Ipswich’s hardest hit suburbs launch dedicated community flood guides

Published on 30 September 2026

Seven Ipswich suburbs with some of the city’s highest flood risk will now have dedicated, community-built tools to help them be better prepared for future flood events thanks to new Community Flood Awareness Guides.

Local Disaster Management Group Chair, Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the release of these guides marks a significant milestone in Ipswich’s ongoing resilience work.

“Guides for high-risk suburbs of Brassall, Bundamba, Gailes, Goodna, Grandchester, Karalee/Barellan Point/Chuwar and North Booval were shaped by those local communities through their feedback,” Mayor Harding said.

“These guides arrive after years of hardship and recovery. Flood waters in 2022 damaged almost 600 homes, 300 local businesses, more than 250 vehicles, and caused losses of livestock, livelihoods and stability across our city.

“For many residents, the impacts didn’t end when the water receded with long‑term displacement, uninhabitable homes and lengthy rebuilds.

“Flooding in Ipswich is a reality we have faced time again, and for these suburbs, the risk is higher and the path to recovery is longer. Each of these suburbs has a unique landscape and listening to the voices of locals who understand the area was crucial.

“No two communities face the same flood behaviour. The landscape in Grandchester is not the landscape in Goodna. The challenges in Bundamba are not the challenges in Karalee or Barellan Point.

“These guides include tailored evacuation considerations, localised flood behaviour insights, historical impacts, and clear actions residents can take before, during and after severe weather.

“They also reinforce the importance of staying informed through council’s real‑time flood cameras and emergency updates. The guides are a powerful tool, honouring the experiences of our residents and give each community the tools it needs to be safer, stronger and better prepared when the next flood comes.”

Environment and Sustainability Committee Chairperson Councillor Jim Madden said flood events have the ability to bring the city to a standstill.

“Flood events can cause significant social, environmental and economic impacts,” Cr Madden said.

“Understanding the risks and preparing ahead of time are key to effectively dealing with flood events when they hit and these guides empower residents to take relevant actions.

“I encourage all residents who live in or visit these areas regularly to read over the Community Flood Awareness Guides and consider what actions they can take to help themselves and our community be better prepared.

“Thank you to each community member who took the time to contribute to this important project.”

The project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

For more information, visit Shapeyouripswich.com.au