Ipswich May Flood information: Homes on flood watch, drivers stuck in flood waters
Residents across the Ipswich region like 85-year-old Arthur Wass are being warned to get ready to move to higher ground as rain threatens to force them from their homes once again.
Ipswich
Don't miss out on the headlines from Ipswich. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Ipswich region has been hit with heavy rainfall as swollen rivers cut off roads and threaten to flood homes and businesses.
The weather event comes on the back of February’s major floods, which some residents still have not fully recovered from.
On Friday morning, Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said while Goodna was hit hard in February, this time West Ipswich is copping the brunt of the recent weather event.
“It is nowhere near the amount of rain we had in February – March … this time more of our western areas are dealing with flooded roads and creeks but they are really cluey and on to it,” she said.
“We are not expecting homes to be inundated in Goodna … there were precautionary door knocks in three high risk Bundamba Streets overnight.
“Although, it is an evolving situation.”
Queensland Fire and Emergency Service was called to three rescues across the Ipswich region at West Ipswich, Ebenezer, and Glamorgan Vale.
Two people trapped in a car were rescued from floodwaters along Brisbane Road at 7.30pm, Thursday night.
Mayor Harding urged residents not to worry but to stay vigilant and informed by visiting the council’s disaster dashboard.
“Arm yourself with information and please contact the council if you see a flooded road,” she said.
The worst of the flooding is expected to peak Friday night depending on the amount of rainfall that hits the Ipswich region.
CURRENT FLOOD WARNINGS (5.30PM):
Prepare to leave:
The Ipswich City Council advises residents near the following water systems should be prepared to leave in case flooding worsens.
• Black Snake Creek
• Bundamba Creek
• Deebing Creek
• Franklin Vale Creek
• Purga Creek Six Mile Creek
• Warrill Creek
• Western Creek
• Woogaroo Creek
“Ipswich City Council advises that there is potential for rises… particularly (in) Ipswich Central, One Mile, Walloon, Rosewood and further out to Lower Mount Walker,” the spokesman said.
Monitor changing conditions:
The ICC advises residents in near the following waterways to watch the situation over the next 3 to 12 hours and act if need be.
• Western Creek
• Franklin Vale Creek
• Black Snake Creek
• Warrill Creek
• Purga Creek and
• Upper Bremer River
The areas that may be affected include; Amberley, Ashwell, Calvert, Grandchester, Lanefield, Lower Mount Walker, Marburg, Mount Mort, Mount Marrow, Mount Walker West, Mount Forbes, Mutdapilly, Purga, Rosewood, Thagoona, Tallegalla, The Bluff, Walloon, Willowbank, and Woolshed.
Stay up to date with the latest Ipswich flood warnings HERE.
CALM BEFORE THE STORM:
The West Ipswich town of Rosewood has been on high alert since Friday morning after the Bureau of Meteorology singled the small regional town out during a press conference warning residents to stay alert.
Towns just west of Rosewood, Laidley and Grandchester, have lost many homed and businesses during the devastating rain event.
Born and bred Rosewood man Arthur Wass’s home was starting to look like an island along Ipswich Rosewood Road, the 85-year-old wasn’t too fussed – he’s seen his fair share of floods, and before him his parents.
“It’s just a part of life,” he said.
Mr Wass said a nervous neighbour was quick to move her horses to a friend’s paddock.
During the late February floods the retired railway worker said the water had gotten into his sheds, although the water didn’t make it over his front steps.
A Rosewood cattle farmer whose paddocks were a sea of water at lunchtime said he wasn’t sure how bad the flood would be and all he could do was, “wait and see”.
“Everyone around here has been around long enough, they know what to expect,” he said.
“I’m just hopping it’s not as bad as February.
“Another six inches and the water would have been in the house and all the machinery would have be lost.”
The farmer’s cattle were safe in his sodden house yard, while his crops were flooded and ruined once again.
“We knew it was coming again but we didn’t think it would get as high as it already is,” he said.
“There’s nothing someone could have done it just is what it is.”
COMMUNITY RALLIES
Days after recovering from the previous floods, Little Critters Veterinary Care had to evacuate a few cats and patients as the nearby Bundamba Creek swells.
A vet spokeswoman said the centre was in desperate need of sandbags and they were calling on locals to help.
“We just finished rebuilding on Monday … last time the waters came inside and it was quite high,” she said.
“The SES has said we need to be ready … we need a lot of sandbags.”
The spokeswoman also said anyone willing to help with a horse float or trailer would be appreciated as the small team also needs to move medical machinery and important supplies.
Little Critters Veterinary Care is located at 9/19 Mining Street, Bundamba.
There are currently sandbags available at the Ipswich City Council Depot at Raceview and Rosewood.
EARLIER FLOOD WARNINGS & PEAK LEVELS:
As of 12pm Friday, a large system is tracking towards Ipswich, which will cause further flooding across the already battered region.
After already receiving close to 200 millimetres in parts of the region, and combined with water releases from Wivenhoe, Somerset, North Pine Dams, and major flood warnings remain in place.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned major flooding is occurring along the Warrill Creek and Bremer River – as well as the Laidley and Lockyer Creeks.
“The Bremer River at Ipswich is currently at 9.12 metres and rising with moderate flooding (and it) is expected to continue rising during Friday and may reach around 11.00 metres Friday evening, (although) further river level rises are possible… and the river may reach the major flood level of 11.70m Friday night,” a BOM statement warned.
On Friday afternoon the following rivers may experience the following peak levels, Bremer River at Rosewood 6.30m, Bremer River at Five Mile Bridge 7.30m, Remer River at Walloon 8.50m, Warrill Creek at Kalbar 10.00m, Warrill Creek at Harrisville 5.80m, Warrill Creek at Amberley 7.80m.
A spokeswoman for the BOM said Rosewood, Mount Walker, and Grandchester were areas of concern and residents in the area near waterways need to monitor the situation and be aware.
The rain was expected to ease Friday evening, although it will now continue into Saturday.
“It is an evolving situation, it is lingering… and likely to begin clearing on Saturday,” the spokeswoman said.
“Creeks and rivers will see rises even with little rain.”
Seqwater will stop releasing water during major river rises, and the storage capacity at Wivenhoe is sitting at 110.5 per cent, whereas in late February it was sitting at 185 per cent.
Mayor Harding said residents will receive an emergency text message if they need to evacuate.
Although the Ipswich Show is on this weekend, Mayor Harding assures residents that if need be, an evacuation centre will be available at the showgrounds and will be able to house at least 400 people.
Man dies after Brisbane Valley Hwy crash
A Lowood man, 74, has died after a car caught on fire on a major highway west of Brisbane.
Crisafulli steadfast in pussyfooting around ‘adult time’ for teen rapists
The Crisafulli Government is a step closer to making the next raft of changes to the Youth Justice Act, however Queenslanders are no closer to getting confirmation that the changes will include harsher sentences for juvenile rapists.