Engineering, Environment and Sustainability, Passenger Rail, Safety, Standards & Regulation

Did Moreton Bay Rail project cause flooding?

Queensland flooding. Photo: Queensland Fire and Emergency Services - QFES / Facebook

The Queensland Government has commissioned an independent investigation into local residents’ concerns that flooding which hit over 100 houses in Moreton Bay last week was caused, in part, by the new construction of the Moreton Bay Rail Link.

Deputy premier and minister for infrastructure Jackie Trad on Tuesday announced the review, following a meeting with Moreton Bay Regional Council mayor Allan Sutherland, and the director general of transport and main roads, Neil Scales.

“Locals close to the project, the Member for Murrumba and Mayor Allan Sutherland asked the government to look into the matter and that is exactly what we are doing,” Trad said.

“While the rain was unprecedented, we could not ignore concerns that the Moreton Bay Rail Link project may have contributed to the flooding in Rothwell and Deception Bay.”

Trad has commissioned the firm SMEC to conduct the review.

“SMEC is one of the Top 100 international design firms and has operated for more than 40 years, and has worked on previous projects including the Snowy Mountains Scheme – Australia’s largest infrastructure project,” Trad said.

“Comprehensive modelling was previously completed for the Moreton Bay Rail corridor.

“This event was extremely severe with more than 300mm of rain falling within three hours.”

The Palaszczuk Government has also announced further financial support for communities hit the hardest by Friday’s storm.

Mayor Sutherland welcomed the announcement of the review.

“The community has raised what are quite real concerns about any potential impact of rail works on flooding in the Deception Bay, Rothwell and Mango Hill area,” Sutherland reported.

“I am confident a thorough investigation of those works and any potential impacts will be undertaken as part of the State Government’s review.”

Murrumba MP, Chris Whiting also welcomed the action of the Queensland Government.

“Many residents that I spoke to over the weekend were concerned about the potential impact by works associated the Moreton Bay Rail Link and I know they will be eagerly awaiting the findings.”

The investigation is expected to be completed within 12 weeks.