January 28, 2013
Ironically water – or the lack of it – is one of the major concerns now for the South Burnett Regional Council in the wake of the weekend flooding.
Nanango’s two town reservoirs were at 45 per cent capacity on Monday evening … about two day’s supply of water.
Council’s Water and Sewerage Manager Russell Hood said the problem had been caused by a feed-in pipe being completely washed away by floodwaters near the three bores at Barkers Creek.
Mr Hood said crews would begin repairs at 6:00am tomorrow (Tuesday).
Mayor Wayne Kratzmann said it was important that Nanango’s water supply be restored by tomorrow night.
There are currently water restrictions in place throughout the South Burnett because of damage to infrastructure (see other Report).
Council crews this afternoon reconnected water to Swickers Kingaroy Bacon Factory after a line into the plant was washed away. A council team installed a temporary line to allow the plant to resume operations.
UPDATE January 29: Council workers are currently replacing 13m of pipe at the Barkers Creek washout; water should be flowing again to the Nanango town reservoirs by 3:00pm today.
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More evacuations continued in the South Burnett throughout the day, taking the total to 17.
Nine people have been placed in an Evacuation Centre opened in the Drayton Villas in Nanango.
There are now 14 people at the Murgon PCYC and 110 at the Proston Hall.
Forty-one campers remain at Boondooma Dam.
Another 220 visitors are stranded at the Manar Park motocross centre near Proston.
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Cherbourg Hospital renal patients and a pregnant woman with complications have been brought to Kingaroy for treatment.
The patients were transported from Cherbourg under police escort via the Wondai Forestry Road.
[UPDATED with corrections January 31]
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Mayor Kratzmann said the South Burnett’s status as a Disaster Area was officially activated at 3:51pm this afternoon. This declaration automatically triggers access to relief and other payments.
Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme (PHAS) grants are now available to support families experiencing personal hardship, by covering the immediate, unexpected basic costs of essential items such as food, clothing and accommodation due to the extreme weather.
A grant of up to $180 per person, up to a maximum of $900 for a family of five or more, is available to eligible people experiencing genuine hardship.
Essential Household Contents Grants, Structural Assistance Grants and Essential Services Safety Reconnection Scheme Grants will also be available for individuals and families affected by flooding.
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There is good news on the transport front.
Access from Kingaroy to Brisbane is now possible, although it’s the long way around via Goodger, Brooklands and the Tarong Road to Nanango.
Kingaroy-Cooyar Road re-opened this afternoon but severe damage on the D’Aguilar Highway between Kingaroy and Nanango has kept this route closed despite earlier hopes it may be reopened for emergency vehicles.
The D’Aguilar Highway at Kilcoy has also been re-opened to cars only and a 40km/h speed limit applies.
Kingaroy to Dalby is also open via Kumbia as the Stuart River has now dropped below the bridge on the Bunya Highway.
However the good news does not extend to road damage.
“We are finding more and more damage, and in some places we won’t know what we’ll find until the water goes down,” Cr Kratzmann said.
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Cr Kratzmann said the Disaster Management Committee was very concerned about an animal welfare issue at Smithfield Feedlot, near Proston.
There are currently 18,400 head of cattle at Smithfield and only enough feed until Wednesday.
The access road is impassable.
“We need to have that road available for their trucks by Wednesday,” Cr Kratzmann said.
Council workers and earthmoving equipment will be despatched to the site tomorrow as a matter of urgency.
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The next South Burnett Disaster Management Committee meeting will be held at 10:00am tomorrow (Tuesday).
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UPDATE January 29: There are also water main breaks in the areas of Appin, Wickham and Henry streets in Nanango. Water will be off in these areas for a few hours today until repairs are completed.
Kingaroy water may be discoloured for the next few days but Council says it is safe to drink.
Related articles:
- (Most) Schools Back Tomorrow!
- Floods Leave Huge Damage Bill
- Boondooma Yellowbelly Postponed
- Driver Hurt In Washout
- Flood Relief Appeal Launched
- Emergency Water Restrictions
- Disaster Relief For Gympie Shire
- Ergon Energy Update
- MP Praises SES and Council Team
- Disaster Committee Update
- Chopper Called In For Evacuations
- ‘Worst I’ve Seen’
- Handy Flood Information Links
- If It’s Flooded, Forget It!
- What To Do In Case Of A Flood Warning
- Gordonbrook Dam Emergency Plan Activated
- South Burnett Road Closures
- Ergon Crews Assessing Damage
- Ergon Urges Residents To Stay Safe
