Floods

Where were you on January 26th 1974?
A lot of water under the bridge since the barrage of TV, radio and press photos of Brisbane under water.
From Albany Creek it seemed unreal and far away, with ‘over the top’ drama by reporters.
Yes, it was wet, wet, wet, with no sun. The septics were stinky, Cash’s Bridge was up to the asphalt and the Albany Creek Bridge was under water for two hours. – So what!
So what, until I tried to leave ‘the Creek’.
Zupp’s cars upturned in Cabbage Tree creek, roads with metres of water across at the Starlight Drive-in, Zupp’s, K-Mart, Kedron Brook, and to the north, the mad mile – impassable. Water, water everywhere.
The song goes – The knee bone connected to the thigh bone, to the hip bone to the back bone, etc.
It could have read – Sandy Creek connected to the Albany Creek, to the South Pine River, to the North Pine River, to the Pine River to the Brisbane River. Our waterways are connected even up to activity in the Bremer River at Ipswich.
My main personal interest at the time was that I was selling the family home of 2 Malvern Road and buying at 14 Earl Street (adjacent to the Albany Creek).
Wow! Did I see more water than expected, but thankfully not on the Earl Street property.
I drove into Brisbane via the ‘high country’, i.e. Albany Creek Road, Graham Road, Beams Road, etc and to South Brisbane. Then the enormity dawned. What seemed on TV to be so far, was so real, so close. All of the South Brisbane industrial area was in a sea of sludge.
Today, when I see Brisbane riverfront properties being promoted in the multi-million range, my minds eye only sees the roof tops protruding from the river and I cannot appreciate the advertising spiels. How can flood plains continue to be developed for residential purposes, on the basis that ‘it won’t happen again’, against the clear knowledge of global warning and higher sea levels.
Flood spots like Jindalee, Ashgrove, the Schultz Canal floodplain, Balmoral, New Farm, Windsor and Mango Hill and Griffen are now ‘prized’ Brisbane addresses. I believe flood free areas like Eatons Hill and Albany Creek are better bets.
One can only hope that the authorities have got it right in allowing building approvals.
No matter how high or low the position of your home, flood insurance is excellent insurance, 365 days of the year. Even on the highest hill, flood damage can occur.
The 1974 Courier Mail Housing Supplement of the floods are available on request for viewing at my office.
When it comes to local knowledge (including flooding), 37 years of real estate experience counts.

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