Flood barriers to arrive in the New Year

New flood barriers, similar to those that protected the flood-threatened town of Charleville in January, are due to arrive in Queensland early in the new year.

Visiting Charleville today, Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said funding for the temporary flood barriers was provided in the 2008-09 State Budget in June.

“After the success in Charleville of the temporary flood barriers we borrowed from NSW, the Bligh Government decided to purchase two sections which will be located in north and south-east Queensland,” Mr Roberts said.

“The tender process is now closed, and we expect delivery of the barriers in time for the first anniversary of the successful Charleville operation.

”The Bligh Government is planning for future challenges and providing the resources needed to tackle them head-on.”

Mr Roberts said Emergency Management Queensland was finalising the selection of a successful tenderer.

“Emergency Management Queensland has decided to locate one portion each in the State’s south-east and north Queensland to properly service the State,” he said.

“The barriers can be moved to the appropriate area in a matter of hours as we saw in Charleville.”

“These barriers can provide a last resort measure for river towns and other centres that may be threatened by rising floodwaters.”

“The Charleville example showed that temporary barriers of almost 400 metres could be erected swiftly, a feat that would have been difficult to achieve with the very labour-intensive work of filling and placing sand bags.”

Media Contact:

Brendan Connell 3247 8992 or 0437 837 976