Laidley flooding: Qld town inundated by floodwaters
The Lockyer Valley town of Laidley is under water after more than 300mm of overnight rain caused major flooding in the area, with warnings to residents to seek higher ground.
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The Lockyer Valley town of Laidley was under water Tuesday morning, after more than 300mm of overnight rain caused major flooding in the area.
The main thoroughfare through the region, the Warrego Highway, had been closed in both directions due to the intense flooding.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads issued a road closure for the highway at the intersection of Forest Hill Fernvale Road at Forest Hill just after 1pm, describing the blockage as “long-term flooding”.
Motorists have been urged to not drive through floodwaters and seek alternative routes.
The Laidley main street went under on Tuesday morning, with several business inundated and staff left to sweep out a layer of mud from their shop floors.
Businesses down the lower end of Patrick Street, the town’s main thoroughfare, saw water 0.5m above the road come into their stores, but most had moved valuables above ground level and limited the damage. Waters on the main road have since subsided.
Laidley has received more than 60mm of rain since 12am.
The region that sits between Ipswich and Toowoomba was earlier warned to brace for a rise in floodwaters as the overnight deluge made its way down the range, with Lockyer Valley mayor Tanya Milligan saying they’re taking precautions.
She said businesses in Laidley and residents of Forest Hill were sandbagging early Tuesday morning, with the main street expected to be flooded within hours.
“All that water at the head of the creek makes its way down – it’s great there has been no reports of any inundation, but all that water has got to make its way down,” she said.
“We expect some of our Laidley businesses will have inundation by midmorning.
“It will probably get to Glenore Grove crossroads by midday.”
By 9am, Patrick Street and its surrounds were under water as levels continued to rise.
Ms Milligan said she had been impressed by her community’s preparedness.
The local disaster management group issued watch and act notices for both towns in the early hours of Tuesday morning, after more than 300mm dropped on the region in the past few days.
“We don’t seem to have a huge influx of people ringing council, so that’s helped too – we started our messaging early,” she said.
“Our community is doing everything right, all the businesses in Laidley have been prepping their sandbags.”
More than 33 roads have been closed across the Lockyer Valley, with more expected to be added in the coming hours as last night’s deluge makes its way down through the region.
The QFES had been called to reports of a person stuck in floodwaters along Flagstone Creek Road, however the matter is now in the hands of police.
SES volunteers were called out once to a leaking roof and there is no one at the Laidley evacuation centre at this time.
Councillor Chris Wilson issued a warning to businesses and low lying houses to prepare for the incoming flood water.
“The peak of the flood water is expected mid morning, possibly as early as 8.30am,” Cr Wilson said.
“Current modelled levels are slightly less than the May 2022 event. However, this is only a model.
“Sandbags and sand is available near the Railway Station.”
Business owners ‘absolutely shattered’ by repeat floods
As the floodwaters continued to rise, threatening to inundate homes and livelihoods, Lockyer Feed Shed owner Letesha Dean said she was absolutely shattered, as she was still recovering from the 2022 flood.
“I’m gutted, I don’t even know how to explain the feeling,” she said.
“We lost so much last time, the government gave us some support, but it didn’t cover us.”
Mrs Dean, who is pregnant with twins and due in five weeks, said it was an extremely difficult situation to deal with as her partner was working away, and she was juggling the care of her four-year-old son while trying to save what she could in store.
“It’s a bit of a nightmare, to be honest,” she said.
“I didn’t know it would be like this, I’m just in shock.”
She said everyone was reeling from the cost of living and housing crisis and was disheartened by the effect another disaster would have on the resilient, yet tired community.
“We just have to wait and see how bad it is,” she said.
“I don’t know how long we will be closed for.”
For fellow Laidley business owner Jane Matthews, she rushed to her newly opened clothing boutique store Birdhouse after receiving a flood warning message at 4.30am.
A few hours after moving her stock to the second floor of the building the water began lapping at her sandbag packed door at 9am.
The small business owner said when she opened the store six months ago, she was aware it was in the flood zone, but she never expected to be confronted with a weather disaster so soon.
“I’ve put my heart and soul into the shop – it’s gut-wrenching,” Jane said.
“It’s my baby.
“But it will be okay, the floods here are just a part of life.”
She said a council representative was in town early on Tuesday morning, warning residents and business owners that the flood level was expected to be as bad as 2022.
“So I moved everything that was at my knee level, like longer dresses… that’s where it rose to last time,” she said.
“The support from the community has been amazing.”
She said she hoped to re-open in a day or two.
Magnolia May Property manager Isabel Hansen said the floor was covered in mud and there was some damage to the desks.
“It was pretty quick actually, it came and went,” she said.
“I’ll be back here tomorrow to wipe everything down and start again.”
‘We’ve been through it all’
On the outskirts of Laidley, the Olsen family watched nervously as the road bordering their property was covered by rising floodwaters Tuesday morning, which then consumed their backyard and sheds.
Kristy Olsen noticed the road starting to flood around 6.30am and dashed to Woolworths for supplies.
“By 10am it was up to our back patio,” she said.
While the water did inundate their sheds, the family lifted everything off the floor, so nothing was lost.
The Olsen family went through the 2011 Grantham floods and moved to Laidley in March 2022.
“We’ve been through it all since we came here - rain, hail, floods and fires,” Ms Olsen said.
By 1pm Tuesday the water had receded significantly from the Olsen’s property and the adjacent road.
For flood assistance contact the SES on 132500.
For life threatening emergencies phone 000.
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