Ipswich forecast and planned Wivenhoe Dam releases and shutdown

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There has been no significant rainfall since Wednesday 29 December 2010.

The current BOM forecast for SE QLD over the next few days is mostly fine with a few light showers, although there is a chance of storms on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

The catchments remain wet and are likely to generate additional runoff in the event of rain. 

Wivenhoe Dam releases were gradually increased during Wednesday and Thursday morning until the combined release and Lockyer flow reached about 1,600m3/s (140,000 ML/d) in the middle Brisbane River.

This is similar to the flows in the releases made in mid-October and earlier in December 2010.

This release will be maintained until late Friday 31 December 2010, when the shut down procedure will commence and gates are expected to be fully closed by Sunday 2 January 2010.  The proposed gate closure sequence will be such that the releases will mimic the natural pre-dam recessional flows.

At 5am on Friday 31 December 2010, the level had fallen slightly to 68.40m AHD and was releasing about 1,550m3/s (132,000ML/d) Impacts of Wivenhoe Dam releases

 Twin Bridges, Savages Crossing, Colleges Crossing, Burtons Bridge and Kholo Bridge are currently closed owing to inundation and will remain so until at least Sunday 2 January 2011. ‬
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Ipswich Flood Update

 
No rain has been recorded across the catchment over the past 12 hours.

Ipswich gauge on the Bremer River is still rising and should peak within the next hour or so around the previous 8.40m level.

Ipswich flooding update

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A review of the catchments has highlighted that the initial peak has been reached at the David Trumpy bridge at 8.5m@ 18:23, well below the revised expectations of 11m. ‬
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‪This has now been confirmed by BOM, who believe that it will hover around this level overnight (maybe the next 9-12 hours) with falls and rises as the secondary flow from the Warrill, Western and Upper Bremer catchments move through the system.‬
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‪
As such, the second peak should reach David Trumpy Bridge (CBD) by 5-6am tomorrow morning at levels no higher that of the first peak.‬
‪ ‬
‪Current BOM radar shows that the weather system has moved north earlier than originally predicted, which means the forecast for the rest of the week now looks a lot better.
‪ 
Forecast:

‪Tuesday: Mostly Fine. Only a shower or two. Moderate S to SE winds. Min 21 max 25‬
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‪Wednesday: Shower or Two. Min 20 Max 25‬
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Thursday: Shower or Two. Min 20 Max 27‬

‪Friday: Shower or two. Min 20 Max 28‬

‪Saturday: Mostly Fine. Min 18 Max 29‬

‪Sunday: Mostly Fine. Min 18 Max 30‬
‪

Monday: Showers. Min 20 Max 31‬
‪ ‬
‪This will allow Ipswich catchments to fall to lower levels by the end of the week.‬
‪ ‬
‪In terms of the releases from Wivenhoe Dam, SEQ Water has commenced a program to increase the flow in the Brisbane River to a max of 1500m3/sec to allow dam levels to be reduced to below full supply capacity.

This means that Colleges Crossing will reach similar levels to that achieved early this month and will not reopen until late in the week.‬
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Latest Ipswich flood situation

Over the last 96 hours, Ipswich catchments have received an average of 150mm, with a maximum of 199mm recorded at Mount Castle at the top of Bremer catchment.

Today:

Rain has continued across the catchment over the past three hours 10-20mm, but has lessened over the last hour to 1-2mm.

The Bureau of Meteorology current prediction is for a peak of approximately 10 at the Ipswich gauge late this evening.

Continued heavy rainfall is still forecast across the catchment overnight and again tomorrow. This will influence the levels dependent upon where and when the falls occur.

Western Creek -

• Grandchester 4.48m (R), .42m below bridge

• Kuss Rd 6.84m (F), .08m over bridge

• Spressers Br. 5.52 (S), .22m over bridge

• Rosewood WWTP 6.38m (S), .08m over bridge

Franklin Vale -

• Greys Plains Rd 3.19m (F), 1.0m over bridge

Bremer River -

• Adams Br 4.45m (R)

• Stokes Xing 4.35m (R), 3.49m above causeway

• Rosewood 5.16m (S), .46m over bridge (7 Mile)

• Walloon 7.00m (F), 1.88m over bridge (5 Mile)

• Three Mile 20.75m (F), 1.35m below bridge

• One Mile 14.95m (R), 2.02m  above old bridge, 2.25m below new bridge

• Brassall 11.1m (S), .6m over Sydney St, 2.7m below bridge 

• Ipswich 8.25m (R)

Warrill Creek -

• Kalbar 79.55m (R), 4.86m above weir

• Harrisville 5.3m (S), .2m below bridge

• Amberley 6.62m (R).

Purga Creek -

• Peak Xing 2.66m (R), 2.39m below bridge

• Loamside 6.05m (S)

Bundamba Creek-

• Ripley 1.55m (S) (51.47AHD)

• Harding 2.13m (R) (23.73m AHD)

• Blackstone 3.30m (R) (18.19m AHD)

• Bundamba School 14.23m (S), 2.10m below bridge

Woogaroo Creek-

• Upper Woogaroo .95m (R)

• Opossum 2.05m (R) (22.05m AHD)

Detention Basins -

• Marburg basin 2.10m (S)

• Rosewood basin .30m (F)

Brisbane River-

• Wivenhoe TW 29.55m (R)

• Savages 5.57m (R)

• Burtons 4.46m (R)

• Kholo 10.94m (S)  .96m below bridge 

• Mt Crosby 8.67m (S)

• Colleges Xing 5.71m (R) 2.15m above bridge ‪

Ipswich flood update

‪In relation to the predicted flood peak of 10 - 11 metres, the Bremer River has risen slower than expected with the peak now likely to impact around 7 - 8pm.‬
‪ ‬
‪In the last 2 hours, there has been 15 - 20mm rainfall with only 1 - 2mm in the last hour.

Late News: Smiths Road extension to open tomorrow

Following the commissioning of the new traffic signals late today at the corner of Smiths Road and Stuart St Goodna, Origin Alliance has advised Ipswich City Council the Smiths Road extension will be opened tomorrow (Thursday) morning.

This will provide a direct link between St Ives Shopping Centre and Redbank Plaza and will eliminate the need for local drivers to use the Ipswich Motorway to travel between the two suburbs.

The speed limit will be 60 kph.

New traffic lights at Smiths Road Goodna turned on today

The new traffic lights at the corner of Smiths Road and Stuart St Goodna were turned on at 3.00pm today.

The Smiths Road extension which will link St Ives Shopping Centre at Goodna and Redbank Plaza is due to open next week.

New Ipswich CBD launched today

Ipswich City Properties, wholly-owned by Ipswich City Council today launched its $2 billion redevelopment of the Ipswich CBD.

More Christmas Lights in Goodna

PIC 1: 19 Martha St Goodna

PIC 2: 3 Alford Ct Goodna

These are pictures of two more magnificent Christmas displays in Goodna.

Congratulations to all those involved.

Christmas lights adorn Goodna

PIC 1: 9 Clive St Goodna
PIC 2: 1 Alford Ct Goodna

The annual Christmas Lights displays across Ipswich are another spectacular effort by all involved.

Around Ipswich's eastern suburbs, two of the best presentations are from the Price family at 9 Clive St Goodna and from the Kane family 1 Alford Ct Goodna.

Congratulations to all involved in this superb annual extravaganza.

VSASA annual function at Goodna

Bill Ashby from VSASA Ipswich presents Cr Paul Tully a scale model of a Black Hawk helicopter

The Ipswich Branch of the Veterans Support and Advocacy Service Australia Inc (VSASA) held their annual Christmas function at the Goodna RSL Function Centre on Brisbane Terrace.

Local Councillor Paul Tully accepted a scale model Black Hawk helicopter for presentation to Ipswich City Council.

Bureau predicts rain for SEQ

The Bureau of Meteorology radar showing plenty of rain around southeast Queensland just after 2pm today.

Sod turning ceremony takes place at Springfield for Hymba Yumba Community Hub

The Acting Prime Minister Wayne Swan, Uncle Albert Holt and Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale turned the first sod of the Hymba Yumba Community Hub at Springfield today.

Searchlight Education - Welcome to Ipswich.

Shiloh Christmas Carols kicks off the first of three spectacular nights at Goodna

Vivienne Stanbury leads the first of three camels to centre stage last night along with Cr Paul Tully and local MP Jo-Ann Miller.

Last night was a spectacular night of Christmas carols courtesy Pastor Alan Morris and Shiloh Church.

A sprinkling of rain at the end of the night couldn't dampen people's spirits.

It will be on again tonight and tomorrow night,

New traffic lights at Goodna will open next week as part of Smiths Road upgrade

The notorious four stop signs at the corner of Smiths Road and Stuart St Goodna will disappear early next week.

They are being replaced by a set of traffic lights.

Origin Alliance - the delivery partners for the Ipswich Motorway upgrade - is expected to open the new Smiths Road connection in the week before Christmas.

The Smiths Road extension will provide a direct link between Redbank Plaza and St Ives Shopping Centre at Goodna.

Local drivers will no longer have to use the Ipswich Motorway to get from Goodna to Redbank.
A fantastic effort by the Origin Alliance with the project funded by the State Government and the Ipswich City Council.

Goodna medical centre closes

The temporary closure of a Goodna medical centre is putting lives at risk, Councillor Paul Tully said yesterday.

Cr Tully said patients of The Cedars Medical Centre on the corner of Queen and Church streets were unable to access their records to take to other doctors.

"You could really have some serious issues here," he said.

"We're talking about the medical records of hundreds of people, and a lot of them are elderly and need to see a doctor quite regularly.

"This is a real scandal and could be placing the lives of dozens of patients at risk."

Cr Tully said a "distraught" Bellbird Park man had contacted him asking for help.

"This patient cannot access his medical records to transfer to his new doctor to facilitate ongoing medical treatment," he said.

"If necessary, the law should be changed to enable immediate access to such records in these circumstances."

An Australian Medical Association spokeswoman said it was up to patients to retrieve their records. "There is no law in Queensland that says how long your doctor needs to keep the records for," she said.

"If patients can't get in touch with their doctor or the practice, it can be quite difficult for them to get their records.

"In that case they would have to contact the landlord, or if they go to another doctor they could ask them to make contact with their old doctor."

The Cedars, which included a bulk-billing doctor's surgery and Goodna Z-Ray facility, closed without warning last week.

A handwritten note taped to the centre's front door reads: "Due to unavoidable circumstances we are closed", while a recorded phone message says the practice is "temporarily closed".

Goodna X-Ray is permanently closed and its phones have been diverted to a practice in Richlands.

Staff who contacted The Queensland Times said the doctor's surgery was due to reopen on December 14.

www.qt.com.au

Springfield's push for NRL team

Springfield is planning a multi-million dollar sports club facility in a bid to secure an NRL team.

The facility will only be built if the Jets NRL hopes are successful.

Consultant to the Ipswich Jets NRL bid, Brian Canavan, said he was finalising details of a high performance centre that would become the club's home if they were granted an NRL licence.

The facility would be similar to the Broncos' Red Hill base, but whether a leagues club would also become part of the centre is undecided.

Mr Canavan, Sydney Roosters chief executive for five years until 2008, said it was critical to establish a home for the Jets NRL club which hoped to be granted the league's 17th licence for the 2013 season.

"We will likely be playing out of Suncorp Stadium for the first few years so we need a true home base in the corridor and Springfield is the best option for where we want to represent," he said.

"We have not defined the club's boundaries yet, but it will roughly be Ipswich and Toowoomba, then out towards Logan."

Springfield, on the border of Logan and Ipswich, is the fastest-growing region in Australia.

A passenger train line connecting the city to Brisbane will be operational in 2013.

Jets chairman Steve Johnson, who hired Mr Canavan to conduct a feasibility study for the bid, said Springfield was the heart of the western corridor.

"Our club will be a community-based club so you want to be where the fans are and Springfield is right in the middle of our patch," Mr Johnson said.

"We will also be looking to strengthen our ties to Logan and Toowoomba plus you will have the Jets in North Ipswich."

Mr Canavan said the amount of support for rugby league in the western corridor should help the region be granted an NRL club.

"Gallop (NRL chief executive David) loves facts and numbers and the fact is this region has the best case based on numbers," he said.

"In Ipswich and Toowoomba alone you have 5500 junior rugby league players, that is far more than just about every Sydney rugby league club.

"When you add in some Logan areas and the outskirts of Brisbane you are talking about 9000 to 13,000 juniors.

"Juniors mean families and families mean generational support."

Full story: www.qt.com.au

New garden for Goodna kids in child care

Goodna Community Child Care Centre has completed
its new community garden and Angus Gillman, 4,
Kaitlyn Grembowski, 4, and Derell Willcocks, 5 are doing their part.

CHILDREN and staff at the local Goodna Community Child Care Centre are celebrating the completion of their long-awaited garden.

Assistant director Paula Addison was the driving force behind the new garden.

"I've been trying for roughly two years to get a grant from companies but was having no luck," Ms Addison said.

"We were then approached by Cummins who provided the materials for the project as well as the labour and some seedlings for the children to plant."

Community involvement team leader for the Cummins Carole Park branch Alan Routledge said he and the Cummins' employees were happy to help the not-for-profit centre.

"This was our first proper project with the employees giving up their time," he said.

"Everyone involved really enjoyed it.

"We didn't just see it as giving; we also learnt new skills."

The new garden, which has four vegetable patches growing produce such as lettuce and herbs, is a big improvement on the prickle-ridden grass and the small garden in a tractor tyre that the children used to have.

"There's a garden bed for the children to do their own planting and the fresh produce has been used in the cooking," Ms Addison said. "The garden is for the children to benefit from."

Cr Paul Tully donated $500 to the garden which also has new concrete footpaths and flower beds thanks to the hard work by Cummins employees and parents.

"The children are over the moon; they really love it," Ms Addison said.

www.qt.com.au

Ipswich flood update

The following roads are closed or have the appropriate signage advising motorists of water over the road or traffic hazard.
 
Strong's Road Rosewood. - Road closed at Strong's Bridge

Rosewood Warrill View Road Rosewood
- Water over the road at floodway.

Goodna's Kyle Brumby ready to rumble in TV bout

Kyle Brumby feels like a new fighter.

The Goodna boxer fights the Lance Thompson-trained Danyon Greig on the undercard to Anthony Mundine's bout with Garth Woods in Sydney on Wednesday night.

Greig is a rugby league player having his first fight, but has a good 10kg weight advantage over Brumby.

Brumby was scheduled for a fight in Japan at cruiserweight last month but it was cancelled at the last minute so he took the Greig fight when it was offered.

Being televised offers big opportunities if he can impress.

Brumby expects to fight at 93kg and he and trainer Jamie Guy hope Greig is closer to 100kg than 105kg.

Brumby has not fought since he lost a points decision to Cunnamulla's Jason Roberts, for the second time, in May.

When Brumby got his combinations working that night, he looked a million dollars but did not have the conditioning to maintain it throughout.

"I was not as fit as I needed to be," he said. "I started training late."

However, the 25-year-old has undergone a transformation since then.

"I didn't have the dedication I do now," Brumby said. "Since I've come back, I've got a lot more passion and a real hunger to make something out of it."

Brumby has reached the point in his life where it is time to really make the most of his ability . . . or give it away.

"I'm not getting any younger," he said.

The change in attitude has been reflected in his training for this bout.

"He's been sparring really well," trainer Guy said.

  

Full story: http://www.qt.com.au/

Mystery as medical centre at Goodna closes

MYSTERY surrounds the closure of a medical centre at Goodna which served hundreds of patients.

 

The Cedars Medical Centre included a doctor's surgery and Goodna X-Ray facility.

 

The bulk-billing practice on the corner of Queen and Church streets closed last week.

 

A hand-written note taped to the centre's front door reads "Due to unavoidable circumstances we are closed", while a recorded phone message says the practice is "temporarily closed".

 

Goodna X-Ray is permanently closed and its phones have been diverted to a practice in Richlands.

 

State Member for Bundamba Jo-Ann Miller, who has an office in Queen Street, said the centre filled an important need in the community.

 

"No one has come in to tell us about it or ask us about it," Ms Miller said.

 

"We have other doctors in the medical centre at St Ives Shopping Centre and it's a very, very busy practice.

 

"In our area people actively seek out bulk-billing doctors."

 

Mrs Miller said losing the X-ray facility was a huge blow.

 

Goodna-based Councillor Paul Tully said he had "no idea" why the centre had closed down.

 

Full story: www.qt.com.au

FLOOD WARNING FOR THE LAIDLEY, LOCKYER AND WARRILL CREEKS AND BREMER RIVER

Issued at 3:44 PM on Sunday the 5th of December 2010

by the Bureau of Meteorology, Brisbane.

 

 

Minor flooding is slowly peaking on the Lockyer and Laidley Creeks. Minor to moderate flooding continues along Warrill Creek between Harrisville and Amberley. Minor flooding also continues along the Bremer River between Rosewood and Walloon, where river levels downstream through to Ipswich will remain well below minor flood level.

 

Minor flooding nears a peak on Lockyer Creek at Glenore Grove and at the Warrego Highway on Laidley Creek. Minor to moderate flooding continues along Warrill Creek between Harrisville and Churchbank Weir through to Amberley.

 

Ipswich flood threat eases

Australian Government

Bureau of Meteorology
Queensland

FLOOD WARNING FOR THE LAIDLEY, LOCKYER AND WARRILL CREEKS AND BREMER RIVER

Issued at 12:50 PM on Sunday the 5th of December 2010
by the Bureau of Meteorology, Brisbane.

The rainfall has eased during Sunday morning, with creek levels also generally easing.

Some minor to moderate flooding remains on Lockyer Creek at Glenore
Grove, the Warrego Highway on Laidley Creek, Warrill Creek at Harrisville, and
at Rosewood on the Bremer River.

River levels downstream through to Ipswich will
remain well below minor flood level during Sunday.

Some minor flooding continues to rise on Lockyer Creek at Glenore Grove, and minor flooding is peaking on Laidley Creek at the Warrego Highway.

Moderate flooding is also peaking on Warrill Creek at Harrisville, with minor flood levels continuing to rise downstream at Churchbank Weir.

Moderate flooding has also peaked on the Bremer River at Rosewood, with minor
flood levels continuing to rise downstream at Five Mile Bridge at Walloon. River levels downstream through to Ipswich will remain well below minor flood level during Sunday.

Weather Forecast:

Rain easing to showers with the chance of an afternoon thunderstorm.

Floods close Ipswich roads

Rain overnight has forced Ipswich City Council to close the following roads:

Bremer River@ Mt Walker West Rd Road closed 9:30am

Rosewood-Warril View has been closed (John St - Ebenezer Rd)

The Council will closing the following shortly:

5 Mile bridge - currently 1 metre below the bridge and rising fast, expect approaches to go out inside the hour at current rate.

2010 Filipino night at Goodna tonight

The Filipino community of Goodna held a night of singing,
dancing and merriment at the Goodna Rugby League Club.

It was a great pre-Christmas night.

Final flight for F-111s this Friday morning over Ipswich and Brisbane

 
Ground crew prepare a RAAF F-111 to take part in one of the
aircrafts' last major excersise.
 

The Royal Australian Air Force has released details of the last flights of its F-111s ahead of their retirement on Friday.

The F-111s will depart Amberley at approximately 11.20am (AEST) for the last time and fly over Ipswich, Brisbane, northern NSW, the Gold and Sunshine Coasts before returning for their final landings at RAAF Base Amberley.

They'll fly at a relatively low speed and altitude to allow photos and video footage to be taken, an RAAF spokesman said.

They'll pass over Laidley, Rosewood, Amberley, Ipswich, and Brisbane at approximately 11.50am (AEST).

The group will then split, with aircraft flying a northern route over Sandgate, Redcliffe, Bribie Island, Caloundra, Maroochydore and Noosa.

F-111s on the southern route will overfly the Gold Coast, Coolangatta, Byron Bay, Ballina, and Evans Head.

The spokesman said the best vantage points in Brisbane included Mt Coot-tha, Red Hill church, Victoria Park, Toowong Reach, Southbank, the Story Bridge, Kangaroo Point cliffs, and Mt Gravatt.

The aircraft will return to Amberley at approximately 12:45pm (AEST), to land for the last time.

"The Royal Australian Air Force and in particular, the F-111 community, wishes to acknowledge the outstanding public support and interest in the F-111 - a unique aircraft that has served Australia very well for over 37 years," the defence spokesman said in a statement.

www.brisbanetimes.com.au

 

2010 Oxley Community Awards

YOU'VE probably passed them on the street, maybe even exchanged a smile, never knowing the contribution these 19 individuals make in the community, silently and modestly.

But earlier this month these local champions were acknowledged at the 2010 Oxley Community Awards.

The Oxley Community Awards was created by Federal Member for Oxley Bernie Ripoll four years ago to acknowledge and pay homage to those unsung heroes in the community who contribute to making Oxley a lively and thriving community.

Held at the Goodna Bowls Club, the recipients were awarded for a diverse range of volunteer activities including sport, multicultural affairs, charity work and servicing the local community.

"It was a humbling experience to be in the room with so many of our local treasures," Mr Ripoll said.

"The work these individuals do every day is inspiring to everyone and shows community spirit is indeed alive and well in our local area.

"Volunteers play a vital role in our community, participating through an extraordinary range of activities - from sporting, arts and recreational clubs to health and welfare organisations, heritage and environmental bodies - the work they do in our local area is breathtaking.

"On behalf of the people of Oxley, I want to thank the 2010 Oxley Community Award recipients and the countless number of volunteers who give up their time every day to help contribute to our thriving local community."

2010 Oxley Community Awards Recipients

Family & Community Support

Brenda Orr (Springfield)

Gillian Middleton (Durack)

Robert Brown (Forest Lake)

Stephanie Beekman (Camira)

Margaret McGillivray (Durack)

Theresa O'Connell (Collingwood Park)

Helen Findlay (Inala)

Miriam Cope (Inala)

Arts & Cultural Activities

Elijah Harari (Goodna)

Sabapathy Paramathan (Middle Park)

Ezzat Guindy (Jindalee)

Senior Volunteers

Ron Cole (Jindalee)

Sandra Fitzgerald (Bellbird Park)

Sport

Pye Augustine (Springfield Lakes)

Joel Barns (Springfield Lakes)

Brian Algeo (Bellbird Park)

Charity Work

Mat Britton (Springfield Lakes)

Peter Ribes (Brookwater)

Adam Atherton (Springfield Lakes)

www.thesatellite.com.au