The case looms large for a genetic re-engineering of humans to enable them to crawl back into the oceans of the planet from whence they came, to continue an existence safely equipped with scales and gills; maybe creatures resembling mermaids and mermen of mythology for example, thus transposing the swollen Brisbane river into a joyous playground and flooded underground car parks of major shopping centres, no longer the tomb of the innocent, but a cave of aquatic wonderment to explore.

I think one way of preventing future flooding in River Cities is to actually/gradually dig an alternative trench around the city perimeter. There could be canals to take up the volume whilst providing much sought after river frontage property. This water could be used for industry & in the event of another flood the gates can be opened to accommodate the flow.
It could be a win win situation & a solution paid for by private investment.

I raised all of those types of concepts to my teenage son this evening Individual and his response: 'of no use Mum' and listed the problems and facts surrounding all concepts. He's a lateral thinker and finds solutions to any problems on the farm from building dams for other people, fixing machinery, sowing and harvesting crops, along with doing his carpentry work.

Reservoirs, canals, second and third dams near major city rivers, pipes underground to channel water to the sea, suggested every idea that most state engineers would have looked at over the years.

Ditto the Murrumbidgee running alongside the Wagga main street. They face and have faced the same problems since the town/city now was built running along the banks of the Murrumbidgee. Ditto Gundagai and many other Australian towns and cities.

I gather that new innovations will shortly be forthcoming.

Seems obvious to me, as I watch images of new houses in Brisbane built in known flood zones, with flood water approaching the roof line, that Bjelky Peterson is not dead.

Where are the accepted planning laws applicable in civilized communities around Australia, demanding recognition of major flood heights in planning approvals, being applied in Queensland?

Get on board!

PS:

And, oh yes, the other sad observation in Toowoomba floods; (Shock-Horror) A sub-basement car park at a shopping centre in the CBD built under creek level!

Queenslanders have a definite need to escape their “back-hander” mentality, a legacy from the dark past of “cronyism” still so obviously entwined in Government mentality all the way to the local level, if the above example serves correctly

diver dan,
I think if you took the time to check you'll find that much of the damaged infrastructure was designed, built & owned by southern investors.
As for Joh well, he was a kind of southerner too being a bit of a kiwi.
This really is not the time or place to harp on about ridiculous arguments. I just feel that this is a time for making sober decisions re using all available resources a the least possible cost & that's why I am advocating national service for young people. It will after all be the young who will inherit what we put there now from infrastructure to discipline to a sense of being part of a real community not just on facebook.