From the Mayor's Desk - 15 March 2022

Do you know YOUR flood risk? Awareness is key during severe weather events

With so much flooding across our nation, in the news and at the forefront of our minds, I’d like to dedicate most of this column to the important issues of flood warnings and preparedness in the Goondiwindi Region, what you can expect from Council during a severe weather event, and what your responsibilities are regarding your own risk. 

Recently, Council shared an update about the flood situation in Talwood and to the west of our region. At that point, access roads to the west had been closed for several days and the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) had issued a Major Flood Warning for the Weir River. Council’s update gave a brief overview of the flood warning, along with road closure advice. Importantly, the update chiefly directed people where to find out more information for themselves as the flood situation unfolded. 

At the same time as the major Talwood warning was issued, the BOM had also issued a Minor Flood Warning for the Macintyre Brook at Inglewood. Some local Coolmunda creeks were running high and quick as a result of localised heavy storms, and this caused some residents to feel anxious about their risk of flooding. However, with no predictions of significant rainfall in the catchment area and no known impending risk to the township, Council did not issue a media release update about the warning.  

The flood of late last year is still etched in our minds, so it’s understandable that a high level of anxiety exists. Council aims to inform and respond whenever there is a known potential threat to our towns and communities - however, minor floods are a regular occurrence in our region, sometimes happening several times a year. 

I want to clarify that Council receives much the same information from the BOM as the public receives about predicted flood levels and rainfall. During coordinated Disaster Management responses, Council is able to speak with the BOM via teleconference to ask questions – but even then the actual data and advice given to Council still mirrors what is publicly available on the BOM website.

This is not to say that the BOM’s predictive models are perfect. In fact, there are significant deficiencies - more creek and river gauges are needed upstream of both Inglewood and Texas, in particular, and this would give Council and the community a higher level of confidence in the future. Council is continuing discussions with the BOM and other government agencies about this.

Council has also reiterated to the BOM the importance of understanding and utilising local knowledge and observations - the BOM has agreed in principle to incorporate this in its future planning. 

Local knowledge and experience is critical in disaster preparedness and response. Residents should prepare themselves with knowledge about what the Minor, Moderate and Major flood warnings mean for them in their own location. This level of information not only helps us to know when we do need to act, but also provides reassurance when action is not necessary. 

Each of us has a responsibility to understand our own risk, to stay informed through the appropriate channels (including the following online resources) during severe weather, and to be prepared to leave at short notice if required:

• Prepare for severe weather: www.getready.qld.gov.au - speak to neighbours and community about local risk.
• BOM (latest Queensland weather warnings): www.bom.gov.au/qld/warnings look out for Macintyre Brook, Dumaresq River, Macintyre River, Weir River updates.
• Disaster Dashboard (latest LOCAL emergency news, road updates, weather warnings, energy outages, links to BOM, river heights, dam levels): https://dashboard.grc.qld.gov.au
• QLDTraffic (latest road condition information): https://qldtraffic.qld.gov.au

IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE:

• Life-threatening emergencies: telephone triple zero (000)
• SES (for assistance during a disaster): 132 500

Predicting the weather is not an exact science - as I’ve said time and time again, you never know how much rain you’re going to get until it’s in the gauge. Again, I encourage every resident to become educated about their own risk and to understand the tools that are available to them to be informed and prepared to respond as necessary. 

Council will continue to relay general information. However, it is Council's ultimate aim to build the community’s capacity, competency and confidence around floods so that the only time you need to hear from us during a severe weather event is when you need to take action.

Texas OM Update

Please note that Council’s Ordinary Meeting will be held next Wednesday, 23 March at the Texas Sports Complex, 80 Middleton Street – NOT the Texas Hall as previously advertised.

All residents are invited to attend - please RSVP for catering purposes to 46717400 by Friday 18 March.