Oakey School of Army Aviation members involved in rescuing 91 people across Queensland, NSW during flood event

Army air crews from Oakey have been the angels in the sky for close to 100 people, who have been rescued across flood ravaged SEQLD and northern NSW.

Crews from the School of Army Aviation in Oakey have been kept busy during Operation Flood Assist 2022, responding to calls from across south east Queensland and northern NSW.

In a wild week of weather, a deadly deluge of rain battered Ipswich, Logan and Brisbane, as well as the northern NSW towns and cities of Lismore, Ballina and Grafton.

In the midst of the havoc, two MRH-90 Taipan helicopters, crewed by Army personnel and Defence contractors, responded to 36 missions as of 6am yesterday.

A Defence spokeswoman confirmed the Oakey crews had been involved in rescuing 91 people from across south east Queensland and northern NSW.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton said the rescue missions displayed the best of the Australian Defence Force.

“The pilots and the crew really need commending, this incredible bravery that we’ve seen on display … they’ve literally saved lives,” he said.

Referring to a rescue in Woodburn on the NSW north coast where three people were winched off a rooftop on Tuesday, Mr Dutton said it sent “a very clear message about the preparedness” of the ADF to provide support to the Australian people at a time of need.

Region’s dams all full after massive downpour

All of Toowoomba’s drinking water dams are now above capacity, following several days of heavy downpours in the region’s catchment areas.

Cressbrook Dam, the region’s largest water supply, started spilling just after 3am on Monday.

Both Cooby and Perseverance Dams were already at over 100 per cent, marking it the first time since 2011 that all sources were full.

Amazing footage has shown the moment Perservence Dam spilled over after days of non-stop rain.

Mayor Paul Antonio said the situation would now allow the region to take advantage of major investment opportunities and projects in the future.

“That’s very positive for us and together with that, we’ve got the recent negotiated decision in respect to water from Wivenhoe as well,” he said.

“My personal belief is with the connection to Wivenhoe and full dams, we’ve got a strong counter-argument to people’s concerns about a lack of water.

“When people want to bring a major project to town, they have been concerned with water.”

Water and waste chair Councillor Rebecca Vonhoff said while she was happy to see full dams, a discussion around water restrictions couldn’t begin until the current flooding crisis had passed.

“We haven’t had a chance to have that conversation but it will happen soon,” she said.

“We are absolutely overjoyed our dams are full, but it is bittersweet because we know there’s been flood damage around the region.”

SES shifts focus as further warnings issued

Heavy rain overnight has led to emergency warnings being issued for Oakey and Jondaryan with residents urged to stay safe.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services South West Region regional manager Bob Bundy said heavy rainfall and flash flooding in the region has resulted in rises to Oakey Creek.

“We’ve now got a few more areas come into play like Jondaryan and Oakey and emergency alerts have been issued for those areas,” he said.

Mr Bundy said the SES had about 60 jobs outstanding in the Toowoomba area, and six in the Lockyer Valley.

“Hopefully today we will be able to catch up on those outstanding SES tasks, most of the weather system has moved over Brisbane, Ipswich and Logan so with a bit of luck with that system slowly moving away from us we will get a bit of a reprieve.”

Mr Bundy said swiftwater crew was required at Goombungee this morning, and he reiterated the message that everyone should be avoiding flooded roads and crossings.

“Things are progressing, the amount of calls has eased so hopefully that will give us a chance to catch up on the outstanding jobs,” he said.

“I think we’ve had enough of the wet stuff.”

Army called in for rescues

The Australian Army has performed a number of daring rescues across the Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley regions, coming to the aid of people trapped in their homes and vehicles by rapidly rising flood waters.

A total of 13 people have been rescued by two Army helicopters, including a mother, infant and four children, who were surrounded by rising flood waters at Regency Downs on Saturday.

The two Army helicopters were deployed to RAAF Base Amberley from the Oakey School of Army Aviation on Friday, February 25 to assist Queensland Emergency Services with search and rescue efforts.

Commander of the Army Aviation Training Centre, Colonel Dave Lynch, said the MRH-90 Taipan helicopters, which were crewed by Army personnel and Defence contractors, were working professionally and methodically under extremely difficult weather conditions.

“Since commencing our support, we have conducted four successful rescues, and supported numerous others as a backup platform if surface options were unsuccessful,” Colonel Lynch said.

“Multiple options were sometimes necessary as time was of the essence, and because of the darkness, grave concerns were held for the safety of stranded residents due to rapidly changing conditions.

“These rescue missions have resulted in 13 members of the community being saved from flood-affected areas, and many more evacuations are in progress.”

On Friday evening, the Army aviation crews were on task for about five hours and conducted two rescues and they remained on standby to support further tasks throughout the night.

“We responded to a situation in Boonah where three people were stranded in a vehicle and our aircrews were able to airlift them to safety,” Colonel Lynch said.

“Another person was rescued at Gatton. Our aircrew helped the person who was clinging to an upturned boat and hoisted them to safety.”

On Saturday, February 26, as rain continued to fall, making visibility difficult, Army aviation crews conducted another two rescue missions.

“Our aircrew responded to a property at Regency Downs, where we rescued a mother, infant and four children, who were surrounded by rising floodwater,” Colonel Lynch said.

“We also successfully located three missing personnel who were last seen in Woolshed Creek and transported them to safety at RAAF Base Amberley”.

Colonel Lynch is currently located at the local disaster management centre in Toowoomba and coordinating the Army’s aviation contribution to rescue efforts.

He said the conditions had been challenging but his crews are well trained and prepared for these situations.

Commander of Army Aviation Command, Major General Stephen Jobson, said the Army would continue to work with the Queensland Government to provide support to the flood effort.

“The situation in south-east Queensland remains serious and life threatening as rain continues to fall, resulting in more and more people become stranded”, Major General Jobson said.

“Our aircrews, like all emergency service staff, are working together to ensures the safety of the community.”

Council called on to do more as resident claims ‘no-one gives a rats about Oakey’

’No one gives a rats about Oakey’

With Cooby Dam spilling after a torrential deluge, Tara Duffy’s property has now become one with Oakey Creek.

Ms Duffy, who lives on Belcher Street in Oakey, said while this year’s flooding has yet to reach 2011 levels, more could have been done to protect the town from this event.

“The last time Oakey as a whole flooded in 2011 we took about a metre of water through the whole house,” she said.

“It’s not that bad this time, but there is water under the house.

“If (Toowoomba Regional Council) had done something about Oakey Creek like take all the silt out when it was dry in 2019 and increase dam size potentially we wouldn’t be in this situation.

“People think Toowoomba is flooding, no-one gives a rats about Oakey.”

Toowoomba Regional Council has advised there is no immediate risk to Oakey township from water spilling over the Cooby Dam wall. Council is monitoring the situation.

TRC Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) chair, Mayor Paul Antonio, said a standard emergency alert for a Flood Watch and Act was issued this morning (February 27) at the request of the Local Disaster Coordination Centre.

“Council’s Water Operations centre is monitoring the Region’s three dams around the clock and will provide updates as required,” Mr Antonio said.

“Council yesterday (February 26) started contacting the property owners who are directly downstream of Cooby Dam.

“Water started flowing over the Cooby Dam wall around 3.30am today (February 27).

“We are continuing to update these residents in line with our emergency action plan.

“There is no imminent threat to Oakey township. Council will continue to issue advice that directly concerns the Oakey community if the situation changes.”

Dams breach 90 per cent capacity

Toowoomba’s water storage has breached 90 per cent capacity in a silver lining to the deluge that’s drenched the region over the past few days.

As of 8am Sunday, February 27, the combined total of Toowoomba Regional Council’s dam capacity was at 96.3 per cent, a massive increase from 62 per cent that was recorded at 8am Saturday.

Perseverance Dam is now at 110.5 per cent, while Cooby Dam sits at 107.7 per cent.

Cressbrook Dam is now at 88.6 per cent capacity.

An Emergency Alert was issued for the Cooby Creek area from Toowoomba Regional Council about 5am on Sunday after Cooby Dam started to spill, impacting Cooby Creek.

Properties in this area may experience some flood inundation.

“You should warn neighbours, secure property and belongings and prepare to move to higher ground,” the warning states.

Late yesterday Perseverance Dam started spilling for the first time in about nine years.

More rain on the way before it eases

Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley residents can’t pack up their umbrellas just yet, but a possible easing in conditions is something to look forward to.

The focal point of the weather system that has dumped massive amounts of rain across the two regions is slowly moving south.

“Our current forecast is predicting between 70 and 100mm today (Sunday) across the regions,” BOM meteorologist Helen Reid said.

“The focal point of the system, which the Lockyer Valley is on the edge of, is starting to move south.”

“We should hopefully see an easing in conditions with showers expected tomorrow.”

Overnight (to Sunday 9am) Toowoomba recorded 85mm of rain.

In the Lockyer Valley numerous falls of between 90 and nearly 150mm were recorded – Upper Lockyer (106mm), Helidon (107), Gatton (111) experienced significant rainfall with Upper Sandy Creek hit by 149mm of rain.

Major flood warnings are still in place for much of the Lockyer Valley region with residents urged to check the BOM website for regular updates.

Since Thursday, February 24 Toowoomba has recorded 375mm of rain compared to 457mm in the Upper Lockyer region and 442mm in Flagstone Creek.

SATURDAY

The destructive deluge across the Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley regions has turned deadly as residents prepare for another day of widespread flooding in the wake of up to 200mm of rainfall.

The Ipswich SES worker died while responding to a call for assistance in Coolana, near Marburg.

Three other SES personnel were rescued from floodwater when the vehicle they were travelling in was swept off the road.

They were assisting a family after flood water threatened to inundate their home.

The Bureau of Meteorology forecasters predict massive rainfalls throughout Saturday with fears levels will reach the same as 2011.

“It will be much of the same today,” explained BOM meteorologist Helen Kirkup.

“It’s being driven by an upper level system and it could continue throughout the day and it could even increase tonight and overnight.

“Toowoomba might see it clearing tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon.”

Kind act for stranded strangers gives hope during dark times

With flash flooding cutting off major roads and stranding communities, a Gatton man managed to deliver some positivity through a warm meal to truck drivers stuck on the side of the highway.

Ben Dawson was at home and riding out the flooding with wife Emma when the pair decided to do what they could to help those stuck and a long way from home.

“We live only five minutes from the main street but with the flooding we’re cut off and stuck on the same side of the highway as a number of trucks that got caught when the Gatton bypass closed,” he said.

“I knew that they were cut off and stranded, so I was talking to my wife and we decided to make up a bit of a stew for them.

“They’d been there since midnight, 1am this morning so that’s a fair while to be stuck on the side of the road.”

Mr Dawson said the warm meal was well received.

“They were all getting a bit hungry, and there’s no facilities or anything for them they’re just stuck on the side of the road, a lot of them don’t have food or cooking gear,” he said.

“They were all pretty happy, they liked our cooking.

“I think at that stage they would have ate just about anything.”

Trapped truckie Tony Kilmartin said the stew hit the spot.

The Park Ridge South driver was behind the wheel of a road train when he realised the Gatton Bypass had been inundated with water.

“Sadly there wasn’t any warning on the overhead signs, otherwise I would’ve stopped at the Charlton truckstop,” he said.

“The Department of Transport and Main Roads need to have a quicker response on flooding matters and rocked up there at 1:30am.

“I was out stretching because it stopped raining, and Ben rocked up and offered a warm meal for lunch, then I walked up and down banging on doors letting the other drivers know of his gesture.

Mr Kilmartin said he has no idea how long he will be stranded in Gatton.

“I’m stuck at the Gatton road train yard at the moment, waiting on clearance to move,” he said.

“It’s not looking good, and this is why this road train hook up yard needs toilets, for this situation.

“TMR need to rethink their response, human health is important too for male and female drivers.”

Flood releases made from dams after deluge

Seqwater, the Queensland Government’s bulk water supply authority, has confirmed flood releases have been made from multiple dams in the region following torrential rain the past few days.

In a statement, Seqwater advised that flood releases from Wivenhoe Dam began at 10pm on Friday February 25, 2022, at a low rate and then ceased shortly after at 11pm due to downstream flooding.

“This was not a result of releases from Wivenhoe Dam. There is still more than 90 per cent of the Wivenhoe flood storage compartment available,” the statement said.

Flood releases from Somerset Dam into Wivenhoe Dam began at approximately 1.30pm today, and will continue over the coming days.

Flood releases for the North Pine Dam began at 1pm on Wednesday February 23, and will continue over the weekend.

“Releases, combined with river and creek flows downstream of the dam, have now flooded Youngs Crossing Road which is now closed,” Seqwater stated.

“If you are downstream of the dam, stay away from fast flowing or deep water near waterways and floodplains.”

Atkinson Dam is now at 81.4 per cent capacity, Lake Dyer is at 89.3 per cent while Clarendon is at 23.5 per cent.

Somerset Dam has hit 116 per cent capacity, but has 80.4 per cent flood storage capacity available.

‘A joke’: Grantham woman slams late flood warning

Watching water rapidly rise from all sides, and with bridges inundated and roads cut off, Grantham woman Megan Masters and her mother had a narrow escape from a potentially deadly scenario, no thanks to the town’s flood warning system.

Ms Masters had on Friday taken her mother to an appointment in Toowoomba, but on their way home found the situation had drastically changed from when they had left their Grantham home earlier in the day.

PHOTOS: Flooding rain inundates Grantham

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“I didn’t expect the whole of Grantham and the Lockyer to flood in the two hours we were gone,” she said.

“When I saw all the road closures I said to my mum that we probably wouldn’t make it home and would have to stay at a hotel in Gatton.”

To their surprise they managed to make it to Harris Street in Grantham, before the raging torrent that had inundated Thistlethwaite Bridge saw them turn around and take shelter in the carpark of the Floating Cafe.

“We got all the way to the bridge before we saw a road closed sign, and we knew that if the water was over the bridge we would have to go to Gatton for the night,” she said.

“It took a couple of minutes to drive 100m to take a quick look and turn around, then all of a sudden we were landlocked.

“In less than a minute I went from standing on dry concrete to my feet being under water. In a matter of just minutes the intersection at the Floating Cafe was dry to fully flooded, the bridge inundated and unpassable.”

Ms Masters thought her and her mother were trapped, until a neighbour arrived and managed to rescue them.

Then, once they were home and safe, the flood warning siren sounded.

“The highway was already completely cut off some 45 minutes before the flood warning siren was heard for the first time, to the best of my knowledge,” she said.

“At this point floodwaters were visibly rising like a bathtub filling at full pour.

“I laughed, I was just about hysterical. How was that supposed to help? The whole of Grantham main street was a river by the time the alarm went off. It was a joke, I wouldn’t give them two bob for that warning system it came far too late.

“I didn’t see that coming, it was a bit of shock to be honest. I didn’t think much of where the road closed sign was in place to where we could be landlocked in minute.”

‘Disheartening’ as rescue crews kept busy

Emergency services are pleading for people not to drive through floodwaters as swiftwater rescue crews kept busy saving people and checking properties across the Lockyer Valley overnight.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services South South Western Region regional manager Bob Bundy said the State Emergency Service had received 197 calls for help in the Toowoomba region since yesterday, and 83 calls for assistance in the Lockyer Valley.

Mr Bundy said swiftwater crews were “very busy” last night in the Lockyer Valley checking on floodbound properties.

Swiftwater crews attended four rescues in the region yesterday and one overnight.

“There are still rescues happening, which is why it’s very disheartening to see footage on social media of people driving through floodwaters, especially when we have suffered the loss of an SES member.”

An SES volunteer died when responding to a call for assistance in Coolana overnight. Three other SES personnel were rescued from floodwater when the vehicle they were travelling in was swept off the road. The SES unit was assisting a family after flood water threatened to inundate their home.

“Please we urge people to take all necessary precautions and not drive through floodwater,” Mr Bundy said.

“On top of that, kids may find flowing water fun but with more rain expected today is a good day to be indoors watching a movie.”

Mr Bundy said SES volunteers were being assisted by Rural Fire Service members in responding to calls for help in the Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley local government areas, and more volunteers would be called up for clean-up efforts in the coming days.

Flood waters in Grantham seen from the front veranda of the Floating Cafe at 1.12pm Friday, February 25, 2022.

Stranded mayor sleeps in swag in the office

NO-ONE could say Lockyer Valley Mayor Tanya Milligan doesn’t understand what her constituents are going through - she’s going through it too.

Like a lot of people shut out of their homes due to flood waters, Cr Milligan has had to rough it too, sleeping in a swag on the floor of her office, unable to return to her home in Laidley.

However, the experience of being locked out of home heightens the focus of the job she has at hand.

“I’m an army mum, my son is in the army, so I feel as if I’m doing my bit,” Cr Milligan quipped.

“And, the swag is quite comfortable.”

Along with bushfires and other dramas during her time with council, this is Cr Milligan’s third flood and though it’s stressful for her to see people going through such difficult times, the spirit of the people never ceases to amaze her.

“You see ordinary people doing extraordinary things,” she said.

“We have one young man who hasn’t been with us very long who drove a dozer to get people out of flood waters.

“The kids were in the cabin and the adults on the front.

“I can’t get back to my home either but my neighbour has sandbagged my house and he’s been feeding my dog,” she said.

“He said ‘I wish I could do more’ but I told him ‘you don’t know how much I appreciate what you’re doing.

“While you’re looking after my house and my dog I can focus on doing my job without having to worry about that’.”

Cr Milligan said it was too early to estimate the damage bill from this flood but she believed it would be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

“Who knows what it (cost) will be?” she said.

“We won’t know until all this is gone and the engineers move in and check buildings, roads and bridges.

“We don’t know how many houses have been affected because people can’t get into their homes to see.”

People evacuated in the floods have been housed at a number of safe facilities throughout nearby towns until they can go home.

Paying tribute to flood hero

Queensland’s Police Minister Mark Ryan this morning paid tribute to the SES volunteer who died.

“Tragically two people have died,” he said.

“We’ve lost one of our own. It’s often said that those who wear the SES uniform are orange angels.”

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Greg Leach also paid tribute to the SES volunteer who died while responding to a call for assistance in Coolana overnight.

Lowood SES Group member Merryl Dray died after the vehicle she and three other SES personnel were travelling in was swept off the road.

SES volunteer Merryl Dray, 62, died during a flood rescue at Coolana on Friday, February 25, 2022.

The SES unit was assisting a family after flood water threatened to inundate their home.

Three other volunteers were rescued from flood water but sadly the 62-year-old died at the scene.

“The Queensland State Emergency Service and broader Queensland Fire and Emergency Services family is saddened by the tragic loss of SES volunteer Merryl Dray during a flood response at Coolana in the Lockyer Valley overnight,” Commissioner Leach said.

“Merryl was a much loved member of the Lowood SES Group where she volunteered more than 520 hours of her time over the last four and a half years. Merryl was trained in storm damage response, first aid and traffic control and was passionate about helping her local community.

“The Dray family and the Lowood SES Group thank the community for the love and support that is being extended to them during this difficult time and thanks the media for respect of their privacy.“

Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Stranded strangers unite

Constant rain, flooding and isolation can’t dampen the spirit of Lockyer Valley residents who have rallied to look after each other in these trying times.

Of course, many have been through it all before with the 2011 floods but it doesn’t make it any easier when the creeks rise so quickly and catch people off guard, leaving them stranded away from their homes.

Fortunately, places like the UQ Gatton Campus Motel has offered a roof over their heads, a comfortable bed and a warm meal for those caught out on campus by the floods.

“The UQ Gatton Campus motel is full and we’re doubling up,” explained Conference Unit co-ordinator Carole Brown.

“We’ve got all our staff to look after and we have the dining room staff, security officers and maintenance crew here.

“The motel has 14 rooms and a cottage and each room has two double beds so we’ve got about 48 people here.”

Ms Brown said the camaraderie among her “guests” was very high and feeding and accommodating them hasn’t been a problem.

“We feed up to 400 students three times a day,” she said.

“All of our stock have to be cared for 24/7 so various people have to be here.

“The veterinarians and staff are here 24 hours a day and they’ve been shift swapping to help out.”

Ms Brown, a resident of Placid Hills, said the water level in Grantham appeared higher than 2011 and rose just as quickly.

“Some people went home from work to get a few things and by the time they went to leave they were caught,” she said.

“There were people on their rooftops in Grantham and I could hear the helicopters last night picking them up.

“Someone said the Army came in to help.

“But there’s a lot of community spirit in the Gatton region and everyone is helping each other out.”

EARLIER, FRIDAY:

The destructive deluge that has dumped up to 300mm of rain on some parts of the Lockyer Valley and turned the region into an inland sea and stranded people on their properties has been likened to the deadly 2011 floods.

Grantham and Helidon residents have been told “water levels are rising rapidly” and have been urged to evacuate if safe to do so, or otherwise seek higher ground.

Meanwhile, this afternoon there have been reports of emergency services rushing to the aid of six people trapped on a roof in the Lockyer Valley town of Grantham.

The emergency situation in the town, which was activated earlier today, continues to grow as water levels rise.

Amazing photos have showcased the fast-rising water in the flood-prone community Grantham in the Lockyer Valley.

Footage taken from public security cameras shows the water rising to just below the train tracks that run through the town.

Mayor: on par with 2011

The mayor of the Lockyer Valley has praised her community during a massive rain event she considers on par with the deadly 2011 floods.

Up to 200mm is expected to fall across Friday and Saturday night across the Lockyer Valley, worsening flood events in Grantham, Forest Hill, Laidley, Glenore Grove and Gatton.

More than 100 roads are currently closed or affected due to flooding, while multiple swiftwater rescues have been carried out.

Emergency shelters are expected to be set up in Laidley, Gatton and Glenore Grove by Friday evening.

Mayor Tanya Milligan, who was on council during the 2011 event, said the situation could get much worse before it got better.

“We’re still expecting significant rain of Laidley, Glenore Grove and Gatton, between 150-200mm,” she said.

“The highway at Glenore Grove has been closed so we’re running flood modelling on those.

“We’re putting into place shelters at the Gatton Shire Hall, the Glenore Grove Hall and the Laidley High School.

“If people can, go to a friend or family’s house that’s safe, if not, we hope to have those shelters operational from 7pm tonight.

Ms Milligan said while the experience had been frightening at times, she had been overwhelmed by the spirit shown by residents and emergency service personnel.

“It’s been a pretty frantic day, we’ve had people out on the ground, our own staff have been keeping on top of it, so it looks so much like 2011-2013,” she said.

“While it’s horrible and makes people scared, at this point everyone has been made safe.

“If we come out of this without losing someone, we can clean up and rebuild.

“We haven’t had the homes washed away and hopefully we won’t lose anyone, but the amount of water is quite frightening.

“I will say on a high note, it’s great that in times like these, you have the emergency services, all those people endeavouring to keep people safe.”

Waiting for rescuers

Grantham mum Kerry-Ann Dodt is trapped in her house with her son.

They are waiting nervously in their Harris Street house for an QFES swift water team to take them to safety.

“My garden shed is gone, the car is buggered, we are about to lose power and if the water come up one more step it will be in the house,” she said.

“I have a motorbike in our house along with the lawnmower and whipper snipper, but rest has been washed down the creek.”

Like many people in the town, the family were caught off guard by the speed of the floodwater.

Kerry-Ann said she was waiting for her son to get home from work before they moved to higher ground, they never made it.

“We got as far as the Floating Café but had to turn around because the highway was cut,” she said.

Now their cars are ruined.

Her Parado is in about two feet of water, her son’s Commodore has water over its bonnet and her Holden Cruz has been battered by debris.

“It ruined,” she said.

“I did see a fridge go past, a lot of debris, logs and sticks.

“I have seen at least ten logs smash into the car in the car port.”

It has brought back traumatic memories of the 2011 flood while Ms Dodt didn’t live in the same house back then, her mate did.

“The water never got inside,” she said.

Inland tidal wave

Gatton resident Luke Pomerenke is trapped at his parents place after hundreds of millimetres of rain fell in the past 12 hours.

Mr Pomerenke and his family went for a drive to survey the damage to local farms earlier today when they came across a massive body of water that had washed away countless crops near Smithfield Road

“There has basically been an inland tidal wave,” he said.

“My father has lived here all he life and has never seen anything like this before.

“We went looking for a creek and realised there was no way were getting through that water, so we turned back.”

He said the current rain event dwarfed the catastrophic 2011 floods

While the 2011 flood built up over a week before a major inundation washed down from Toowoomba and wiped out hundreds of homes, Mr Pomerenke said the current inundation has come all in one hit.

“Dad measured 300mm so far today,” he said

“We didn’t get that much rain in the 2011 floods and this has fallen in the much shorter time frame.”

Could be higher than 2011

The current water levels ripping through Grantham are comparable to what the town faced at the deadly flood event in 2011, according to a longtime resident.

Allan Marshall, who lost his father to the 2011 floods, said he and his neighbours in the newly-built estate have been cut off by the floodwaters.

He said the level was close to the floods 11 years ago, but without the surge of water that made them so deadly.

“We’re up in the new estate and it’s flooded at the bottom of the roundabout (connecting the estate), so you can’t even get out of the estate,” he said.

“You can’t even go to the railway line.

“It’s probably about 2.5m deep at the roundabout, and that’s on the high side.

“I’d say it’s the same, not the surge of water but the water height is close.”

Mr Marshall said he was concerned by the continual rain and how it could push the water higher, something that didn’t occur in 2011.

“I don’t think it’s going to run away real quick, it might even climb higher,” he said.

“If it’s still coming from Murphy’s Creek it could get worse than better.

“The swiftwater rescue blokes are getting the last of them out of town (at the bottom).”

Grantham has copped 164mm of rain since 9am Friday morning, to go with another 75mm the previous day.

Caught by surprise

Panel beater Greg Van Zelst said Friday’s flood would have caught a lot of people by surprise.

For those who have moved to the area in the past few years they wouldn’t have known what to expect while the long-time residents wouldn’t have thought such a devastating event would be repeated in such a short space of time.

“Grantham is an island once again and I am watching barrels float past my house again,” he said.

“The water is equally as high as the 2011 flood but it doesn’t have the same force.”

Mr Van Zelst is lucky his house sits on a hill in Christopher Street that is several metres above the water line but he has friends in Helidon who were trapped on their roof and needed a QFES crew to rescue them.

He is frustrated the authorities held off sound the Grantham flood siren.

“It came about two hours too late,” he said.

“The water was already at the railway bridge level and if you weren’t attached to your phone and seeing the warnings by text then you wouldn’t have the time to get out.

“Hopeful there is not the same loss of life as the 2011 flood.”

A lake out of nowhere

Danielle Moloney from the Grantham Farm Workers Lodge said she is trapped on her property until the water recedes.

“The Grantham township looks like a lake just appeared out of nowhere,” she said.

“We have a dam on our property and it has turned into a mass of water that goes right around our property.

“It just had not stopped raining.”

The Lockyer Valley township has been cut off on all side by flood water since 2pm.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokesman said two swift water rescue teams are going door to door looking for trapped residents.

Their main focus is along Sorenson Street.

Ms Moloney said she has not been able to get into the township but heard its warning siren ring out for about two house.

“I can also see a lot of blue and yellow lights in the distance,” she said.

The Grantham Flood Warning System siren was activated for residents in low lying areas on Friday afternoon.

The siren was installed following the deadly 2011 floods, which killed 12 people.

The ABC is reporting about 20 families have left their homes in response to warnings at Grantham, Withcott and Helidon, as the region prepares for potentially hundreds of millimetres over the next 24 hours.

Withcott resident Donna Crosby lives on a property with her husband in nearby Postmans Ridge and has seen the force of the floods throughout today as the nearby Rocky Creek swelled and broke its banks.
“We have not seen this since 2011,” she said.

“The creek broke its banks everywhere this morning.

“We actually had a site where we lost our sheds in 2011 and we still had some stuff, like a tank, down there but that all floated off this morning and it’s 100 metres from the creek and it’s been under water this morning.”

Originally published as Oakey School of Army Aviation members involved in rescuing 91 people across Queensland, NSW during flood event