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Commission of Inquiry into the 2010–2011 Queensland floods: Difference between revisions

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Justice Holmes described the Wivenhoe Dam's operating manual as "a bit of a mess" and that the dam should be temporarily reduced to 75% capacity if an extremely wet season is forecast.<ref name="fic"/><ref name="fiv">{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/08/01/3282782.htm?site=brisbane |title=Flood inquiry valuable and thorough: dam expert |author=Ursula Skjonnemand |accessdate=1 August 2011 |date=1 August 2011 |work=ABC Brisbane |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation }}</ref> Justice Holmes described the Wivenhoe Dam's operating manual as "a bit of a mess" and that the dam should be temporarily reduced to 75% capacity if an extremely wet season is forecast.<ref name="fic"/><ref name="fiv">{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/08/01/3282782.htm?site=brisbane |title=Flood inquiry valuable and thorough: dam expert |author=Ursula Skjonnemand |accessdate=1 August 2011 |date=1 August 2011 |work=ABC Brisbane |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation }}</ref>


==Weekend hearings==
<ref>{{cite web|last=Holmes|first=Justice Catherine|title=Remarks by Justice Catherine Holmes|url=http://www.floodcommission.qld.gov.au/announcements/remarks-by-justice-catherine-holmes|publisher=QFCI|accessdate=16 February 2012}}</ref>==Weekend hearings==
On 5 and 6 February 2012 the Commission conducted a weekend sitting to hear new evidence related to Wivenhoe Dam operators.<ref name="wdo">{{Cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/queensland-floods/dam-managers-didnt-record-manual-use/story-fn7iwx3v-1226262696304 |title=Wivenhoe Dam's operators didn't record manual use during Brisbane floods |author=Jared Owens |accessdate=5 February 2012 |date=4 February 2012 |newspaper=The Australian |publisher=News Limited }}</ref> Senior flood engineers who were managing the dam during the floods were accused of disregarding the dam's operation manual and of misleading the inquiry.<ref name="gstf">{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-07/government-scrambles-to-find-dam-engineers/3814832 |title=Government scrambles to find dam engineers |author= |accessdate=7 February 2012 |date=7 February 2012 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation }}</ref> On 5 and 6 February 2012 the Commission conducted a weekend sitting to hear new evidence related to Wivenhoe Dam operators.<ref name="wdo">{{Cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/queensland-floods/dam-managers-didnt-record-manual-use/story-fn7iwx3v-1226262696304 |title=Wivenhoe Dam's operators didn't record manual use during Brisbane floods |author=Jared Owens |accessdate=5 February 2012 |date=4 February 2012 |newspaper=The Australian |publisher=News Limited }}</ref> Senior flood engineers who were managing the dam during the floods were accused of disregarding the dam's operation manual and of misleading the inquiry.<ref name="gstf">{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-07/government-scrambles-to-find-dam-engineers/3814832 |title=Government scrambles to find dam engineers |author= |accessdate=7 February 2012 |date=7 February 2012 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation }}</ref>


On the 6 February, it was announced by Holmes that deputy commissioner Philip Cummins would not attend future hearings involving ] or take his advice on the topic.<ref name="fiac">{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-05/wivenhoe-engineers-deny-cover-up-claims/3811804 |title=Flood inquiry addresses conflict of interest claims |author= |accessdate=7 February 2012 |date=5 February 2012 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation }}</ref> So as to avoid the perception of a conflict of interest the decision was made after it was made public that Cummins would, when the inquiry was complete, take work with a consultant who had separately been engaged by be Seqwater. On the 6 February, it was announced by Holmes that deputy commissioner Philip Cummins would not attend future hearings involving ] or take his advice on the topic.<ref name="fiac">{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-05/wivenhoe-engineers-deny-cover-up-claims/3811804 |title=Flood inquiry addresses conflict of interest claims |author= |accessdate=7 February 2012 |date=5 February 2012 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation }}</ref> So as to avoid the perception of a conflict of interest the decision was made after it was made public that Cummins would, when the inquiry was complete, take work with a consultant who had separately been engaged by Seqwater.<ref>{{cite web|last=Holmes|first=Justice Catherine|title=Remarks by Justice Catherine Holmes|url=http://www.floodcommission.qld.gov.au/announcements/remarks-by-justice-catherine-holmes|publisher=QFCI|accessdate=16 February 2012}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==

Revision as of 20:41, 16 February 2012

The Commission of Inquiry into the Queensland floods is an Australian inquiry set up by Queensland Premier Anna Bligh to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deadly 2010-2011 Queensland floods. The independent Inquiry will be headed by Justice Cate Holmes and is expected to cost A$15 million. Holmes will examine the disaster, government preparedness and the emergency response.

The Inquiry will be able to summon witnesses, demand documents and issue search warrants. The final report was initially due on the 17 January 2012. This was extended into February due to the quantity of material which has to be processed and analysed. The deadline for submissions was extended to 15 June to allow for submissions related to insurance companies to be included.

The Commission asked independent hydrological expert Mark Babister to investigate the operation of Wivenhoe Dam during the flood period. He found the operators had achieved nearly the best possible flood mitigation effort. The report states that 59% of the downstream flooding was caused by water releases from the dam.

Interim report

An interim report was handed down on 1 August 2011. This report focused on flood preparedness issues so that any appropriate steps may be taken before the next wet season. The 250-page document contained more than 150 recommendations.

Justice Holmes described the Wivenhoe Dam's operating manual as "a bit of a mess" and that the dam should be temporarily reduced to 75% capacity if an extremely wet season is forecast.

Weekend hearings

On 5 and 6 February 2012 the Commission conducted a weekend sitting to hear new evidence related to Wivenhoe Dam operators. Senior flood engineers who were managing the dam during the floods were accused of disregarding the dam's operation manual and of misleading the inquiry.

On the 6 February, it was announced by Holmes that deputy commissioner Philip Cummins would not attend future hearings involving Seqwater or take his advice on the topic. So as to avoid the perception of a conflict of interest the decision was made after it was made public that Cummins would, when the inquiry was complete, take work with a consultant who had separately been engaged by Seqwater.

See also

References

  1. ^ Daniel Hurst (17 January 2011). "Premier launches flood inquiry". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  2. "Queensland's flood inquiry: the terms of reference". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. 17 January 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  3. ^ Maria Hatzakis (27 May 2011). "Inquiry extends time for flood victims' insurance submissions". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  4. Kym Agius (28 July 2011). "Report backs dam engineers". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  5. Daniel Hurst (1 August 2011). "Queensland flood inquiry to release first report today". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  6. ^ "Flood inquiry calls for lowering of dam level". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 August 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  7. Ursula Skjonnemand (1 August 2011). "Flood inquiry valuable and thorough: dam expert". ABC Brisbane. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  8. Jared Owens (4 February 2012). "Wivenhoe Dam's operators didn't record manual use during Brisbane floods". The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  9. "Government scrambles to find dam engineers". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 7 February 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  10. "Flood inquiry addresses conflict of interest claims". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 5 February 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  11. Holmes, Justice Catherine. "Remarks by Justice Catherine Holmes". QFCI. Retrieved 16 February 2012.

External links

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