MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: speewa158 on November 28, 2010, 08:48:36 PM
-
We have enough eyes & ears out there on the road to know if there are any thing we should know about Vic weather . Some ventured away this weekend only to find it damp under foot . In my rain guage got 32mm on Sat in Melb . Few cars washed away , You have the story & pics share with su all . Good to know your safe home anyway . :cheers:
-
Found this on HeraldSun - A car and caravan were swept off the road at Newstead on the Loddon River. Picture: Rob Durston, Central Victorian Video Productions
(http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2010/11/28/1225962/299158-caravan.jpg)
-
Can any body see a Myswag sticker on th e CT ? >:D Poor Bastard :-[
-
For sale: Jayco with a water view. Only used on weekends.
-
I don't have any pics but myself and a few other swaggers were camped at Sheepyard Saturday night, I estimated we got in the vicinity of 100mm or rain in about 12 hours, after getting home and checking the BOM site it looks like somewhere between 75-90mm depending on what you consider is the closest weather station.
Due to the rain there was a fair few heading out early, some folks that were camped not far away from us pulled up stumps around 4am, when we woke in the morning we looked over to their camp spot to see it under about 2 inches of water, they had camped in a large basin that wasn't noticeable until the rain began to fill it up. Some folks from our group got wet, their tent leaked a little so they were up and away pretty early as well.
Coming home from Sheepyard I got diverted at Molesworth by the boys in blue due to flooding and had to head across to Alexandra and come home via the Black Spur, that added a bit of time to the trip home I didn't really want but apart from that it was a good weekend, the tent is well and truly seasoned and is now all dried out and ready to be taken on the next adventure. ;D
-
I'll post some pics when I get a chance Dave of all you blokes standing around in the rain at sheepyard!! Lucky the Chocolate cake in the Cobb still came out perfect ;D
-
Rain? Flooding? What's that? ;D
Kit_e
-
For sale: Jayco with a water view. Only used on weekends.
That's gold(http://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/smilies/icon_rolling.gif)(http://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/smilies/icon_rolling.gif)
-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He-nlbqLsFk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He-nlbqLsFk)
not mine- watch out for the language :cheers:
-
To all those to young to remember
Rain = water that falls from the sky ( no really )
Water fallen from the sky collects on the ground= puddles
Flood = rain + puddles + more rain + bigger puddles + even more rain + puddles joined together = one largeish , flat , merky , very damp puddle that goes on for ever
Got it , Good :cheers:
-
Looks like the west (Maryborough) side of the Loddon, as the buildings are much closer to the river on the east (Castlemaine) side.
I assume the gate in the Newstead flood levee bank, also on the east side, would've been closed, all of which ads to water levels on the west side.
Looks like the force of the water has pushed it around the back of the armco. railing. That isn't a good stretch of the road to be caught on, as there is literally nowhere to go.
Probably the last time there was a flood event there was in 2001, just before I started working in the then Newstead office of Mt Alexander Shire.
-
I think that Victoria is not the only state to be getting flooding. As I type, we're under a storm which is dumping more water on us that is only going to add to an already full system.
Coming soon to a tv station close to you...Escape from Wee Waa Island... ;D ::)
-
Well, I haven't got any photos yet...but the lagoon out the back of my place has broken its banks, I had to go and rescue one of my horses this morning from the paddock that will soon be inundated by that water. Thankfully, the levy bank will stop it from coming right into my yard.
It's still raining here too and there has been nearly 100mm overnight, with more on the way. While that doesn't sound much, it is for us out on the flat lands because it doesn't run away like in the hilly country. In the past, we've been flooded in for several months because of the time it took for the water to get away.
Currently the big pumps are running to pump water out of the town and over the levy. The collection pond is currently overflowing so I think the big pump has got a job to catch up!
At this rate, I won't have to supply pictures as you'll be seeing us soon enough on the tv! ;D
-
we camped at taggerty (vic) on the weekend at the caravan park we got 75mm of rain overnight and about 100mm over the weekend. the river next to us rose about a meter but still had another meter before it broke its banks. im pleased to say we only got 3 drops of water in the jimboomba camper and that was when the wind blew really hard with the rain. i didnt sleep much both nights just wating for the leaks to start.
-
Just as a matter of interest, I looked up BOM this morning and for the month of November we have had 446.6 mm of rain. It is still bucketing down. My yard is a bog. Only good thing - can't cut the grass.
-
I don't have any pics but myself and a few other swaggers were camped at Sheepyard Saturday night, I estimated we got in the vicinity of 100mm or rain in about 12 hours, after getting home and checking the BOM site it looks like somewhere between 75-90mm depending on what you consider is the closest weather station.
Due to the rain there was a fair few heading out early, some folks that were camped not far away from us pulled up stumps around 4am, when we woke in the morning we looked over to their camp spot to see it under about 2 inches of water, they had camped in a large basin that wasn't noticeable until the rain began to fill it up. Some folks from our group got wet, their tent leaked a little so they were up and away pretty early as well.
Coming home from Sheepyard I got diverted at Molesworth by the boys in blue due to flooding and had to head across to Alexandra and come home via the Black Spur, that added a bit of time to the trip home I didn't really want but apart from that it was a good weekend, the tent is well and truly seasoned and is now all dried out and ready to be taken on the next adventure. ;D
because we left abit early as it get home and dry the camper out plus every item of clothing we brought was wet from the day/night before, ha-ha have to get a drysabone. i know the reason u got diverted about 20k out of yea the road was a river for about a good 100m was fun to cross it was up to the guard rail in parts ;D lots of people where turning around tho or just standing on the side of the road
-
i've got some pic of it i'll post later
-
Spewin I was a bit late tommo, that would have been the only off roading I got in all weekend if I they let me through.
-
On saturday we got 32mm of rain to wash out the old & float us the new gov in Vic , & today another 34mm of the rain of renewal , more on the way . This brings a tear to my eye as we will be coming to a traditional Xmass . Rain , floods , & worst of all BEER STRIKE . OH The HUMANITY !! :cheers:
-
Spewin I was a bit late tommo, that would have been the only off roading I got in all weekend if I they let me through.
Hey Dave me and a Prado who was following me went through the flood, the man in blue :police: said you will have no problems (he must know how good Toyotas are ;D)
On the way through there was an old Jag coming towards us then it stopped dead due to the water going over the top of his bonnet ??? The were no Police stopping cars coming from the Yea end when we went through it was just below the headlights on the 100.
As I approached the Jag I could see his drivers window down so I backed off the throttle a bit as I thought my wake is going to go straight in the window as it was it only missed out going in by 3-4inches!!
I have some pics I will try and upload when I have a chance
Hey Dave and Thommo thanks for a great weekend away lets maybe plan one with a little less rain!!! In saying that it wasn't cold though
-
and this is just how fast a dry road can turn deadly....enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIQrSH6LMgA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIQrSH6LMgA)
-
:worthles: :cheers: :cheers:
-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He-nlbqLsFk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He-nlbqLsFk)
not mine- watch out for the language :cheers:
Loved the commentry lol
-
^^ yeah but when the sun does come out, we will be cutting it every 2 days. :'(
-
Ok here are a couple of pics we went through on Sunday morning on our trip home from a couple of nights at Sheepyard Flat with GU Rich,OffRoadave,thommo and a few other families......
This was just near Molesworth alot of cars turned back so I drove the around the detour and spoke to the Police and he said I could go through which avoided a detour home via Alexandra :cup:
In this 1st pic you can just see the Jag coming towards us with water on the bonnet
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa110/cruzadriver/Sheepyard%20Flat%202010/019.jpg)
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa110/cruzadriver/Sheepyard%20Flat%202010/021.jpg)
You can see a Jag stuck in the middle
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa110/cruzadriver/Sheepyard%20Flat%202010/020.jpg)
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa110/cruzadriver/Sheepyard%20Flat%202010/022.jpg)
-
In the last 2 days I have tipped out 48mm of rain from my gauge . This arvo we in Vic had huge rain wind almost monsoonal down pours . Flash floods on blocked up drains & as I post the birds twitter in full sun . A very peaceful summer late arvo .
I love a sunburned country
A land of sweeping plains
Of droughts & flooding plains
:cheers:
-
Speewa, that is only a morning shower here. 1 December - 143 mm. Today - who knows but still bloody raining.
-
Melbourne sure has the strangest weather hey Speewa!! The sky went black, torrential rains came down, flooded the street's and caused mayhem, now the sun is shining, just like it never even happened ???
-
I cant wait to go to the worksite tomorrow, we are about to dig a 700m2 basement and the rain over the last couple of days will ensure a canoe is required tomorrow. The weather gods are a little crazy for sure in Melbourne at the moment, there is another front about to hit with some more heavy rain possible.
GG
-
Blackcat To many complained about the big wet so it was change the other way . As we say its the tropical south . Enjoy while you can . :cheers:
-
GG Patrol Do you want to buy some floaties (OH&S requirement ) :cheers:
-
GG Patrol Do you want to buy some floaties (OH&S requirement ) :cheers:
I was thinking of taking my scaba gear ;D
-
Speewa, has the Brumby across the road from you been washed away?
-
Barry 1956 The rig across the road has been claimed by its owner sadely its still here ;D
-
Well you all know what they say about the weather down here.
If you don't like the weather in Melbourne you just wait a minute ;D ;D
-
I started yesterday in overcast sky , solid raintill 10.30am ,sunny till 2.30pm . Then the black storm clouds rolled in , wind , monsoonal rain , lightning , thunder & flash floods . To finish the day off sunny , warm , blue sky only a few clouds . As they say if you dont like the weather hang around it will change ;D
-
Well, I think we have had just under 700mm of rain in 2 weeks and 2 days, and this morning I woke up to showers and thunder. More on the way.
-
Graylyn
Dont you just love the tropics???. Just checked the rain gauge and poured out 300mm (12") and that was from Tuesday at 5pm. Just about had enough of the rain. I have to laugh when the guys down south talk about 40-50mm. Livio ( CH7 weatherman) said weve had 510 mm for the month of November which is a record compared to 500 mm back in 2000.
Regards DP
-
Hey DP, it would be interesting to find out how much we had last night. Whereabouts are you? I am in West Mackay.
-
Anyone heard from Nick08, Sherlock or Symon? I think Nick08 is over in East Mackay but I don't know where Sherlock and Symon live.
I hear the Pioneer River, if it is not in flood, is very close to it. It is still raining very heavy here. Goosepond Creek will be over the banks by now.
Oh for some sunny weather. I don't remember what it is like.
-
I have to laugh when the guys down south talk about 40-50mm.
Regards DP
Its not the amount we are complaining about, it's how fast it has been coming down, yesterday we got 30mm in a matter of minutes, we are not used to that sort of stuff you know, we've been in a drought for years so very very happy to see the rain ;D
-
We have had 160 mm since yesterday afternoon. Roads cut everywhere and already reports of vehicals stuck in creeks. We can't even get out of the farm as there is about 3/4 of a metre of water over our road, which is higher than the 2008 floods ( only because of local rain). Fairbairn dam is 94 cm over the spillway and rising so the townfolk are nervous again. The radar shows that the bulk of the rain has gone over us and heading to the coast so it looks heavy for Bowen,Mackay and south.
Something broke in the front of the 4 wheeler motobike this morning so now its a 2 wheeler which is not real good in the black clay. I should still try to get out and take some photos.
farmer6
-
Cannot believe this rain!!!!! And soooo at the wrong time of year here :'(
The poor farmers here had the best crops for about 10 years and now they are stuffed well and truly. Poor buggars.
Hope everyone keeps safe no matter where you are.
Wonder how Duchess is holding up?
-
Graylyn
I think we had about 4 inches up to 9am this morn. Im over at Rural View, Northern Beaches. I think Symon is out at work at the moment towards Glenden, thats if he can get back as the road floods frequently.
Regards Angus (DP)
-
Thanks Angus. I hope you are dry there.
My son manages a cattle property at Nebo (about 120k west of Mackay) and he cannot even leave the house yard. His wife is due to give birth early next week, so he might have to brush up on his mid-wifery skills if this rain keeps up. If Symon is out at the mines, he won't be able to get back for a couple of days.
I hope for everyone's sake the clouds roll out to sea.
Cheers
Graham
-
Wonder how Duchess is holding up?
Thanks for thinking of me! I take it Narromine is not under any threat?
We're expecting minor flooding to occur tomorrow, with it hanging around till Monday. It might cut us off but I'm not sure at this stage. There's plenty of water around, we've got nice water views but luckily, the levy bank is keeping the tide back! Then there is the forecast for more rain, so, we'll have to wait and see. I'm still predicting that we'll be Wee Waa Island by Christmas.
Lots of sad faces in town though, plenty of farmers here have lost crops around here. Its pretty devastating really. I'm hoping that this wet weather will at least set them up for a few good years, however.
-
Duchess As you said the end of the drought eseally comes with a huge dump to clean out the dregs of the water . Then the systems settle down to a more normal weather pattern to follow.
There will be ground water again more normal rain & seasons ( I really hope )
Hopfully Santa can land at Wee Waathis hear ;D
-
Hopfully Santa can land at Wee Waathis hear ;D
If he has problems, I know some people in aviation who can help out... ;D
-
If only we could pump the water over the hills, we will have a super broadband but........
On the coast here we get plenty but its just has to travel a couple of hundred metres to the big pond.
As bad as it is for the farmers, those with crop on the ground, that crop turned back in will ensure with a little rain next season there will be plenty of crop about, but.... that will bring the prices down. Farming would be a great way to make a living but gee it would be a bugger of a way to make a living.
-
Yes I would hate to be a farmer at the moment. ;D
The water came to within less than a metre off going over our levy around the houses and sheds yesterday so I really hope it doesn't rain again. We have water views like you Duchess. The Comet River is at the bottom of our farming country and it is above the 2008 flood level and rising so not good. Im sure we are losing crop but I can not get anywhere as the bike is bogged about 1 km from the house. The Nogoa River is the other side of us and its holding steady, just below the 2008 flood level. I dont think the Nogoa will give us to much trouble. Lots of people with water in houses and lots of crop damage and losses so if you like farmers spare a thought otherwise keep going about your business. Im ready to move to a farm in the hills somewhere.
farmer6
-
Farmer6, I believe you got another big downpour last night?
-
Thanks for thinking of me! I take it Narromine is not under any threat?
Hi Duchess,
The river has flooded but it would take a fair bit more water to threaten the town thanks to the levie bank. I've been driving down for a look regularly and the Macquarie is still rising pretty rapidly. At this stage they think it won't peak until at least Sunday (upgraded from Friday) Problem is that Burrendong is at 146% still rising and it's not designed to hold those levels so they are still releasing a lot of water. Poor Warren will be in trouble.
Luke was supposed to work this morning in Dubbo but they closed the shop due to flooding. Many of the shops on the river side of the main st were flooded and there are roads closed all over the place. Took me an hour to get home from Dubbo yesterday (usually a 25min trip) mid afternoon and took Luke 1.5 hours to get to work this morning.
I heard Wee Waa is now cut off??? Hope you guys are doing ok.
Glenyse
-
A mate, Dave from Broken Hill sent me this picture today of the Birdsville Track.
(http://www.hairfysh.com/images/Birdsville%20Track%20under%20water.JPG)
Amazing stuff. Where this is along it I don't know.
-
Hi graylyn. We were lucky we haven't had any rain since yesterday morning. I finally got down to the river this afternoon and tipped 200 mm out of the rain gauge there. The Comet River is still rising and come over our southern levy about lunch time.
This is one of our pumps yesterday afternoon running to clear run off water.
(http://www.myswag.org/gallery/d/21971-2/Dec+2010+Rain+040.jpg)
And this is the same pump at lunch time today after the water started coming in. Or at least the top inch of the exhaust.
(http://www.myswag.org/gallery/d/21974-2/Phone+066.jpg)
-
Ah, farmer6...are you going to be able to resurrect that pump once the water has gone down??
We're still here, haven't floated away yet.
Not sure where the water is at. Still minor flooding but I'm not sure how much that will cut us off from the rest of you lot. ;D
Yes, Pauly, there's something kind of wrong about the priority being information and not food for our nation...
Spare a thought friends of those who've lost entire crops...especially when you are buying your bread and you're having to pay 10 bucks a loaf for it! (could happen yet)
-
We owned a house in Gundagai a few years ago. It was down by the river in a small flat across the bridge as you pass through town. We wanted to use it a collateral for another house and the bank said nope, it's in a 1 100 year flood zone, we laughed argued and all that. Eventually we had a cash offer for the place and sold it. Well glad we did. It's under water now...
Hope every one is OK troubled by the floods though
-
Duchess I think we may need some wd 40.
Steve, after the 2008 floods we were told it was a 1 in 1000 year flood by the experts. " Never happen again in our lifetime". We are at 1.5 to 2 metres above the 2008 levels and rising on the Comet. At daylight we are going to try to remove another of our bigger diesel motors that drives our flood lift pumps but Im not sure how it will go.
There are some real bad stories starting to get around from some properties along the Comet River. The news footage from down south is not good, the poor buggers with the loss of houses or water thru there houses. Im starting to get fairly concerned about weather the house levies will hold here. Our upstream neighbour on the Nogoa River side is a coal mine and from the chatter on the UHF and the lights on the over burden piles they are moving the draglines to higher ground.
I wanted to make sure I had switched all the electrics off at our main pump controllers for our electric pumps in the river so I walked in the river to cheak. This photo was taken at about lunchtime yesterday. Im standing on the road we drive in on, which is the top bank of the River. Where I was standing is normally about 15 metres above the 'normal' river level. I just went down the cheak levels now and if I tried walking it now it would be up to my neck already.
(http://www.myswag.org/gallery/d/21983-2/Dec+2010+Rain+058.jpg)
A very worried farmer6
-
Is there any body left to keep us up dated us on the rising merk in NSW or have they all gone under , hope not post up
-
Righto speewa as requested.
The river level at Narromine is still rising - expected to peak at 13.7 m tonight but more rain on the way. Burrendong dam is currently releasing 120000 ML per day. The water level is below the levie that was built up after the 1990 floods so the town is pretty safe but lots of outlying areas are under water. Most of our farmers haven't even started harvest so the poor buggers are devastated.
The main shopping area of Dubbo is in chaos. Shops on the river side of the street have had there lower storage rooms go under. My young fella works in Dubbo and came home early at about 11am just made it through before they closed the road. We can head west or south from Narromine but can't get out of town north or east (Dubbo is east from us).
Local news reports that Coonamble is in major trouble and that the situation at Wee Waa is worsening (Duchess may have more on that). North Wagga has been evacuated and I assume that Warren will be struggling big time as they are downstream and lower than us.
That's my report - all second hand except for the Narromine details so hopefully someone will come along and let us know what's happening in other areas.
Glenyse
-
It's ok here folks...my rescue equipment arrived this afternoon and now resides in my neighbours front yard...perfect for a quick evac if needed... :cup:
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5241/5237610272_c9825af19d_z.jpg)
This is my friend/former employer's machine and his crew are here, working for another local company. Tomorrow all the staff will be flown to the airstrip in this machine as the roads are cut to the airstrip.
We're now slated for a major flood peak by tomorrow night. I think that they weren't going to close the road till then but it now sounds as if they have. Which is going to really screw up the week as tomorrow alone we've got at least 4 delivery trucks due in town. Hopefully, they'll allow the trucks through (as they've got the clearance over a car or 4wd.)
This is already a bit of a bad week for us but well, things can only go up from here I guess. One thing is for sure, we're surrounded by friends and those I consider family and I know because of that, we'll be kept safe and well looked after if things really go to s**t!
-
No wonder ya won't answer ya phone, hob nobbin' round in some flash 'chopper ;D. All quiet here on the Clarence, bit of colour but nothing out of the ordinary. Some say we might get a cracker if the rain doesn't bugga off for new year. Hope all goes well for you, will try & call later in the week. Be good, stay safe. :cheers:
-
Tracey Family , Duccess & other readers hang in there guys . Stay safe , all of you
-
x2 Jamie, growing in an area that is prone to floods ( & big ones) gives you a good appreciation for the power of water. No flood is a good flood. Upstream of Grafton at a little place called Tabulam, they talk about flood heights of 70'- 90' above normal river levels. That's a LOT of water. Hope all come out of the big wet OK with minimal damage & losses. :cheers: Bevan.
-
The early news tell us that there is bad batch of weather on the way on Thursday & Friday . Another 100mm to top off the current flood levels through . Be safe out there Swaggers
-
If you're hearing on the news that the SES has told Wee Waa to evacuate, then they did but we're not. The first message that was texted and then phoned through this morning basically told us all to "prepare" to evacuate now. Most people interpreted that as "evacuate now"! Talk about a wave of disbelief and panic going through the town today!
Anyway, they've just sent another message saying that we should prepare to, if this next rain comes and that the first message was not an evac order, as much as it read like one! Considering my house is up 12feet off the ground, if the flood is that bad, then we're all in serious trouble! ;D I will be choosing to stay if it comes to that!
Meanwhile, the river is steady at the moderate flood height and the water isn't even anywhere near the levy bank at the back of my house. I'm not worried! 8)
-
Glad you're safe Duchess. I've been thinking of you.
The expected peak here keeps going up and up. From 11m on Friday to 14m this afternoon but town itself is safe. One of the kids I look after came into town by boat this morning. She showed me some photos and north of here is just one big lake. A lot of the houses out that way have levies built around them so there are lots of little islands.
Glad you have a 12ft safety margin but Scott wants to know were your trailer is! ;D
-
What happens in floods? Do folks with boats just pack all their belongings into it, make sure the bilge pumps are working and wait it out?
That would be my inexperienced plan.
-
Does anybody know all the river systems that are in flood. I know others have more pressing issues but im trying to work out if the Macleay will be effected over christmas.
-
Hi to all of you who are affected by the floods. Ive been following this thread & hoping everyone's OK. Coming from South Aust. we're so not accustomed to the levels of rain you guys are having, after coping with the drought for the last 10 or so years. I guess we know about the drought, but not the floods - you've got a double whammy!! I feel for all you farmers who've coped with both.
As I'm writing this we're about to have a big (for us) thunderstorm; we seem to be having them daily for the last week. It's also very humid, more like Qld weather than southern dry heat.
Anyway, keep dry, & there's a lot of people thinking of you & how you're doing!
dlo
-
Hi Pauly,
Here is the bureau of meteorology link that I've been using to follow our river height. I've linked the page for the Macleay.
http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDN60141.html (http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDN60141.html)
Glenyse
-
If you're hearing on the news that the SES has told Wee Waa to evacuate, then they did but we're not. The first message that was texted and then phoned through this morning basically told us all to "prepare" to evacuate now. Most people interpreted that as "evacuate now"! Talk about a wave of disbelief and panic going through the town today!
Anyway, they've just sent another message saying that we should prepare to, if this next rain comes and that the first message was not an evac order, as much as it read like one! Considering my house is up 12feet off the ground, if the flood is that bad, then we're all in serious trouble! ;D I will be choosing to stay if it comes to that!
Meanwhile, the river is steady at the moderate flood height and the water isn't even anywhere near the levy bank at the back of my house. I'm not worried! 8)
I see from the bOM you Major and steady.. You be careful. Water can wash you away all to quick....
-
Glad to hear everyone is still OK.
Glenyse we used to live in Narromine and were there when the flood hit in 1990. We used to live in the bank house in Dandaloo street next to the doctors surgery down the Bowling club end and we stayed up on top of the bank residence during the flood. Great little town.
If I remember rightly poor Nyngan really copped it and my hubby had to go out and help with the bank clean up. It was the mud that was left over that was the worst bit of the clean up.
Hope this next lot of rain doesnt do too much more damage. Fingers crossed for everyone.
-
Thanks for that.
I have friends doing up a house at wellington and they were thinking of going up there so that page will help them.
As bad as these floods are for those in them at least its the end of the draught for many and for the farmers land this muddy water has some good neutrents for the soil, thats why flood plains are so good for farming. Got to look on the brightside I guess.
-
Glad you have a 12ft safety margin but Scott wants to know were your trailer is! ;D
At the moment, under the house. If it was to be that much of a problem, we'd go and get everything up onto the levy bank which is in my back yard. If the water was going to breach the levy, I don't think it would be at this point but somewhere further down where it has more pressure against it.
Yes, the next rain event has a lot of people concerned. Personally, I'm just here for the ride... ;D
-
Ouch !!!!!! :'(
-
Yeah! The river has finally peaked and we've seen it drop just a tiny bit over the last few hours thankfully. Fingers crossed we don't get another big downpour anytime soon.
Xmas baby - yep it's a great little town. I wouldn't move back to the city for quids.
Anyone heard from Wagga locals??? Not good there still.
Glenyse
-
We just got flooded in at our weekend camping spot! I never thought it would happen less than 2 hours from Brisvegas, but I've been proved wrong. At least I got a long weekend, much to the bosses disgust!
Kit_e
-
A cunning & devious plan Well done ;D
-
A cunning & devious plan Well done ;D
Ssshhh ... don't tell the boss.
-
Personally, I'm just here for the ride... ;D
And thats about all you can do mate. As long as all keep themselves safe the material things can be worried about next week.
I see on the news a farmer at Coonable I think who has made a big kick arse levy around his shed, hope it holds for him.
-
The river is at 6.79 and is now predicted to go up to 6.9...still not much water out the back of my place and still no where near the base of the levy bank even.
Kit_e...where were you guys camped?? Nice way to get a longer holiday, girl! :cup:
Pauly...you've just got to enjoy the trip to the island, mate. No point trying to get off, just sit back, enjoy the water views and hope to goodness the levy holds the tide back! ;D Well, that's what I think anyway.
-
The river is at 6.79 and is now predicted to go up to 6.9...still not much water out the back of my place and still no where near the base of the levy bank even.
Kit_e...where were you guys camped?? Nice way to get a longer holiday, girl! :cup:
Now that's a serious flood. Mine was more like a flash flood ... http://kit-ecamping.blogspot.com/2010/11/041210-glen-rock-regional-park.html (http://kit-ecamping.blogspot.com/2010/11/041210-glen-rock-regional-park.html)
Kit_e
-
My "alarm" went off at 6am today and I got to "snooze" twice before giving up and getting out of bed. What greeted me out the back window was a very different picture to yesterday. A lot more water about and it has reached the bottom of the levee bank, coming into my back yard.
So, braving the mozzies, I went out to grab some photos to share. Even got one of the "alarm" flying away... ;D
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5122/5242170102_61ca230e0b_z.jpg)
This is looking down my fence line, down near the tree line is my back gate leading out into what we call the "lagoon paddock". Now, its just "lagoon"! ;D
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5210/5242154598_ebcdf9d57c_z.jpg)
And one of the "alarm" leaving...
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5289/5241542799_99474d2b11_z.jpg)
-
Duccess looks as though from the pics the water has a way to go to get to you yet . Down hear the news tells us your town is still cut off & still rising . Hope the snakes have relocated down stream to, Stay safe
-
Yes, snakes are a problem and they can swim quite well too. Usually, they get swept down stream during floods and seem to find that the water slows around the back of our place and then get themselves out of the water. I've usually got a pretty wary eye out for them!
Here's an update on the water out the back of my property, in my back yard...there was a bit more by the afternoon and now its steady with no rising or falling as yet. I think we're not completely cut off, we have some access but off course it is through some awesome water crossings that would make you guys jealous!! ;D I'll try and get photos of people doing our water crossings today.
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5084/5243923724_92a290f38b_z.jpg)
Now my back gate is about halfway under...
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5167/5243933782_429d41732d_z.jpg)
And yes, I'm up early, thanks to my early alarm clock! ::) (though, I'm hoping to get up in it tomorrow morning to get a birds eye view and some photos of the water.)
-
Hopefully the slow rise will give the water time to go away before it stuffs your day to much ;D
-
Hey Duchy,
Been keeping an eye on the news etc to see how you guys are fairing. How is Mozz?? has he got much water at his place?? :cheers:
-
Sitting watching the BOM as a blet of rain of some size dumpes on WeeWaa Looks like a top up as if thats needed . Should we send floaties or have you finished the largeish boat you were working on ?
-
Yeah, it wasn't good here last night, speewa. Another 50mm onto an already sodden ground. I see that there is also another storm moving through from the west as well. We knew it was coming, I guess, it was just a matter of when.
Was a good year to get a boat licence really... ;D
Bullfrog...Mozz and Sue have been fine, the water hasn't even gone over the road and now its receding. However, with last nights storm and more possibly on the way today, could be a different story for them tomorrow...
-
The storm looked bad from this distance , would have been worse to be in it . I hope this is nearly over so hang bin there :cheers:
-
I am in Newcastle and we have had about 20 spots all day....the only evidence of floods is the harbor which is a mirky brown colour.
-
Today's update...
Yep, storm hit us pretty well and then more rain during the day. All up, another 70mm on the area, varying by 5 or 10 mm across the district. It was reported that the Cox's Creek (some may remember this one having its head waters up in Coolah Tops) rose by 5 metres in height in a little under 2 hours.
So, I came home today to find I had a creek crossing to tackle before I get to my house! My front paddocks are just completely under water but thankfully it is draining away well.
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5163/5248641456_a80889c602_z.jpg)
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5123/5248048719_f08da84e25_z.jpg)
I went for a drive around the town and had a look at our other "crossings", some of which I think that even Roothy wouldn't dare tackle!! There are road closures everywhere and as of tonight, I think we are completely isolated with all of our roads into and out of town closed at some point along them. You can only get so far before you get turned back.
This one goes to the town of Pilliga...its just under the 2 metre mark...
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5047/5248057077_de62a7f2ea_z.jpg)
This road leads out the "back" way to Narrabri. You can cross here now, but about 30km up the road, the Bohena creek has cut the road and it has been closed.
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5165/5248018945_99f712e184_z.jpg)
This is looking along the lagoon bridge to the new "creek crossing"...
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5128/5248631320_79d493de1f_z.jpg)
Here's the local ABC radio's photos and some interviews (one with my neighbour who has the helicopter in his yard) and if you're interested, just click on the link to see just what our town looks like from the air at the moment.
http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2010/12/09/3088724.htm
-
As long as you & your are safe :cheers:
-
duchess do you have stock , if so how are they going
-
Barneys...I've got horses here, they're currently up to their fetlocks in mud but otherwise happy as because there is heaps of feed! (as you can see in the photos)
-
yeah got amate in cooma with sheep he would love that much feed
-
By the living Harry there will be so much growth going on that cows will have to pull a double shift to keep up ;D
-
Whilst it seems like the flood situation has eased, I can assure you, it hasn't. Here, we are cut off from every direction and there is no way off the "island" we have become, unless you can afford the helicopter flight or have a boat.
We will be isolated for up to 5 days at this time.
It will be interesting come Tuesday to see what happens with all our deliveries and I am wondering if we'll have them flown in! Could be fun but I'm wondering about the cold and frozen items, how they'll deal with those.
Meanwhile, I had a personal guided tour over one of the helicopters that is here for flood relief work this weekend. The chief crewman of the Kawasaki BK117 was more than happy to show me over the machine and then let me take some photos.
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5247/5250916122_f5d4857463_z.jpg)
I also drove my Chevy to the levee... ;D
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5045/5254157312_645a85457c_z.jpg)
But the levee was dry...at least this part is. Every where else is wet!!
-
Duchess hope that you dont go flying with American pie that might not go well . We hear the roads are cut , if air the only way in the chopper will be busy . At least you have that has to be a good thing . ;D
-
I also drove my Chevy to the levee... ;D
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5045/5254157312_645a85457c_z.jpg)
But the levee was dry...at least this part is. Every where else is wet!!
Did you see any Good Ole Boys drinking Whiskey and Rye and singing This'll be the Day that I Die?
Looks like everything is coming Air Mail for the next few days. Stay Dry!
Kit_e
-
Chevy-Levie, Wiskey-Rye.....AAaaarrrrgghh make it stop!!!!! ;D
(Seriously though, it's pure gold; true Dad-joke material!) :cheers:
We had floods on Saturday, (maybe a little less to your scale!!); But I'm thinking of moving the Camper someplace higher.....
-
98 PUDGE whata wrong with DAD jokes , , , , , your using your dads , , , & on they go down the line . Thats our job to make the kids kringe they love it ;D
-
Kermit the frog can tell the depth of the water at a glance " Knee Deep Knee Deep " ;D
( not ) Sorry had to do it somewhere :D
-
Hi all A little off topic (flood but not in Oz), but may be of interest to some. Took these photo's from a bus trying to get back to town while working in Jakarta a couple of years back. The Last photo was in the center of town. It was raining that heavy that the water came up overnight.
(http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x412/mike481082/P1000292.jpg)
(http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x412/mike481082/P1000326.jpg)
(http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x412/mike481082/P1000322.jpg)
-
Being Jakarta, imagine what else is floating in that :o
-
Lets just say, you do not what to know. >:D
-
How are the Rockhampton residents going, any updates? With all the extra water coming from Saturdays rain it could be getting a bit wet up there. I see the road at Taroom was shut again yesterday.
-
Rockhampton will be getting plenty of water for a while to come I would say. It would be intresting to see how people are going. The flood levels are dropping around here but it just keeps raining. We had 20mm on sunday night, 20mm on Monday afternoon and the rain started about 20 minutes ago and I just checked the gauge and it had 22mm in it and its still raining hard. The forcast is for 50 + mm this weekend again with a broad trough moving through eastern Australia. The kids and the dog think it fun but dad is ready for some sunshine.
I went to a meeting this afternoon with alot of the local farmers. It was for flood affected land holders to meet with Tim Mulherin, Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries and Senator Joe Ludwig. Tim Mulherin seemed nice but had no idea about the realities of life and Joe Ludwig was just an arrogant politician that liked listening to his own voice. Gee!! What a suprise. At least they came and visited us I guess. I hope they have some intrest in fisheries because they didn't seem to worried about any issues primary industries had. Its sad because when you hear the stories of depression taking people down a dark road and some to a worse place you wonder if they really get the impacts of these events on people, and not just farmers.
I have been watching the news each night when they show all the flooding and am amazed at the scale of rainfall and the areas affected. Then you see damage and water thru peoples houses and it makes you sad. It seems like most things you can handle but water thru your home must be very hard to handle. I know its the main thing that concerns me.
farmer6
-
Now the water seems to be settling in NSW for the moment Canarvan in WA is coping it it the neck .
Any Swaggers over that way to fill in the blanks on how its going . From the news the river chucked a banker then started to go down , but took all the vegie & fruit crops . That will cost the area heaps in the comunity , Let us know if thats your patch , & stay safe :cheers:
-
The Canarvan roads have hurt up up here as the main road to Broome up the coast is cut. A week before Xmas and the shops re running out of food. It's not that bad but the fruit and Veg are getting thin. They are diverting via Alice now and also trying to get supplies from Darwin..God know s how mych the mas dinner will cost ???
Was sad to see the devastation on the news last night. Water as high as the lounge room TV on a stand. That would be a t least a metre of red gooey mud running through the house
-
Lake Awanga is a bit full. They extended the wall a few years ago, and this is the first time it's been over. It's about 1.8m above the spill way. As you can see in the pic they obviously didn't think it would ever get that much over the wall, or someone thought the kids would love to play in the water and the play ground. We went for a drive yesterday and couldn't believe how green everything was. The creeks that flow into the dam are still have a good flow, they'd normally be empty or close to; with more rain to come.
Not as bad as some though. we're thinking of you in our prayers.
-
The below link is well worth watching - maybe some of you will know the Armatree locals - very well done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYb3aQjWp78
Tim
-
The below link is well worth watching - maybe some of you will know the Armatree locals - very well done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYb3aQjWp78
Tim
Classic, well worth the look for a laugh :cup:
GG
-
I love a sunburned countrt
Of droughts & flooding rains
:cheers:
-
Looks like a fun time to be on the roads, we're off down south on boxing day.
Plans are to get to Forster, Sydney, Coonamble and back to Townsville by 23 Jan.
We'll see how that goes, was just announced today TSVL region on severe weather warning next 3 days expecting between 100 to 200mm by Friday.
Guess it'll be the coast HWY this time >:(
-
As yet to be confirmed . The Gascoyne Junction pub has been abandioned due to floods 3/4 of the way up the walls . I any body cal tell us more post up . Be safe if your out there .
-
We have been warned that the rain depression approaching is going to produce about 500mm of rain on Christmas eve and Christmas day. I think I might stick to the garage and the full Engel over the whole period.
-
Chuck out a line or 2 who nowes what you will catch 8) Have plenty of fridge fodder at hand lest you not be able to get to the bottle shop , stay safe :cheers:
-
greylyn,
if you see a troopy floating past ..... throw me a stubbie. If you got enough time maybe a life line too. but the beer first!
-
No problem Andrew.
-
Andrwe take a rod or 2 troll while the troopie floats away , mabey a small anchor if you find a nice spot . It helps to pass the time :cheers:
-
As yet to be confirmed . The Gascoyne Junction pub has been abandioned due to floods 3/4 of the way up the walls . I any body cal tell us more post up . Be safe if your out there .
Yup
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/8553347/floods-destroy-gascoyne-junction/
-
Its so sad to see the town gutted like that . Went to the races & the pub was just going off . Hpoefully it can come back & there will be a line on the wall for the 2010 floods that almost wiped us out , but didnt . :cheers:
-
Anybody up or around Rockhampton if you still have power & your safe post your experiances please
-
Just as an aside to this thread, I have had no power to my house since about 8 a.m. this morning. It is now 4.05 p.m. Thank god for the Honda.
Apparently there was a fire in a sub-station somewhere, and I am one of about 6,000+ homes that have been blacked out between here and Airlie Beach.
I can only sit on the back verandah with my trusty Engel (full) and wait it out. What a life.
-
Graylyn try to hold yourself together as long as you can , drink slow as the water up that way is merky . Do we need a beer drop to help you along ? Stay safe :cheers: :cheers:
-
Thanks mate, but no - the Engel has plenty of the good stuff to keep me happy until Ergon get their act into gear.
By the way, what is it like down your way?
-
Thinking of all in Rocky at this time, especially our Fearless Leader ... Oh and Happy Birthday to you Brett. I'm watching some footage of what's happening in Rocky now ... shocking stuff ...
Kit_e
-
Those poor bastards in Rocky cut off & suffering the creeping water . Their world is slowly sinking , then when it goes there is the cleanup that can be the big heart breaker . Hang in there
-
Hi all
I haven't been on the site for a while. We have had no power now for 7 days. I've finally had a few minutes to come into the office to check things with the trusty Honda genni purring outside. I can live without power but sleeping without air con in these conditions isn't much fun. The river just below us rose high enough that the power line went under the water and is now covered in debris so they can not reconnect the line until they can get access to the line. We have been camping in the camper trailer on the next property over. We were only on generators for about 4 days there so that wasn't to bad but I am sick of the sound of them running. There were 3 families ( 15 people) living out of a 2 bedroom cottage with all our fridges and freezers that we took up from our houses running off a 5.5 KVA genni. Our houses were all out of the water with the lowest one having about 50 cm to go before it came in the house. All our farm levies failed and we have lost most of the crops and have alot of damage.
Emerald township is a mess with the flood level going higher than the "experts" thought it would go so most of the houses got some water damage with some getting over 1 metre of water thru homes. When the bridge re-opened into Emerald we went in and helped friends clean up there homes. The community spirit has been incredible with everyone helping each other. There have been teams of about 6 men from mines and other work places going from house to house with pressure washers and squeegees and mops and just get stuck in and clear out all the furniture and clean the house and then move on to the next and go again. It certainly restores your faith in society when you see it.
There is massive infrastructure damage with roads destroyed and big sections of rail line washed out. It will take months to restore most of the damage and billions of dollars because of the scale. The damage just around here is huge so with all the other areas I wonder if the government will really be able to cope. When you see Bligh and Gillard put $1 million from each of the state and federal governments into a $2 billion bucket you really have to question your leaders grip on reality.
Rocky is now getting all of our water and its devastating that town just like all the other towns that this massive flood event has impacted on. The costs will be massive but the sadness and pain will be worse. If you know anyone affected by any of the flood water, ring or text them just to let them know you are there and thinking of them even if you are also effected. That alone is worth more to people than anything else.
Its rained the last 4 nights and is raining outside as I type this, so I guess that's what they call 'rubbing salt into the wound'. Anyway I better shut of the genni and get back to work.
farmer6
-
Thanks for the up date mate, be carefull please.
-
Thnks Farmer. My thoughts are with you mate. I hope you get out of this mess ok.
-
Removed my thread as the timing was bad and that is my fault. There is a quote in the next page that needs to go as well.
Apologies.
-
Hi all
I haven't been on the site for a while. We have had no power now for 7 days. I've finally had a few minutes to come into the office to check things with the trusty Honda genni purring outside. I can live without power but sleeping without air con in these conditions isn't much fun. The river just below us rose high enough that the power line went under the water and is now covered in debris so they can not reconnect the line until they can get access to the line. We have been camping in the camper trailer on the next property over. We were only on generators for about 4 days there so that wasn't to bad but I am sick of the sound of them running. There were 3 families ( 15 people) living out of a 2 bedroom cottage with all our fridges and freezers that we took up from our houses running off a 5.5 KVA genni. Our houses were all out of the water with the lowest one having about 50 cm to go before it came in the house. All our farm levies failed and we have lost most of the crops and have alot of damage.
Emerald township is a mess with the flood level going higher than the "experts" thought it would go so most of the houses got some water damage with some getting over 1 metre of water thru homes. When the bridge re-opened into Emerald we went in and helped friends clean up there homes. The community spirit has been incredible with everyone helping each other. There have been teams of about 6 men from mines and other work places going from house to house with pressure washers and squeegees and mops and just get stuck in and clear out all the furniture and clean the house and then move on to the next and go again. It certainly restores your faith in society when you see it.
There is massive infrastructure damage with roads destroyed and big sections of rail line washed out. It will take months to restore most of the damage and billions of dollars because of the scale. The damage just around here is huge so with all the other areas I wonder if the government will really be able to cope. When you see Bligh and Gillard put $1 million from each of the state and federal governments into a $2 billion bucket you really have to question your leaders grip on reality.
Rocky is now getting all of our water and its devastating that town just like all the other towns that this massive flood event has impacted on. The costs will be massive but the sadness and pain will be worse. If you know anyone affected by any of the flood water, ring or text them just to let them know you are there and thinking of them even if you are also effected. That alone is worth more to people than anything else.
Its rained the last 4 nights and is raining outside as I type this, so I guess that's what they call 'rubbing salt into the wound'. Anyway I better shut of the genni and get back to work.
farmer6
Hang in there mate, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
In times like this the true Aussie fighting spirit comes out in bucketloads.
Take care mate
-
Thnks Farmer. My thoughts are with you mate. I hope you get out of this mess ok.
X2
-
Hi Farmer,
Our thoughts are with you, your family and friends at this time for the terrible predicament you are in.
To me seeing the pictures on television of the rising rivers and homes under water is terrible, but reading
your story really hits home just how people are suffering and how helpless it makes others feel that we can`t
do anything for you except donate to the fund.
Thinking of You,
Robyn and Frank.
-
Thoughts & best wishes out to you all.
-
farmer6, thanks so much for checking in. It's been just shocking to watch from a distance, let alone be in the thick of it. It makes me so much more grateful for our levee bank and how it protects our town from the worst of flood water.
Know that there are many of us still thinking of you and yours as you go through this tough time.
I sure hope that after it is all over, you get a chance to get in the camper and go and have a break some where else, some where you can get your mind off things and forget for a little while about what you've been through. I did get to do the same thing over the Christmas break and I'm so glad I could, it sure has helped me.
-
Hey Farmer6,
Glad to hear you are okay ... physically ... mentally ... if not otherwise. See you knew that camper would be a great investment! :cup:
Nice to know you can still get around up there without too much hassle. Excellent to hear of the community spirit that comes through ... The Aussie Battlers will always come through with the help of other Aussie Battlers. Usually the ones that can least afford to help always do so, such is the Australian Spirit.
Keep us updated as the focus of the media is now all on Rocky ...
Kit_e
P.S Big storm here tonight. Lots of thunder and lightning (which I do love). Just had 36mm and it's still raining ... Thankfully Brisvegas and surrounds is a fairly hilly place ...
-
Taken mine down as well, as per Steve's post on the previous page. As per my PM reply to Steve, I find him one of the most considered members on the forum, and his posts reflect that. I should've seen his tongue firmly embedded in his cheek. So, equally "my bad".
-
Its Back.....
1100hrs 5.1.11, Alstonville coped 34mm in 1 hr tonight, Coffs Habour 65mm and lower down is not looking too good if the predictions are right (I hope they are wrong, really wrong,), so low lying roads around the Mid and Nth Coast will be effected over the next 48hrs....please take care when travelling...stay out of swollen water courses (even if you have travelled them a hundred times before), it just isn't worth it.
-
This thread is to keep up to date with Swaggers on rhe ground , Who what where & when .
Not some political ranting about what should have been , I wish to deal with support for what it.
Wet & displaced & worried for their familys thats the point ( of what ever political color )
Hang tuff all of you
-
Got up at 5am to go to work in Moura. 46ml rain overnight put all the creeks up again. Had to turn around and come home! Got out of bed early for nothing, Bugger. Road closed from Biloela to at least Banana. I can watch the Aussie's loose another game of cricket now.
-
Thanks for the kind words everyone. It even brought a tear to my eye, built up water pressure I assume. My wife is keen to get away in the camper once everything settles down. She is busy looking after kids in town for friends that are nurses and electricians so they can keep helping others after they clean up. Once the power is back on I will try to post some photos as they tell the story better than I ever could. My brother in law is a professional photographer and in the 2008 floods he got some great photos but he got 830mm of water thru his house so he didn't get much time to get many photos this time. Poor bugger lost boxes of negatives and is trying to sort thru boxes of black and white photos. He is in a 2 story house and was trying to get everything upstairs but wasn't able to save everything. Him and a mate carried a full size upright freezer full of meat and whatever else you have in a freezer up the stairs because there wasn't time to unload it. So I don't think I will ever do anything to make him mad after that effort. I weigh much less than a full freezer. ;D
Its amazing the amount of damaged furniture on the footpaths. There are crews going around all over town with backhoes and bobcats and trucks taking it to the dump but there is still just heaps of stuff still to be taken away. I don't think I have seen so many beds in my life. Then there are all the toys and even photos. You just feel for all these people and the poor kids that are trying to understand what is going on. Things are slowly returning to normal, or something like normal, around town but there is still heaps of work to be done to fix the homes. After the 2008 floods it took up to a year before everything was repaired in all the homes so I guess it will be the same this time around or even longer with the scale of flooding.
As for us here if the bloody rain ever stops and once the rivers go down we can start the clean up. We got one of the motors that went under water going but another one, that we thought we had fixed, has now blown a head gasket. As the water drains away the true extent of the damage is reveled. When everything is covered in dirty flood water it all looks ok because above the water is still fine and everything going on under the water is hidden.
Thanks again for your thoughts
farmer6
-
When the water is down & the damage is in view & it all looks Iike Sh1t , try to remember why you are there . This is the life you chose & its the life you love . Good Seasons Good Miles :cheers:
-
Steve, why the need for a partisan beat-up? ???
I am yet to come across these people with Plasma TVs, but know heaps who benefited from the fact that Australia avoided going into recession. Likewise, having just travelled the back roads of Gippsland, I have seen the extent of re-building in both government and 'private' primary schools. This resulted in real jobs for real people in real communities and, unlike the Liberal years, it wasn't just in government-friendly seats.
By comparison, the 'middle class welfare' of the Liberal years was far more than $900 / household, it was just that it was targeted at those with incomes well above average. Would have been far more sensible if the Libs had spent that on new infrastructure, perhaps including 'flood proofing' where practicable.
Fair enough and I was just trying to be light hearted.. My apologies - I was wrong to post it...
I see a lot of things up here in the far NW and I can assure you many have done just as I said. We still have children that have no food but the parents watch Foxtel. One place to put this post, I should have know better
Steve
-
I just want this thread to reflect our support to those up to there ears in it & gain a first hand grip on whats really going on . That is Australia not eny political color , as we are all in this together ;D
-
This is the life you chose & its the life you love . Good Seasons Good Miles :cheers:
This sums it up for me...thanks speewa... :cheers:
-
I just want this thread to reflect our support to those up to there ears in it & gain a first hand grip on whats really going on . That is Australia not eny political color , as we are all in this together ;D
My God Speewa, this actually makes sense and I agree!
-
I'm currently in Roma doing a bit of work in support of those struggling to minimise the damage from the huge amount of water flowing down the Balonne River.
Flew over Surat and St George today and thought I'd post these to give everyone an idea of the amount of water in this area.
This is the Balonne River about 20nm north of St George at the Breadmore resovoir. The water is surging through here at quite a speed.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y293/pjmoggs/QLD%20Floods%20-%20Jan%202011/20110106-IMG_2683small.jpg)
This is the barage at St George.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y293/pjmoggs/QLD%20Floods%20-%20Jan%202011/20110106-IMG_2705small.jpg)
Some people have gone to amazing efforts to save their property. Much was learnt from the March 2010 floods and there has been a lot of work done to save property. This house is just one of a number along the river edge that has it's own levy.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y293/pjmoggs/QLD%20Floods%20-%20Jan%202011/20110106-IMG_2713smallcrop.jpg)
This is St George viewed from the NW. The town is coping well so far.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y293/pjmoggs/QLD%20Floods%20-%20Jan%202011/20110106-IMG_2728small.jpg)
-
These next shots are from around Surat.
The first is of the southern side of the town. The road is actually cut in about 5 places between Surat and St George.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y293/pjmoggs/QLD%20Floods%20-%20Jan%202011/20110106-IMG_2757small.jpg)
This is the northern side of Surat with the Balonn River runiing along the edge of town.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y293/pjmoggs/QLD%20Floods%20-%20Jan%202011/20110106-IMG_2775small.jpg)
This is the access road to the north.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y293/pjmoggs/QLD%20Floods%20-%20Jan%202011/20110106-IMG_2777small.jpg)
The road is underwater for a rather long stretch - may be a while before this re-opens.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y293/pjmoggs/QLD%20Floods%20-%20Jan%202011/20110106-IMG_2786small.jpg)
The road from the northern end.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y293/pjmoggs/QLD%20Floods%20-%20Jan%202011/20110106-IMG_2803small.jpg)
This is the Balonne River - that's a lot of water to find it's way through the Murray Darling System.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y293/pjmoggs/QLD%20Floods%20-%20Jan%202011/20110106-IMG_2790small.jpg)
My hat comes off to the locals around here who have only had 10 months to recover from the last 100 year flood.
Fortunately the flood level looks like being a bit lower than last time - good news for a couple of very nervous towns.
-
Steve & Speewa,
I think we three are probably in furious agreement - however I am always wary of 'blame the gubinment', as there are those with there own agendas wanting to whip it into a firestorm.
Sharky,
Thanks for those photos. When I was in S. W. Queensland last year I was amazed that, given the long standing historic and recent evidence of flooding in towns like Charleville and Roma, houses are not being built in the old 'Queenslander' (elevated) style, but rather as suburban slab on ground.
It must be really hard for people who need to live in such towns but are effectively forced to buy houses which will inevitably be flooded.
In Victoria it simply isn't legal to build with a floor level less 300mm above the designated flood level.
-
So for those that know. How far will this water actually go down the river systems. Will any god come out of this?
-
So for those that know. How far will this water actually go down the river systems. Will any god come out of this?
Steve, was talking to the local constabulary here yesterday and we were discussing the big cotton stations down stream (e.g. Cubby) Most of the catchments at these stations are already close to full from the last flood event so there is no capacity to store any of this recent water.
The Darling and Murray are already flowing nicely so this will just top up those systems. Most of it will flow into the Darling and end up flowing out the Murray mouth in a few months time.
I'm going to Goolwa, S.A. in late February with work and it's strange to think that the water we are watching up here now will soon enough be flowing past that township.
One thing the police did mention was the difference between this flood and the last one in March. The March event was the first in a long time so it cleared out a heap of rubbish from the river system. That debris is just not there this time so the river is apparently flowing better without the debris causing havoc as it moves downstream.
Sharky,
Thanks for those photos. When I was in S. W. Queensland last year I was amazed that, given the long standing historic and recent evidence of flooding in towns like Charleville and Roma, houses are not being built in the old 'Queenslander' (elevated) style, but rather as suburban slab on ground.
It must be really hard for people who need to live in such towns but are effectively forced to buy houses which will inevitably be flooded.
In Victoria it simply isn't legal to build with a floor level less 300mm above the designated flood level.
Barry, You're quite right - we've seen a number of houses built on slabs right next to a queenslander on posts - building above the flood levels just makes sense. Can't explain how it's permitted - just seems crazy.
:cheers:
-
Sharky, thanks so much for all those images. They were a great picture of what is going on up there. What were you flying around in, as it looks like you got a terrific view!?
-
You're quite right - we've seen a number of houses built on slabs right next to a queenslander on posts - building above the flood levels just makes sense. Can't explain how it's permitted - just seems crazy.
It isn't permitted in Queensland. New dwellings must be built 300mm above the 1 in 100 year flood height if known or 300mm above the highest recorded flood level.
Chinchilla doesn't have a flood study so we go by the highest known flood height which is 303.41m AHD. Therefore the minimum FFL must be 303.71m AHD
For those who are on facebook
There is a heap of info on the flood in the St George region http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=lf#!/group.php?gid=341685555387 (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=lf#!/group.php?gid=341685555387)
Cheers Kev
-
To see the water from the march 2010 flood check out near map
http://www.nearmap.com/ (http://www.nearmap.com/)
The water in St George is pretty much the same now as it was back then.
-
Just found this link and some really amazing but heartbreaking shots of our fellow countrymen and women...
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/01/australian_flooding.html (http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/01/australian_flooding.html)
Grrr!!! :'( :'(
-
When the water goes down the work begins to sort out the mess
-
The hardest decision is will this happen again and when. Some towns it has happened twice in 2 years so do they build a levee. Some places its once in a 100 year or so occurance. Vey hard decisions. The main thing is having the evacuation plans ready, accomodation and food so if and when it does happen again people are ready.
I sympathis with the flood victims as water does so much damage.
Its like with cyclones here in cairns we have evacuation centres dont know where but they are here.
Mark
-
I truly hope everyone affected by the floods keeps a sense of humour and holds onto optimism throughout these harsh times
-
It isn't permitted in Queensland. New dwellings must be built 300mm above the 1 in 100 year flood height if known or 300mm above the highest recorded flood level.
I think it depends on your local council. Emerald and Mackay are two exceptions that I know of where many houses have floor levels below the 1 in 100 year level. My house is in the purple zone for Mackay (so the first to go under) and I am surrounded by low set houses.
-
It isn't permitted in Queensland. New dwellings must be built 300mm above the 1 in 100 year flood height if known or 300mm above the highest recorded flood level.
This would be the minimum height to build. There is no rule that says you can not build on posts, piers, stumps etc. In my opinion this is the best way to build for termite reasons. There may be height restrictions, such as the highest part of the house must be under a certain height from a defined datum point.
The reason most people choose to build slab on ground brick & tile is financial, cheaper to build and easier / less expensive maintenance.
-
Just found this link and some really amazing but heartbreaking shots of our fellow countrymen and women...
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/01/australian_flooding.html (http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/01/australian_flooding.html)
Excellent photos there - good to see that this has made the international news - it's certainly worthy of such reporting.
-
Sharky, thanks so much for all those images. They were a great picture of what is going on up there. What were you flying around in, as it looks like you got a terrific view!?
Hi Duchess
Photos were taken from the front seat of one of our Sea Kings like this one on the ground at St George yesterday.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y293/pjmoggs/QLD%20Floods%20-%20Jan%202011/20110108-IMG_2859small.jpg)
The view north of Dirranbandi.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y293/pjmoggs/QLD%20Floods%20-%20Jan%202011/20110107-IMG_2808small.jpg)
Cheers
-
I was reflecting on the title of this thread. Flash Floods are certainly occuring on the coast, particularly around Gympie and the Mary River but the scene is somewhat different out here on the Balonne River.
The water here is flowing quickly in places but it's a relatively slow moving beast that has this inevitable immensity to it. There has not been a lot of rain out here so it doesn't really look that flooded in most parts but in the lower lying areas the water spreads out and you get an appreciation for the damage that such a large volume of water can do to roads, fences, farm infrastructure not to mention buildings.
We were in Dirranbandi briefly yesterday and the locals we spoke to were quite confident and not overly worried. There pretty easy going types out here!
Here are a couple of shots of the Dirranbandi area.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y293/pjmoggs/QLD%20Floods%20-%20Jan%202011/20110107-IMG_2821small.jpg)
This is typical of the broad coverage of the flood water around the Balonne River.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y293/pjmoggs/QLD%20Floods%20-%20Jan%202011/20110107-IMG_2825small.jpg)
Cheers
-
This would be the minimum height to build. There is no rule that says you can not build on posts, piers, stumps etc. In my opinion this is the best way to build for termite reasons. There may be height restrictions, such as the highest part of the house must be under a certain height from a defined datum point.
The reason most people choose to build slab on ground brick & tile is financial, cheaper to build and easier / less expensive maintenance.
Not wishing to distract from the focus of this thread in terms of the people affected.
However I see a real problem similar to that in relation to re-building in Vic. after the recent bushfires, i.e. not addressing the need to learn lessons and regulate to avoid repeats in the future.
Individuals can't afford to continually re-build,
Insurance companies can't afford to continually pay out - and the premiums for all go up to compensate for the costs anyway,
Governments (in reality us taxpayers) have no choice but to fund clean up and reconstruction. This either redirects $ from other projects or leads to increased deficits / higher taxes.
Personal donations are a positive human response, but are infinitesimal in terms of the on-going cost of such disasters.
While not necessarily the solution in hilly areas there is a simple answer on our great flood plains, which includes virtually all of inland NSW and Qld. All houses should be elevated a minimum of 2.5m (preferrably 3.0m) above ground level.
This would:
- Effectively 'flood proof' the floor levels of most houses
- Provide for natural cooling/ventilation
- Provide a covered (but 'uninsured') area for storage and recreational use, garaging vehicles, etc.
- Significantly reduce household losses, reconstruction costs and costs to governments and insurance companies
It would even make sense for government to provide a fixed subsidy for the costs of the necessary 'stilts' for new dwellings (up to a maximum floor area, say 18 - 20 squares) and / or for this to be subsidised by a charge on the insurance industry, as both will save through such changes.
Commercial premises are a different issue, in those cases both landlords and business owners should hold the relevant insurance, which is tax deductible. If they want to take on the risk and 'self insure', then that is there commercial choice.
With recurring disasters of this scale the only viable response is to insist on finally learning the obvious lessons of our environment and doing it better in future.
-
Thats a great idea go float that past the people who live in low laying areas of Rocky or where ever , It will sink faster than a dog trying to catch bricks in the river :cheers:
-
Speewa,
I was specifically referring to the flat areas, which are predominantly inland. There is a whole different set of problems in hilly country where flooding rivers rise above the height of the power lines, as has occurred in some of the coastal locations.
The point is that no-one (individuals / insurance industry / government / the public who ultimately meet much of the the cost, one way or another) can't afford to have houses repeatedly - 2x '100 year' floods in 10 MONTHS - going faster than your 'brick catching dog'.
After Cyclone Tracey the rules were changed to ensure that re-built houses were cyclone proofed. Anyone who remembers the movie Newsfront will remember the 'Movietone' file footage of the flooding on the Hawkesbury River in the early 1950s.
Just as things like roofing screws (replacing nails) contributed to making houses 'cyclone proof', a floor level at least 2.5m above ground level would make most new houses on flood plains effectively flood proof, for comparatively minimal extra construction cost, while at the same time making them much more liveable for a hot climate.
-
I don't care where you build ... when 19 metres of water goes past, not many homes or business's are safe.
Let's not argue ... just donate to the Flood Relief Appeal by calling 1800 219 028 or clicking here (http://www.qld.gov.au/floods).
Now Gympie (stay safe Jackie and Family) and Maryborough are going under. Since this is heading south, BrisVegas could be next. Bundaberg is having issues (stay safe over 500 Family Members of mine) and numerous other towns and properties are still under water and cut off from civilisation. Infrastructure has completely disappeared and the Pollies have no idea where to start. It's like a third world country ...
It's going to take a very long time to recover, and I really feel for all those involved. I'm 274m above sea level, so I can't see it affecting my home unless in conjunction with a Tsanami, but it's going to make my trip to work interesting over the next few days.
Dig Deep please ... they need our help!
Kit_e :cheers:
-
I think Bob Katter is behind this
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/features/inland-lake-aired-again/story-e6freoyo-1111113021301
-
Kit_e,
Where are the 19 metre levels above ground level? From what I have seen on the box, and judging by the water height relative to dwellings, not on the inland plains. From the pics on the box, most houses in towns seem less than 2.0 metres under.
Agree regarding 19 metre rises in the urban valleys, as in many coastal towns.
Not intending to start an argument, and hope that my posts have come across that way. Just think we need to find a preventative solution for the future where possible, rather than the short sited 'just re-build everything brick-by-brick' approach used in Victoria after the 2009 bushfires.
BTW, for most it is not height above sea level which is the determining factor, but rather height above the nearest watercourse. 'Sea level' is only really a factor for those within proximity of the coast, although that may be you.
-
I think Bob Katter is behind this
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/features/inland-lake-aired-again/story-e6freoyo-1111113021301
Darren,
I know that these schemes are put forward by people who are genuine, however the current circumstances demonstrate the 'unintended consequences' which, aside from the many other issues raised over this proposal, make it impractical.
Just imagine diverting the Fitzroy and other rivers inland at the moment - wouldn't think it would be particularly welcome west of the Great Divide just now.
-
Update:
The Bruce Highway is now cut in both directions at Caboolture. So don't go that way just now ...
Kit_e
-
The box tells a story that Gympie CBD has been striped of everything as they expect 2m of water to flow through trown very soon .Just how do you rebuild a comunity to sort out the huge floods . Tops of hills create htere own problems . Hang tuff oiut there
-
Darling Downs area around Cecil Plains, we are completely isolated again with all roads closed. Many houses on the farms had water in them after Xmas when the water peaked at 9.22. It is at 7.50 atm and there are a lot of very nervous people. The town itself is high and dry but the outlying ones cop it.
How would you cope if the water engulfed your house like the last pics, totally devastating, note the high water mark in last pic.
-
Houses in Dalby are about to go under again for the 3rd time in 2 weeks :'( :'(
The water at Chinchilla weir was low enough for them to open the bridge on Friday only for it to once again rise and it is now 1.6m over the bridge and still rising.
-
Flash follds went through Toowoomba cars wasted away & now about 1m of water through the main drag . Almost unheard of floods in the area s its hit . Stay safe out there
-
Flash follds went through Toowoomba cars wasted away & now about 1m of water through the main drag . Almost unheard of floods in the area s its hit . Stay safe out there
http://au.news.yahoo.com/video/national/-/watch/23792183/flood-crisis-worsens-dramatically/ (http://au.news.yahoo.com/video/national/-/watch/23792183/flood-crisis-worsens-dramatically/) Note the footage called: Flood crisis worsens dramatically ...
Scary. very very scary footage. They are now reporting a few deaths and many missing people as well.
-
They said all that water came down the range and wiped every thing out thats a big drop that range i have family at gatton they didnt think twice got straight out heard someone on the telly say there was a 7 metre wall of water heading down lockyer creek hope every one gets out and is safe
-
Thoughts for our friends around Toowoomba tonight. And to those in the Lockyer Valley who may already have suffered terribly.
From The Australian.
"The Bureau of Meteorology said the creek was at 18.92m at Gatton at 6.30pm (AEST). The previous record was 16.33 in 1893."
That's a serious increase in the flood level. I have a very bad feeling that the morning may bring some very bad news from the west of Brisbane.
-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7HLvwPmles
-
I just saw that on a 7 news break, scary stuff up there.
-
this is not good.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/10/3109846.htm
-
This just keeps getting bigger & bigger ,might be time to think about increasing the veggie garden size at home . The way things are looking food will go through the roof ,as lots have lost it all
-
I'm in Tannum Sands and the shops are out of milk, bread and veges are getting very thin on the shelves. :-[
-
This is hard to comprehend http://video.heraldsun.com.au/1733507296/Flood-piles-up-cars?area=videoindex9
-
I thought we have had it bad in Victoria the past 6 months but I'm sure glad I was able to leave Queensland on the 3rd January and get down the Newell before it started to rain again. I travelled over Cunningham's Gap and it will take some time to repair the land slips that had occured there. Whilst in Qld I was in Toowoomba and Gympie for day trips and I'm sure glad I'm not in either of those places today.
To anyone in Qld at the moment, take care and stay safe.
Cheers.
-
Thought i'd offer free acomodation if needed.
below is a topic i started. Ad your name and location if you can help, or if you know of anyone who needs it.
http://myswag.org/forum/index.php?topic=10593.msg157400#msg157400
-
I can't believe the shopping craziness that has happened here today in Logan Shire (25k's south of BrisVegas CBD). We aren't even in the trouble zone and won't be overly affected, yet shops have sold out of milk, bread, batteries and the likes. It's totally bizzare! I just stopped off for a loaf myself, and found shelves emptied all over the shop and people queueing with loaded trolleys. I'll survive for quite a while on what I have at home (with some creativeness in the kitchen) SHOULD the worst happen, and now I have to make my own bread. I just don't understand why people who aren't even in an affected area would panic in such a way. The Tip Top bread factory is roughly 1k south of the shop I stopped at. Looks like cows are going to stop producing milk due to the flooding as well.
Just Insane!
Other issues are that we no longer have computers at work as our HQ has panicked and moved our Server to higher ground (although those premises have never flooded in Brissy's history). So now I have to go to work for another 3 - 7 days and sit there playing REAL cards waiting for some flood affected victim to call wanting our services. What's the go there? I can understand them sending home workers from HQ as it's in a riverfront position, but why can't they send me home if I can't do anything without that Server? Okay fine, I'm just jealous. :'(
The footage we are seeing on the tele is also insane. Alot of it is in black and white (perhaps they are reminiscing over the '74 floods?), but the devastation is just heartbreaking! Captain Bligh just said that it's going to be worse than '74 flood level wise (might have something to do with the King Tide they are predicting) and to preprare yourselves. Wivenhoe and Somerset Dams are both at around 180% (about 20% off overflowing) and 90% of our other dams are overflowing right now. And it's still raining ... People are homeless all over the state, floating and wondering what will happen next! I can see a good use for a truck load of foot fungal cream up this way very soon.
WA is on fire!
Vic just got a huge storm!
Tsanumi on top of the Diving Range!
Bloody Butterflies must be flapping their wings everywhere as my world has gone crazy!
Kit_e
I really want to cry but I'm just too stunned! :o
-
Off to take some pics of the Clarence R at Grafton , back soon. :cheers:
-
Bullfrog just tell us about it , be safe the pics could put you in danger , Stay Safe
-
I grew up in Grantham and went to the primary school, it's shocking whaty has happened. Best wishes guys, I hope the missing are all found safe and well.
Mother nature at her most fierce.. :'(
-
Kit, it may be that the semis can't get through. We are having the same problems here - some Coles and Woolies shelves are empty, particularly the cheese etc., although we can get milk from Malanda.
I hope everyone in the Lockyer valley is accounted for.
Hard to imagine the people of Toowoomba went to a referendum about 10 years ago to use recycled water.
-
Speewa,
All good Jamie, not silly enough to take risks for a pic. :cheers:
Grabbed a couple of pics before it got too dark, but to give some idea of the water, our little patch where we camp on my mates farm has got about 25' of water over it, logs are going past at jogging pace. The latest word is we should expect a peak of about 7.3m at 9:00am tomorrow. My thoughts are that this number may be a bit shy of the mark, 'spose we will find out soon enough. I'll try to get some pics around the river tomorrow & post them up. :cheers: Bevan.
-
This is unbelievable stuff we are seeing at the moment. Some of the video's are like fictional movies.
I cant imagine how much hurt and fear there would be amongst these poor people.
Fire and water can be our best friends, and our biggest enemies. After what happened on black Saturday and with whats happening now just says it all. It just sucks.
Our thoughts are with you all. Cant help but feel helpless here in Victoria.
Take care and keep safe.
John
-
Kit_e...it's a stressful situation, no matter how far removed from it you are...yes, bizarre how people panic when it seems that they're not even anywhere near the disaster zone. I guess that most people have been watching as the central and north of Qld have been inundated with water and now, it appears to have landed in their backyard. I reckon though, that there will be a lot of bread tossed out after this! It happens here too and it makes us laugh a bit as we never stop making bread during the floods!
Bullfrog...saw some images on the news this morning of your backyard. Amazing to see how high up under the boat club the water has got. Stay safe over there. Will talk to you again soon.
Keeping all those in flooded areas in our thoughts and prayers here.
-
The love of field and coppice,
Of green and shaded lanes.
Of ordered woods and gardens
Is running in your veins,
Strong love of grey-blue distance
Brown streams and soft dim skies
I know but cannot share it,
My love is otherwise.
I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror -
The wide brown land for me!
A stark white ring-barked forest
All tragic to the moon,
The sapphire-misted mountains,
The hot gold hush of noon.
Green tangle of the brushes,
Where lithe lianas coil,
And orchids deck the tree-tops
And ferns the warm dark soil.
Core of my heart, my country!
Her pitiless blue sky,
When sick at heart, around us,
We see the cattle die -
But then the grey clouds gather,
And we can bless again
The drumming of an army,
The steady, soaking rain.
Core of my heart, my country!
Land of the Rainbow Gold,
For flood and fire and famine,
She pays us back threefold -
Over the thirsty paddocks,
Watch, after many days,
The filmy veil of greenness
That thickens as we gaze.
An opal-hearted country,
A wilful, lavish land -
All you who have not loved her,
You will not understand -
Though earth holds many splendours,
Wherever I may die,
I know to what brown country
My homing thoughts will fly.
Dorothea Mackellar
-
I have to agree with you Kit_e_kat9. The 2 things that have stuck in my mind the most from the floods is the pain that people suffer from such tragic events and the stupidity and waste of others. People have gone crazy in town here again and brought 2 months worth of bread they wont eat and milk they wont drink even though the bakeries is still running fine and the roads to the north are open.
I still can not believe after all the flooding that has occurred there are still people that have plenty of warning but don't do anything. I'm not talking about the flash flooding obviously, but story after story of people that say they watched the water rise for 2 days and assumed they are fine then wake up with water in there house and are angry because they are made to move out. I can hardly listen to the radio or TV any more because of the idiots that are driving into flooded areas just to have a look or people that stand there and say 'I can not believe the water is so high'. Its a massive flood, what the hell did they think would happen.
A week or so ago I felt so happy and proud to see the level of support from people here in Emerald for each other. Then as I helped people clean up and saw the amount of people with hardly any water thru there homes, that throw out perfectly good hard wood furniture or electrical goods because they just wanted some new things and will try to claim it on insurance. And people that have moved from there houses into friends places or to spare mine houses and are complaining about that housing they are in. Or travellers that are angry that the roads are not fixed because they want to continue there holiday.
The devastation people have suffered and are still to suffer and the pain that people have to deal with is just so sad and I get so mad when people just get consumed in there own petty little worlds and issues. I probably shouldn't even type this but it makes me so angry. I just could not imagine how our family could deal with the loss of a child and my heart goes out to the families that are forced to have to deal with it. This just makes all the stupid things people do and say annoy me even more.
Stay safe everyone and as I have said before keep ringing and text friends so everyone feels supported.
farmer6
-
Yes, Farmer, I have seen that myself in 1974. I was pulling people out of houses with my 18 foot boat in Oxley Road, Graceville, Sherwood and Oxley, and the one person that I remember was: I tied the boat to his fence post and helped him with all his important belongings, and then lastly he wanted me to wait while he dived back through his window and retrieved a family heirloom - a rosewood chest of drawers. REALLY!!
-
Farmer, are you OK out there?
-
I just have this feeling that I need to be there helping..... Poor bastards :( It is all well and good saying "they are a tough Bunch" but what we have been seeing ... It would break my heart....
-
I just have this feeling that I need to be there helping..... Poor bastards :( It is all well and good saying "they are a tough Bunch" but what we have been seeing ... It would break my heart....
There will be plenty to do once the flood waters recede. I helped 4wdvic and the Paj club in the rural response group after the Black Saturday fires. There were people from all states helping. Maybe your 4wd club or state 4wd association has the same program.
-
I just have this feeling that I need to be there helping..... Poor bastards :( It is all well and good saying "they are a tough Bunch" but what we have been seeing ... It would break my heart....
As a volunteer fiery in N.S.W I feel the same way. I Know we could help, But as D4D said wait for the immediate disaster to finish and help with the clean-up. Less strain on the emergency services that way.
-
Same here, singo. I spoke with my FCO today and he said that they might call us in to help clean up after the water has all gone. I sure hope that they do ask for assistance because I've already got my bag packed and am waiting to jump on our truck and go. Being able to help some community clean up would do my heart a world of good as well as helping out others in this terrible time.
-
I have been helping make sandbags for the last two days and as has been said the hard work will commence about the middle of next week when the water begins to recede. The emotional and financial support many will need when they return to what is left of their lives will be one of the greatest issues. The cleanup will be ongoing and there will be opportunity to relieve weary soles I am sure. In the meantime we sit and wait with another XXXX.
PS Oops just saw a BOM model which shows a cyclone to form in the Coral Sea and be off Brissie on 28th Jan. Please Huey its time for a break !!
-
PS Oops just saw a BOM model which shows a cyclone to form in the Coral Sea and be off Brissie on 28th Jan. Please Huey its time for a break !!
Wato, I say ... Bring It On!! ;D
IDQ20080
40:2:2:24:16S154E999:11:00
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Queensland
TROPICAL CYCLONE VANIA CENTRE 987HPA CATEGORY 1 WAS LOCATED NEAR 19.3
SOUTH 169.2 EAST AT 120600 UTC.
POSITION POOR.
REPEAT POSITION 19.3S 169.2E AT 120600 UTC.
CYCLONE SLOW MOVING BUT EXPECTED TO MOVE SOUTHWEST AT 05 KNOTS.
EXPECT SUSTAINED WINDS OF 35 KNOTS CLOSE TO THE CENTRE IN THE
NORTHWEST QUADRANT AND WITHIN 240 NAUTICAL MILES OF CENTRE IN THE
SECTORS FROM NORTH THROUGH EAST TO SOUTHWEST.
RE-ISSUED BY THE BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY, BRISBANE.
I work in a business where we "clean up" ... liquid waste ... so I reckon there will be plenty to keep us busy once the major flooding heads out to sea. Carparks to empty, various traps to empty, City Council to keep happy (they get us to do so much at times like this).
We've been told (as a general public) to stay away from the flooded areas, that they don't require any help at this time (sand bagging etc), we can't help them at evacuation centres (Red X don't need our help right now) ... so I'm not sure what we can do ... except maybe wait and see what happens. There has been looting by boat in Ipswich already and they only got evacuated yesturday and today! Ye Gods!
Apparently tomorrow will be the record breaking day ... goodbye 1893 historic levels ... we'll miss you. :'(
Kit_e
P.S. I got some bread today ... woohoo!
I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror -
The wide brown land for me!
All you who have not loved her,
You will not understand -
Though earth holds many splendours,
Wherever I may die,
I know to what brown country
My homing thoughts will fly.
Dorothea Mackellar
This poem always tugs at my heart-strings.
-
Swmbo sent to do some shopping for dinner [31st wedding anniversary] (what did I get her... Nothing.... she has me, doesn't need anything else..... gotta love that woman)
But Woolies was bare bugger all in the way of fresh produce milk or bread (luckily not on the shopping list she gave me).
My daughter ram from Biloela they have had fresh milk for a week and no staples bread/rice/pasta.
Heard Kathrine is having same problems.
-
My Heart goes out to all affected .My family and I survived the black sat fires near Kinglake some of our friends were not so lucky with there homes and lives.
If you have friends and family affected keep an eye on them they will put on a brave face for a while maybe weeks or months or longer but the emotions and stress will catch up with them and we need to be there... every one will handle it differently they might seem OK but ?
My heart goes out to all
Brett
-
The Clarence River towns of Ulmarra, Cowper & Brushgrove were given the evacuation order today. Just heard on the radio that Maclean has been put on an " Evacuation Alert" ie, get ready to go if needed. The Maclean levee is sposed to be good for 3.3m, predicted peak is for 3.2m tomorrow morning around 5:00am.
So far , Grafton has dodged a bullet. A few leaks here & there but still OK. Got out for a look after lunch, couldn't believe the lack of brains of 2 young blokes out in the river ( approx 7.7m at the time) in a small tinnie stuff arsin' about. Some people make me wonder some days...... :cheers:
-
Stay safe Bullfrog and Hem.
the Nurse
-
Yes...thinking of the Hemi's here too...
-
Brett B I think your spot on. For us here in Emerald the main clean up has happened. Its been intresting to see how everyone copes and reacts to this sort of a disaster. I was taking to a lady that didn't have any flood water or issues with the flood and she feels almost embarrassed about saying that her house is fine. The same thing happened in 2008 with the people that were not effected feeling a little unsure about how to react. They all helped out which made them feel part of the recovery.
We are busy fixing the damage we received which seems less of an issue as the news footage from each day of the floods from around the state comes in. As the waters have receded the extent of the damage to the roads and rail is massive. I don't know how it will all be fixed but I guess they just start at the worst areas and go from there. The road is still cut from here to Rocky at the Dawson River and I think there is damage to the bridge. My brother -in-law had to fly out to the bridge and take photos so I will have to talk to him in the morning to get the facts.
We are also very low on fruit like everyone I guess and I'm really craving some. We have some mango trees that we are pulling green mangos off and ripening so that good, just not good eating to many. And my wife baked the first loaf of bread in the bread maker tonight. I now understand why people rave about bread makers, I could have sat in the kitchen all night just smelling the bread bake.
farmer6
-
Its amazing to be so captivated by the simple things Enjoy
-
farmer6 Mate you will all be affected we found just talking to your mates Friends and even strangers will help .
You will be a rock for some but make sure you have a rock to mate.
Even relations 100 of KS away will be affected
Cheers stay safe
Brett
-
Thanks for that Brett. I was affected a lot more in the 2008 floods than this time around. As strange as it sounds I think going thru it only 2 years ago has helped. But I dont want to be even more prepared for any other floods so lets hope we get the 50 year gap this time before the next big one for us here.
I think we are heading to Coff Harbour next week for a bit of a break and recharge the batteries so that will be good. There is still a massive amount of work to do on the farm but I've been told that we are going, ;D so I guess that means we are going.
farmer6
-
Got this from the horses mouth:
Queensland Police Service:
The Capricorn Highway at Rockhampton, linking through to Longreach, has reopened. Motorists should drive carefully. #thebigwet #qldfloods
Kit_e
-
I know this isn't Brisbane but it was still affected too. I'm over seeing bris what about the rest. This is the Bruxner Hwy west of Tenterfield. Not even a sign to warn you. Top council effort.
-
What are you supposed to do cross the bridge like the Dukes of Hazzards .? What run up do you need with the CT on ???
-
I know this isn't Brisbane but it was still affected too. I'm over seeing bris what about the rest. This is the Bruxner Hwy west of Tenterfield. Not even a sign to warn you. Top council effort.
Have you actually informed the council?? But being a highway it is more likely an Main Roads Dept responsibility.
It pisses me off that people mouth of about LG when we all know that in times like these that resources are stretched.
Be Warned now to keep clear of all roads in the Western Downs Region in QLD as we have run out f road closed signs etc as there is that many roads that are closed.
-
Well, I guess that bridge is definitely out!! :o
-
Even a row of witches hats across the road a good distance back for the ravine would be better than nothing
GG
-
Before and after...
http://www.abc.net.au/news/infographics/qld-floods/beforeafter.htm
-
Though Birs has & Qld coped a pasting there is what seems to be a huge army of normal peopole chipping away at the mess . Makes you proud toi be Australian when you see tis in action
-
Ok here are a couple of pics we went through on Sunday morning on our trip home from a couple of nights at Sheepyard Flat with GU Rich,OffRoadave,thommo and a few other families......
This was just near Molesworth alot of cars turned back so I drove the around the detour and spoke to the Police and he said I could go through which avoided a detour home via Alexandra :cup:
In this 1st pic you can just see the Jag coming towards us with water on the bonnet
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa110/cruzadriver/Sheepyard%20Flat%202010/019.jpg)
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa110/cruzadriver/Sheepyard%20Flat%202010/021.jpg)
You can see a Jag stuck in the middle
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa110/cruzadriver/Sheepyard%20Flat%202010/020.jpg)
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa110/cruzadriver/Sheepyard%20Flat%202010/022.jpg)
I have driven that road hundreds of times, as i live nearby.. And have never seen it flooded..thanks for the photos..