General News
9 March, 2024
Ideas to fix flood zones
FOURTEEN submissions have been made to Premier Steven Miles and cabinet ministers in the wake of the Cyclone Jasper flooding disaster.
The Combined Residents Working Group, in consultation with the Yorkeys Knob Residents Association, Machans Beach Community Association, Holloways Beach Community Association and residents of other heavily impacted communities including Caravonica and Kamerunga, prepared the submissions.
Holloways Beach Community Group president Suzi Kerr said the submissions followed a series of open community meetings for all flood-impacted residents at Yorkeys Knob, Holloways Beach and Machans Beach.
“Prior to, during and after these meetings, we have received numerous written and verbal concerns from a great number of residents,” she said.
“Our submissions carry the voice of approximately 5000 people.”
Ms Kerr said disappointingly the group was granted only one 15-minute meeting with Fire and Disaster Recovery Minister Nikky Boyd.
Among the submissions were:
Deficient communication systems: The transition to digital communication platforms has exposed significant vulnerabilities during natural disasters. The reliance on mobile networks, which failed during power outages, severely hampered emergency response and communities. The internet was also unavailable to residents. The inability to call for help or update loved ones was deeply concerning to most.
Inadequate urban planning: Concerns have been raised regarding building developments approved on flood plains, particularly the approval of low-set houses in these high-risk areas. This has exacerbated the impact of flooding and highlighted the need for a re-evaluation of urban planning and development approvals in flood-prone zones.
Lack of effective flood mitigation strategies: The need for comprehensive flood mitigation and community regeneration strategies has never been more apparent. enges and solutions.
Urgent recommendations inludes a moratorium on building developmenton the Barron River delta, an audit on digital signal strength and emergency power backup, strategic location of communication infrastructure, the access road to Machans Beach, Holloways Beach, and Yorkeys Knob be reconstructed to the flooding level as part of the planned Cook Highway upgrade.
Barron delta report
THE Combined Residents Working Group has asked the Queensland Government to update the Barron River Delta Investigation [BRDI] 1981 report following the Cyclone Jasper flooding disaster.
Spokesman Ross Parisi said the update needed to take into consideration the effects on the level of flooding at Holloways Beach and Yorkeys Knob due to the levee banks surrounding the sand mine south of the Cook Highway as well as flow levels in Thomatis Creek and the Barron River.
