The City of Logan's collective response to near-record floods 12 months ago is helping to make the community more resilient and better prepared to handle future natural disasters.
A year of repairs and rebuilding after the 2022 severe weather event has underlined the determination among the city's residents and businesses to 'build back better' and be more aware of the increased potential of flooding due to a changing climate.
More than 280 homes were inundated by riverine flooding last February and March as water levels in many areas along the Logan River exceeded those seen in 2017 but were slightly lower than record marks in 1974.
The recovery, led by Logan City Council in conjunction with a range of agencies and stakeholders, began immediately and is still ongoing.
In some cases, Council is now awaiting advice on repair or replacement funding applications with the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA), which is facing its biggest recovery operation in its 12-year history.
Local recovery, renewal and upgrade works to improve infrastructure and build resilience include:
- More than $110 million in road infrastructure projects, now underway or completed, including major drainage upgrades in Eagleby and Springwood
- Working closely with the QRA to fast-track repairs to damaged roads, bridges, footpaths and parks
- Helping eligible homeowners to access and be assessed for the joint government voluntary 'buy-back' scheme
- Launching a comprehensive review of flood mapping across all catchments and making the latest science-based new mapping readily available to the entire community
- Undertaking extensive community consultation on how a new disaster dashboard might look like and operate
- Conducted extensive training exercises internally, and with external agencies to formulate best-practice response and recovery for future disasters
Mayor Darren Power said recovery efforts in flood-impacted suburbs was an ongoing marathon that was still far from over.
"I am proud of the way residents and businesses in Logan have come together to support one another and assist the recovery role Council and other levels of government continue to play," Cr Power said.
"I particularly want to thank Council officers and Councillors for their efforts over the past year to help repair the physical and emotional damage the floods inflicted on sections of our community."
Cr Power said it was important to rebuild smarter and for everyone to think about, and formulate, their own emergency plans.
"Weather events and other emergencies can happen at any time," Cr Power said.
"Spending some time now to get prepared for floods, storms or bushfires will help you, your family, pets and property be safe when it counts."
Council has participated in, and hosted, numerous disaster management training exercises over the last 12 months, including a multi-agency drill that modelled a catastrophic 1-in-500-year flood created by a slow-moving cyclone over the region.
"I was in the Disaster Coordination Centre last February when the rains started and the rivers began to rise and I saw firsthand how we dodged an even more dangerous bullet," Cr Power said.
"The damage our city suffered was significant, but had the weather system not tracked south, it would have been a lot, lot worse.
"I encourage everyone to pause for a moment this week and reflect on our city's incredible community spirit on this first anniversary of the 2022 floods.
"And by learning from history we can make a better and safer future."
To provide feedback on how to improve Council's online Disaster Dashboard, go to: Disaster Awareness | Have Your Say Logan City (closes March 5).
The online Logan PD Hub helps residents, landlords and business owners be more aware of their property's potential risk of flooding.
New mapping for the Logan and Albert rivers and Scrubby and Slacks creeks is now available. Revised mapping for other catchments is expected to be finalised later this year.
