Queensland to buy temporary flood barriers

The Bligh Government is buying one kilometre of temporary flood barriers following the success protecting the south-west Queensland town of Charleville with a borrowed barrier during flooding this year.

Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said the barriers will be funded under the record 2008-09 Budget for Emergency Services of $940.8 million.

Mr Roberts said the Government’s disaster management experts were impressed how the barrier plugged two unfinished sections of the Charleville levee when the Warrego River peaked in January.

“Following the Charleville experience, the Government has decided to order one kilometre of temporary barrier to have on standby for future flood threats,” Mr Roberts said.

“We plan to have 500 metres of the barrier warehoused in north and south-east Queensland, available to transported to communities in need within hours.”

Mr Roberts said tenders for the flood barriers were due to close in June.

“In Charleville, we were able to use temporary barriers from NSW. The Defence Force flew them into Charleville and within hours almost 400 metres of the barrier was erected to fill the gaps left by the unfinished sections of the levee,” he said.

“The temporary barriers saved Charleville from being inundated from a rising Warrego River as it was in 1990 and 1997.”

Mr Roberts said while the levee at Charleville had been completed, the temporary barriers could be used in other communities affected by floods.

“The barrier is a new weapon in our armoury for protecting Queenslanders from the damaging floodwaters. Traditionally, we have relied on sand bags, which are very labour and resource intensive to put in place and to remove when the floodwaters recede,” Mr Roberts said.

“Sections of the barrier can be erected within minutes, and when the floodwaters pass it can be packed up and used again and again.”

3 June 2008
Media contact: Kirby Anderson 3247 8194 or 0418 197 350