Four years on, a strong plan is needed for future floods by Brigid Simeoni IT IS hard to believe four years have passed since Ipswich was struck by a flood that would have a lasting impact on the city and thousands of lives.

Following the January 2011 disaster there were homes destroyed, families left with nothing, insurance battles and a long rebuilding and recovery journey for many across the region.

During this devastating time the city's community spirit shone through and people banded together to show their support for flood victims picking up the pieces.

Four years down the track, it is vital that the city is best prepared for another disaster of this magnitude.

The findings of a flood mitigation study released last month recommended building two new dams in the region and raising Wivenhoe Dam to better protect Ipswich families from major floods.

It is hoped the proposed measures would save hundreds of properties in the event of a flood like the one experienced in 2011.

For the sake of protecting lives, homes and businesses in the area, we need to get it right.
[null, {"document_url": "https://www.qt.com.au/news/four-years-on-a-strong-plan-is-needed-for-future-f/2507281/", "unformatted_src": "https://media.apnarm.net.au/account/2/2813/brigid1-bvbg0sbv710wl3z79i2_ct30x30.jpg", "src": "https://media.apnarm.net.au/account/2/2813/brigid1-bvbg0sbv710wl3z79i2_ct30x30.jpg", "formatted_filename": "brigid bvbg sbv wl z i ct", "alt_text": "Brigid Simeoni", "rendered_width": 30, "rendered_height": 30}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.qt.com.au/news/four-years-on-a-strong-plan-is-needed-for-future-f/2507281/", "unformatted_src": "https://media.apnarm.net.au/account/2/2813/brigid1-bvbg0sbv710wl3z79i2_ct80x80.jpg", "src": "https://media.apnarm.net.au/account/2/2813/brigid1-bvbg0sbv710wl3z79i2_ct80x80.jpg", "formatted_filename": "brigid bvbg sbv wl z i ct", "alt_text": "Brigid Simeoni", "rendered_width": 80, "rendered_height": 80}, null, null, {"document_url": "https://www.qt.com.au/news/four-years-on-a-strong-plan-is-needed-for-future-f/2507281/", "unformatted_src": "https://media.apnarm.net.au/categories/main/sports_afl_325x201_ct90x70.jpg", "src": "https://media.apnarm.net.au/categories/main/sports_afl_325x201_ct90x70.jpg", "formatted_filename": "sports afl ct", "alt_text": "\u2018Tell Hawks they\u2019re dreamin\u2019: AFL champs", "rendered_width": 90, "rendered_height": 70}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.qt.com.au/news/four-years-on-a-strong-plan-is-needed-for-future-f/2507281/", "unformatted_src": "https://media.apnarm.net.au/media/images/2018/10/15/imagev17d80fac02c1b0c215d01ca899ae0e90a-cf864llvlfal3j9h4r2_ct90x70.jpg", "src": "https://media.apnarm.net.au/media/images/2018/10/15/imagev17d80fac02c1b0c215d01ca899ae0e90a-cf864llvlfal3j9h4r2_ct90x70.jpg", "formatted_filename": "imagev d fac c b c d ca ae e a cf llvlfal j h r ct", "alt_text": "Kent: Manly and Des do the unthinkable", "rendered_width": 90, "rendered_height": 70}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.qt.com.au/news/four-years-on-a-strong-plan-is-needed-for-future-f/2507281/", "unformatted_src": "https://media.apnarm.net.au/media/images/2018/10/15/imagev15ede5a040a67da1c6fb99b6f76f1db9a-bsk85mqmc9ydp2dh4r2_ct90x70.jpg", "src": "https://media.apnarm.net.au/media/images/2018/10/15/imagev15ede5a040a67da1c6fb99b6f76f1db9a-bsk85mqmc9ydp2dh4r2_ct90x70.jpg", "formatted_filename": "imagev ede a a da c fb b f f db a bsk mqmc ydp dh r ct", "alt_text": "Sydney FC dealt massive blow on eve of the season", "rendered_width": 90, "rendered_height": 70}, null, null, {"document_url": "https://www.qt.com.au/news/four-years-on-a-strong-plan-is-needed-for-future-f/2507281/", "unformatted_src": "https://media.apnarm.net.au/media/images/2018/10/15/b881621104z1_20181015152355_000gm019fl9s2-0-75u78n8epca55fzg4r2_ct677x380.jpg", "src": "https://media.apnarm.net.au/media/images/2018/10/15/b881621104z1_20181015152355_000gm019fl9s2-0-75u78n8epca55fzg4r2_ct677x380.jpg", "formatted_filename": "b z gm fl s u n epca fzg r ct", "alt_text": "Council's 20 new young advisors meet for the first time", "rendered_width": 677, "rendered_height": 380}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.qt.com.au/news/four-years-on-a-strong-plan-is-needed-for-future-f/2507281/", "unformatted_src": "https://media.apnarm.net.au/media/images/2018/10/15/43879105_10156994875175362_1002388784987242496_n-jtjvdyv9q065t80h4r2_ct90x70.jpg", "src": "https://media.apnarm.net.au/media/images/2018/10/15/43879105_10156994875175362_1002388784987242496_n-jtjvdyv9q065t80h4r2_ct90x70.jpg", "formatted_filename": "n jtjvdyv q t h r ct", "alt_text": "Owners of missing husky believe someone has her", "rendered_width": 90, "rendered_height": 70}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.qt.com.au/news/four-years-on-a-strong-plan-is-needed-for-future-f/2507281/", "unformatted_src": "https://media.apnarm.net.au/media/images/2018/06/13/imagev1728066e282223f2f37186def506392be-mkkgpp7hhngmu87kfq2_ct90x70.jpg", "src": "https://media.apnarm.net.au/media/images/2018/06/13/imagev1728066e282223f2f37186def506392be-mkkgpp7hhngmu87kfq2_ct90x70.jpg", "formatted_filename": "imagev e f f def be mkkgpp hhngmu kfq ct", "alt_text": "Robbery accused refused bail despite medical, physio needs", "rendered_width": 90, "rendered_height": 70}, null, {"document_url": "https://www.qt.com.au/news/four-years-on-a-strong-plan-is-needed-for-future-f/2507281/", "unformatted_src": "https://media.apnarm.net.au/media/images/2018/10/01/imagev15fe8192542f84f58ab4373ab4c7a7783-rmuyn17c5j1jdmxo1r2_ct90x70.jpg", "src": "https://media.apnarm.net.au/media/images/2018/10/01/imagev15fe8192542f84f58ab4373ab4c7a7783-rmuyn17c5j1jdmxo1r2_ct90x70.jpg", "formatted_filename": "imagev fe f f ab ab c a rmuyn c j jdmxo r ct", "alt_text": "'Get well Constable Peter': Preps rally for injured officer", "rendered_width": 90, "rendered_height": 70}, null]