North Bundaberg evacuation route prioritised amid flood risks

In a bid to address persistent flood risks, Bundaberg Regional Council has unanimously backed a North Bundaberg evacuation route.

Bundaberg Regional Council unanimously voted to advocate for a North Bundaberg evacuation route in response to ongoing flood risks, at its ordinary meeting on Tuesday, January 28, 2025.

Bundaberg Regional Council unanimously voted this week to advocate for a North Bundaberg evacuation route.

The decision was made at the council’s ordinary meeting on Tuesday and in light of persistent flood risk fears, particularly regarding the isolation of North Bundaberg during major flood events.

In 2013, 18 helicopters were utilised to rescue more than 1000 people trapped by flood waters in North Bundaberg.
People were trapped in their homes when the water rose to 9.33m and cut all roads leading into and out of North Bundaberg.
At its peak, the flood waters displaced more than 7500 people and up to 3000 homes were evacuated.

Flood modelling of the 2013 Bundaberg flood show the extent of the water across the city in 2013, and what it would have looked like with a levee in place in 2013.

Advocates have long argued that improved evacuation infrastructure like better drainage, upgraded intersections and pedestrian and cycleways on bridges, would provide safer and quicker access to emergency services and supplies during disasters.

Mayor Helen Blackburn has previously voiced opposition to the Bundaberg East Levee because of what she believed was its potential to make the flooding worse in North Bundaberg.
In 2024, she withdrew her support for the levee, citing high costs, ongoing maintenance expenses, and community opposition, including a petition signed by 5000 residents.

The council’s most recent vote has signalled a push to prioritise evacuation infrastructure over other flood mitigation measures, such as the levee, which still has the support of state and federal governments.

Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn has previously voiced opposition to the Bundaberg East Levee because of what she believed was its potential to make the flooding worse in North Bundaberg.

Concerns over flooding in Bundaberg remain high, drawing comparisons to past disasters such as the 2013 floods, when Blackhawk helicopters were deployed to help evacuate residents.

Across the city, businesses and homes have been inundated in past floods, and authorities have warned that up to 2000 properties may be affected in future floods if mitigation measures are not improved.
The Bundaberg disaster co-ordination centre has confirmed that rescue efforts have been hindered in previous emergencies by the poor evacuation infrastructure.
In 2013, multiple bridges were submerged or damaged, cutting off access and delaying rescue operations.
The Burnett Traffic Bridge, which serves as a primary city connection, was closed due to structural concerns, while the Kennedy Bridge was rendered impassable by rising waters.

A resident reacts to the damage to his house as parts of southern Queensland experiences record flooding in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Oswald on January 30, 2013 in Bundaberg, Australia. Flood waters peaked at 9.53 metres in Bundaberg yesterday and began receding overnight, as residents and relief teams prepare to clean-up debris. Four deaths were confirmed in the Queensland floods. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images) Pic. Getty Images

Harrison Infrastructure Group proposed a detailed plan to improve flood resilience in North Bundaberg, focusing on an upgraded evacuation route designed to withstand major flood events and provide a reliable connection to the CBD.
The plan aims to improve flood immunity from less than a five-year event to a 100-year event, significantly reducing the risk of isolation during disasters.

To achieve this, HIG recommended building a viaduct with dual-lane capacity, and strategically placed on and off-ramps to integrate with the existing road network.
It said that design would enhance evacuation efficiency and limit disruption during construction, particularly to the Tallon Bridge, which has historically been a critical yet vulnerable crossing.

The Tallon Bridge was temporarily closed during the 2013 floods due to a failure in its northern abutment, severely limiting access between North Bundaberg and the rest of the city.

Police check residents' identification as they line up in their cars to cross the Burnett Bridge into the exclusion zone to inspect their flood damaged homes, North Bundaberg, Saturday, February. 2, 2013. Residents of the hardest hit suburb in Queensland's flood crisis had begun the heartbreaking journey of returning home to assess damage after police opened the Burnett Bridge to north Bundaberg residents at 6am. (AAP Image/Paul Beutel) NO ARCHIVING

With the Burnett Traffic Bridge unable to handle heavy traffic due to weight restrictions, HIG’s proposal seeks to address these longstanding infrastructure weaknesses.

The proposed evacuation route would also include a pedestrian and cycleway retrofit to the Tallon Bridge, upgraded intersections, improved lighting, enhanced drainage systems, and road surface reinforcements to withstand extreme weather conditions.

The Bundaberg Action Plan, first launched in 2017, proposed several flood mitigation options, including the Bundaberg East Levee, improvements to evacuation routes, and a voluntary buyback scheme for flood-prone properties in North Bundaberg.

Despite investment in these initiatives, community debate remains over which measures should take priority.

Originally published as North Bundaberg evacuation route prioritised amid flood risks