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.
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