Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington has made a further plea to have flood warning gauges installed along the flood prone Boonara-Nangur Creek system in the western Gympie region.
Deb has written to the Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Murray Watt, following the announcement at the recent federal budget of funding over the next ten years for flood warning infrastructure across the country.
“Since the devastating floods of early 2022, I have been calling for flood warning gauges to be built on the Boonara-Nangur creek system to help downstream landholders monitor when a flood is imminent along their catchment,” Deb said.
“Landholders along the Boonara Creek have suffered four major floods since 2011, with two of these events in 2022. They have lost horses, cattle, sheep and equipment, but with better warning, it would give them time to move stock to higher ground, move irrigation equipment and place flood warning signs on the Burnett Highway.
“Tragically, a 14-year-old girl lost her life in the Booubyjan area last January, and several more people travelling on the Burnet Highway (which runs adjacent to the Boonara Creek in several locations) were caught in life-threatening circumstances by this dangerous and fast-flowing creek.
“There is an urgent need for flood warning gauges on the Boonara Creek and my letter to the Federal Minister seeks a commitment for two flood warning gauges in the upper sections of the Boonara.
“I am concerned that the Federal Government intends to spend a decade undertaking this program, as our community cannot wait this long. We need these gauges installed as soon as possible.
“This infrastructure would make a real difference to the people who live along this creek system giving them assurance they could be alerted earlier to the threat of flood if and when it next occurs,” Deb said.
