Thousands join Qld floods compo push

22 May 2012, 7:36 am   -   Source: AAP

More than 3000 Queenslanders have signed up as class-action law firms pursue possible compensation over the state's deadly 2011 floods.

More than 3000 Queenslanders have signed up as class-action law firms pursue possible compensation over last year's deadly floods.

Maurice Blackburn and Slater & Gordon are investigating possible action against the Queensland government over the operation of Wivenhoe dam during the crisis.

Flood victims have long said water releases from the dam were botched and that flooding was compounded as a direct result.

The state's long running floods inquiry in March found dam operator, the government-owned SEQwater, breached the dam's operating manual during devastating floods in Brisbane, Ipswich and surrounds in January last year.

Commissioner Catherine Holmes also found there was evidence three dam engineers had colluded to pen a misleading report about how they managed water releases.

The Crime and Misconduct Commission is assessing whether the actions of the engineers warrant criminal or official misconduct charges.

Maurice Blackburn and financial backers IMF have hired two US experts as part of its effort to show there was negligence, The Courier-Mail reports.

"The strength of the claim is in the numbers," IMF's John Walker told the paper.

Maurice Blackburn and IMF will hold further public meetings in Brisbane later this month about its legal push.

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