Page 6114 - Week 14 - Thursday, 9 December 2010
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The ACT SES has also undertaken a doorknocking and advisory role to residents in the Oaks Estate area. There were concerns that the Oaks Estate area could be subject to flooding as a result of the flood surge coming down the Queanbeyan and Molonglo rivers from upstream of Queanbeyan. At this point in time there has been no evacuation and at this stage it is not anticipated that there will be an evacuation of the Oaks Estate area. Approximately 100 residents are in situ at Oaks Estate and the SES are keeping that situation under review.
I understand the SES, in consultation with other emergency agencies and ACT government agencies, are also closely watching the flood surge as it moves down the Molonglo River into Lake Burley Griffin. At this stage I am not advised of any threat to any residential premises in the vicinity of the Molonglo River below Oaks Estate. However, we are keeping a close eye on the situation, as are Actew and the National Capital Authority.
I am aware that some initial planning is occurring in relation to Clare Holland House which is obviously, as members would be aware, on the Molonglo close to Lake Burley Griffin. At this stage there has been no need to take any action in relation to Clare Holland House but the situation remains under review.
I would like to express my thanks, and I am sure all members would join with me in expressing my thanks, for the work of the volunteers in the ACT State Emergency Service. They have been on the job now for a very extended period of time, pretty much on and off for the last week, and they have done an outstanding job. They have been supported in those efforts by further work by volunteers from the ACT Rural Fire Service. Again, I extend my thanks to them and to the members of ACT Policing and the ACT Fire Brigade who have also been very busy during this time.
Obviously we will keep the situation under review but at this stage I am pleased to report no significant issues in terms of flooding affecting the ACT community, aside from the individual circumstances of flooding around premises and private homes, which I referred to earlier. I trust that the SES will continue to work to respond to those issues as quickly as possible.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Mr Hargreaves?
MR HARGREAVES: Thanks very much, Mr Speaker. Minister, how have recent flooding issues over the border affected operations here in the ACT and how much assistance are we providing over in Queanbeyan?
MR CORBELL: I thank Mr Hargreaves for the supplementary. At this point in time, the ACT SES have deployed resources to assist their Queanbeyan colleagues in the flooding in Queanbeyan. At this point in time, two ACT SES crews and three ACT RFS crews have been deployed to Queanbeyan to provide assistance with evacuation, sandbagging and pumping, as required, of flooded areas. Liaison officers from the SES, the ACT Ambulance Service and ACT Policing have also been deployed to the New South Wales State Emergency Operations Centre located at the Queanbeyan SES headquarters. They are providing liaison and support to their New South Wales counterparts as the flood event continues to occur in Queanbeyan.
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