Boats seek safety

Fitzroy Motor Boat Club commodore Wayne Clifford says the club has advised club members to move their boats as a strong surge makes its way down the Fitzroy.

Chris Ison

THE Fitzroy Motor Boat Club doesn't want to see another repeat of last year's devastation and is taking all measures to prevent it.

Rockhampton's Fitzroy was a strong surge of brown water yesterday, and although the city is not underwater like towns further west and south-west, boats had to be moved to safer spots along the river over the weekend.

Club commodore Wayne Clifford said although the river was not expected to flood, debris in the fast-flowing river could cause significant damage to vessels.

"We have put an evacuation plan in place, and we judge that by how high Riverslea gets," Mr Clifford said yesterday.

"We divide that height by three, which will be what the Fitzroy level will be, and then give it three and a half days until it will get to here.

"We notified our members on Friday and Saturday and advised them to move to a safer spot, which is just near Devil's Elbow, and most of the debris goes to the other side of the river at that point."

Wayne said he wanted to give as much warning to members as possible as the water was rising fairly steeply over the weekend.

The club was a recipient of last year's Mayoress Regional Charity Foundation Flood Appeal, with $15,000 going towards the club's repairs, after losing a lot of equipment during the 2011 floods.

A Bureau of Meteorology spokesman said yesterday that although the river level had risen due to the barrage opening its gates, there was no major flooding expected for Rockhampton.

HIGH WATERS

• Fitzroy R at Riverslea: Was at 9.31m and rising at 12pm yesterday.
• Fitzroy R at The Gap: Was at 7.52 and rising at 10am yesterday.
• Fitzroy R at Yaamba: Was at 6.45 and rising at 9am yesterday.
• Fitzroy R at Laurel Bank: Was at 0.66 and rising at 8.20am yesterday.