Cyclone victims invited to tell stories

An investigation into the operation of the Callide Dam during Cyclone Marcia will review whether previous recommendations were implemented.

A playground is inundated with flood water

A probe into the operation of the Callide Dam during Cyclone Marcia wants to hear from victims. (AAP)

Central Queensland cyclone and flood victims are being asked to speak up as part of a probe examining the controversial operation of Callide Dam during Cyclone Marcia.

The review, requested by the Queensland government, will scrutinise the operation of the dam in the lead up to and during the natural disaster on February 20.

Residents of Jambin, Biloela and Goovigen are angry that water was not released from the dam before the category five system slammed into the Queensland coast.

Callide Dam rose swiftly to 90 per cent capacity, triggering automatic releases which lead to a two-metre-high wall of water that flooded homes and businesses, killed livestock and flattened crops.

The Inspector General of Emergency Management, Iain MacKenzie, will travel to the Banana Shire on Wednesday.

"It's about first of all for me, getting out and into that community and seeing first hand the issues that have occurred," he told AAP.

Callide Dam's operation was reviewed after the 2013 flood and the current probe will consider whether subsequent recommendations were implemented.

But Mr MacKenzie said the review wasn't only concerned with dam operators, Sunwater.

"Every dam has an emergency action plan so clearly we want to see if that was followed and whether that was appropriate," he said.

"We want to look at whether that emergency action plan was integrated with the local disaster management group and that they were aware of it, and that all parties were working to one common plan."

Mr MacKenzie will take public submissions and has already been in contact with affected residents, inviting them to local meetings.

"I'm very keen to speak to them," he said.

The probe will also consider issues with telecommunications.

Banana Shire mayor Ron Carige was left fuming after the local disaster co-ordination centre was unable to communicate due to phone and internet outages.

Mr MacKenzie said those issues may have also slowed down warnings to residents in the path of flood water.

Sunwater has previously defended its actions during the cyclone, saying it was a "one-in-a-10,000-year flood event."

The review will be handed to Emergency Services Minister Jo-Ann Miller by May 22.


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Source: AAP


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