3RAR soldiers assist Queensland Police and Emergency services during flood evacuations

The 3rd Brigade remains poised to provide support to flood victims following a weekend of extensive door knocking with QPS. Read why the Brigadier labelled the community response “inspiring”.

Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion spent the weekend door knocking with the Queensland Police service helping people evacuate amid flood warnings.

Following a request from the Defence Assistance to the Civil Community Initiative (DACC), Townsville’s 3rd Brigade deployed two platoons (73 persons) from The 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR).

The soldiers assisted QPS and emergency services and doorknocked 3,137 houses at risk of flooding.

The 3rd Brigade Commander, Brigadier Ben McLennan said it was inspiring to see the community come together.

“I can imagine that some people are really in the hurt locker at the moment and there’s others who are concerned and worried,” he said.

Australian Army soldiers of 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, prepare to support the Queensland Police Service during severe weather in Townsville to ensure the safety of residents in high-risk areas. PHOTO: CPL Riley Blennerhassett

“But just seeing how the community has responded and how the council has implemented plans, how everyone from Ergon through to NBN to ferries to emergency services and Defence have come together is really impressive.”

Brigadier McLennan said he was proud of the response from his brigade and how willing they were to provide assistance.

“I maintain, and maybe I’m parochial here, that the best young men and women in the country are in this brigade … it might be the army, it might be the RAAF here in Townsville but they’re hardwired to help,” he said.

“We’ve had more soldiers volunteer to help than we initially needed and that is a testament to their willingness to get out there and get their socks wet to help the community.

Currently the 3rd Brigade is on standby for any assistance that is required by the city and the 16th Aviation Brigade, which is currently providing assistance to Ingham.

Australian Army soldiers from 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, prepare to support the Queensland Police Service during severe weather in Townsville to ensure the safety of residents in high-risk areas. PHOTO: CPL Riley Blennerhassett

“We’re also on standby to assist with whatever happens up in Hinchinbrook which is being led by (Brigadier) Fern Thompson and they’re working with the state government to provide the right response,” Brigadier McLennan said.

While Brigadier McLennan wasn’t present during the 2019 floods, he said it was pleasing to see the local disaster management group and Townsville City council ensuring their response built on any mistakes which were made during that time.

“People have learned a lot of lessons from 2019 and are determined that as a community and regional centre we will respond even better this time,” he said.

“A good example of that is allowing pets into some of the local emergency accommodation centres which they learnt from 2019.”

Australian Army soldiers from 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, prepare to support the Queensland Police Service during severe weather in Townsville to ensure the safety of residents in high-risk areas. PHOTO: CPL Riley Blennerhassett

Lavarack Barracks provided accommodation to around 70 defence members and their families and pets during the evacuations.

Brigadier McLennan said this accommodation was still available to not only defence members from 3rd Brigade but any defence personnel in Townsville.

Over the weekend suburbs including Cluden, Hermit Park, Idalia, Oonoonba, Railway Estate and Rosslea were urged to evacuate.

The suburbs were still deemed not safe to return to by the Townsville local disaster management group on Monday as they prepare for more heavy localised rainfall.

“We will back into our focus, which is to prepare for war, tomorrow but we will also be making sure that we are ready to provide whatever support the community asks of us here or elsewhere as this event continues to evolve,” Brigadier McLennan said.

Originally published as 3RAR soldiers assist Queensland Police and Emergency services during flood evacuations