One year on from the devastating February 2022 flood that inundated Ipswich causing massive damage, recovery projects are well underway across the city.
Parts of Ipswich recorded more than twice the average summer rainfall across the February flood event, as the Bremer River broke its banks and water raged through the city.
“The February 2022 flood inundated almost 600 homes and 300 businesses, displacing residents, destroying livelihoods and leaving a major clean-up task,” Mayor Teresa Harding said.
“Recovery from the February flood was delayed when a smaller flood came through Ipswich just two months later in May.
“Since then, Ipswich City Council has been focused on rebuilding the lives and livelihoods of our residents, restoring our city to be more resilient, and supporting our community in recovery.
“To date, council has spent more than $24 million on Ipswich’s flood recovery, including $8.7 million on the Voluntary Home Buy-Back program, with six dwellings already demolished in Goodna, and $8.2 million on emergency response and repairs.
“More than one third of council’s 415 recovery projects have been completed, but we still have a long way to go.”
Council has 36 executed contracts across Goodna, Tivoli, Wulkuraka, West Ipswich, East Ipswich and Basin Pocket under the Voluntary Home Buy-Back program, allowing the worst-hit residents to begin their lives free from flood-prone homes.
The Queensland and Australian Governments developed the $741 million Resilient Homes Fund, which the Voluntary Home Buy Back program is a part of, to assist those who were affected by the 2021-2022 floods.
Under the Resilient Homes Fund, funding is available to assist eligible flood-affected homeowners to:
- Repair or retrofit homes
- Raise flood affected homes
- Apply to have their homes bought on a voluntary basis
To register your interest in the Resilient Homes Fund visit the QRA website.
More than $6.5 million has been spent on reconstruction of roads, parks, drainage, street and sports field lighting, and nearly $60,000 to collect and dispose of more than six tonnes of waterway rubbish from the floods.
Major parks such as Bob Gamble Park were reopened last year following an extensive clean-up effort, while the damage caused by floodwaters to River Heart Parklands and Colleges Crossing has left council with more complex recovery challenges.
“Council will spend almost $3 million on flood preparedness and waterway recovery, flood mitigation and drainage,” Environment and Sustainability Committee Chairperson Councillor Russell Milligan said.
“Like every other council hit in February 2022, the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on local and international supply chains has unavoidably impacted Ipswich City Council’s timeline for recovery.
“Council is committed to continuing its recovery program to ensure our community is more resilient and that our city is well-prepared for future events.
“An interactive Flood Recovery Projects map is available online for the latest information on council’s recovery efforts and shows when projects are expected to be completed.”
Background
- To date, council has spent more than $24 million on Ipswich’s flood recovery. Council allocated $30 million in the 2022-2023 budget for flood recovery.
- Rates relief has been offered for hundreds of flood-impacted residents and businesses as part of council’s flood assistance package.
- The Severe Weather February 2022 Recovery Plan outlined a range of actions, works and activity to be undertaken by council and many other groups and agencies to help our community reach a point where they are sustainable and resilient – available at Ipswich.qld.gov.au/services/flood-recovery
- Released in December 2022, the February-March 2022 Ipswich Flood Review found council has the necessary organisational structures, resources, documents and processes in place to effectively manage disasters.
- Its 47 recommendations range across strategic and operational areas to further enhance the council’s response capability, and included areas related to training, technology and process improvements.
- The Flood Review was adopted by council in December 2022, and council is working through the recommendations.
Major completed recovery work
- Joseph Brady Park – $330,000
- David W Coultas Park Dog Park Fencing – $82,000
- Romulus Court stormwater drainage – $74,000
- Bob Gamble Park – $140,000
- Flood gauge at Colleges Crossing – $49,000
- Piepers Road, Marburg culvert reconstruction- $14,000
Major projects underway
- City Wide Bio Basin Repairs – estimated $449,000
- Colleges Crossing – $500,000 to date (formal work not yet underway)
- North Ipswich Wetland Sinkhole – estimated $115,000
- Cribb Park – $140,000 emergency works (formal work not yet underway)
- Jim Finimore Park emergency repairs – $57,000 to date
- Rotary Park, Bundamba fencing and emergency works – $43,000
- Ironpot Creek Rehabilitation – estimated $27,000
- Ivor Marsden Park irrigation – $23,000
Debris clean-up
- About 580 debris items removed from waterways
- About 6.1 tonnes of waste removed from waterways
- Removal still ongoing at several sites
For more information about Ipswich’s flood recovery check the interactive Flood Recovery Projects map online, or visit Ipswich.qld.gov.au/services/flood-recovery