Bruce highway focus of new study

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard has commissioned a feasibility study to ensure the Bruce Highway will never again be cut off because of flooding.

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard has commissioned a feasibility study in the wake of the state’s flooding disaster to ensure the Bruce Highway will never again be cut off because of flooding.

Visiting the region yesterday Ms Gillard said the study would be available for the middle of this year and point to having a major route that was flood-proof.

Ms Gillard warned the true cost of the flooding disaster would only be known once swollen rivers and swamped townships returned to normal.

“Until we see these floodwaters recede, we won’t see the true extent of the damage,” she said.

The south-west town of St George received some minor good news when its flood peak was revised down, sparing it further destruction.

Locals were told to prepare for the Balonne River to peak at a record 14 metres and beyond during the weekend, but yesterday morning, that was amended to 13.4 metres.

“At least it gives us a flood peak that puts our mind at rest,” Balonne Shire Mayor Donna Stewart said.

“But the water is going to be high for a prolonged amount of time and it will be high for at least 10 days.

“But it won’t get much higher than it is now.”

The hospital and nursing homes were evacuated and about 10 homes were inundated, she said.

Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said 15 response team volunteers from New Zealand were heading to Condamine yesterday after 42 of the town’s 60 homes were inundated.

The town’s entire population of 150 was ordered to evacuate last Thursday as the Condamine River reached a record 14.25 metres.

Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce, who is based in St George, said a multi-prong approach would be needed to help the town recover and fortify it against future floods.

He said low-interest loans should be made available to rejuvenate the economy, and the construction of levees and dams needed to be considered.

“Mitigation effects, levees being one, and the obvious one is the construction ... of dams.

“If it holds ... water out for a brief period of time, it will mitigate the effects of the flood.”

Originally published as Bruce highway focus of new study