Toowoomba’s local disaster management group urges residents prepare for wet summer as dams full and ground saturated

Toowoomba is in for another wet summer and the current conditions are ‘similar’ to the region’s situation prior to the 2011 floods. But the mayor says things are different for a key reason.

Toowoomba residents are being urged to prepare for a wet and potentially dangerous summer as the concerning situation for the region is laid bare.

Mayor Paul Antonio has issued a warning to locals ahead of another wet season for the Garden City, which has barely recovered from massive rain events in February and March that caused more than $100m in damage.

The region’s three dams are all at 100 per cent capacity and the Bureau of Meteorology’s climate data suggests the catchment around Perseverance and Cressbrook Dams has an 80 per cent chance of collecting more than 250mm between November and January.

Elsewhere, SEQWater will begin releasing 116,000 megalitres of water from Wivenhoe as Brisbane residents are encouraged to use more water.

Mr Antonio, who will meet with the other members of the region’s Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) as its chair next week, likened existing conditions to how the region sat prior to the 2011.

However, he stressed that the region was far better prepared for this La Nina season in terms of personnel, co-ordination and preventive infrastructure.

“In terms of flooding, as I drive around here, the soil is wet, the dams are full and if there was a situation that’s similar to 2011, this probably is it,” he said.

“There could be major rain events and there’s another change (in climate) next week expected that could affect us so we’ve just go to be prepared.

“The recent flood events are very different to 2011, not just in the water but the way our people reacted — that’s going to put us in good stead.

“I don’t mean to frighten people, can I say we’re better prepared than we ever have been.”

Mr Antonio said the council hadn’t discussed reducing water rates or releasing the valve at Cressbrook Dam at this point.

“What we would plan or are capable of doing would have a minimal effect — the situation is SEQ is far different to where we are,” he said.

Deputy chair of the LDMG councillor Rebecca Vonhoff said she had asked council hydrologists about the organisation’s options to better prepare the region for a wet summer.

“The ground is saturated and our dams are full, so I’m asking if there’s something we can do,” she said.

“The message coming out from the state (is) that now is a good time to wash your car and try and use up some of that water being held in tanks.

“People learnt from their experiences about when to sandbag or when to evacuate and they’ve gotten better at it.

“Suddenly we’ve got consecutive La Ninas so the community is understanding what can be done.”

Along with preparing for storm season, the LDMG will go over the 19 recommendations tabled to parliament from the review into the state’s response to the February and March flood events.