Brisbane Before and After Flood

NearMap, based in Perth, Western Australia, have mapped the recent Brisbane floods.  Although the before images are reported to be taken January 13, it's obvious many were taken well before then.  Nevermind, you get the general idea.

Here's my photo of the Moggill Ferry, service suspended, tied up to the Ipswich side on December 27.

With all the rain this summer up to Christmas Holidays, there was already flooding in the area around Mt. Crosby and Wivenhoe Dam when we toured the area with friends on Dec 27.  People are asking about the operation of the dam and the ability of the existing dam to cope with all that rain.

The Brisbane River at Colleges Crossing, Dec 27, 2010

Benches and barbecues under water.
Campers hanging in there on the edges of Wivenhoe Dam on Dec 27, 2010.   

As well as all the poor souls who lost loved ones, homes and businesses in floods across 5 states (Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania), there are many who were less drastically affected.  How do you count the number of lives disrupted, those whose employment is in doubt, how many holidays ruined?

Click on ABC News, move your mouse over the images to see the difference a day can make.   When you look at the before and after aerial images, (Part 1 and Part 2) you get a glimpse of the magnitude of the devastation we have witnessed in Brisbane.  Brisbanites and visitors alike will miss riding the ferries and cycling (and walking) the miles of river walkways.

Beautiful Bulimba Ferry terminal in October 2010

Most if not all of the Brisbane Ferry docks have been washed away.  The Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Campbell Newman, does not expect the CityCat ferry service to be operating for at least 90 days.

One of a fleet of CityCats leave the Brisbane River for Manly, Tuesday Jan 11, 2011.