Maryborough’s levee system breached as flooding continues

An evacuation of Maryborough’s CBD is underway as the levee supposed to protect the city was breached

Maryborough’s CBD is set to be inundated with floodwaters after the levee supposed to protect the city was breached on Sunday.

Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour confirmed the news, urging people to stay away from the area as emergency services worked to evacuate those remaining at the scene.

Floodwaters were set to quickly fill the CBD, dashing the hopes of officials and emergency services who were hoping to keep the water at bay.

Police have made an emergency declaration and an exclusion zone has been established due to the rising flood levels.

A map of the expected inundation of Maryborough's CBD.

The zone includes parts of Adelaide Street, Kent Street, Lennox Street, Alice Street and Richmond Street.

Businesses and residents within the exclusion zone have been door knocked and advised to leave for higher ground as soon as possible.

On Saturday, Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour was at the scene where the levees were being constructed in Adelaide St and Kent St and said it was a historic moment for the city.

It comes after torrential rain hit the Wide Bay as the remnants of ex-tropical cyclone Seth swept over the region.

The $6.03 million infrastructure was funded by the State Government and the Fraser Coast Regional Council after a series of floods devastated the city between 2011 and 2013.

The infrastructure includes a portable pump station.

Draining works were also undertaken and parts of Adelaide St were raised in an effort to mitigate flood risk.

Cr Seymour said the council had practice runs for putting together the levees each year, meaning staff were confident and ready to erect the structures.

Minister State Development Dr Anthony Lynham, visited Maryborough and inspected the completed works in 2017.

At the time he said the Maryborough CBD flood mitigation project was vital for the economic and social wellbeing of the city.

“Maryborough has suffered flood damage many times throughout the years, including consecutive events in 2011, 2012 and 2013 that clocked up a combined damages bill of nearly $43 million, with the most recent event affecting 64 businesses in the CBD,” Dr Lynham said.

“Construction of temporary levee walls and a portable pump station, associated drainage works and raising sections of Adelaide Street will alleviate not only the economic impact of these events, but also the stress and disruptions suffered by business operators.”

The Maryborough CBD flood resilience project reduces the impact of flood events up to a river gauge level of 11.4 metres.

The current major flood warning is for 9 metres at Maryborough.