Backflow valves to prevent stormwater making local flooding worse
will be installed in 11 inner-city locations in Brisbane City
Council’s first major proactive response to the January 2011 flood.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the 39 devices would protect 1400
homes from a flood similar to the January 2011 floods.

Backflow devices prevent river water running up stormwater drains,
sending flood water into streets away from the river.

The council will install new valves to protect
homes in Chelmer, Tennyson, St Lucia, West End,
Milton, Rosalie, Auchenflower, the CBD, New Farm and Bulimba.

“The installation of new backflow prevention devices at 11
stormwater systems could benefit almost 1400 properties impacted by
backflow flooding last year,” Cr Quirk said.

These devices will protect about 80 per cent of the 1781 properties
that were affected by backflow – not riverine – flooding in January
last year, he said.

“During the January 2011 flood, parts of Brisbane were affected by
water which came up from the river through the drainage networks
and into our streets, which is commonly referred to as backflow
flooding,” he said.

Cr Quirk again insisted that backflow valves will not prevent
flooding, but would help lessen its impact.

“Backflow devices are one of many flood mitigation tools, but they
won’t address all issues of flooding,” he said.

“There were some areas that received both river and backflow
flooding in January last year.”

The council last year asked engineering firm Max Winders and
Associates to investigate the impact of backflow valves.

In October, Mr Winders reported up to 3000 homes and properties
were flooded by storm water in the January 2011 flood, before river
flooding took effect, and 15,000 properties were ultimately
flooded.

Mr Winders identified 39 “broad
areas” for further study and the report to be
released today has completed that research.

Labor councillors have criticised the pace of the investigation
into the location of the backflow valves.

However, Cr Quirk said he wanted the investigation to be complete.

“I make no apologies for being thorough in our assessment of the
appropriateness of backflow devices across Brisbane,” he said.

The next 40 possible sites would be judged against other drainage
works for the city.

Brisbane already has 43 backflow valves throughout the city.

Work has begun to install the next three at Castlemaine Street at
Milton, Leybourne Street at Chelmer and Creek Street in the
Brisbane CBD.

Brisbane’s next 39 backflow devices will be installed at
the following locations:

2012-13

• Castlemaine Street,
  Milton; five backflow devices.
• Creek Street,
  Brisbane; five backflow devices.
• Leybourne Street,
  Chelmer; three backflow devices.

2013-14

• Lang Parade, Rosalie; one major gate on the water channel.

2014-15

• Queenscroft Street, Chelmer; two backflow devices.
• James and Sydney streets,
  New Farm; nine backflow devices.
• Ryan Street,
  West End; one backflow device.
• Harrison, Johnston and Tennyson streets,
  Bulimba; one backflow device.

2015-16

• Coronation Drive,
  Auchenflower; five backflow devices.
• Vivian Street,
  Tennyson; one backflow device.
• Gailey Road,
  St Lucia; six backflow devices.

Locations feasible beyond 2016-17

• Coronation Drive, Auchenflower.
• Edmondstone Street,
  Bowen Hills.
• Edward, Creek, Margaret and Alice streets, CBD.
• Apollo Road and Carbeen, Coutts, Kenbury and Bulimba streets,
  Bulimba.
• Jamieson and Stuart streets, Bulimba.
• Victoria Avenue, Chelmer.
• Eagleview Place,
  Eagle Farm.
• Brougham Street and Mearns Road,
  Fairfield.
• Victoria and Sharp streets, Fairfield.
• Kenny Street,
  Fig Tree Pocket.
• Girraween Park,
  Graceville.
• Lindsay Street,
  Hawthorne.
• Butterfield Street,
  Herston.
• Bangalee Street,
  Jindalee.
• Kooringal Drive, Jindalee.
• Goodwin Street,
  Kangaroo Point.
• Atkinson Drive,
  Karana Downs.
• Sellars Street, Karana Downs.
• Tait Street,
  Kelvin Grove.
• Castlemaine Street, Milton.
• Willeen Court,
  Mt Crosby.
• James and Sydney streets, New Farm.
• Waterloo and Austin streets,
  Newstead.
• Commercial and Stratton roads, Newstead.
• Adina and Frank streets,
  Norman Park.
• Brentnall Street, Norman Park.
• Waite Street; Norman Park.
• Wendell Street, Norman Park.
• Lang Parade, Rosalie.
• Tuckett Road,
  Salisbury.
• Mollison Street and Montague Road, West End.
• Douglas Street, St Lucia.
• Gailey Road, St Lucia.
• Jerdanefield Road, St Lucia.
• King Arthur Terrace, Tennyson.
• Vivian Street, Tennyson.
• Herbert Street,
  Toowong.
• Dudley Street, West End.
• Ferry and Montague roads and Kurilpa and Drury streets, West
  End.
• Vulture Street, West End.
• Ormadale Road,
  Yeronga.
• Ortive Street, Yeronga.

Property Management Brisbane