Ipswich residents are set to be better prepared for avoiding the impacts of flooding following the installation of eight new flood awareness cameras across the city.
Ipswich City Council Environment and Sustainability Committee Chairperson, Councillor Jim Madden (pictured with one of the new cameras) said the significant expansion of Council’s Disaster Awareness Camera Network from 16 to 24 cameras has come in time for the upcoming disaster season.
“Flooding is a fact of life in Ipswich – but how we prepare and position ourselves to respond to nature’s forces can be the difference between life and death,” Cr Madden said.
“This network of cameras helps us keep watch over our city during times of natural disasters.
“They help inform decisions by community members and emergency services by providing a picture of the flooding situation through regularly updated images viewable on council’s online Disaster Dashboard.
“The Disaster Dashboard is a crucial tool for community safety and information, highlighted by the fact that it was visited more than 880,000 times by almost 199,000 people during our city’s most recent disaster – the onset and aftermath of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in March this year.”
The new cameras have been installed at strategic locations in Bundamba, Marburg, Calvert, Walloon, Grandchester, Redbank, North Ipswich and central Ipswich. They add to the existing network located across Goodna, Churchill, Rosewood, Karalee, Jeebropilly, West Ipswich, Karana Downs, Marburg, central Ipswich and Springfield.
“Ipswich will be impacted by flooding again, and council will continue to look at ways to help protect our communities – including expanding the Disaster Awareness Camera Network – so that our residents and emergency services may be as ready as possible for the next challenge,” said Cr Madden.
He said images provided by the cameras can be viewed by clicking the ‘Disaster Cameras’ link on the Disaster Dashboard website.
“These cameras have been set up in some of the city’s most flood-prone areas, showing waterways at risk of significant rises and roads at risk of being cut off,” he said.
“It means people in and around these areas can make informed decisions about their movements during times of severe weather. Remember, if it’s flooded, forget it.
“I’m also delighted council has installed six new flood gauges across the city as part of a pilot program, further improving situational awareness by providing water level information.
“We want to do everything we can to alleviate the heartbreak of these natural disasters.”
The locations of the new flood awareness cameras are Keith Street in Bundamba, Edmond Street in Marburg, Hiddenvale Road in Calvert, Five Mile Bridge in Walloon, Western Creek Bridge in Grandchester, Smith Road in Redbank, Tantivy Street in North Ipswich and Marsden Parade in Ipswich.
Funding was provided under council’s Capital Works program for 2024-2027. Visit the Disaster Dashboard at https://www.disaster.ipswich.qld.gov.au.
