AFL Queensland’s lavish new training and administration centre in Brisbane has been inundated with water barely three months after it was opened.
Wednesday, 12 January, 2011
AFL Queensland’s lavish new training and administration centre in Brisbane has been inundated with water barely three months after it was opened.
The ground level of the three-story building has water right through it tonight as flood waters spread through the State capital, and storage sheds, amenities buildings and the old Yeronga FC clubhouse have little more than their roof protruding above the water line.
AFLQ CEO Richard Griffiths today visited the site, located adjacent to the Brisbane River, to present the tragic report on what is just a small part of south-east Queensland’s greatest ever natural disaster.
He described the proud new headquarters of AFL Queensland as “an inland sea” but at least was able to confirm that all equipment and resources normally on the ground floor of the AFLQ QTAC had been moved to the second floor, which was not expected to be affected by rising flood waters.
Even more importantly, Griffiths confirmed that all AFLQ staff members state-wide were safe and well, including David O’Leary, who lives in the badly-affected area of Ipswich.
Griffiths advises that AFLQ offices, closed since Tuesday afternoon, were expected to remain closed until at least Tuesday of next week – at the earliest.
Likewise regional administration centres in Toowoomba, Rockhampton, Bundaberg and Maryborough, which have also suffered damage of various levels.
With water not expected to subside until Saturday or Sunday, a full day of assessment in consultation with electricians and other maintenance specialists to determine how quickly normality can be restored.
Veteran AFL administrator Ken Gannon, who had a role in the development of the new facility at Yeronga, has been appointed by thy AFL now to be the conduit between AFLQ and the AFL Commission/Executive in the post-flood period.
He will assist in developing strategies to assist football at all levels in recovering from the devastating impact of the floods.
The Chelmer clubhouse of the Western Magpies, who have dropped back from the QAFL State League first division to the second division competition this year, was also inundated by water today as the flood water hit Brisbane’s western suburbs.
(Top): The flooded AFLQ headquarters, shot from afar through the trees, has water in the ground level. (Below): The flooded Western Magpies headquarters at Chelmer.
