Maryborough CBD business owners react to flood fight

Business owners, who avoided inundation against the odds, have spoken of the anxious wait as more than 1000 litres of water per second was sucked from the Maryborough CBD.

When Maryborough business owner Geoff Myatt heard a stormwater gate had been damaged under the city’s levee, allowing floodwaters to rush into the CBD, he was bracing himself for extensive damage.

The owner of Myatt Jewellers was facing having to install new carpet and cabinetry in his business at the corner of Adelaide and Kent St in the CBD as floodwaters rose, a process that would have closed his business for up to six weeks.

But thanks to heroic efforts from council workers and, 12 Handy Hire pumps brought in to push water out of the CBD, the damage to his business was limited.

The council worked through the night in an effort to keep the floodwaters at bay with more than 1000 litres per second sucked from city’s centre as floodwaters rose.

A small office at the back of the business has water in it, but the main shop, which could have gone a metre underwater, is dry.

RELATED COVERAGE: ‘Miracle flood survival’: Dad, daughter cling to tree for two days

Mr Myatt had been in the shop briefly at 5.30am on Monday, but as it was still classified as an emergency zone, he hadn’t been able to stay.

He was however heartened by what he saw.

“I’m very relieved,” Mr Myatt said.

He said he understood that the levee structure had done its job but it was the unfortunate failure of a stormwater gate under the road that had allowed flood water into the city.

Mr Myatt said the work of the council was impressive.

“They are incredible,” he said.

“They did a fantastic job.”

Mandy Ryan from Twentry20 Realty was another business owner who was feeling relief on Monday morning.

“It looks like we’ve fared okay,” she said.

“We’re one of the lucky ones.”

Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said the all-night operation had worked in minimising the damage while the flood peak was not quite as high as it was predicted to be.

He told of how he had personally seen the water rushing up out of the stormwater system yesterday inside the levee which was designed to protect the CBD.

“All of a sudden the water came out of the ground,’’ Mr Seymour said.

“I was devastated to see the water coming up underneath the levee.’’

The pumping operation is continuing.

“The pumps are now working to get water out of flooded basements.

“These 12 pumps operated right throughout yesterday and though the night.”