Motorist in Brisbane’s east comes unstuck after driving into floodwater

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has assured Brisbane was safe despite ongoing heavy rain and widespread flooding across parts of South East Queensland.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has urged Brisbane residents not to be “anxious” as it was unlikely the city would experience flooding as a result of the current weather event.

About 180 suburbs were flooded during the February flood disaster, but Ms Palaszczuk said additional storage in Wivenhoe Dam and the “sporadic nature” of the current rain system would prevent a repeat.

The Brisbane River peaked on Friday morning at 1.7m, significantly lower than the February high of 3.85m and the 4.46m reached in 2011.

“We are still seeing some cases of flooding, and the rivers rising in particular areas,” the Premier said.

“I understand some people would be anxious during this time, but please, don’t be anxious.

“The key thing is to be listening to the alerts, and we will be keeping everybody updated as much as possible.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: John Gass

“If you were impacted by creeks or catchment areas last time, you should be monitoring things closely and listening to your local councils.

“We are not expecting to see the Brisbane River rise to high levels, but depending on where the rain falls, that could impact different catchments.

“Storages across the South East Queensland grid have gone from 89 per cent to 97 per cent, Wivenhoe is at 110.5 per cent, in February it was 185 per cent, so there’s plenty of flood storage available.”

The Bureau of Meteorology’s senior forecaster Laura Boekel warned “this is very much an evolving situation”, with heavy rainfall in the state’s southeast expected to linger for longer than initially feared.

“The predictions were that today we would see the easing trend, but as I said this is an evolving situation,” she said, revealing rainfall would continue throughout the day.

The Brisbane River peaked on Friday morning at 1.7m, significantly lower than the February high of 3.85m and the 4.46m reached in 2011.

“This is different from the previous event — at the previous event we were forecasting moderate to major flooding in Brisbane,” Ms Boekel told reporters on Friday.

“At this stage we are expecting to see minor flooding in the Brisbane River. However, I keep saying this is an evolving situation.”

Fire and Emergency Services Minister Mark Ryan echoed the Premier’s sentiment and focused on easing tension across the city.

Earlier, a man’s car became trapped in rising floodwaters at Carina in Brisbane’s east this morning after he ignored emergency service warnings and the golden rule, if it’s flooded forget it.

In photos captured by The Courier-Mail, the man can be seen driving his small sedan through deep water which had covered Fursdon Rd.

Earlier, a man’s car became trapped in rising floodwaters at Carina in Brisbane’s east this morning after he ignored emergency service warnings and the golden rule, if it’s flooded forget it.

In photos captured by The Courier-Mail, the man can be seen driving his small sedan through deep water which had covered Fursdon Rd.

A motorist tries to make it through floodwaters at Carina in Brisbane’s east on Friday morning. Picture: Richard Walker

The man climbs on to the roof of his car after the vehicle stops. Picture: Richard Walker

Police wait to speak to the man as he walks into shallower water. Picture: Richard Walker

After the car was immobilised the man was able to escape onto its roof and sat waiting before police arrived on scene.

He managed to walk to the waiting officers before wading back into the water to collect what appeared to be grocery bags.

Brisbane