June 6, 2023
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington has repeated a plea to have flood warning gauges installed along the flood-prone Boonara-Nangur Creek system.
Mrs Frecklington has written to the Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Murray Watt, following the recent announcement of Federal funding over the next 10 years for flood warning infrastructure across the country.
“Since the devastating floods of early 2022, I have been calling for flood warning gauges to be built on the Boonara-Nangur creek system to help downstream landholders monitor when a flood is imminent,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Landholders along the Boonara Creek have suffered four major floods since 2011, with two of these events in 2022.
“They have lost horses, cattle, sheep and equipment, but with better warning, it would give them time to move stock to higher ground, move irrigation equipment and place flood warning signs on the Burnett Highway.
“Tragically, a 14-year-old girl lost her life in the Booubyjan area last January, and several more people travelling on the Burnett Highway (which runs adjacent to the Boonara Creek in several locations) were caught in life-threatening circumstances by this dangerous and fast-flowing creek.
“There is an urgent need for flood warning gauges on the Boonara Creek and my letter to the Federal Minister seeks a commitment for two flood warning gauges in the upper sections of the Boonara.
“I am concerned that the Federal Government intends to spend a decade undertaking this program, as our community cannot wait this long. We need these gauges installed as soon as possible.
“This infrastructure would make a real difference to the people who live along this creek system giving them assurance they could be alerted earlier to the threat of flood if and when it next occurs.”
Last month, the Federal Government announced it would spend $236 million over 10 years to establish a national, reliable flood warning network across Australia.
A joint statement by Senator Watt and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek said the funding would be used to purchase and upgrade high priority flood gauges that are currently owned by local, State and Territory governments in flood-prone areas.
“In many cases these are run down and poorly maintained,” the statement continued.
“Based on the advice of the Bureau of Meteorology, work in Queensland will be prioritised.
“This is due to the high flood risk to the community in Australia’s most disaster-prone State and the Queensland Government’s prior commitment to share the cost of ongoing operations of the flood gauge network.”
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