there is no silver lining
The rain has stopped but it is too late to save Brisbane from flooding. The water catchment areas were still getting heavy rain until last night and the dams are all filled to capacity, so the water has to go somewhere. Unfortunately that somewhere is the city of Brisbane. We live close to the city but we are high enough that we are unlikely to be badly affected. People closer to the river will not be so lucky. Towns further inland, such as Ipswich are already flooded. The destruction is going to be huge.
I took some photos late yesterday and I went back to the river this morning to see the difference. The water is expected to go much higher in the next 24 hours when the floodwater meets king tides.
the city from the Goodwill Bridge
It was still raining at this point and the city looked very dismal. This morning the Goodwill Bridge is closed. It is quite high, but debris rushing down the river is being caught on the pylons and could do serious damage, so I suppose it is better to be cautious.
Here are some pictures I took at Southbank (opposite the city centre) yesterday afternoon and early this morning.
This yellow machine was marooned on a little island yesterday.
too late to move it now
You can see how much the river has come up overnight.
it will soon be under water
The ferry and city cat services were suspended a day ago – for obvious reasons.
the pontoon yesterday
this morning
no ferries today
Nobody was much interested in the water park at Southbank yesterday.
part of the waterpark
Today is it turned off. The CBD is without power for safety reasons.
steps to the walkway
steps to the carpark
Today the carpark is full of water.
steps to car park today
the water would be at the ceiling of the car park
This was the walkway in front of the restaurants yesterday.
watching the water rise
The area today.
the same area today.
Some people don’t seem too bothered by the situation.
sunning herself on Southbank beach
The Southbank lizards are having a lovely time with lots of grubs brought to the surface of the waterlogged earth.
he has just finished off a dragonfly
keeping an eye on the water
lizards are popping up everywhere
this bird was making the most of things as well
Who knows how much higher the water will come.
the river is edging towards Southbank pool
I hope it doesn't go that far
There are workmen everywhere, doing what they can to prepare for the deluge.
sandbagging the entrance to the art gallery
today that area is completely under water
the entrance to Southbank car park
the city from Victoria bridge showing the gallery pontoon mid river
perhaps he can scare the water away from the museum
roads blocked
no cyclists today
a railing to nowhere
a pigeon dries his feathers
As I said, there is no silver lining to this dark cloud. Let’s hope the water doesn’t come as high as is expected and that Brisbane survives without too much damage. The clean up is going to be huge.
click here to see the next stage.
Ooh it looks bad. I know Southbank and QPAC well. Extraordinary to see them like that. Let’s hope people keep themselves safe!
By: Richard Tulloch on January 12, 2011
at 2:08 am
It is just about as bad as it can be. The fine sunny day just doesn’t seem right.
By: bagnidilucca on January 12, 2011
at 2:17 am
Just tried to ring you but answer service on home phone, is power off Roz
By: Roz on January 12, 2011
at 2:16 am
yesterday we helped to evacuate friends house on the river at Chelmer, they are away in the US. Managed to get the precious things which can’t be replaced. Couldn’t get back this morning to salvage more…. It will be a sad homecomimg for them.
By: kirsi sade on January 12, 2011
at 2:18 am
It is awful for so many people. I can’t bear to think of the clean up. Our rental house is already under water.
By: bagnidilucca on January 12, 2011
at 2:21 am
From one Queenslander to another living in a different state (SA), your pictures are much appreciated, Deb, to keep me posted on the Brisbane situation. I remember well the 1974 Flood, so hope the Brisbane waters won’t reach that height. Keep safe and thanks again for keeping us posted.
By: Sandra H on January 12, 2011
at 2:20 am
I took my grandkids to GoMA on Monday and i was parked in the QPAC carpark. my son has evacuated from east brissie. he is behind mowbray park. my friends and family are safe hope everyone else is.
By: chris toy on January 12, 2011
at 2:22 am
There will be no GoMA today. That car park is under water. I’m glad you are all OK.
By: bagnidilucca on January 12, 2011
at 2:56 am
Thanks for posting these great photos of the flooding. They really illustrate how serious the situation is.
By: lisa@notesfromafrica on January 12, 2011
at 3:22 am
Thanks for sharing these photos and letting know how things are. I hope everyone remains safe. Thoughts go out to all those affected by the flooding there and in QLD.
By: Fidel Hart on January 12, 2011
at 5:28 am
We have no power in our house now so we are at my brother’s house to cook dinner. The water should peak tonight and hopefully start to go away on Friday. Central Brisbane is a no go area. What a mess!
By: Debra Kolkka on January 12, 2011
at 9:55 am
[…] the original post here: A Dark Cloud over Brisbane « Debra & Liz's Bagni di Lucca Blog Questo articolo è stato pubblicato in Hotel, Hotel Lucca, Lucca e ha i tag brisbane, […]
By: A Dark Cloud over Brisbane « Debra & Liz's Bagni di Lucca Blog on January 12, 2011
at 9:05 am
Just dropping in to say hi Debra. Seems wrong to say great photos, but thank you for posting them. It is good to see events through different eyes from the ones you see on the News channels. Flash floods are the most terrifying things… but wholesale inundation on this scale is almost unbelievable.
By: Joanna @ Zeb Bakes on January 12, 2011
at 10:34 am
Stay safe, Deb. Hopefully the waters will recede soon. We’re thinking about you all!
By: Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial on January 12, 2011
at 11:13 am
Hi Ladies, great post, thanks. I’m in Brisbane, too, and dreading what tomorrow will bring. I’ve been blogging about it from the other side of the river, at http://www.theothercolumn.com
Hope you’re all safe & dry.
Theresa
By: Theresa Lauf on January 12, 2011
at 11:17 am
[…] UPDATE: The Rocklea Markets have flooded, so our fresh fruit & vegetable supplies are devastated. This isn’t good. Not a lot of point buying frozen either, with uncertain power supplies. Tinned food, here we come. UPDATE: check out these photos from the other side of the river. […]
By: Queensland Floods: city-crabs, runaway restaurants & goodbye Riverwalk « The Other Column on January 12, 2011
at 11:21 am
Hi, I’m a friend of Sue and Mike Gower who’ve taken me to Bagni. I now live in Hawthorne and work in the CBD in the arts. So very interested especially in your South Bank pictures. My today photos show Brisbane Powerhouse very vulnerable…
Eerie here – what a waiting game…
By: Pat on January 12, 2011
at 11:51 am
At least the river didn’t come quite as far as expected – it is still terrible though.
By: bagnidilucca on January 14, 2011
at 8:07 am
Hi, I am a friend of Pat Swell who has recently moved from the UK to Brisbane. I sent her your link & she has just contributed to this blog with some photos of the flooding. I have a villa I rent out above Bagni di Lucca in a little hamlet called Livizzano, part of a village called San Cassiano, high up at about 500 metres. Just below the Prato Fiorito. I have just thought of something I should put on my advert. If you go to San Cassiano for a holiday you needn’t worry about floods! I am so sorry to see all these pictures, it must be terrible, especially for vulnerable people. I do hope the levels go down soon. Sue Gower.
By: Sue Gower on January 12, 2011
at 12:37 pm
I will be back in Bagni di Lucca in about 3 weeks. I will be wet and cold instead of hot and wet. Perhaps I will see you in the bar one day.
By: bagnidilucca on January 14, 2011
at 8:06 am
Deb-thanks for the update and the photos-I’ve been thinking about you and hope that you and your family (and your property_ are safe.
By: paninigirl on January 12, 2011
at 4:06 pm
Keep safe!
By: ElenaSC on January 12, 2011
at 4:48 pm
Debra I hope this morning everyone will start to see the waters go down.
xx
By: cityhippyfarmgirl on January 12, 2011
at 7:38 pm
Its 6.00am and in Sherwood the level has dropped about a foot on last night. It seems to be lower than than the 1974 level, certainly in this locality. Lets hope the rain stays away and it keeps dropping.
There is a cyclone due north of NZ and a couple of thousand km off our coast. We will have to see where that tracks. They are so unpredictable.
By: colin on January 12, 2011
at 8:06 pm
Deb so glad to hear your home in Westend is safe. When I first read you lived in Westend, my thoughts were “oh no” as I know other there whose homes are inundated – so glad that yours isn’t added to the list.
Thank you for the photos. It seems like I can’t get enough of them down here. So many people and places I know being affected and the photos make me feel some tiny bit closer and not so helplessly removed (although of course I am)
By: Bee on January 13, 2011
at 5:36 am
Just saw the devastation on CNN. Probably wouldn’t have triggered my emotions months ago, but now that I’ve gotten to know you through this blog I am worried about my friends and hope everything is okay.
Just read through the comments today, glad your safe.
By: Fidel Hart on January 13, 2011
at 8:48 am
[…] UPDATE: The Rocklea Markets have flooded, so our fresh fruit & vegetable supplies are devastated. This isn’t good. Not a lot of point buying frozen either, with uncertain power supplies. Tinned food, here we come. UPDATE: check out these photos from the other side of the river. […]
By: Queensland Floods: city-crabs, runaway restaurants & goodbye Riverwalk | marketing internetowy i inne on January 13, 2011
at 8:56 am
I don’t think anyone realises the tragic things that have happened here. Most of us can only give generously in answer to the hurt that Brisbane and all areas that were flooded have suffered.
By: brianhickey1 on January 13, 2011
at 9:48 am
People have been happy to help each other. Disaster brings out the best in some people.
By: bagnidilucca on January 14, 2011
at 8:09 am
*fingers crossed for you all*
By: Journey Photographic on January 13, 2011
at 1:15 pm
[…] here, here, here, here, here and here for the full story of the flood in […]
By: An update on the floods/house « Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on January 27, 2011
at 10:24 am
[…] here, here, here and here to see the Brisbane river and the flood in […]
By: The City Cats are back on our other river « Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on June 2, 2011
at 1:24 pm
[…] here, here, here, here, and here to see the floods in […]
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at 10:49 pm
[…] here to see the next stage of the flood. GA_googleAddAttr("AdOpt", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Origin", […]
By: Queensland under water « Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on December 29, 2011
at 10:35 am
[…] It is hard to believe that 2 years ago this week Brisbane city was devastated by floods. Click here to see a post I wrote at the time about the rising water. I did a series of posts about the flooding […]
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at 9:27 am
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