Ipswich floods: Bremer River to peak at 2017 level

Ipswich is facing its latest flood disaster, with parts of the city underwater and the Bremer River forecast to reach its 2017 flood peak of 12.35m in the CBD overnight.

Ipswich is facing its latest flood disaster, with parts of the city underwater and the Bremer River forecast to reach its 2017 flood peak of 12.35m in the CBD overnight.

To the west, Laidley was inundated and flood sirens activated at Grantham, which was devastated by the 2011 floods, but the waters had begun to recede by late Monday

Speaking on Monday morning, Premier David Crisafulli said the flood threat in Ipswich and the Lockyer Valley was a major concern.

He said emergency alerts had been issued in the Lockyer Valley, doorknocks conducted and swiftwater rescue teams put in place.

In Ipswich, major flood warnings were issued for the Bremer River, which broke its banks, and Warrill Creek.

As the Bremer rose, parts of the Ipswich CBD were inundated, while low-lying areas in suburbs including Bundamba and North Booval went under overnight on Sunday.

The weather bureau said just before 10pm on Monday the river was at 11.27m in the CBD and rising, above the moderate flood level (9m).

It was expected to exceed the major flood level (11.7m) about midnight and peak about the March 2017 flood level (12.35m) in the early hours of Tuesday.

The Warrego Highway is cut by flooding in the Lockyer Valley. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Mayor Teresa Harding said while the levels would be well below the 2011 flood peak of 19.4m and the 16.72m height recorded in 2022, it would still be a major flood.

She said the flooding had happened quickly, forcing council to urgently activate evacuation centres.

“We sort of thought that maybe we were through the worst of it,” she said.

Ms Harding said potential dam releases upstream were a major concern, particularly for Goodna, but Seqwater had advised that none were planned at this stage.

“If that holds out, that’ll be really great news for the people of Goodna,” she said.

Ms Harding said unlike in 2022, a disaster had been declared for Ipswich, giving police extra powers to evacuate residents.

In a chilling warning earlier in the day, the flood sirens sounded as Lockyer Valley Regional Council urged Grantham locals to “move to higher ground and relocate to family and friends as a matter of urgency”.

“Dangerous flooding is likely to occur in the Grantham area in the coming hours,” the council warned.

“Do not wait for further direction to relocate – this is an emergency warning.”

Council urged residents to seek shelter in the Grantham Butter Factory or Gatton Shire Hall.

Posting on a Lockyer Valley community Facebook page, one local wrote: “Can hear the flood sirens from Grantham … good luck to everyone.”

Photos posted to the page showed floodwaters under the town’s railway bridge rapidly rising in under an hour on Monday afternoon.

Lockyer Valley deputy mayor Chris Wilson said Grantham was “absolutely nervous, anxious … all those things”.

Police were doorknocking homes in low-lying areas “to give them as much warning as possible”, as 60 ADF personnel were sent to the region.

“It’s a town with a history of flooding so we really are taking every precaution,” he told the ABC.

“We’re taking it as it comes at the moment – our forecasters and modellers are working around the clock to try and make sure that our community is as best prepared as possible.

“We’re just hoping our community can stay vigilant – it’s been a long few days waiting for this event to come to us and now that it’s come, boy, it’s come in a big way.”

Mr Wilson said parts of the shire were already underwater, with the Laidley CBD inundated.

A kangaroo is rescued from floodwaters near the Warrego Highway west of Brisbane. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

He said flooding had eased slightly in the town but authorities were closely monitoring forecast thunderstorms which could dump more rain on the already sodden region.

But Mr Wilson told The Courier-Mail on Monday night the threat had eased.

“The latest is news is positive – floodwaters have receded in both Grantham and Laidley,” he said.

“The water’s out of the Laidley CBD and Grantham (water levels) receded almost as quick as it came up, which is really good.”

In Ipswich, evacuation centres opened at the Ipswich Showgrounds, Rosewood State High and Shiloh Church at Goodna.

Ms Harding said the showgrounds would be able to accommodate pets but said evacuation centres were “pretty rudimentary” and should be used as “a last resort” by residents who were better off staying with relatives and friends.

Bundamba resident Anthony Blaslov told of being woken by his wife at midnight on Sunday saying “the house is flooded”.

By Monday afternoon, he was beginning to hose out mud and debris from the bottom part of his house despite fears of more flooding.

Originally published as Ipswich floods: Bremer River to peak at 2017 level