37
PRESS STATEMENT NO. 376
21 November, 1974
BRISBANE FLOOD MITIGATION
The Prime Minister, Mr. Whitlam, said today that
flood mitigation works in Brisbane had been delayed by the
Queensland Government's failure to co-operate with the
Australian Government.
In a written reply to a question from Senator
K.* Martin ( Queensland), Mr. Whitlam said: " As long ago as
23 March 1973 1 emphasised that the provision of detailed
information was essential to our decision.
" That information has still not been provided by
the Queensland Government.
" As soon as explicit proposals are submitted by the
Queensland Government the Australian Government will be in
a position to take prompt decisions on a case by case basis."
Mr. Whitlam said he shared the concern felt by
many members and senators at the long delay before mitigation
works could be undertaken.
Mr. Whitlam said he first drew attention to the
flood danger in Brisbane when speaking at a civic reception
there on 23 March 1973.
At that time he stated: Brisbane has a special problem with
the flooding caused by cyclonic rains on the Breakfast,
Enoggera, Oxley, and Norman Creeks and Kedron Brook and
urban development in the flood plains of these waterways.
This has been a matter. of concern for the Brisbane City
Council and the State Government.
" Sir Gordon Chalk, while Acting Premier, wrote to me
in December 1972 and asked, among other matters, about
assistance for the City Council for a'flood mitigation
scheme. He said the proposed scheme was under expert
investigation and that when plans were completed it
was intended to ask for Commonwealth financial assistance.
I understand that the report arising from this investigation
was completed in the last week or so.
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" The Australian Government has not previously taken
part in schemes of precisely this kind...
" Nevertheless, we shall look into the question of
financial assistance. To do so, however, the
Australian Government will need all relevant information,
including the physical and economic facts,
before a decision can be taken.
" My Government is therefore prepared to lend its
expertise and resources to assist in a study of this
matter. We shall be willing to participate at the
official level in a joint working party with officials
of the State and Brisbane City Council to examine the
problem as a whole."
Mr. Whitlam siad that on 16 November 1973 the Premier of
Queensland asked the Australian Government to participate in the
whole flood mitigation scheme for Brisbane on the basis that the
Australian Government should contribute 40% of the cost, the
Queensland Government 40% and the Brisbane City Council 20%. On
9 September 1974 he suggested that the Australian Government
should meet the whole cost of the flood mitigation component of the
proposed Wivenhoe Dam.
Mr. Whitlam said the Premier's requests for assistance had been
closely considered by the Australian Government but they had been
prevented from making any recommendations by the lack of information.
" Information as the type of works, their timing, costs, and
likely benefits is essential to any financial decision by the
Australian Government, he said.
" We have made repeated requests at official level to the
Queensland Government to furnish firm works proposals on which
we could base decisions.
" On 4 July, 1974 the Department of Urban and Regional
Development put to Queensland officials a timetable which envisaged
firm proposals being put to the Australian Government in October.
" A number of proposals have been received in the past few
weeks but they constitute firm proposals in respect of Enoggera/
Breakfast Creek only."
CANBERRA, A. C. T.