ALMOST 600 homes were damaged and hundreds of businesses hit when floods tore through Ipswich in 2022.
Now seven of the city’s highest-risk communities are being armed with suburb-specific information to prepare for the next major event.
New Community Flood Awareness Guides have been released for Brassall, Bundamba, Gailes, Goodna, Grandchester and North Booval, along with Karalee, Barellan Point and Chuwar.
Rather than taking a city-wide approach, the guides have been developed around the different risks facing each community, using feedback and local knowledge from residents who have experienced flooding first-hand.
The move comes four years after the 2022 floods damaged almost 600 homes, 300 businesses and more than 250 vehicles across Ipswich, while also causing losses of livestock, livelihoods and widespread disruption.
Ipswich Mayor and Local Disaster Management Group Chair Teresa Harding said those experiences had helped shape the new approach to flood preparedness.
“Flooding in Ipswich is a reality we have faced time again, and for these suburbs, the risk is higher and the path to recovery is longer,” Mayor Harding said.
The guides provide residents with information specific to their area, including historical flood impacts, local flood behaviour and evacuation considerations.
Environment and Sustainability Committee Chair Councillor Jim Madden said preparation remained one of the most important defences against the disruption caused by flooding.
“Understanding the risks and preparing ahead of time are key to effectively dealing with flood events when they hit and these guides empower residents to take relevant actions,” Cr Madden said.
