‘It’s a disaster’: Crushers fear six-figure loss as floodwaters recede
Severe flooding has devastated Ingham’s Herbert River Crushers and other North Queensland sports clubs, causing extensive damage. As communities assess the losses, some fear six-figure repair costs. Read on for the full impact and response.
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Ingham’s Herbert River Crushers Rugby League Club fears the damage bill from devastating flooding in the region could clear six figures as the community waits for waters to subside.
Artie Gofton Oval, roughly 1500m south of the Herbert River, went more than six feet (1.8m) underwater over the first weekend of February, submerging three maintenance vehicles and the entire ground floor of the clubhouse.
Club president Joe Pennisi said it would wait until the floodwaters recede to gauge the true cost, but feared the Crushers could be forced to pay $100,000 or more to restore operations to normal.
“It’s a disaster here,” Pennisi said. .
“Nearly the whole town went under. The water was up to the deck (of the Crushers’ two-storey clubhouse in Ingham’s east). Two mowers and a tractor mower underwater. Still six foot of water in grounds (by midday Tuesday). We also lost the cold room. Our shed next door would have been three-quarters underwater.
“We’ll have no idea (of the true cost) until we assess. The cold room was around $10,000. The tractor mower cost us nearly $40,000. The other two mowers were $20,000. I hope the mechanic can fix them.”
The Crushers pay their own insurance costs.
Ingham Cutters Rugby Union Club official Peter Bishop said the club feared it had lost its training shed just before it was due to be flood-proofed.
“It’s going to be an absolute disaster. The rugby club is in one of the lowest parts of Ingham,” Bishop said.
“We were building a shed there to try and get it out (of flood risk). It was supposed to be just higher than the 2009 flood level.
“We lifted the shed up to start building it. We bought the concrete, but I reckon the she’ll be gone. I can’t imagine there’ll be two containers there.”
As flood waters slowly recede, the extent of damage to the grounds on Cooper Street will be revealed.
“I think everyone’s going to have some damage. People were prepared, but the main street where the hospital is never gets water, and near the pool never gets water, but it all got water this time.
“So it caught people out, and that’s why all the vehicles are buggered.
“In 2009 it was maybe 30cm below the cross bar. Then there’s the two-storey Brothers Club there.
“I would imagine that the whole lower storey has gone underwater. All the rooms, everything, the two containers there – I reckon they’re completely submerged.
“I don’t think there’ll be much left but no one will be able to get in there for a little while.”
In Townsville, AFL club Northern Beaches Suns is preparing to make a heartfelt plea to the state government for a sport and recreation grant to replace destroyed fence palings at North Shore Oval in Burdell.
Club official Eric Jackson played down concerns for the club’s newly installed floodlights, which onlookers had speculated had begun to lean as the oval went under.
“Everyone seems to think it’s starting to fall over but I have a good eye and I can’t see any difference. It’s standing straight to me,” Jackson said.
“About 4-5 sets of fence palings have been pushed over on the creek side, down near the light tower.
“We’ve lost a whole paling that’s ended up in Townsville Grammar School North Shore’s fence.
“This highlights the fact the whole fence needs to be replaced. Council seems to think we should be responsible because we use it. We’ve got a practice match there in less than a month.”
The Suns are one of the fastest growing sporting clubs in the city with hundreds of juniors.
The club says the ground will not be safe for players without an appropriate fence line.
A Townsville City Council spokesman said a visit to the club would be made in the coming days to inspect what works were required to repair the fence.
“The Northern Beaches Suns have a licence to occupy the Green at the Northshore Community Centre which is classed as a public open space, owned and maintained by Townsville City Council,” the spokesman said.
“Council works alongside our sporting and community clubs to complete any maintenance requests.”
Football Queensland Premier League Northern club Saints Eagles South have a new hero and although he’s not a big international signing, he might have just saved the club’s season.
Groundsman Steve Stewart has been dubbed “Scuba Steve” after rescuing the club’s mower from flood waters and driving it to safety.
The training ground on Marron Crescent got quite waterlogged during heavy rainfall over the weekend, though Saints’ playing field at Aitkenvale Park was not as heavily impacted.
AFL Townsville’s Hermit Park Tigers escaped with minimal damage but expect to be unable to use Neil French Oval for two weeks after it was submerged by around five centimetres of water.
Townsville’s cricket clubs are bracing for a second straight weekend of cancelled fixtures but have not reported any damage.
Wanderers Cricket Club has experienced minor leaking from the clubhouse roof while the impact on Brothers, Norths and Western Suburbs was limited to soggy ovals.
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Originally published as ‘It’s a disaster’: Crushers fear six-figure loss as floodwaters recede
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