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2010–2011 Queensland floods

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2010–2011 Queensland floods
A NASA satellite image showing the Queensland floods (31 December 2010)
DateDecember 2010-Present
LocationMuch of central and southern Queensland including Rockhampton, Emerald, Bundaberg and Dalby
Deaths10[1]

A series of floods have been affecting northeastern Australia, primarily in the state of Queensland, since December 2010. The floods have forced the evacuation of thousands of people from towns and cities.[2] At least 22 towns and over 200,000 people have been affected.[2] Damage initially was estimated at around AU$1bn (£650m).[3] This estimate was later revised up to AU$5bn.[4]

Vast areas of Southern and Central Queensland were affected by the flood. About 300 roads were closed, including nine major highways.[1] Coal railway lines were closed and numerous mine sites flooded. The floods have boosted fruit and vegetable prices.[5]

Background

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, is the strongest since 1973.[6] 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. By 28 December the worst of the rain had passed.[7] The conditions also led to a large influx of snakes, as well as some crocodiles.[8]

Extent

While flooding has been widespread across Queensland, major flooding has mainly occurred in the three river basins.

Fitzroy River basin

Rockhampton seen from the air on 31 December. The Fitzroy River can be seen to have burst its banks.

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.[9] The military transported residents by helicopter to an evacuation centre at Moura.

Emerald was cut-off by road on 29 December as the Nogoa River rose.[10] By the next day, the river surpassed the 2008 flood peak level of 15.36 m (50.4 ft).[11] At the peak of the flooding, 80% of the town was flooded, the worst the town ever experienced.[12] 1,200 Emerald residents registered as evacuees.[13]

Rockhampton had nearly a week to prepare for an expected flood peak from the Fitzroy River, which courses through the centre of the city.[14] The airport was closed on 1 January.[15] 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.[13] The Bruce Highway leading north out of Rockhampton was never closed to traffic. The river peaked at 9.2 m just short the of the predicted 9.4 m maximum.[4]

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.[16] 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.[17]

Burnett River basin

The swollen Burnett River at Gayndah, 350 kilometres (220 mi) north west of Brisbane.

The central Burnett towns of Gayndah and Mundubbera saw major flooding on 28-29 December. The Burnett River peaked at 18.25m at Mundubbera—the highest river height since 1942—inundating more than 20 houses. Downstream at Gayndah, the river peaked at 16.1m with floodwaters reaching two houses.[18] Both towns were isolated for several days and there was major disruption to the potable water supply and local agricultural production.[18][19]

Bundaberg experienced severe flooding, the worst in 40 years,[14] after the Burnett River flooded the city. Floodwater forced 300 households to leave their homes.[14]

Condamine/Balonne River basin

Chinchilla and Jericho were also inundated.[10] At least 40 residents were evacuated from Chinchilla.[20]

Flooding in Dalby was the worst since 1981.[21] The town's water purification system was flooded, resulting in water restrictions that have hampered clean-up efforts. 112,500 litres (24,700 imp gal; 29,700 US gal) of water were transported to the town of 14,000 residents.[22] Warwick was isolated when all roads into the town were cut-off.[23]

The Condamine River reached 14.25 m (46.8 ft) on 30 December, its highest level ever recorded.[24] Condamine was mandatorily evacuated on 30 December.[5]

Floodwaters are passing downstream along the Balonne River and threaten the towns of Surat and St George. The river is expected to peak at 12.5m at Surat and 14m at St George.[25] The New South Wales towns of Angledool, Goodooga and Weilmoringle are expected to isolated when floodwaters from the Balonne reach the Culgoa and Bokhara Rivers.[26]

Elsewhere

In South East Queensland, the Wivenhoe Dam filled to a level equivalent to 122% of its supply capacity, leading operators to open all five flood gates.[27] Brisbane experienced its wettest December since 1859.[16]

In North Queensland, the town of Ingham became isolated as the Herbert River peaked. Homes at Babinda, and Gordonvale were flooded.[28]

Response

Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard toured flood-affected areas on 31 December,[13] 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.[29] [30] Around 80 military personnel have been engaged in flood-relief activities.[31]

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."[32]

A C-130 Hercules has been used to transport supplies to Rockhampton via Mackay.[31] Food supplies to northern Queensland have been disrupted requiring groceries to be transported to Townsville by ship.[31] About 35 personnel from New South Wales and 20 personnel from Victoria were deployed to provide relief to exhausted staff and volunteers.[33] A national appeal was established on 29 December, with the state and federal governments giving AU $1 million each.[24]

Australian tennis player Samantha Stosur organised a small appeal with various players completing in the Brisbane International, where for each ace they serve $100 will be put forward to the appeal.[citation needed] Andy Roddick is one of the players involved in this appeal and has served over 15 aces during the tournament as of yet.[when?][citation needed]

Small businesses and primary producers in 13 local government areas became eligible for grants of up to AU$25,000 to pay for costs from damage incurred as a result of the floods.[34] National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements were made available to a total of 31 local government areas across Queensland.[35]

Major General Michael Slater was appointed recovery head of the recovery task force.[4]


See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Third flood death as Rockhampton faces catastrophe with more cyclones predicted". news.com.au. 3 January 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2011. Cite error: The named reference "hrc" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b "Australia: Queensland floods spur more evacuation". BBC News. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  3. ^ "Floods force mass evacuations in Queensland, Australia". BBC News. 29 December 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  4. ^ a b c "Queensland floods: Rockhampton floodwaters 'peak'". BBC News. 5 January 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Some Queensland flood victims facing long wait to return to their flooded homes". The Australian. News Limited. 30 December 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  6. ^ "La Nina to break down later this year". ABC News Online. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 January 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  7. ^ "Bureau believes worst is over". Warwick Daily News. APN News & Media. 28 December 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  8. ^ "Flood-hit Queensland braced for fresh storms". BBC News. 5 January 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  9. ^ Marissa Calligeros (29 December 2010). "Flooding could last 'weeks, not days'". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  10. ^ a b Marissa Calligeros (30 December 2010). "From drought to flooding rains: Queensland's flood crisis continues". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  11. ^ "Qld's 'heartbreaking' floods worst ever". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 30 December 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  12. ^ Vikki Campion (1 January 2011). "Flooded towns in Queensland declared disaster zones". The Daily Telegraph. Herald and Weekly Times. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  13. ^ a b c "Rockhampton faces forced evacuations". ABC News Online. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  14. ^ a b c Arthur Gorrie (4 January 2011). "SES volunteers take goodwill gift". The Gympie Times. APN News & Media. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  15. ^ "Rockhampton Airport shuts down". The Morning Bulletin. APN News & Media. 3 January 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  16. ^ a b David Fickling & Ray Brindal (30 December 2010). "Rains Hit Australian Coal Mines". Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  17. ^ Matt O'Sullivan (4 January 2011). "Losses and delays in flooded state". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  18. ^ a b "Worst over for Gayndah, Mundubbera". NineMSN. 29 December 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  19. ^ Koch, Tony (31 December 2010). "Disease next threat as barely a drop to drink in flooded Queensland towns". The Australia. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  20. ^ "Disasters declared in flood-hit Qld towns". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 28 December 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  21. ^ Courtney Trenwith (30 December 2010). "Heartbreak beneath the flood slick". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  22. ^ "Drinking water trucked into flood-ravaged Dalby". Herald Sun. Herald and Weekly Times. 30 December 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  23. ^ James O'Loan (28 December 2010). "Residents evacuate as flooding grips much of Queensland". The Courier-Mail. Herald and Weekly Times. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  24. ^ a b "Disease fears grow as flooding hits towns' water supplies and rivers rise in Queensland". The Courier-Mail. Queensland Newspapers. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  25. ^ Farmer, John (5 January). "St George prepares for inundation". Toowoomba Chronicle. Retrieved 5 January 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ "Floods heading south for NSW: SES". Sydney Morning Herald. 4 January 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
  27. ^ Andrew Korner (30 December 2010). "Five gates open at Wivenhoe Dam". The Queensland Times. APN News & Media. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  28. ^ "Ten towns on flood alert as Queensland soaks up heavy rain". The Courier-Mail. Queensland Newspapers. 28 December 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  29. ^ "Queen offers sympathies to flood-hit Qld". Sky News. 1 January 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  30. ^ "Message following the flooding in Queensland, Australia, 31 December 2010". Buckingham Palace. 31 December 201o. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  31. ^ a b c Courtney Trenwith (4 January 2011). "Hercules to the rescue". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  32. ^ "Obama ready to step in as Queensland flood crisis deepens". dailytelegraph.com.au. 2011-01-05. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
  33. ^ Anna Bligh (31 December 2010). "Other states sending aid to Queensland". Ministerial Media Statement. Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
  34. ^ "Financial assistance for primary producers". Queensland Government. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  35. ^ Neil Roberts (27 December 2010). "Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements extended". Ministerial Media Statement. Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
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