More flooding predicted for March
IPSWICH may still experience flooding rain before the wet season is out, with weather experts and Water Supply Minister Mark McArdle expecting heavy rainfalls in March.
Rainfalls similar to those dumped on Ipswich and Wivenhoe Dam last weekend by ex-Cyclone Oswald have been predicted by long range weather forecaster Haydn Walker.
Mr McArdle said he had been advised by the Bureau of Meteorology that there was a "40% to 45% chance of exceeding median rainfall for period February to April".
Hundreds of millimetres of rain fell on Ipswich, reviving the memories of the January 2011 floods, with rising water from the Bremer River threatening to inundate hundreds of properties.
While widespread flooding was avoided, Mr Walker predicts Ipswich will see a repeat of the heavy rain.
He expects wet season conditions to remain into April and possibly May around northern parts of the state.
"I'm worried about March for the south-east Queensland region," he said.
"In general terms there will be heavy falls inland and some areas of the south-east Queensland. March rainfall will affect the south-east and there will be flooding once more."
Mr McArdle said the government has been advised the El Nino Southern Oscillation remained neutral.
"The Bureau of Meteorology also advised, on tropical cyclone activity, there may be a further burst in March," he said.
The Bureau of Meteorology also advised, on tropical cyclone activity, there may be a further burst in March.
The Minster said releases from Wivenhoe Dam would continue at 1660cu m per second until it dropped to 88%, the temporary full supply level.
Yesterday morning Wivenhoe Dam was at 121% capacity.
International Water Centre instructor Andrew Dragun said the Newman Government's approach to dam management should give confidence to Ipswich residents.
He said the former Bligh Government managed the dam as if the state was about to enter drought conditions.
"Well, I think the people of Ipswich must be a little bit more relieved, because we saw some proactive management.
"That's what should have happened a few years ago," he said.
"It's an indication of how they should be managing it. They got ahead of this.
"The bottom line is, in this weather system we have had, you have got to be a little bit more optimistic that the government isn't concerned that it isn't going to rain again."
Mr McArdle said his weather briefing came from the Department of Energy and Water Supply, which includes analysis by the Bureau of Meteorology, the Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, and Seqwater.
