Lockyer Valley Mayor responds to Grantham flood siren delay

Some Grantham residents said they were left stunned after the flood siren sounded ‘too late’, but others in authority say residents had enough warnings. DETAILS HERE.

After a close call with flood waters, Grantham woman Megan Masters told The Chronicle the town’s flood siren was “a joke” after it sounded while water lapped her feet.

However Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor Tanya Milligan said residents were given enough warning of the impending floodwaters.

“(The siren) went off twice,” she said.

“The Queensland Police Service (QPS) had gone out and door knocked people to self evacuate, to encourage people that they might want to move.

“We did the same thing in the event in November.

“Some people wanted to stay, some people wanted to move, some people said they had done this before. It was followed up with the siren.”

Mrs Milligan said Queensland Police and council members were alerting residents to the incoming rise, however Ms Masters had returned from Toowoomba and missed the warnings.

“The water came exceptionally quick, but QPS had gone out before the first siren and they had been door knocking,” Cr Milligan said.

CLEAN UP: Grantham residents have begun the clean up after flood waters swept the area on the weekend. February 28, 2022.

“Each event is always going to be different, and people are trying to make decisions to keep our community safe.

“It’s a complete regional event and whether you’re in Laidley, or Lockyer Waters or Withcott – none of our other areas have sirens either so lots of people have been impacted.

“I remain exceptionally grateful that even though we’re expecting more rain at the end of the week … the fact that we have all of our community, we haven’t had any loss of life … that’s the really important stuff.”

Cr Milligan said a review would be conducted by the local disaster management group into how the event was handled – as happens after every event – and changes would be looked into if needed.

“It’s a continual review for continual improvements,” she said.

In an emergency, call Triple-0.