Fears many Toombul retailers may never go back to flood-hit shopping centre

There are fears many of the 130-plus small retailers at the flood-ravaged Toombul Shopping Centre might never return because of the cost of starting all over again. It comes as questions emerge about why the flooding there was so bad this time around.

Many of the 130-odd small retailers at Toombul Shopping Centre in Brisbane’s inner north might not be able to afford to return and start all over again, some tenants fear.

Dozens of stores were wiped out, with water and mud ruining all their stock and fittings.

Few were able to secure flood insurance, or afford it if they could find an insurer willing to cover them.

Some store owners also were worried insurers would class the unprecedented event, the worst since the shopping centre opened in 1967, as a flood so they would not qualify for a storm damage payout.

Totally Smiles has redirected clients to its Morningside outlet and will permanently close at Toombul.

Traders said this was a completely different event to the 2011 flood, which was caused by a rise in the Brisbane River.

This time, a massive rain bomb saw water flowing in from the top level, as well as rising up through the underground carpark.

Toombul car park on February 26. Picture: Richard Walker

In 2019, some local residents also pointed fingers at the Airport Link tunnel, claiming it had worsened flooding so much the council raised the local flood height 20 per cent and bought back some houses.

Residents said “inferior’’ flood mitigation works were carried out on the $4.8 billion project and their homes, near Toombul Shopping Centre, had borne the brunt of extensive inundation.

Flooding at Toombul shopping centre. Picture: Aaron Symonds

A spokeswoman for Kmart and Target said the Kmart store would “likely reopen when the Toombul Shopping Centre reopens’’.

“Target Toombul has flood damage and we are still working through everything including timeline for reopening,’’ she said.

“We continue to support our Toombul team members – many have been redeployed in surrounding stores and others choosing to take leave at this time.’’

In some good news, several small traders have found alternative spaces and plan to reopen soon including Toombul Barber.

Luisa Laurito, whose father started the business at Toombul Shopping Centre when it opened 55 years ago, said she and business partners John and Vince had found a shop at 215 Lancaster Rd, Ascot.

They hoped to reopen next week, but it would be a bare bones operation until they had time to recover.

“We haven’t been able to get back in, but it’s probably set us back $20,000,’' she said.

“We’ve had to buy all new chairs, pretty much starting up from scratch — it will be very basic.

Mud and ruined furniture outside the Australia Post outlet, which is closed for the foreseeable future. Picture: Facebook

“The damage is horrific. You can’t salvage anything, there’s mould growing on the walls, everywhere.

“Toombul (shopping centre) is a beautiful community. This is so devastating.’’

A Coles spokeswoman said it was working with centre owner Mirvac.

“Our store was significantly impacted by the floods,’’ she said.

“All our Toombul team members have been redeployed to other stores.”

An Australia Post spokesman said the Toombul Post Office would be closed until further notice due to significant damage.

“All team members are now assisting at surrounding post offices and temporary arrangements have been made to redirect PO Box mail to Nundah post office.’’

Flood damage inside the centre. Picture: Facebook

Mirvac said its priority “remains with our tenants and working with them and providing support’’.

“The centre remains closed as we are still assessing the damage and will provide an update to our tenants and the community on our next steps as soon as we can,’’ a spokeswoman said.

Many supermarkets and small retailers in surrounding suburbs have reported they were much busier as Toombul customers looked for alternatives.

The closure of Toombul will particularly affect elderly shoppers, who favoured it because it was smaller and easier to navigate than Westfield Chermside or Lutwyche shopping centres.

Council’s Public Transport Chair, Ryan Murphy, said it was rejigging routes for its cabs service, used by many elderly shoppers in the area.

“We’re temporarily redirecting residents to alternative destinations, such as Westfield Chermside and Lutwyche Shopping Centre,’’ Cr Murphy said.

“Residents are advised when they book that alternative arrangements are in place.

“Some residents will have their choice of a number of destinations.’’

A Mirvac spokeswoman said it was too early to confirm a reopening date for the centre, but staff at some of the major retailers said they were told by their employers that it could be 24 to 32 weeks before it was fully reopened.

Questions are already being raised about why Toombul flooded so badly when water had never before entered ground-floor shops.

In previous events, including the 1974 floods, water usually stopped at the NAB bank branch.

Toombul is now completely fenced off, including a bus transit centre. Buses are now stopping on two adjacent streets.

But in 2015, three years after Airport Link opened, Council raised the one in two-year flood level (Q2) for Kedron Brook by almost 20 per cent on the previous mark set in 1995.

In 2011, the council began negotiations, and later bought, two homes following heavy inundation — which the owners attributed to a flood wall along a nearby waterway.

This was Brisbane’s biggest rain event on record, with 676.8mm pounding our city in three days, compared to the previous three-day record of 600.4mm in 1974.

Council has repeatedly denied flooding had worsened in Kedron Brook and Schultz Canal, behind Toombul Shopping Centre, due to the tunnel.

Flooding at the Toombul carpark, which backs on to Schulz Canal. Picture: Richard Walker

“This record event (February this year) produced a combination of river, creek and overland flooding, particularly in areas susceptible to major downpours, like those near Kedron Brook,’’ a spokesman said.

“As the records show, properties close to Kedron Brook have experienced flooding for decades.

“It is terrible that this extreme event has resulted in a number of much-loved venues across Brisbane being inundated, including Toombul Shopping Centre.

“As occurs after every flooding event, an analysis will be undertaken and any development requirements or mapping changes that are required will be introduced through the City Plan.’’

A submerged car near the shopping centre. Picture: Richard Walker

In 2019, Opposition spokesman Rod Harding at the time called on Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner to release the contents of a report commissioned by his predecessor, Graham Quirk, to review flood mitigation and levels associated with Airport Link.