Floods impact Suncorp Stadium again
Amongst the devastation of the extreme flooding event impacting Queensland and now New South Wales, Suncorp Stadium is one of several venues to have been impacted.
Water found its way into Brisbane’s largest stadium, as it did back in the 2011 floods, however the venue has fared better on this occasion. While the water was a full metre lower in the change rooms and stadium interior than 11 years ago, some major changes have also been made to avoid a repeat.
In the 2011 floods, muddy water covered the field, damaging the playing surface, all level 1 facilities including the dressing rooms, eight lifts, plus the electrical and other operational systems.
Since then, important services including electrical and control systems at the stadium have been relocated to higher positions in the building.
Eerie scenes at Suncorp Stadium with only the middle of the playing surface not covered in water. Overall venue has held up a lot better than 2011 floods. @9NewsQueensland pic.twitter.com/H2f81QX9hg
— Adam Jackson (@AdamJackson_9) February 28, 2022
The water has since drained from the pitch with repair works underway.
Friday’s Super Rugby match between the Fijian Drua and Melbourne Rebels has been relocated from Suncorp to Sunshine Coast Stadium, with the next scheduled event the NRL round one clash between the Brisbane Broncos and South Sydney Rabbitohs on March 11.
Ballymore was flooded, with waste-high water inundating the field, change rooms and gym, forcing the Reds to look elsewhere to train ahead of their Super Rugby match this weekend.
It’s believed Pat Rafter Arena has survived this time around after flooding back in 2011, thanks to preparation work undertaken to avoid a repeat, however water has covered the outside courts.
Smaller venues including Perry Park and Spencer Park, to name just a couple, were all under water.
As the weather system moves south, regional venues in northern New South Wales have also been impacted. Aerial photos on Tuesday showed Oakes Oval in Lismore submerged, with only the roof of the grandstand visible.
More to come.
