Brisbane City Council never prosecuted a business for filling a creek without authorisation 20 years ago, nor required it to be cleared, despite hydrologists warning the earthworks “significantly increased” the flood risk to adjacent homes.
The council first investigated the issue in 2003, and by 2006, had kept documents suggesting the property’s then owner told a council compliance officer the creek was filled in to “improve drainage”., council chief executive Colin Jensen told local councillor Nicole Johnston there had been “unauthorised filling in the waterway”.
Local MP Mark Bailey has asked Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner for an immediate investigation into the Yeronga flooding.Local MP Mark Bailey, Queensland’s transport minister, inspected the site and in June wrote to Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner to call for the landfill to be investigated and any drainage issues rectified.
“The alleged responsible parties were educated on the rules regarding filling, and the matter finalised,” Adams wrote.Residents have advice from hydrologists Storm Water Consulting that the fill increased the flood risk to their upstream homes.“Our Tuflow computer modelling clearly illustrates that the filling on 133 Hyde Road is blocking the stormwater runoff from the local upstream catchment.
The land at 133 Hyde Road was, until 2014, owned by the Moxon family, who ran a timber mill. The land was then sold to Ron Baldwin and Fred Drake. Tony Moxon could not be contacted through the family’s new company, Hurford Wholesale, and is believed to be overseas. Ron Baldwin’s son, David, is site manager and company secretary of the company that now owns and operates Yeronga Commercial Park.