge of water. Houses were left crumpled by what Premier of Queensland Anna Bligh described as an "inland tsunami". According to local media, the flood waters had reached a height of 7 or 8 m (23 or 26 ft) by the time it struck Grantham.[40] Nine people were confirmed dead, and many more feared dead among 66 reported missing.[41] The body of one victim washed away at Grantham was recovered 80 kilometres (50 mi) downstream and Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson warned that some bodies may never be found.[42]

Brisbane River catchment

Wheel of Brisbane during the floods.
This detailed astronaut photograph illustrates flooding in suburbs of the Brisbane metropolitan region.

On 11 January 2011 at around 2:30 pm EST, the Brisbane River broke its banks leading to evacuations in the Brisbane CBD and the suburbs of Fortitude Valley and West End.[43][44] An evacuation centre was established for flood-affected residents at the RNA Showgrounds in Bowen Hills.[45] Residents of 2100 Brisbane streets were advised to evacuate prior to the arrival of floods, which struck the city on 12 January. Lord Mayor Campbell Newman stated than an estimated 20,000 homes would be affected when the river peaked on 14 January.[46] He subsequently advised that the Brisbane River transport infrastructure had been "substantially destroyed".[47]

The Brisbane River peaked on 13 January at a lower level than predicted, but still 20,000 houses in Brisbane were inundated. Some of the Brisbane suburbs worst affected by the floods were St Lucia, West End, Rocklea and Graceville.[48] The floods damaged some of Brisbane's icons. The Brisbane Riverwalk, a floating walkway over the Brisbane River linking the inner city neighbourhoods of Fortitude Valley and New Farm, broke up, with a section forming a 300 metres (980 ft) "floating missile" that threatened the Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges. The largest part of the floating boardwalk was safely guided under the bridge by a tugboat and past other infrastructure before being safely secured.[49] Brisbane's major Rugby league and Soccer venue, Suncorp Stadium, filled with water up to 2 metres (6.6 ft) deep, reaching the third or fourth row of seats.[50]

With the flood peaking at 4.46 metres (14.6 ft) in Brisbane, the floods were the sixth highest in the city's history.[51] Parts of the western suburbs of Brisbane were cut off for three days. Resident of suburbs including Bellbowrie, Karana Downs, Moggill and Pullenvale were running low on food and other items when Moggill Road was cut, until the Australian Army was able to reach the area on 15 January with supplies.[52]

The Bremer River at Ipswich, 30 kilometres (19 mi) west of Brisbane, reached a height of 19.4 metres (64 ft) on 12 January, inundating the central business district and at least 3,000 houses.[53] One third of the city was reported to be underwater and over 1100 people took shelter at evacuation centres.[54] At nearby Marburg, a four year old boy was swept away by floodwaters when he fell from a rescue boat.[54] A man in his fifties died when he accidentally drove into floodwaters in the Ipswich suburb of Wulkuraka.[55] The worst affected areas of Ipswich were the suburbs of Goodna and Gailes.[56] The flooding allowed bull sharks to reach the center of Goodna; one was spotted swimming in Williams Street, and a second in Queen Street.[57]

Elsewhere

In South East Queensland, the Wivenhoe Dam filled to a level equivalent to 191% of its supply capacity on 11 January 2011.[58] Although the dam can hold the equivalent of 225% of its supply capacity, storage exceeding 100% is required to be progressively released through the floodgates to restore capacity to mitigate future flood events.[59][60] Brisbane experienced its wettest December since 1859.[24] Wyaralong Dam, near Beaudesert, had recently been completed and was praised[61] for mitigating flooding in downstream Logan, having exceeded 80% of its capacity.[62]

In North Queensland, the town of Ingham became isolated as the Herbert River peaked. Homes at Babinda, and Gordonvale were flooded.[63]

Deaths

As of 28 January 2011, 35 deaths have been attributed to the floods, 21 of which are from the Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley area.[64] Additionally, 9 people are listed as missing, after the catastrophic flash flood struck Toowoomba, Lockyer Valley, Brisbane and Ipswich.[65][66][67][68]

The first death was reported on 20 November 2010, when a woman drowned in her vehicle near Dysart.[69] In the following weeks, five others died from similar circumstances.[70][71][72][73][74] Nine people drowned after being caught directly by the flowing waters.[36][75][76][77][78][79] and thirteen people died in other circumstances.[36][55][79][80][81][82][83][84]

Response

Public response

More than 55,000 volunteers registered to help clean up the streets of Brisbane,[85] with thousands more unregistered volunteers wandering the muddy streets with gumboots and mops.[86] Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the volunteering effort showed tremendous 'Aussie spirit' and that "Right across Queensland today people have got up, marched out of their homes and gone to find people to help," she said. All across the state people have opened their houses, their hearts and their wallets to help. 13 year old Jordan Rice gave his life so that his 10 year old brother be saved from the flood waters before him.[87] He has been dubbed by the public as an Australian hero.[88][89][90]

Reaction

The impact on our friends in Queensland is something that New Zealanders feel very deeply, and we just want to make sure that we're in a position to offer them support across the range of services that we have here in New Zealand.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key on the floods.[91]

Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard toured flood-affected areas on 31 December,[20] the day before the Queen of Australia, Elizabeth II, sent her expressions of concern and sympathy for the victims of the floods to her representative in Queensland, Governor Penelope Wensley.[92][93]The Queen later made a donation to her Queensland premier's flood relief appeal,[94] as did her son, Prince Charles.[95]

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated, "On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I offer my condolences for the loss of life and damage in Queensland caused by the recent flooding."[96] U.S. President Barack Obama said he was ready to help.[96]

John Key, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, held a telephone call with Gillard, during which she thanked New Zealand for its help. Len Brown, the Mayor of Auckland, a sister city of Brisbane, offered assistance to Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman.[97]

David Cameron, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom offered his sympathies. Downing street stated: The Prime Minister offered his deep sympathy on behalf of the British people for those who have died, those who have lost their homes and all those who have been affected by the floods in Queensland[98]

Recovery

As we weep for what we have lost, and as we grieve for family and friends and we confront the challenge that is before us, I want us to remember who we are. We are Queenslanders. We're the people that they breed tough, north of the [New South Wales] border. We're the ones that they knock down, and we get up again. Together we can pull through this and that's what I'm determined to do, with your help, we can achieve it.

Major General Michael Slater was appointed head of a civilian recovery task force.[23] The taskforce was later replaced by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, a new body created to co-ordinate the rebuilding program.[100]

The Australian Defence Force's contribution to flood relief efforts was designated Operation Queensland Flood Assist. The ADF established Joint Task Force 637, based at Enoggera Barracks in Brisbane, for operational command of on 1 January 2011.[101] According to the Australian Prime Minister the deployment was the largest for a natural disaster since Cyclone Tracy.[102]

About 35 State Emergency Service personnel from New South Wales and 20 personnel from Victoria were deployed to provide relief to exhausted staff and volunteers.[103] A national appeal was established on 29 December, with the state and federal governments giving A$1 million each.[32]

Small businesses and primary producers in 13 local government areas became eligible for grants of up to A$25,000 to pay for costs from damage incurred as a result of the floods.[104] National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements were made available to a total of 31 local government areas across Queensland.[105]

New Zealand announced that the country would be sending two fifteen member civil defence teams to assist in flood rescue efforts.[106] In addition to this, New Zealand will send a number of New Zealand Defence Force soldiers, mainly engineers, as well as New Zealand Police and New Zealand Fire Service firefighters.[91] A New Zealand Red Cross team was also dispatched.[107]

Aid efforts

On 9 January, the Flood Relief Appeal: Australia Unites telethon broadcast by the Nine Network from the Suncorp Piazza at South Bank Parklands, Brisbane raised more than A$10 million in pledged aid.[108] The South Bank area which includes the Wheel of Brisbane pictured above was itself inundated by flood waters only two days later.

At the first Twenty20 cricket match between Australia and England in Adelaide on 12 January, both teams donated part of their match fees to help the victims and A$28,450 was collected from people in attendance.[109]

On 16 January, the day before the 2011 Australian Open commenced, a number of players took part in the Rally for Relief which was held at Rod Laver Arena and attended by 15,000 people, which raised A$750,000.[110] The Seven Network televised the event. Players who took part included Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Lleyton Hewitt, Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick.[110]

On 27 January, the 2011 Legends of Origin charity match was contested between former New South Wales and Queensland Rugby League State of Origin players. Organised by Mark Geyer, the match raised $380,587 to go towards the recovery effort.[111]

Inquiry

On 17 January 2011, Anna Bligh announced a Commission of Inquiry into the Queensland floods 2011 into the floods.[112] The Commission’s Terms of reference cover a wide array of related aspects and stipulate a final report is due in one year.[113]

Economic impact

Queensland Treasurer Andrew Fraser said it was not possible to put a figure on the damage; "other than to say the damage bill is going to start with a b and not an m".[114][115] The floods will cost the Australian economy at least A$10 billion.[116] The price of food across Australia will go up.[117] The floods will cost supermarket chains tens of millions of dollars.[117] Some communities isolated by floodwaters experienced food shortages, and a rise in the cost of fruits and vegetables was reported shortly after.[33] Food supplies to northern Queensland were disrupted requiring groceries to be transported to Townsville by ship.[118]

According to an analysist at Macquarie Group almost all the available stockpiles of coking coal in Queensland were exhausted in late January 2011 due to reduced rail capacity.[119] Swimming pool salt was in short supply as salt mines near Rockhampton were flooded.[120] Thousands of litres of milk had to be dumped because it couldn't be transported for processing.[121] The persistent wet conditions also caused health problems for livestock. There was severe damage to roadways in forestry plantations across wide areas of the south of the state.[122]

Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced that her government would impose a Flood levy to fund reconstruction works.[123]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Flood costs tipped to top $30b". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Australia: Queensland floods spur more evacuations". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  3. ^ "Floods force mass evacuations in Queensland, Australia". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 29 December 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  4. ^ Hurst, Daniel (11 January 2011). "Three-quarters of Queensland a disaster zone". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  5. ^ "Death toll from Queensland Floods". Queensland Police Service. 24 January 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  6. ^ Lisa Martin (26 January 2011). "Time for Queensland to heal after the floods - Queensland Premier Anna Bligh". Herald Sun. Herald and Weekly Times. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
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  9. ^ "Queensland in December 2010: The wettest December on record" Monthly Climate Summary for Queensland. 4 January 2011. Bureau of Meteorology. Product code IDCKGC24R0. Retrieved 12 January 2011
  10. ^ "Queensland in spring 2010: The wettest spring" Wednesday, 1 December 2010. Bureau of Meteorology. Product code IDCKGC14R0. Retrieved 12 January 2011
  11. ^ "Heavy Rains in Queensland". NASA Earth Observatory. NASA. 12 January 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  12. ^ a b David Fogarty (12 January 2011). "Scientists see climate change link to Australian floods". Reuters. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  13. ^ "Hundreds of roads closed in flooded Qld". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 28 December 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  14. ^ "Flood-hit Queensland braced for fresh storms". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 5 January 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  15. ^ Calligeros, Marissa (29 December 2010). "Flooding could last 'weeks, not days'". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  16. ^ "Flood destroys doctor's surgery in Theodore". ABC Rural. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 January 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  17. ^ a b Calligeros, Marissa (30 December 2010). "From drought to flooding rains: Queensland's flood crisis continues". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  18. ^ "Qld's 'heartbreaking' floods worst ever". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australian Associated Press. 30 December 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  19. ^ Campion, Vikki (1 January 2011). "Flooded towns in Queensland declared disaster zones". The Daily Telegraph. News Limited. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  20. ^ a b c "Rockhampton faces forced evacuations". ABC News Online. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  21. ^ a b c Gorrie, Arthur (4 January 2011). "SES volunteers take goodwill gift". The Gympie Times. APN News & Media. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  22. ^ "Rockhampton Airport shuts down". The Morning Bulletin. APN News & Media. 3 January 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  23. ^ a b "Queensland floods: Rockhampton floodwaters 'peak'". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 5 January 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  24. ^ a b Fickling, David; Brindal, Ray (30 December 2010). "Rains Hit Australian Coal Mines". Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  25. ^ O'Sullivan, Matt (4 January 2011). "Losses and delays in flooded state". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  26. ^ a b "Worst over for Gayndah, Mundubbera". NineMSN. 29 December 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  27. ^ Koch, Tony (31 December 2010). "Disease next threat as barely a drop to drink in flooded Queensland towns". The Australia. News Limited. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  28. ^ "Disasters declared in flood-hit Qld towns". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australian Associated Press. 28 December 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  29. ^ Trenwith, Courtney (30 December 2010). "Heartbreak beneath the flood slick". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
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