Remembering the catastrophic 2013 Bundaberg floods | Photos

It has been 10 years since devastating flooding engulfed Bundaberg with river volumes and speeds never seen before. These photos capture the ferocity and destruction of that disaster, its aftermath, and the men and women who became heroes.

Ten years after the devastating January 2013 floods, Bundaberg is still without the flood mitigation steps announced on the banks of the Burnett River in June 2016.

Three hundred Bundaberg businesses and 1000 homes were flooded in 2013.

At the time of the flood mitigation announcement, state Local Government Minister Mark Furner, Assistant Infrastructure Minister Glenn Butcher, and the former Member for Bundaberg Leanne Donaldson said the $4m was to be used for technical investigations of four short listed flood mitigation options from the 11 mooted in the Bundaberg flood protection study.

Bundaberg flood disaster of 2013 man-made

At an estimated cost of $140m, the Bundaberg East levee, Bundaberg North evacuation route, upper floodplain evacuation improvements and a floodway house-purchase scheme were the four chosen.

Where are they?

2012-2013 wet season: A photo of Bundaberg and the heavily sediment-laden flood plume moving out into the coast from the mouth of the Burnett River.

28/01/2013 Bundaberg from the air - Twitpi Pic. Supplied

Flood 2013. 23 Steindl St, East Bundaberg Jason Baker's home which unfortunately was not covered for flood insurance. The 2011 flood only came up half way between back neighbours and our back fence. Photo: Jason Baker East Bundaberg

Damage caused by floods in Bundaberg, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. Residents of the hardest hit suburb in Queensland's flood crisis have 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

Damage caused by floods in North Bundaberg, Friday, Feb. 1, 2013. Residents of the flood-ravaged suburb of north Bundaberg will be allowed to return to their homes from Friday afternoon. (AAP Image/Sabrina Lauriston) NO ARCHIVING

FLOOD LEVELS: Businesses in Electra Street during the 2013 Bundaberg floods. Photo: Mike Knott / NewsMail

FLOOD LEVELS: Businesses in Electra Street during the 2013 Bundaberg floods. Photo: Mike Knott / NewsMail

FLOOD LEVELS: Businesses in Electra Street during the 2013 Bundaberg floods. Photo: Mike Knott / NewsMail

FLOOD LEVELS: The intersection of George and Tantitha Streets during the 2013 floods in Bundaberg. Photo: Mike Knott / NewsMail

RECEDING WATER: Rum City Mowers and Saws in George Street slowly emerges from the receding flood waters during the 2013 floods in Bundaberg. Photo: Mike Knott / NewsMail

RECEDING WATER: The Tantitha Bowls Club in Tantitha Street slowly emerges from the receding flood waters during the 2013 floods in Bundaberg. Photo: Mike Knott / NewsMail

RECEDING WATER: Flooded homes in Tantitha Street slowly emerge from the receding flood waters during the 2013 floods in Bundaberg. Photo: Mike Knott / NewsMail

News Courier Mail 30.1.2013, Bundaberg Flood, George St. Photo Paul Beutel

News Courier Mail 30.1.2013, Bundaberg Flood, Bundaberg still under water, looking north from George St. Photo Paul Beutel

News Courier Mail 30.1.2013, Bundaberg Flood, The Melbourne Hotel on Targo/George St. Photo Paul Beutel

News Courier Mail, 30.1.2013, Bundaberg Flood, Robert Holtzberger, retired comes home to change his shirt & get into his flooded house in Glenforest for the first time. Photo Paul Beutel.

BUNDABERG, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 30: Streets of Bundaberg underwater 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 have been confirmed in the Queensland floods and the search is on for two men though to be missing in floodaters in Gatton. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

News Courier Mail 30.1.2013, Bundaberg Flood, Looking up Water St Bundaberg. Photo Paul Beutel

BUNDABERG, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 30: Residents clean up debris in their street 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 have been confirmed in the Queensland floods and the search is on for two men though to be missing in floodaters in Gatton. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

News Courier Mail 30.1.2013, Bundaberg Flood, Hinkler Ave, North Bundaberg where at least 2 house wre washed away by flood water. Photo Paul Beutel

People in a boat negotiate flood water and debris in Bundaberg, Queensland, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. At least 1200 Bundaberg properties are already flooded, and there are fears that could reach 2000. (AAP Image/Dan Peled) NO ARCHIVING

Locals watch as flood water rise in Bundaberg, Queensland, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. At least 1200 Bundaberg properties are already flooded, and there are fears that could reach 2000. (AAP Image/Dan Peled) NO ARCHIVING

SCHOOL'S PAIN: Bundaberg East State School principal Doug Ambrose indicates the height the 2013 flood compared to the 2010 flood level. Photo: Max Fleet / NewsMail

FLOOD DAMAGE: The destruction caused by the 2013 flood to Gavin st north Bundaberg. Photo: Scottie Simmonds / NewsMail

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman (right) gives over $50 from his wallet to patient Sean Crozier during a visit to to the Royal Brisbane Hospital, Wednesday, Jan.30, 2013. The Premier and Australian Govenor General Quentin Bryce both met with hospital patients who had been evacuated from flood stricken Bundaberg yeasterday. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt) NO ARCHIVING

Residents attend a council meeting in North Bundaberg, Friday, Feb. 1, 2013. Residents of the flood-ravaged suburb of north Bundaberg will be allowed to return to their homes from Friday afternoon. (AAP Image/Sabrina Lauriston) NO ARCHIVING

Damage caused by floods in North Bundaberg, Friday, Feb. 1, 2013. Residents of the flood-ravaged suburb of north Bundaberg will be allowed to return to their homes from Friday afternoon. (AAP Image/Sabrina Lauriston) NO ARCHIVING

Police check residents' identification as they line up to cross the Burnett Bridge into the exclusion zone to inspect their flood damaged homes, North Bundaberg, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. Residents of the hardest hit suburb in Queensland's flood crisis have 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

Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott talks to media at the Bundaberg Council Chambers, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. Mr Abbott was in the flood-ravaged central Queensland town of Bundaberg on Saturday to offer support to residents and help clean up the area. Mr Abbott will support Queensland Premier Campbell Newman's calls for more federal funding to flood proof cities if he wins government. (AAP Image/Paul Beutel) NO ARCHIVING

Two men clean up after flooding in Bundaberg, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. Residents of the hardest hit suburb in Queensland's flood crisis have 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

The Army inspects flood damage in North Bundaberg, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. Residents of the hardest hit suburb in Queensland's flood crisis have 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

Residents inspect damage caused by floods in North Bundaberg, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. Residents of the hardest hit suburb in Queensland's flood crisis have 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

The Australian army inspects flood damage, North Bundaberg, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. Residents of the hardest hit suburb in Queensland's flood crisis have 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

Damage caused by floods in Bundaberg, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. Residents of the hardest hit suburb in Queensland's flood crisis have 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

Two residents embrace each other in Bundaberg, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. Residents of the hardest hit suburb in Queensland's flood crisis have 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

Damage caused by floods in Bundaberg, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. Residents of the hardest hit suburb in Queensland's flood crisis have 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

News Courier Mail, Bundaberg 3.2.2013, The old flood marker in East Bundaberg Quay St. Photo Paul Beutel

News Courier Mail, Bundaberg 3.2.2013, Normanby St Bundaberg is lined with flood rubbish. Photo Paul Beutel

News Courier Mail, Bundaberg 4.2.2013, North Bundaberg streets are filled with rubbish from the flood affected houses. Photo Paul Beutel

News Courier Mail, Bundaberg 4.2.2013, Bundaberg iSlipway is blocked with rubbish from the flood Photo Paul Beutel

Kellie Hess packs up all the donated goods after her plea to help the flood affected community of Bundaberg was answered in a big way, Tuesday, February 12, 2013. Photo Kevin Farmer / The Chronicle

News Courier Mail, Bundaberg 22.2.2013, Sandra Dorron happy to move back into her Hinkler Avenue home in Bundaberg after the flood. Photo Paul Beutel

News Courier Mail, Bundaberg 22.2.2013, RSPCA Inspector Amanda Yates with Max & Maggie that she rescued in the Bundaberg flood. Photo Paul Beutel

News Courier Mail, Bundaberg, 7.2.2013, Flood evacuee arrives at the temporary housing at the Bundaberg showgrounds. Photo Paul Beutel

News 1.2.2013, Courier Mail Bundaberg, A resident cleans in Quay st Bundaberg after the flood. Photo Paul Beutel

News 1.2.2013, Courier Mail Bundaberg, A trawler sits high & dry in Quay st Bundaberg after the flood. Photo Paul Beutel

News 1.2.2013, Courier Mail Bundaberg, A trawler sits high & dry in Quay st Bundaberg after the flood. Photo Paul Beutel

News 1.2.2013, Courier Mail Bundaberg, A trawler sits high & dry in Quay st Bundaberg after the flood. Photo Paul Beutel

News 1.2.2013, Courier Mail Bundaberg, The sign says it all !!! Bundaberg after the flood. Photo Paul Beutel

News Courier Mail, Bundaberg 4.2.2013, North Bundaberg streets are filled head high with rubbish from the flood affected houses. Photo Paul Beutel

News - BCM - Courier Mail - 31.1.2013 - Bundaberg Flood - Burnett Heads resident Cherie Mackenzie & the PM talk abt the Tornado at Burnett heads. Photo Paul Beutel

news Courier mail 27/1/2013, Barry Cooper just bought a house boat in Bundaberg 3 weeks ago only to see it wash away in the flood. Photo Paul Beutel

News - BCM - Courier Mail - 31.1.2013 - Bundaberg Flood - Prime Minster Julia Gillard & Bargara Bowls club manager Janelle Fielding walk thru the club after it was wrecked in the freak Tornado. Photo Paul Beutel

News Sunday mail, 12.4.2013, Bundaberg, Paul Hargreaves at his family home in North Bundaberg home that he is raising to above major flood levels. Photo Paul Beutel

REBUILDING: Lindsay and Pat Hateley have been busy rebuilding their lives since the devastating 2013 flood which tore through North Bundaberg. Photo: Max Fleet / NewsMail

THEN AND NOW: The 2013 flood devastated businesses throughout Bundaberg including Envious Hair on the corner of Targo and Woondooma streets. Photo: Max Fleet / NewsMail

BACK TO IT: Bundaberg NewsMail building is back in operation after the 2013 flood forced staff to evacuate. Photo: Max Fleet / NewsMail

RUBBLE WALL: A three metre high bund wall has been constructed at Bundaberg Regional Council’s University Drive Waste Facility using concrete rubble from the 2013 flood event. Photo: contributed

Martin Cole, James Farraway and Andrew Smith received bravery awards for their work during the 2013 Bundaberg flood. Photo: Geoff Egan / APN Newsdesk

DON'T FORGET THE MUD NAVY: Graham Hunt, Ian Faulkner and Andrew Jacenko would like the mud navy from North Bundaberg to be recognised for the work it did during the 2013 floods. There are as many as thirty individuals in the community that need to receive recognition for their flood rescue work. Photo: Mike Knott / NewsMail

REPLACE THE TREES: North Bundaberg resident Tony Clarke is annoyed that despite promises, the Bundaberg Regional Council has not replaced many of the trees that once lined Steurt Street before the 2013 flood. Photo: Max Fleet / NewsMail

Originally published as Remembering the catastrophic 2013 Bundaberg floods | Photos