Flood cameras miss the mark
RESIDENTS have been flying blind in the peak of the Cairns wet season, with $100,000 worth of cameras at three flood-prone road crossings focused on the sky instead of the rising waters below.
Cairns Regional Council had flood cams installed at The Rocks Rd, Currunda Creek and Mary Parker Dr, all in Redlynch Valley, after the area was hammered by rain and inundation last year.
They have all failed their first practical test, with residents furious to learn none of the three flood cams were working yesterday.
Division 6 councillor Linda Cooper said she was as angry as the rest of the residents.
She understood there was a problem causing the cameras to send back images of the sky rather than focusing on the roads and bridges they were meant to be surveilling.
“I’m extremely disappointed,” Cr Cooper told the
Cairns Post. “I really fought for these cameras and we were so thankful when we got the funding for them.
“Considering the installation was done back in June, they should be well and truly up and running.”
A council spokesman said the camera supplier had managed to rectify the issue for two of the three pieces of equipment yesterday.
“Council has made it clear to the supplier that rectifying the fault is a priority,” the spokesman said.
“As a result, online footage for Currunda Creek and The Rocks Rd is now available on the website, but not Mary Parker Dr.
“While not all the cameras are working properly, sensors monitoring the level of Freshwater Creek, installed last year, are working and are supplying council’s disaster management unit with real-time information.
“This information is used by the disaster management unit to make decisions in an emergency and alert residents to potential flooding.”
Visit cairns.qld.gov.au/community-environment/naturaldisasters/flooding/flood-cam to see the cameras in action.
editorial@cairnspost.com.au facebook.com/TheCairnsPost www.cairnspost.com.au twitter.com/TheCairnsPost