This week, the Bureau of Meteorology declared that a third La Niña is predicted to hit most of Australia this summer, with above-average rainfall expected, especially in the northern and eastern parts of the country. In response to this news, Brisbane’s Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has announced that free sandbags will be offered to Brisbane residents ahead of flood fears.
Usually, the wet season kicks off in October, so the council is acting quickly so that flood-prone residents are provided with sandbags ahead of time, in the case of flooding.
Over the next three weekends, residents in flood-prone areas are urged to pick up sandbags from depots in Zillmere, Newmarket, Morningside and Darra.
The mayor is most concerned about Brisbane’s low-lying suburbs, including Karana Downs, Archerfield, Sherwood, Toowong, Yeronga, Yeerongpilly, Chandler, Bracken Ridge and West End.
The council has reportedly packed 150,000 sandbags, which is three times the standard amount usually stocked.
The “super sandbag” days at the aforementioned depots will also give residents in these flood-prone areas the lowdown on how to lay sandbags in the event of an emergency.
“Super sandbag weekends” details
Dates:
September 17 – 18, September 24 – 25, October 1 – 2
Locations:
- Darra – South Depot, 38 Shamrock Road
- Lota Depot, 58 Herbert Street, Lota
- Morningside – Balmoral Depot, 9 Redfern Street
- Newmarket – SES Depot, 66 Wilston Road
- Zillmere-North Depot, 33 Jennings Street
For more information, head over to the Brisbane City Council website.
The devastating floods of February, 2022 was the wettest week Brisbane had endured since 1840. 13 people lost their lives and 18,000 home and businesses across SEQLD were damaged.