It was inevitable that recent events in Queensland would prompt a review of what progress has been achieved here after the 1998 storm that devastated parts of the city.
Twelve years on we have had a review of the destruction caused and what needs to be done to mitigate a repeat. It seems that not one of the proposals has been implemented - but our council administrators are now giving thought to how funds can be accessed to get work under way.
Such is the glacial pace of essential work threading it's way through the labyrinth of the public service.
Any decent engineer could have devised an action plan within days of that 1998 event. The plans that finally emerged from this exhaustive and slow moving enquiry are just sheer common sense. Construction of retention basins to retard the water flow. Widening and clearing of creeks and channels - and communication sensors to give earlier warning of a coming flood.
Perhaps the most obvious safety measures would be to keep existing flood waterways clear of rubbish and excessive plant growth - but that seems to have been kept very low on the priorities list. Most natural water courses are in a disgraceful condition.
What odds that another twelve years down the track very little will have changed - and we will still be examining ways of financing those improvements to save the city from a future flood ?
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