Ipswich On Alert During Heavy Rain

THE deluge of rain which drenched south-east Queensland this week causing localised flooding has left many Ipswich residents on edge.

Seqwater released water from Wivenhoe Dam at 10am after a day of heavy rain which dropped 137mm at Springfield Lakes.

Water was released from one gate at Wivenhoe Dam, at 350 cubic metres per second, to reduce the capacity back to "full" supply level within seven days.

The dam received 68mm of rain on Tuesday.

The releases were expected to impact on Twin Bridges, Savages Crossing and Colleges Crossing until next Monday.

Water entered properties adjacent to a 100-unit development on Albert St, Goodna, and the SES were filling sand bags yesterday in anticipation of more rain.

The excess water dislocated a fence, but Councillor Paul Tully was assured by the builders that all damage would be rectified by week's end.

Jones Rd at Goodna was under half a metre of water on Tuesday and a fallen tree closed Brisbane Tce

Bureau of Meteorology weather forecaster Geoff Doueal said the system which dumped the heavy rain across south-east Queensland had moved out to sea yesterday afternoon.

But storms and showers are predicted for the rest of the week, which potentially could produce significant rainfall.

"If we do see a storm pass over a place it is likely to have heavy falls," he said.

"There will not be as much rain around as we have had. We'll see the odd shower in the later part of the week. The rain will not be as heavy."

SES Ipswich area controller Arie van den Ende said there were a steady number of calls for SES to fix leaky roofs.

"There are a lot of edgy people, and I can understand that. They are not sure which way it's going to go," he said.

Cr Tully called for community calm as the rain continued to fall.

"There is likely to be flooding across the roads, but it is nothing like the 2011 floods at this stage," he said.

"There is nowhere near the same amount of water. The water will be in the usual hot spots."

Seqwater said no releases from Somerset Dam into Wivenhoe Dam had begun, but it was expected releases would commence today.

BIG WET

• Wivenhoe Dam was at 76.4% capacity yesterday.
• Seqwater says releases will not affect suburban areas.
• Bellbird Park received 124mm of rain and Carole Park 150mm to 9am yesterday.

Australia Day 'Most important' for Nation

AN overwhelming majority of Australians have nominated Australia Day as the most significant day on the national calendar.

Almost nine in 10 people plan to celebrate the national holiday commemorating the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 in some way, a survey by the National Australia Day Council shows.

It found 93 per cent of people named Australia Day as a day of importance - more than any other national celebration.

More than five million Australians plan to attend public events on January 26 including breakfasts, concerts, fireworks and celebrations of indigenous culture.

Council chief executive Warren Pearson said today the survey found many people felt celebrating Australia Day fulfilled a need to be part of a national community.

"Whether it be through attending major events, taking part in a local community celebration or simply getting your friends and family together, Australia Day plays a significant role in our sense of belonging, unity and identity," he said in a statement.

Australia Day 'Most important' for Nation

Celebrate Australia Day 2012 at all Ipswich Swim Centres

IPSWICH Australia Day Celebrations will be extended from Bundamba Swim Centre to all Council owned pools as part of the extended flood recovery.

Mayor Paul Pisasale said it was decided just last week to extend Australia Day celebrations throughout Ipswich as part of the recovery from last year's devastating floods.

"Free family fun days will be held at all Swim Centres although the smaller pools at Leichhardt, Goodna and Rosewood will have entry numbers controlled to a maximum of around 250 for safety reasons.

"We commemorated a year of recovery from the flood last week with the unveiling of two monuments and this is just something we felt we could do for the community on Australia Day."

Parks, Sport and recreation Committee Chairperson, Councillor David Morrison said Australia Day celebrations had been held at Council Swim Centres since 1997.

"These celebrations have normally taken the form of a community pool party at Bundamba Swim Centre where up to 1600 people have enjoyed the free community activities.

"It is great to this year be able to extend this to the other Council owned swim centres.

"The basic objective has always been to showcase the Ipswich City Council's swim centres and an active community in the city.

"It displays to the community that Council is interested in providing and operating well-maintained centres that encourage leisure patronage as well as competitive use."

Cr Morrison said the Australia Day celebration in 2011 was supported by Ipswich City Rotary Club and a number of sponsor companies donating goods on the day which were used as give-aways.

"Although the major celebrations will remain at Bundamba where around 1600 people turn out each year, the lessees at Goodna and Rosewood and Leichhardt have agreed to include their centres in Australia Day celebrations as well.

"The smaller pools have offered the community free entry on Australia Day in the past with huge success, but I hope more people join in the true blue celebration of the event this year with prizes on offer nearly all day as part of the flood recovery effort."

Cr Morrison said the pool lessees were offering some tremendous prizes on the day.

"We have some wonderful swim centres across Ipswich and these are absolutely wonderful incentives and reason enough for anyone to turn up at the pool on Australia Day, January 26."

Celebrate Australia Day 2012 at all Ipswich Swim Centres

Ipswich CBD Set to Change - Ipswich Events QLD

IT LOOKS like a bomb site now but the stripped look of Ipswich City Square is a sure sign its monumental redevelopment is under way.

The demolition of the building on the corner of Brisbane and Bell Sts heralds the awesome $1 billion rebirth of Ipswich's heart.

It also means Ipswich residents should get used to the sight of cranes and massive machinery, with work scheduled for years.

Add the new Coles superstore just down the road and the extent of Ipswich's CBD makeover is even more noticeable.

But the Ipswich City Square redevelopment - dubbed Icon Ipswich - has been called the biggest renewal in Ipswich's history.

"The first development will be completed in 2013 with other individual developments being planned and developed progressively," Ipswich City Properties chairman Paul Tully said. "The entire project could take up to 20 years to be completely developed but it should be substantially completed in the next 10 years or so."

The first stage of developer Leighton Properties' $1 billion Icon Ipswich project is a nine-storey office tower.

But first the old Ipswich City Square has to be demolished.

Leighton Properties development manager Bradley Norris said demolition was progressing well and should be finished by early next month.

Mr Norris said gantries and site hoarding including project signage would be erected late this month and bulk excavation would start late next month.

Paul Tully said that meant the development was "on-track as planned".

"There has been little traffic or pedestrian disruption in the heart of the city and I remain confident this new project will be the start of the biggest renewal in the city since Ipswich became a municipality in 1860," he said.

The multi-stage reconstruction will span four CBD blocks, incorporating 170,000 square metres of commercial, retail, residential and public space.

The tower, which contains 18,000 sq m of office space and 200 car parks, was sold to property fund manager Cromwell for $93 million.

At its public launch, Leighton Properties managing director Mark Gray said Cromwell's purchase showed the confidence in the Icon project.

"Once completed, the Icon Ipswich master plan will restore the CBD as the pre-eminent commercial, civic and cultural centre for Ipswich and the western heartland," Mr Gray said.

Just before Christmas Cromwell launched a property trust to finance the construction of the new city heart centrepiece.

Conferences Ipswich, QLD: Conference Factsheet - Metro Hotel Ipswich International

mhii-2012-conference-factsheet -

Metro Hotel Ipswich International boasts several different function rooms, each room individual in their style and layout. We can cater for small groups from 2 guests to large groups of 450 guests.

See the Groups and Meetings Page on Metro Hotel Ipswch International's website

Conference Factsheet - Metro Hotel Ipswich International

What a difference a year makes!

Twelve months ago Ipswich was almost totally under water from the devastating floods that ripped through the Locky


Today is a very different story. The city and its residents are set to swelter with temperature set to reach near 40 degree Celsius.