26 January 2012
25 January 2012
24 January 2012
Flash flooding hits Goodna
Notorious trouble spots closed to traffic include Albert St and Smiths Rd Goodna with Lower James St and parts of Woogaroo St likely to be closed in the next few hours.
Local councillor Paul Tully said no homes were threatened at this stage but the community was "on edge" as localised flooding intensified, bringing back memories of January 2011.
Cr Tully urged motorists and pedestrians to exercise extreme caution around Goodna over the next few hours.
Pic: Albert St Goodna under water as localised flooding hits the suburb.
23 January 2012
21 January 2012
18 January 2012
Flood Update: Rats remain a problem
Brian Kneebone from Common Courtesy Pest Control places a tamper-proof bait station under an outdoor shed.
Twelve months after the floods, rat infestations remain a common problem in Ipswich.
Reports of high rates of infestations follow the rat population explosion last winter in the flood-hit Goodna area.
Ripley-based Common Courtesy Pest Control owner Brian Kneebone said he was attending more rat control jobs this summer than in any of his previous 30 years in the industry.
"Jobs are up, and some places use much more bait than usual," Mr Kneebone said.
"If rodents are this bad in summer, then people will probably start noticing them even more when they seek shelter in winter.
"You'll (usually) get some rats in the summer, but nothing like this.
"We had one job in Ipswich where we found 120 rats, and that's only what we found.
"They're particularly bad in Goodna and Forest Lake, where you have vacant properties so people might not realise what's going on until they move back in."
But Mr Kneebone said people needed to be practical when it came to rat control.
"Not every house has rats, but they are bad this year," Mr Kneebone said.
"You're going to smell and hear something if there is a problem.
"The best thing home owners can do ahead of winter is clean up to deter the rats.
"Get rid of any rubbish and tidy up overgrown gardens, and also seal up any dog or chook food."
Councillor Paul Tully said he had not received any complaints since Ipswich City Council used fox terriers and baits to combat the initial plague.
"We're under the impression that they weren't completely eliminated, but they're under control," Cr Tully said.
"They are in the Goodna area and it could be an issue for another 12 months.
"Abandoned buildings are unusual and they make it difficult because rats can go unnoticed for some time and breed up."
Cr Tully said council had taken a number of proactive steps to reduce rat numbers.
"We have served a number of notices in relation to people not mowing and maintaining their property," he said.
He advised anyone who notices rats in the area to contact his office on 3818 6900.
Rat facts
A group of rats is called a pack or a mischief
A pair of rats can reproduce at a rate of six to eight offspring every two months
Diseases linked to rats include classical swine fever, foot and mouth disease and the bubonic plague.
More Ipswich News: www.QT.com.au
Goodna Flood Update: Higher-set homes worth higher values
A Goodna home raised after the 2011 flood.
IPSWICH home owners in flood areas who lift their homes to meet a post-flood planning standard can expect the value of their homes to be higher than those who don't or can't.
An Australian Property Institute report has found house prices have dropped in flood-hit suburbs but that the market "may view more favourably the properties that have been raised to try and mitigate any future flooding events."
These include properties where "the owners have raised the dwelling to the new minimum habitable floor level (to 500mm above the January 2011 flood level) as well as carrying out repairs."
Ipswich councillor Paul Tully pointed to a Goodna home on the corner of Lower James and Norfolk Sts that has been lifted out of the flood level.
"If people can do that, it gives them a high level of flood immunity in most cases," Cr Tully said.
"Most people have had their houses repaired and have gone back in - so the prospects of raising their houses are quite limited. But for those people who do it, the value of their houses will be significantly higher in the short term than other properties."
More Ipswich News: www.QT.com.au
16 January 2012
2012/2013 Viva Cribb Bursary
Applications for the 2012/2013 Viva Cribb Bursary open on 16 January and close on 2 March 2012. The Bursary of up to $5000 is available to an individual or Group in Ipswich to assist with the costs of a project to document, record or publish a significant aspect of the local history of Ipswich. Bursary winners will be advised during May 2012.
For further information regarding the Viva Cribb Bursary or a current application form please contact the Ipswich Library and Information Service on 3810 7272 or visit Council's website athttp://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/community/grants_sponsorships/index.php
14 January 2012
13 January 2012
Call for Aussies to back the McOz burger and keep Australia's beetroot industry alive
The future of Australia's beetroot industry based in the Lockyer
Valley west of Ipswich could depend on how many Australians tuck in to
the revived McOz burger over the next month.
Valley west of Ipswich could depend on how many Australians tuck in to
the revived McOz burger over the next month.
The McOz burger is back by popular demand according to McDonald's
television advertisements across the nation with a message flashing
across TV screens that it is only for a short time.
Ipswich Councillor Paul Tully, Queensland's longest serving city
councillor, has launched a Facebook campaign to help the farmers of
the Lockyer Valley who produce 90% of Australia's beetroot crop.
Cr Tully said he was urging individuals and families to "Buy a McOz
Today" and save Australia's beetroot industry.
"Locker Valley beetroot farmers have gained a small reprieve signing a
temporary deal with a cannery at Cowra in New South Wales.
"I am urging all Australians to take up the fight and buy a McOz every
day to send a message of support to our farmers and to McDonald's to
keep the McOz burger on its menu permanently.
"From today, I will be putting my money where my mouth is and buying a
lunchtime McOz burger from my local store.
Cr Tully said Australia was being overwhelmed with foreign imports
including New Zealand apples and Philippines bananas.
"Australia's beetroot farmers deserve a break.
"That's why all Australians should join the campaign of support.
"I am urging McDonald's to come to the party and keep Australia's
beetroot tradition alive," Cr Tully said.
Media Release: Call for Aussies to back the McOz burger and keep Australia's beetroot industry alive
MEDIA RELEASE FROM IPSWICH CITY COUNCILLOR PAUL TULLY
[Cr Tully will be at his local McDonald's store cnr Brisbane Rd and William St Goodna at 12.00pm today to launch his "Buy a McOz Today" campaign]
The future of Australia's beetroot industry based in the Lockyer Valley west of Ipswich could depend on how many Australians tuck in to the revived McOz burger over the next month.
The McOz burger is back by popular demand according to McDonald's television advertisements across the nation with a message flashing across TV screens that it is only for a short time.
Ipswich Councillor Paul Tully, Queensland's longest serving city councillor, has launched a Facebook campaign to help the farmers of the Lockyer Valley who produce 90% of Australia's beetroot crop.
Cr Tully said he was urging individuals and families to "Buy a McOz Today" and save Australia's beetroot industry.
"Locker Valley beetroot farmers have gained a small reprieve signing a temporary deal with a cannery at Cowra in New South Wales.
"I am urging all Australians to take up the fight and buy a McOz every day to send a message of support to our farmers and to McDonald's to keep the McOz burger on its menu permanently.
"From today, I will be putting my money where my mouth is and buying a lunchtime McOz burger from my local store.
Cr Tully said Australia was being overwhelmed with foreign imports including New Zealand apples and Philippines bananas.
"Australia's beetroot farmers deserve a break.
"That's why all Australians should join the campaign of support.
"I am urging McDonald's to come to the party and keep Australia's beetroot tradition alive," Cr Tully said.
ends
11 January 2012
Prime Minister Julia Gillard at the flood marker unveiling at Goodna this morning
It was an eventful day at the opening of Goodna's Pillar of Courage and Historic Flood Marker at the corner of Queen St and Church St Goodna.
Prime Minister Gillard addressed the people of Goodna one year after the devastating flood of 11 January 2011.
One year on and the people of Goodna are still suffering from the 2011 flood
A year ago today, the residents of Goodna awoke to light showers not realising that within 12 hours the suburb would be inundated with a flood almost as high as the one which devastated Ipswich and Brisbane in 1974.
By nightfall, the Brisbane River was a kilometre wide between Goodna and Moggill.
Six hundred homes and 70 businesses were destroyed over the next 24 hours making Goodna the worst affected suburb in southeast Queensland.
As flood efforts continued in the Lockyer Valley, Ipswich and Brisbane, the extent of Goodna's plight did not emerge until the following Thursday.
Local Councillor Paul Tully who lost his own home in the flood described the situation as a natural disaster on an unprecedented scale.
Cr Tully said the floodwaters did not recede until the Friday morning leaving a scene of devastation with hundreds of families fending for themselves in emergency accommodation.
"By the weekend, thousands of volunteers had descended on the suburb in a cleanup effort which is still going on.
"Goodna was forced to endure sightseers, looters and six hundred destroyed homes.
"Even today, many absentee landlords with no insurance have left their homes to rot surrounded by unkempt lawns which have become a habitat for rats and snakes."
Today, an historic flood marker depicting all major floods in Goodna since 1893 will be unveiled at 10.00am at the corner of Queen and Church Sts.
Cr Tully said the marker would be colour-coded to identify the individual flood levels with the flood of 1893 eclipsing all other known floods at Goodna on February 5, 1893 at 22.77 metres.
The 2011 flood at Goodna was 16.4 metres.
"The new marker will also be the pillar of courage representing the strength and resilience of the Goodna community as it dealt with floods over the past 120 years."
10 January 2012
Goodna marks flood disasters from 1890 to 2011
Joy Rissman, Division 2 Councillor Paul Tully and Barry Rissman look at photos of the past two major floods, in 1974 and 2011.
IT'S a monument that will, quite literally, mark some of the worst disasters in Goodna's history.
Coinciding with the anniversary of last January's flood, Queensland's tallest flood marker will be unveiled at Goodna today (January 11).
The 10-metre high flood marker depicts all the major floods at Goodna since 1893, and pays tribute to the local community, emergency services workers and volunteers.
Ipswich councillor Paul Tully, himself a victim of January's flood, said the marker would be an important historical and art installation.
"It will serve as a way in which we can recall the effect of the flood and how the community has come together in a time of need,"Cr Tully said.
The marker will be broken into different coloured sections representing each major flood and will be lit up at night.
It will be erected in Alf Harris Park, just off the main Goodna roundabout, and will also include paths and landscaping.
The flood waters at Goodna peaked at 16.4 metres above sea level on January 12.
A special commemoration event will be held on January 11 - from 10am to 11am - when the flood marker is unveiled.
Cr Tully said the event would be an opportunity for the community to come together, support one another and remember the events of a year ago.
"The Goodna community has endured so much, particularly during the last year of rebuilding," Cr Tully said.
"And as we approach the first anniversary, the marker serves as a timely reminder of this event."
The unveiling is just one of a number of events planned for the January 11 anniversary.
Mayor Paul Pisasale said Ipswich City Council would host an Ipswich Flood Commemoration Event from 5.30pm to 6.30pm at River Heart Parklands on Roseberry Pde, Woodend.
Goodna Flood: Invitation to official opening Wednesday 11 January 2012
All residents are invited at 10am tomorrow (Wednesday 12 January 2012) to the official unveiling of the Pillar of Courage / Historic Flood Marker at Alf Harris Park corner Queen and Church Sts Goodna, next to the old Chemist Shop near the Ipswich Motorway.
This will be an opportunity for the people of Goodna to come together after the flood of 11 January 2011 and thank all the emergency service workers and volunteers who helped in the massive cleanup.
A light morning tea will be served after the unveiling.
Goodna residents still fighting on
With her home fully restored and refurbished after last year's flood disaster, Goodna resident Marie Manski's hardest recovery will be the emotional one.
"I don't want to remember it. There was too much stress and trauma and emotions," 73-year-old Mrs Manski said.
One year on and the terrible memories of the 2011 are just starting to settle for Mrs Manski.
The Spalding Crescent home she shares with her partner William Fellows, 60, was flooded up to its skylights at the height of the floods.
Mrs Manski said with the mammoth rebuilding effort behind her, she now has time to rest and reflect on the events of 2011.
"I think it's more or less catching up with me now," she said. "It leaves you feeling very flat."
Before the flood hit some volunteers helped stack everything up on furniture but it was a waste of time, she said.
When they evacuated she took her medication, some books and photo albums.
Not much else survived the flood, just her prized crockery and a precious glass bowl which she found wedged behind debris in her kitchen.
Mrs Manski and Mr Fellows moved back to their home last July.
Mrs Manski thanked all the volunteers who helped the couple rebuild and for the support they received from The Salvation Army, the St Vincent de Paul Society and Springfield's Westlife Church.
08 January 2012
Alice St Goodna resurfacing commences tomorrow
Road resurfacing works at Alice Street, Goodna (Stuart Street and Albert Street) will take place on Monday 09 January 2012.
The works involves placing a new asphalt surface to this section.
All Emergency Services have been notified.
Residents adjacent this section have been notified by letter box drop.
11 year old Goodna boy on arson charges
An 11-year-old boy is one of four young people charged with vandalising and setting fire to about 40 vehicles at a car dealership south of Brisbane.
The attack occurred at Slacks Creek on New Year's Day, police say.
The 11-year-old boy from Goodna has been charged with wilful damage and entering a premise and committing an indictable offence.
A 13-year-old Slacks Creek boy has been charged with arson, five counts of wilful damage and entering a premise with intent to commit an indictable offence.
A 16-year-old Slacks Creek boy faces charges of entering a premise and committing an indictable offence.
These three are being dealt with under the Youth Justice Act.
A 17-year-old boy from Kingston is facing similar charges, as well as unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
He is due to appear in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on February 1.
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