Queensland Summer 2010 Heavy Rains Coming

Jeff Darby · 21st October 2010, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Frei

Exactly, the typical type of behaviour we see for the green cause.

The other PDF had this written. Again it's a typical broad statement and that US $25 real test showed how small energy savings really are. It's one thing to make these types of statements and another to actually provide solid proof, of course to do so they'd need identical houses with a control. I find that when an unsubstantiated statement supports the perspective of greenies or tree huggers they accept it at face value no problem, but when it's the other way around they want the world turned upside-down to verify it.

Quote:

When applying the effects of
tree shade on the eastern and western sides of a single-storey, 3 star energy-rated home, energy
savings of up to 50% per annum could be achieved.

And rarely do we find a 3 star energy-rated home, but they put it forward as the model for all homes......what joke.! Joe Blow out there in suburbia is lucky if he has a small home with modest appliances in it let lone an energy efficient home. may I say though " in a perfect world"

Eric Frei · 22nd October 2010, 08:35 AM

In this similar example a family man in Canada is killed in his car when a large tree falls crushing the roof.

The coroner says the death was preventable because the tree was weakened by fungus and should have been taken down.

Quote:

His family argues that the city is responsible because the coroner investigating the case judged the death was preventable since the tree was weakened by a fungus, and should have been taken down.

The family sue for damages but read about the absurd laws ....

Quote:

In court Thursday lawyers for the city of Westmount argued that the car actually killed Rossy, because the roof struck his body first.

Source:- CTV Montreal - Family of man killed by falling tree trying to sue Westmount - CTV News

Quote:

Thu Oct. 21 2010
The family of a man killed by a falling tree was in Quebec's Court of Appeals Thursday morning, arguing they should be allowed to sue the city of Westmount.

27-year-old Gabriel Rossy was killed in August 2006 when a tree fell on his car during a violent storm.

His family argues that the city is responsible because the coroner investigating the case judged the death was preventable since the tree was weakened by a fungus, and should have been taken down.

In court Thursday lawyers for the city of Westmount argued that the car actually killed Rossy, because the roof struck his body first.

Rossy's mother finds that notion laughable.

"The argument is that the car is what killed my son. You know, the fact that an eight tonne tree fell on the car might have some bearing on it," said Sharon Rossy.

Case launched years ago

The Rossy family launched their lawsuit several years ago but in 2008 a judge in Quebec Superior Court ruled that because Rossy was in a car Quebec's Auto Insurance Board (SAAQ) was responsible for the matter, and Quebec's no-fault insurance law took precedence.

Rossy's family is appealing the decision, hoping they can go ahead with a $1.3 million civil suit.

Lawyer Julius Grey wants to see changes in the no fault law.

"The question is what is the limit of an important social law. How far do you go?" said Grey.

Rossy's parents say the appeal is not about money.

"It's been four years and we just want justice. We want justice for Gabriel and we also feel that the law seriously has to change," said Sharon.

She is now waiting for the Appeals court to render a verdict, which could take several months.

In this case here the tree was weakened by fungus. The tree's root zone was deliberately interfered with (road and footpath). The tree's accepted root protection zone was ignored and then not considered for further investigation when sufficient information and data has been around for years about root protection zones.

Garry Brockley · 22nd October 2010, 06:56 PM

That is disgusting how can the lawyers sleep at night when they come up with cop outs like that.

if thats the case all car manufactures are to blame when people crash! or when some one gets run over! it's not the drivers fault he was driving at 90 miles per hour as it was the car that hit him not the driver the manufacturer made the car go that fast....

or the alcohol producers at fault for making the alcoholic drink that the person drank before driving his car and killing the people in the on coming car.

S.O.P · 22nd October 2010, 07:22 PM

Interesting.

To me, the 'city' are culpable if they were made aware of the fungus, or it was previously 'identified' by them.

One can't be aware of every tree or its condition so without the particulars, it could set a big precedent.

Garry Brockley · 22nd October 2010, 07:59 PM

If set It would not only be a big precedent but a world council changing one.
street trees would be inspected annually and after severe storms.
street trees will stop being planted park trees and trees in public areas will be under scrutiny 24/7 and taken out with the slightest sign of a problem.

Imagine the people and funding needed to carry that kind of inspection.

I used to be the contractor in charge of all cemeteries in lincolnshire 1.1million square miles if anything was found to be even slightly dangerous i was asked to remove it, i gave an assessment on each tree and if the risk was too high of any failure i was instructed to remove it! thankfully i usedto have the ear of the top boss and was able to save alot of trees by corrective pruning and thinning but that is how councils can get.

S.O.P · 22nd October 2010, 09:09 PM

It's funny, isn't it?

On one hand, you have a Council crowing about how important the environment is, and on the other you have developers clear-felling huge blocks of land with large/significant trees on them, low-risk trees removed because no one wants to conduct risk assessments, or maintain them because 'just in case' or costs. You have other departments putting concrete and bitumen right against trees, or cutting large structural roots because they aren't aware of certain legislations or even how trees work. Nor would they ask anyone because "it's just a tree". Just plant another one (besides the 70 years age difference).

You are right though. A precedent like that and a Council could only maintain a finite number of trees, fence off huge areas, or only shrubs 3m in height would be planted in public areas

It's 2010. We are supposed to be moving forward with environmental concerns, not backwards.

Eric Frei · 23rd October 2010, 08:48 AM

The key thing about the tree that failed in Bardon was it was bitumen and compacted road base up to the trunk 360 degrees all around it, not just one side (like we see many) where the road is.

The council and govt want medium density housing to slow urban sprawl. So on one hand smaller blocks with smaller or less trees saves land further out.

But do not forget, this thread is about storms and trees, regardless of what environment or subdivision you are looking at, it's about how storms affect it.

That PDF also inaccurately described the vegetation of Camp Hill in Brisbane as a suburb of "large" trees. If that is what the author believes then The Gap has giant or humongous trees.

Even in the picture taken to show the "large trees" you can see that they are not much taller than the high-set or 2 story houses, which is what I find working the area. Sure there is the odd gum tree here and there or norfolk but it's rare as hens teeth to find a 100' one left in that suburb. The suburb is also planted out with diverse species, stuff like Norfolk pines, Jacarandas, Poincianas, African Tulip Trees, LillyPillys, Melaleucas, Ivory Curl Trees, Tulipwood etc etc.

Now Dictionary for Managing Trees in Urban Environments 2009 on page 138 mentions the 3 categories of trees as small, medium and large.

Page 139; Small Tree:- Height and/or Spread <10m
Page 94; Medium Tree:- Height and/or Spread 10m to 20m
Page 86; Large Tree:- Greater than 20m height or spread

So as you can see the information is inaccurate and things are not what the author claims them to be, in fact the trees of Camp Hill are more like what I'd say is appropriate for intense storms (considering size).

I'd also debate with The Urban dictionary about spread being used to categorize trees size because there are many poincianas which are under 10 high but spread over 20m.

Eric Frei · 24th October 2010, 08:41 PM

Since we are able to be read world wide, and can learn from other experiences here we go from a very recent cyclone event nearby.

Lesson 'Juan': Don't Plant Trees Near your Home

Quote:

October 23, 2010

MANILA, Philippines — Hard lessons learned from typhoon “Ondoy” in 2009 and from super typhoon “Juan” this month have taught both the government and the people the importance of preparedness, especially in times of calamities.

And the most important among the lessons gained from the super typhoon is what one official said, “Preparations yield good results,” noting that while the typhoon may have caused negative effects, these however were described as minimal.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Executive Director Benito Ramos, for his part, said it is important to have continuous information and education campaign (IEC) for the people, even as he said that all concerned should continue working without expecting commendation.

He said people should also realize they should not play jokes or cause to spread unfounded rumors during calamities as these can cause panic, like what happened to some 5,000 Pangasinan residents who evacuated when text messages that water will be released from San Roque dam circulated in their community. The information, however, was not true.

Aside from these, the NDRRMC executive said another lesson that can be taken from typhoon Juan is, “Do not plant a big tree right beside your house, especially if it is made of light materials.” Why? Because when a typhoon comes, strong winds may uproot (and topple) the tree, which may crash your house and cause death as in what happened to some of the victims of the super typhoon.

But what could probably be considered as the most important lesson from typhoon Juan is that calamities and disasters will not spare anyone, as even the NDRRMC executive director who for days had been very busy overseeing preparations for Juan himself became a victim of the super typhoon.

Ramos said his house in Isabela was among those damaged by Juan.

“Pati ako biktima. Nilipad lahat ng bubong ng bahay ko,” said Ramos.

Having learned from Ondoy, the government was much more prepared.

So when PAGASA announced that Juan, which was projected to bring heavy rains and strong winds, was about to enter the country, the government through the NDRRMC wasted to time to put in place all necessary measures to mitigate the potential negative effects of the “super typhoon.”

A meeting was immediately convened by the NDRRMC at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City to make sure all rescue and disaster response teams and assets of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and other concerned agencies like the Department of Health, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and even the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) already pre-positioned.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also pre-positioned family food packs and other food and non-food items for possible typhoon victims especially in regions 1, 2, and CAR.

The assistance of US military assets and personnel who are in the country for a bilateral military exercise with the AFP were also immediately offered, while warnings and advisories were disseminated to all areas that are expected to be hit by the typhoon.

Pre-emptive evacuations were also ordered, especially for those living in high-risk areas like mountain slopes and along the river.

Eric Frei · 27th October 2010, 10:31 PM

And more predictions keep coming.

Sodden southeast Queensland faces more rain | Courier Mail

Quote:

October 27, 2010

The National Climate Centre announced yesterday that sodden southeast Queensland faced a 75 per cent chance of exceeding average summer rainfall – its strongest wet weather prediction in a decade.

And the long-term drought-crippled Murray-Darling Basin also faces strong odds of getting a wet summer.

National Climate Centre climatologist Agata Imielska said the outlook for the November to January period favoured wet conditions in Queensland and the NT, with the highest predictions for rain in the Murray-Darling.

The pattern was a result of warm conditions in the Indian Ocean and cool conditions in the equatorial Pacific Ocean associated with the La Nina event. This would continue at least into the first quarter of next year.

Ms Imielska said there would have been no period for a decade when such high odds were predicted for getting better-than-average rainfall.

"Over the last 10 years, we've seen generally drier conditions associated with El Nino," she said. "There's really (no period) we've had that showed such wet conditions."

The centre also expects seven to eight cyclones to form in Australian waters.

Eric Frei · 2nd November 2010, 07:17 PM

October was Brisbane's wettest month in 38 years | Courier Mail

Quote:

November 02, 2010

QUEENSLAND'S wet October has busted rainfall records from Coolangatta to Cairns.

Brisbane has recorded its wettest October in 38 years, while Mt Bellenden Ker, 60km south of Cairns, set an Australian record, with 1313mm for the month.

A total of 33 records were broken.

Forecaster Jeff Sabburg yesterday said the Bellenden Ker falls were an extraordinary amount of rain.

"This is 1.3m of water in October?" Dr Sabburg said. "You can easily get three, four or five metres there in summer but for October this is exceptional."

It shows how soaked the state's catchments are, given September (the driest month of the year) was Queensland's wettest on record, with 90 readings broken and 24 per cent of the state having its highest monthly rainfall on record.

Brisbane's recorded 306.4mm in October broke its monthly average of 75.4mm by four times and was the largest amount of rain since 1972 (457mm).

The Gold Coast seaway had 374mm, four times its average. Its record is 514.6mm in 1972.

Coolangatta set a record with 438.6mm, beating its all-time previous October mark of 206.6mm, set in 1984.

On the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore recorded 225.6mm, the highest for 16 years.

The record-busting spring is reflected in SunWater's 59 dams. A total of 43 are carrying 90 per cent or more. These are largely agricultural dams, whose levels rise and fall according to how much water farmers draw.

And what began as a bumper season for grain growers has turned sour, with fears emerging that wheat and chickpea crops will be ruined by excess moisture.

Much of the central Queensland harvest is expected to be downgraded, meaning a severe fall in grower returns.

Australian Wheat Board general manager of commodities Mitch Morison said international attention was turning to Australia as the harvest built up.

While big volumes would be brought in, there was concern about quality reductions.

Most farming areas are looking for dry conditions, although subsoil moisture is high, raising hopes of a good summer crop.

In southeast Queensland, nine of Seqwater's 23 dams are spilling, with Wivenhoe and Somerset full and North Pine on 99.6 per cent.

Everything is set for a flood-prone summer, with the bureau predicting wetter-than-normal conditions.

A cracker of a cyclone season is also expected, with up to six forming in the Coral Sea.

Queensland's coolish overnight temperatures to 9am yesterday were generally below average, especially in the west.

Eric Frei · 3rd December 2010, 06:42 AM

One of our coldest Spring's and wettest:-

Cool, Wet Summer Predicted In Southeast Queensland

Quote:

Southeast Queensland has just experienced one of its coldest springs on record, and the mild conditions
set to continue through summer.

Weatherzone meteorologist Martin Palmer said the 2010 spring, which officially ended at midnight yesterday, was the coolest in a decade with an average maximum of 24.8 degrees.

"This is the seventh coldest spring on record, back to 1949, using maximum temps," he said.

"Broadly speaking, the development of La Nina has been to blame with huge volumes of moisture flowing in from the east and sending cloud and showers over us, limiting heating.

"Heat over the interior has also been subdued due to cloud streaming in from the north and west, due to very warm tropical oceans.

"This has stopped hot blasts of westerlies reaching Brisbane and thus no 30-plus degree days."

According to the Weather Channel, 2010 was the wettest spring since 1972, with 467.8 millimetres of rainfall in Brisbane.

October also recorded the wettest month in 38 years, with 306 millimetres, while 103 millimetres fell in September - the wettest September in 12 years.

Weather Channel senior meteorologist Dick Whitaker said while it was a very wet spring for the city, summer would not look much different.

"Normally La Ninas tend to weaken off in the early months of the year, around January or February, but this is a fairly well established one," he said.

"We think as far as southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales are concerned, it's likely that we'll still see a trend of above-average rainfall through the summer."

Mr Whitaker said the associated cloud cover would result in cooler days and warmer nights.

"Above average rainfall means above average cloud cover and that of course immediately means that maximum temperatures are going to be less than average," he said.

"And strangely enough, it usually means that minimum temperatures are above average because cloud cover tends to keep the overnight temperatures elevated.

"Cloud cover brings the maximum and minimum temperatures together, while clear skies move them apart with higher maximums and lower minimums."

And what is on the horizon?

More rain.

Wet conditions persist in southeast Queensland as state's inland awash | Courier Mail

Quote:

INLAND SEA: The punt used to ferry the Birdsville Track traffic across the now flooded Cooper Creek. Pic: Kelly Barnes with assistance from Channel 10 Source: The Courier-Mail

WET and drizzly conditions are expected to continue in Brisbane, with heavy rainfall and storms predicted to wash out the first weekend of summer.

The Bureau of Meteorology says 35mm to 65mm has fallen around the general Brisbane area the past 24 hours, with over 80mm recorded at Bulimba.

The Sunshine Coast has also been taking a battering, with average falls of between 50mm to 80mm.

The highest falls were around Caloundra, with an average of 100mm and highest of 113mm at Golden Beach.

The next two days should bring scattered showers to Brisbane, with rain developing Friday night and settling in on Saturday, bringing moderate to heavy falls.

This will continue on into Sunday, with moderate showers and thunderstorms predicted to cap off the wet weekend.

Although the rainfall may put a dampener on weekend plans, there has been no flooding around the southeast, leaving roads clear.

Thunderstorms laced with large hailstones are expected to hit Roma, Longreach, Winton, Cloncurry, Richmond and Julia Creek.

"Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds, very heavy rainfall, flash flooding and large hailstones in the warning area over the next several hours," the weather bureau warns.

People are being urged to take precautions.

Parts of central Queensland have now been receiving heavy rains for a week.

Weather bureau hydrology manager Peter Baddiley said it was unusual for substantial spring rain to continue over such a wide area into summer.

Conditions in the state's southeast have nothing on those in the far southwest, with Cooper Creek nearly 4km wide across the Birdsville Track.

The Cooper has been in flood for two months despite it being the driest time of the year, while in north Queensland's Barron River district, Mt Sophia has been drenched with 549mm of rain in a week even though the monsoon has yet to break.

So far this year the weather bureau has issued 800 flood warnings, eclipsing anything forecasters have had to handle since the early 1970s.

About 300 warnings were sent out from mid-August to the end of last month, the highest on record.

Weather bureau hydrology manager Peter Baddiley said yesterday the conditions were remarkable in that they had affected the bulk of the state.

"There are significant quantities of water in places like Windorah (on Cooper Creek in the far west)," Mr Baddiley says. "We've had reasonably high levels right through October and November. Everything's wet. Queensland is wet. Most of Australia is wet."

Because catchments and streams in the far southwest are so saturated, the Cooper flood combined with local falls, might make Lake Eyre in South Australia.

The SA Environment Department expects the usually dry Lake Eyre to carry water well into the new year, although evaporation has overtaken in-flows.

Queensland's three largest dams – the north's Burdekin Falls, central Queensland's Fairbairn and the southeast's Wivenhoe – have all been full for at least two months. And more is pouring in.

Substantial falls were recorded on the Gold Coast hinterland yesterday, with Binna Burra recording 43mm to 3pm and rain continuing last night.

Showers are expected in the southeast for the next week.

SA Transport Department spokesman Peter Short expects Cooper Creek floods to take about six weeks to recede.

He told ABC Radio that a punt operating for the past five months had ferried more than 5500 cars across the creek. The creek had risen due to heavy local falls.

Mr Baddiley said levels at Windorah hit 4.8m in October and 5.4m last month, with more floodwaters on the way from the Thomson and Barcoo.

"(It's) quite unusual for this time of the year, with similar flood peaks in October-November recorded only in 1973, 1978 and 2000," Mr Baddiley said.

Climatologists have warned climate change will bring radical weather patterns. Brisbane recorded its coolest spring on record but Perth has had its warmest on record and driest in 41 years.

Eric Frei · 6th January 2011, 04:48 PM

It's not new news to anyone that Queensland has experienced extreme flooding and a state of emergency declared.

So far it is estimated that $5billion of damage has resulted.

Many towns and cities are flooded, Rockhampton recorded the Fitzroy River rising 9.2m and it is still raining.

YouTube - Australia braced for more flood trouble

Here's a shot of the bottom of Illaweena street Drewvale today at noon, I made it through and the bloke in front of me was some young P plater who decided to stop in the deepest part just around the bend, bad news so I tooted him to haul ass as the water was lapping the doors of my 4WD and a truck coming the other way had a decent bow wave.

jmcg.insight.gardens · 6th January 2011, 10:30 PM

Awesome,

well that would have been a little driving experience for the P-plater, probably thought it was great, lucky you pushed him to get a move on, or he could have been stuck.

Lot's of people doing it tough up your way, feel sorry for the farmers.

Even Coopers Creek is flooded, awesome.

Well this is when Aussies show their big heart.....Donate to the flood appeal ....

Julie

gooddog · 7th January 2011, 01:42 PM

Sorry to see such a large area flooded down there. I wish y'all the best of luck in your recovery.

Eric Frei · 9th January 2011, 04:54 PM

Very boggy yesterday moving some logs and grinding some stumps!

Eric Frei · 10th January 2011, 06:47 PM

For those who never watched the news tonight Toowoomba flooded, then a great wall of water headed down the mountain to Helidon and Lockyer valley. Huge damage and deaths.

The TV footage was unreal. This wall of water is heading toward Ipswich/Brisbane and a warning has gone out to evacuate Lockyer valley now.

Gympie was under, Tin Can Bay too. The river level in Gympie is up 21m

With more rain forecast for the week and a pounding over the next 24 hours a warning out to all low lying Brisbane area that floods are likely.

Wivenhoe dam has 5 gates open but is 151% capacity, it cannot hold back a lot more and what it lets out heads toward Brisbane too.

Why they let it get so full is beyond me, the idea was 100% for drinking water and the rest for flood mitigation, be interesting to see if they let enough out prior to this deluge. The dam when it gets to a certain height has another spillway further up the wall which they have no control over, if that dam fills quicker than it is letting water out then it will go down that spillway too.

Drouin Tree Service · 10th January 2011, 09:06 PM

Wow thats a real threat coming to Brissy,Strangley enough it flogging down here as well.

Where is all this water going to end up? Down in the murray river?Its got to go somewhere.

http://www.nativefish.asn.au/ozrivers.html

Eric Frei · 11th January 2011, 03:31 PM

Today the rain has been heavy and relentless.

I could not make it out to Wivenhoe dam, the roads were cut between Warrego highway and Fernvale.

Somerset Dam overflow goes into Wivenhoe, Somerset is at 180%+ capacity and overflowing.

Wivenhoe Dam is over 180% capacity right now.

Estimated inflows to the catchment area right now is 1million megalitres/day.

Currently they are letting out 345,000ML/day so they are trying to hold back some water.

They say on their website the dam has 2,615,238ML capacity. As of 9am this morning the dam had 2,049,705 ML in it, doesn't leave a lot of room before the other spillway is engaged, then control is lost.

Right now they say it's going to be worse than the 1974 floods.

Drouin Tree Service · 11th January 2011, 04:13 PM

Bloody hell it looks real bad,My grandpa was in Brisbane around WW2 in the army he said Brisbane got washed out bad then.

Good luck to everyone in Brissy hope the rain stops.

Jeff Darby · 11th January 2011, 04:21 PM

Check out this...

YouTube - Toowoomba Flood 2011.01.10

Take care up there...

MrDiesel · 11th January 2011, 06:48 PM

My families prayers go out to all though affected, We hope everyone stays safe.

Garry Brockley · 11th January 2011, 08:08 PM

Mythoughts and prayers go to those people of Grantham that took a hammering after toowoomba and lost some of their young, god bless you.

jmcg.insight.gardens · 11th January 2011, 08:24 PM

Watched the special 7.30 report on the floods, Brisbane next. Take care everyone up there,and my heart goes to the people whom have lost loved ones, or still do not know if their loved ones are safe.

Eric, now don't do anything risky to get video footage for the site, play it safe, take care.

Looks like there will be plenty of work for you guys up there in the clean-up.

Natures in the mosh pit again, the drought has broke, in a big big way. Feast then famine sums this country up all right, plenty of courage is needed. Aussies usually pull through.

Looks like the Murray is in for some much needed flushing. Hope the Wivenhoe Dam performs as it was designed for.

Remember to play it safe to play again.

Ace Master · 11th January 2011, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayD

Check out this...

YouTube - Toowoomba Flood 2011.01.10

Take care up there...

That's sure is mad weather up there, see how quick and fast the cars just disappeared down stream, reminds me of the 2012 movie.

Brisbanes areas next ?
Hey, keep safe up there.

ACE

Drouin Tree Service · 11th January 2011, 09:16 PM

Havnt been able to get hold of Eric on the phone might be getting ready good luck mate!

rbtree · 12th January 2011, 03:44 AM

I was net surfing elsewhere....just heard about this NZ Nat Geo filmmaker, and see that he is covering the flooding. Be safe, Eric....

Geoff Mackley's Site Directory

Scroll down for some coverage from their recent Vanatu volcano expedition---.here's what Drew wrote on another site:

Had the opportunity to descend and film this volcano last month. The crew was Geoff Mackley, Brad Ambrose, James Reynolds Daniel Lacy filming, Myself and Jono Smith climbers. Truly an amazing experience and going back soon.enjoy

You Tube

Eric Frei · 12th January 2011, 07:05 AM

Energex is turning off substations in low flooded affected areas.

Last night around 6pm they said that Wivenhoe water level was 800mm short of going over the natural spillway.
Apparently the dam can go to 220% capacity before the spillway engages, it is at 193% this morning they said on the news.

Rain has eased, stopped here where I am. I am in Springwood and miles away from any river and on top of a hill.

River levels are expected to peak tomorrow.

Eric Frei · 12th January 2011, 11:12 AM

Here's some footage I shot yesterday around noon trying to get to Wivenhoe.

YouTube - Warrego Hwy to Fernvale noon 11 January 2011

Drouin Tree Service · 12th January 2011, 04:30 PM

Get some more footage if you can Eric,Its unbelievable the power of the water in the Brisbane river.So much debris.

Eric Frei · 12th January 2011, 08:24 PM

The new highway to Ipswich recently completed, Goodna section.

What Goodna looks like on the other side.

This is Ipswich One Mile Bridge and bottlo nearby.

Ipswich main street

Bremer river peaked today around 20.5m high

22nd October 2010, 06:56 PM	#33
Garry Brockley Bayside Tree Care Brisbane Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Brisbane Aus Posts: 1,641	Re: Queensland Summer 2010 Heavy Rains Coming That is disgusting how can the lawyers sleep at night when they come up with cop outs like that. if thats the case all car manufactures are to blame when people crash! or when some one gets run over! it's not the drivers fault he was driving at 90 miles per hour as it was the car that hit him not the driver the manufacturer made the car go that fast.... or the alcohol producers at fault for making the alcoholic drink that the person drank before driving his car and killing the people in the on coming car. __________________ My business:- Brisbane Bayside Tree Care

22nd October 2010, 07:22 PM	#34
S.O.P Sappling Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Brisbane Posts: 32	Re: Queensland Summer 2010 Heavy Rains Coming Interesting. To me, the 'city' are culpable if they were made aware of the fungus, or it was previously 'identified' by them. One can't be aware of every tree or its condition so without the particulars, it could set a big precedent.

22nd October 2010, 07:59 PM	#35
Garry Brockley Bayside Tree Care Brisbane Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Brisbane Aus Posts: 1,641	Re: Queensland Summer 2010 Heavy Rains Coming If set It would not only be a big precedent but a world council changing one. street trees would be inspected annually and after severe storms. street trees will stop being planted park trees and trees in public areas will be under scrutiny 24/7 and taken out with the slightest sign of a problem. Imagine the people and funding needed to carry that kind of inspection. I used to be the contractor in charge of all cemeteries in lincolnshire 1.1million square miles if anything was found to be even slightly dangerous i was asked to remove it, i gave an assessment on each tree and if the risk was too high of any failure i was instructed to remove it! thankfully i usedto have the ear of the top boss and was able to save alot of trees by corrective pruning and thinning but that is how councils can get. __________________ My business:- Brisbane Bayside Tree Care

22nd October 2010, 09:09 PM	#36
S.O.P Sappling Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Brisbane Posts: 32	Re: Queensland Summer 2010 Heavy Rains Coming It's funny, isn't it? On one hand, you have a Council crowing about how important the environment is, and on the other you have developers clear-felling huge blocks of land with large/significant trees on them, low-risk trees removed because no one wants to conduct risk assessments, or maintain them because 'just in case' or costs. You have other departments putting concrete and bitumen right against trees, or cutting large structural roots because they aren't aware of certain legislations or even how trees work. Nor would they ask anyone because "it's just a tree". Just plant another one (besides the 70 years age difference). You are right though. A precedent like that and a Council could only maintain a finite number of trees, fence off huge areas, or only shrubs 3m in height would be planted in public areas It's 2010. We are supposed to be moving forward with environmental concerns, not backwards.

23rd October 2010, 08:48 AM	#37
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,994	Re: Queensland Summer 2010 Heavy Rains Coming The key thing about the tree that failed in Bardon was it was bitumen and compacted road base up to the trunk 360 degrees all around it, not just one side (like we see many) where the road is. The council and govt want medium density housing to slow urban sprawl. So on one hand smaller blocks with smaller or less trees saves land further out. But do not forget, this thread is about storms and trees, regardless of what environment or subdivision you are looking at, it's about how storms affect it. That PDF also inaccurately described the vegetation of Camp Hill in Brisbane as a suburb of "large" trees. If that is what the author believes then The Gap has giant or humongous trees. Even in the picture taken to show the "large trees" you can see that they are not much taller than the high-set or 2 story houses, which is what I find working the area. Sure there is the odd gum tree here and there or norfolk but it's rare as hens teeth to find a 100' one left in that suburb. The suburb is also planted out with diverse species, stuff like Norfolk pines, Jacarandas, Poincianas, African Tulip Trees, LillyPillys, Melaleucas, Ivory Curl Trees, Tulipwood etc etc. Now Dictionary for Managing Trees in Urban Environments 2009 on page 138 mentions the 3 categories of trees as small, medium and large. Page 139; Small Tree:- Height and/or Spread <10m Page 94; Medium Tree:- Height and/or Spread 10m to 20m Page 86; Large Tree:- Greater than 20m height or spread So as you can see the information is inaccurate and things are not what the author claims them to be, in fact the trees of Camp Hill are more like what I'd say is appropriate for intense storms (considering size). I'd also debate with The Urban dictionary about spread being used to categorize trees size because there are many poincianas which are under 10 high but spread over 20m. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist Last edited by Eric Frei; 28th March 2011 at 09:10 AM. Reason: fixed dead link

6th January 2011, 10:30 PM	#43
jmcg.insight.gardens Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Mannering Park, Australia Posts: 623	Re: Queensland Summer 2010 Heavy Rains Coming Awesome, well that would have been a little driving experience for the P-plater, probably thought it was great, lucky you pushed him to get a move on, or he could have been stuck. Lot's of people doing it tough up your way, feel sorry for the farmers. Even Coopers Creek is flooded, awesome. Well this is when Aussies show their big heart.....Donate to the flood appeal .... Julie

7th January 2011, 01:42 PM	#44
gooddog Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: USA Wisconsin Posts: 72	Re: Queensland Summer 2010 Heavy Rains Coming Sorry to see such a large area flooded down there. I wish y'all the best of luck in your recovery.

9th January 2011, 04:54 PM	#45
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,994	Re: Queensland Summer 2010 Heavy Rains Coming Very boggy yesterday moving some logs and grinding some stumps! Attached Thumbnails __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

10th January 2011, 06:47 PM	#46
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,994	Re: Queensland Summer 2010 Heavy Rains Coming For those who never watched the news tonight Toowoomba flooded, then a great wall of water headed down the mountain to Helidon and Lockyer valley. Huge damage and deaths. The TV footage was unreal. This wall of water is heading toward Ipswich/Brisbane and a warning has gone out to evacuate Lockyer valley now. Gympie was under, Tin Can Bay too. The river level in Gympie is up 21m With more rain forecast for the week and a pounding over the next 24 hours a warning out to all low lying Brisbane area that floods are likely. Wivenhoe dam has 5 gates open but is 151% capacity, it cannot hold back a lot more and what it lets out heads toward Brisbane too. Why they let it get so full is beyond me, the idea was 100% for drinking water and the rest for flood mitigation, be interesting to see if they let enough out prior to this deluge. The dam when it gets to a certain height has another spillway further up the wall which they have no control over, if that dam fills quicker than it is letting water out then it will go down that spillway too. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

10th January 2011, 09:06 PM	#47
Drouin Tree Service Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,727	Re: Queensland Summer 2010 Heavy Rains Coming Wow thats a real threat coming to Brissy,Strangley enough it flogging down here as well. Where is all this water going to end up? Down in the murray river?Its got to go somewhere. http://www.nativefish.asn.au/ozrivers.html __________________ Drouin Tree Services \| Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland \| Landclearing Melbourne Last edited by Drouin Tree Service; 10th January 2011 at 09:21 PM.

11th January 2011, 03:31 PM	#48
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,994	Re: Queensland Summer 2010 Heavy Rains Coming Today the rain has been heavy and relentless. I could not make it out to Wivenhoe dam, the roads were cut between Warrego highway and Fernvale. Somerset Dam overflow goes into Wivenhoe, Somerset is at 180%+ capacity and overflowing. Wivenhoe Dam is over 180% capacity right now. Estimated inflows to the catchment area right now is 1million megalitres/day. Currently they are letting out 345,000ML/day so they are trying to hold back some water. They say on their website the dam has 2,615,238ML capacity. As of 9am this morning the dam had 2,049,705 ML in it, doesn't leave a lot of room before the other spillway is engaged, then control is lost. Right now they say it's going to be worse than the 1974 floods. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

11th January 2011, 04:13 PM	#49
Drouin Tree Service Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,727	Re: Queensland Summer 2010 Heavy Rains Coming Bloody hell it looks real bad,My grandpa was in Brisbane around WW2 in the army he said Brisbane got washed out bad then. Good luck to everyone in Brissy hope the rain stops. __________________ Drouin Tree Services \| Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland \| Landclearing Melbourne

11th January 2011, 04:21 PM	#50
Jeff Darby Moderator - Previously known as JayD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TreeWorld, Sydney Australia Posts: 2,059	Re: Queensland Summer 2010 Heavy Rains Coming Check out this... YouTube - Toowoomba Flood 2011.01.10 Take care up there... __________________ Member: Australian Tree Association Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard ! Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others © Jeffrey J Darby 2011

11th January 2011, 06:48 PM	#51
MrDiesel Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: here Posts: 192	Re: Queensland Summer 2010 Heavy Rains Coming My families prayers go out to all though affected, We hope everyone stays safe. Last edited by MrDiesel; 11th January 2011 at 09:02 PM. Reason: I cant splel

11th January 2011, 08:08 PM	#52
Garry Brockley Bayside Tree Care Brisbane Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Brisbane Aus Posts: 1,641	Re: Queensland Summer 2010 Heavy Rains Coming Mythoughts and prayers go to those people of Grantham that took a hammering after toowoomba and lost some of their young, god bless you. __________________ My business:- Brisbane Bayside Tree Care

11th January 2011, 08:24 PM	#53
jmcg.insight.gardens Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Mannering Park, Australia Posts: 623	Re: Queensland Summer 2010 Heavy Rains Coming Watched the special 7.30 report on the floods, Brisbane next. Take care everyone up there,and my heart goes to the people whom have lost loved ones, or still do not know if their loved ones are safe. Eric, now don't do anything risky to get video footage for the site, play it safe, take care. Looks like there will be plenty of work for you guys up there in the clean-up. Natures in the mosh pit again, the drought has broke, in a big big way. Feast then famine sums this country up all right, plenty of courage is needed. Aussies usually pull through. Looks like the Murray is in for some much needed flushing. Hope the Wivenhoe Dam performs as it was designed for. Remember to play it safe to play again.

11th January 2011, 09:16 PM	#55
Drouin Tree Service Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,727	Re: Queensland Summer 2010 Heavy Rains Coming Havnt been able to get hold of Eric on the phone might be getting ready good luck mate! __________________ Drouin Tree Services \| Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland \| Landclearing Melbourne

12th January 2011, 07:05 AM	#57
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,994	Re: Queensland Summer 2010 Heavy Rains Coming Energex is turning off substations in low flooded affected areas. Last night around 6pm they said that Wivenhoe water level was 800mm short of going over the natural spillway. Apparently the dam can go to 220% capacity before the spillway engages, it is at 193% this morning they said on the news. Rain has eased, stopped here where I am. I am in Springwood and miles away from any river and on top of a hill. River levels are expected to peak tomorrow. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

12th January 2011, 04:30 PM	#59
Drouin Tree Service Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,727	Re: Queensland Summer 2010 Heavy Rains Coming Get some more footage if you can Eric,Its unbelievable the power of the water in the Brisbane river.So much debris. __________________ Drouin Tree Services \| Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland \| Landclearing Melbourne

12th January 2011, 08:24 PM	#60
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,994	Re: Queensland Summer 2010 Heavy Rains Coming The new highway to Ipswich recently completed, Goodna section. What Goodna looks like on the other side. This is Ipswich One Mile Bridge and bottlo nearby. Ipswich main street Bremer river peaked today around 20.5m high Attached Thumbnails __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

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