Improved facilities mean Inglewood is better prepared for future floods

Newly finished upgrades to the flood evacuation assembly point in Inglewood will mean the community is better prepared for future flooding events, says Chair of the Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) Councillor Rick Kearney.

The $83,000 upgrades to the Cemetery Road site include the installation of new infrastructure for use during an evacuation scenario, including the construction of a designated helicopter-landing pad, a new 5,000-gallon poly water tank and new undercover area.

The project also included the purchase of a mobile generator, mobile toilets, and a mobile catering trailer to better prepare the area for use as a temporary place of refuge during a flood.

Cr Kearney said Goondiwindi Regional Council would hold a community information day in Inglewood later in the year to familiarise the community with the Evacuation Assembly Point set-up and facilities.

“COVID-19 restrictions permitting, we are looking to host an information session later on in the year so the community knows what to expect, how they can prepare, and how they should respond to a future flooding scenario,” Cr Kearney said. 

“The Cemetery Road assembly point now has the infrastructure and equipment ready to operate effectively during a flooding scenario, for a period of up to 48 hours. While we all hope to be able to avoid the need to evacuate due to a flooding event, it should certainly be a reassurance that this site is equipped and ready should the worst happen,” he said.

Council will release more details about the Inglewood information day closer to the time.

The project was jointly funded by Council and the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments under the Natural Disaster Resilience Program (NDRP). Mayor of the Goondiwindi region the Honourable Cr Lawrence Springborg AM said Goondiwindi Regional Council would continue to investigate external funding opportunities for disaster management.

“Community infrastructure is a priority for this Council, and ensuring our community has the facilities it needs in times of emergency is especially important,” Cr Springborg said.

“Council will continue to seek funding opportunities to improve our region’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a natural disaster such as a flood. This will include improvements to existing evacuation sites, and we will also review the feasibility of a purpose-built facility.”

Flood records for Inglewood are available from as far back as 1956. The largest recorded floods to date occurred in 1956 and 1976, when the river height reached 12.50m and 11.73m respectively on the Inglewood Bridge flood gauge.