FITZROY FLOOD FAST FACTS – IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Posted on April 3rd, 2017
Posted Monday, 3rd April, 2017
Dear Capricorn Enterprise Members,
Please find below some fast facts that I encourage you to share with your clients, guests, colleagues:
Expected peak of the Fitzroy River downgraded this morning by BOM from 9.4 metres to 9 metres (which is below the 2011 event which was 9.2 metres). Click here to view Fitzroy River Flood level history (it is the second largest river catchment in the country – waters from the Mackenzie, Dawson, Nagoa, Comet and Connors Rivers flow into the Fitzroy River). Most of Rockhampton will not flood, Yeppoon and the Capricorn Coast will not flood.
ROADS
The Bruce Highway (Pacific Coast Touring Route) is currently OPEN along the Queensland coast.
The southern entrance (across the Yeppen floodplain to Rockhampton will remain OPEN (built to a 9.7 metre flood level) – to view real time images go to www.QLDtraffic.qld.gov.au
When Gladstone Road (extension of the Bruce Hwy) into Rockhampton goes under water, traffic will be diverted to Upper Dawson Road via Allenstown.
UPDATE 5th April the Capricorn Highway west is now OPEN (speed limited to 60km/h) at Duaringa .
The Yeppoon to Rockhampton Road is unaffected by Rockhampton floods – about 30% of the workforce in the Livingstone Shire (including Capricorn Coast and suburbs to the north) commute daily to Rocky for work and will continue to do so.
For specific localised information in Rockhampton (flood maps etc), go to Rockhampton Regional Council’s flood page CLICK HERE
AIRPORT
The Rockhampton Airport is closed from noon today, but Qantas and Virgin are putting on additional services from Gladstone Airport. Airlines are experiencing delays in answering a large volume of calls, so do what you can on-line.
Locals and visitors can fly into Gladstone and drive to Rocky and the Capricorn Coast.
Budget Rent-A-Car (local franchisee for Rockhampton, Gladstone, Bundaberg and Hervey Bay) is offering one way car hire deals from the Gladstone Airport. The Rocky Budget airport office has relocated to the Rocky Showgrounds.
To our knowledge, Youngs Buses are not operating additional bus services from Gladstone Airport. UPDATE 5th April: Rockhampton Regional Council are expected to announce later today bus transfers from Stockland Rockhampton to Gladstone Airport
The Rockhampton Helicopter Rescue Service has relocated from the Airport to the Rockhampton Heritage Village in North Rockhampton.
AIRPORT TRANSFERS FROM GLADSTONE AIRPORT
Emus Beach Resort will provide 2 services per day departing Gladstone at 11am and 3.30pm with luggage trailer – Adults $89 return and $50 one way, Children $49 return and $25 one way.
Phone 0413 398 784 to book. Pick up and drop offs at most Rockhampton CBD accommodation houses and Capricorn Coast upon request.
Little Johnny’s Tours can provide a charter service for groups. Phone 0414 793 637 to book.
Budget Car Rental – “Flood specials” available Rockhampton and Gladstone – phone 13 27 27 to book.
Disclaimer: Capricorn Enterprise has provided this information in good faith based on information supplied by other parties and is subject to change without notice.
QLD RAIL
All northbound trains are terminating at Gladstone with Qld Rail transferring their passengers by bus to Rockhampton. More details CLICK HERE
BUSINESSES AND HOMES AFFECTED
Of the 3,000 properties in Rockhampton’s low lying areas which are expected to be affected, authorities are saying that water will go ‘over the floorboards’ of approx. 360 homes and 215 business.
There are approx. 40,000 private dwellings in the Rockhampton Regional Council area (this includes houses and units), so that is 0.9% of private dwellings which will be flooded, with 7.5% of properties in Rockhampton affected from minor to major flooding.
VISITOR INFROMATION CENTRES – ROCKHAMPTON AND YEPPOON
Last Friday 31st March was the last day that Capricorn Enterprise managed The Spire Visitor Information Centre on Gladstone Road, Rockhampton, due to Rockhampton Regional Council’s desire to expand their tourism services and manage The Spire VIC from Saturday 1st April 2017.
Whilst floodwaters won’t affect The Spire VIC until tomorrow or Wednesday, RRC Management closed The Spire VIC on Saturday afternoon and it will remain closed until at least Thursday. As their phones were only connected on Friday night, fortunately Capricorn Enterprise diverted our Rockhampton Freecall number for locals and visitors to our Yeppoon Visitor Information Centre which is open 7 days a week. Thank you to our wonderful volunteers and VIC Supervisor in Yeppoon for assisting travelers with up to date information!
NDRRA (Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements) and SDRA (State Disaster Relief Arrangements)
Information on disaster assistance available can be found on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website and the Queensland Government’s Disaster management website
For simplicity, the publicly acknowledged funding split is 75% Commonwealth, 25% State for Categories A, B and C. The funding split for Category D assistance is agreed to when the measure is approved.
ROCKHAMPTON AND CAPRICORN COAST IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS!
Whilst of course we feel for those affected by this flooding event, it is critical that people understand that the MAJORITY OF BUSINESSES in Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast (and the Keppels) are OPEN FOR BUSINESS! The sun is shining, the grass is green and the temperature is lovely.
With school holidays upon us and Easter just around the corner, our peak holiday season has already been affected by many of our source markets. All business on (and to) Great Keppel Island are OPEN, Koorana Crocodile Farm has baby croc hatching dates posted on their Facebook and all our tourism operators are ready to welcome visitors! Please continue to post up to date positive images and use official hashtags #visitcapricorn #southerngreatbarrierreef #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia
Send up to date messages to your guests, clients and colleagues to spread the correct information!
MEDIA REPORTING
Capricorn Enterprise is working hard to ensure that correct information is circulated. It is extremely disappointing that some media outlets have absolutely sensationalized the reporting on this event, like they have done time and time before.
Prior to TC Debbie last week, Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ), Crisis Communications Plan was activated – Capricorn Enterprise has been part of a daily teleconference with TEQ, QTIC (Queensland Tourism Industry Council), DTESB (Department of Tourism, Events and Small Business), Regional Tourism Organisations and Ministerial staff. The Whole of Government Response is issued daily and we are doing our best to ensure that our ‘on the ground’ information is relayed ‘up the chain.’ Thanks to our colleagues for their assistance!
SOME BACKGROUND
Post the 2011 floods, Capricorn Enterprise and CQUniversity commissioned an economic impact analysis that formed the basis of MAJOR lobbying by many of us which resulted in the former LNP State government and the Federal Coalition in committing to a 10 year Bruce Highway $10 Billion Action Plan which secured over $260 Million for the Yeppen floodplain Highway crossing and other associated planning for future road infrastructure in the Rocky region. To their credit, current Labor State and Coalition Federal governments have continued that Bruce Hwy Action Plan funding commitment and completed other major upgrades since. This road infrastructure has been a life saver in the current flood event!
I hope this information has assisted you – please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries. I will send further updates as more information comes to hand.
Kind regards,
Mary Carroll I Chief Executive Officer
Capricorn Enterprise
