Residents call for Toowoomba Regional Council to clean up Oakey Creek; say it is a greater flood risk

Residents living along the flood-prone Oakey Creek have called on both the Toowoomba Regional Council and the State Government to clean up the water system, saying it posed an even bigger disaster risk than in 2011.

Tara and Ed Duffy, share their concerns and frustration at TRC for inaction over creek. Toowoomba Regional Council won't be spending money on repairing Oakey Creek which still has residue from the 2011 floods. The creek full of blue green algae, murky, overgrown poses a threat to nearby people and their homes.

Tara and Ed Duffy, who live on the northern end of Oakey along the creek, are one hundreds of residents whose homes will be inundated with another major event.

Mrs Duffy said the condition of the Oakey Creek had only worsened since the 2011 floods, due to increased silt, soil, debris and other materials clogging it up.

Copy of photo from 2011, the home of Tara and Ed Duffy.

“The water came up to (near our house) during the January rain event — normally, it wouldn’t have come that close if the Oakey Creek had been cleaned out,” she said.

“Basically, all this dirt has been washed into the creek and has raised the bed of the creek, so water will actually break the banks faster than what it would normally do.

“My concern is that it’s actually going to take less water to come through, to affect the height of the flooding next time.”

Mrs Duffy said there were also issues with the drainage of the creek at the weir near Arthur Shooter Park due to the collection of debris in the system.

The TRC allegedly told the Duffys it had considered a $9.5 million plan to widen and deepen the creek, but ultimately scrapped it.

Tara and Ed Duffy, share their concerns and frustration at TRC for inaction over creek. Toowoomba Regional Council won't be spending money on repairing Oakey Creek which still has residue from the 2011 floods. The creek full of blue green algae, murky, overgrown poses a threat to nearby people and their homes.

While the cost wasn’t confirmed, the council said it had investigated the proposal, but decided against it due to the cost and issues with PFAS contamination.

The comments come just a few weeks after the council decided against a $98m plan to build a diversion channel north of the town.

Infrastructure chair Cr Carol Taylor said the TRC did not believe the creek was at an increased risk of flooding, but was exploring further mitigation options.

“While the Oakey Creek is not a council asset and is under the control of the State Government, we wanted to make sure all ideas were put on the table as we’re committed to looking in to any option that would lessen the impact of future flood events, regardless of what level of government holds responsibility,” she said.

“Investigations show the likelihood of flooding is unlikely to have worsened as there has been limited development in this catchment since the 2011 flood and the majority of the catchment is, and will likely remain, rural farm land into the future.

“I would like to reassure our residents that Council continues to develop its flood response actions for all towns and villages across the Region and will work to review other potential options, or a mixture of options and solutions.”

The Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy confirmed the creek was its responsibility.