CQ Universities multipurpose sports complex transforms yet again
The floods forced the evacuation of thousands of people from towns and cities. At least seventy towns and over 200,000 people were affected with three-quarters of the state of Queensland being declared a disaster zone.
Communities along the Fitzroy and Burnett Rivers were particularly hard hit, while the Condamine, Ballone and Mary Rivers recorded substantial flooding. An unexpected flash flood raced through Toowoomba's central business district before devastating communities in the Lockyer Valley. A few days later thousands of houses in Ipswich and Brisbane were inundated as the Brisbane River rose and Wivenhoe Dam used a considerable proportion of its flood mitigation capacity. Volunteers were quick to offer assistance and sympathy was expressed from afar.
Central Queensland Universities Rockhampton Campus was transformed into an evacuation centre by CQU staff, Australian Red Cross volunteers and members of the Local Disaster Management Group, welcoming displaced locals and providing temporary accommodation for around 700 people. The basketball courts were also used as an animal rescue centre.
Looking at the venue today, transformed yet again with Effuzi’s ‘Axor’ Telescopic Seating System having a capacity of 1960 spectators seated on ‘Albany’ stadia tilt seats you could be forgiven for forgetting the terrible scenes experienced only months ago that now seem to pale into the distant past.