Suncorp Stadium after the flood

[Ryan]

Brisbane's Suncorp stadium on fire
Paul Kent
The Daily Telegraph
January 12, 2011 10:39AM
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/breaking-news/brisbanes-suncorp-staudium-on-fire/story-e6freonf-1225986177554


BRISBANE'S Suncorp stadium is on fire after rising flood waters short circuited, fire-fighters believe, a generator box.

Smoke is streaming out of a second story vent where it is believed a generator lurks behind.

With Brisbane River having broken its banks flood waters have begun flooding through Brisbane city and right now the water level is about 1-1.2m high on the ground floor of Suncorp stadium.

As yet the playing surface inside is yet to be covered in water.

However, streets surrounding the stadium have flooded well over 1m and close to 2m high.

Meanwhile, the Queen Street Mall has been locked-down as shops and restaurants prepare for the flood

Shops, including Myer and other major chains, have put sandbags out and boarded up their entrances.

The Regatta Hotel has already been flooded as they prepare for a scenario similar to the 1974 floods when the entire first floor was under water.

[Cowboy Titan]

Here's some pictures:
http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2011/01/12/1225986/135412-suncorp.jpg
http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2011/01/12/1225986/135401-suncorp.jpg
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/special-reports/suncorp-stadium-on-fire-as-brisbane-river-floods/story-e6frf7px-1225986189205

[Cowboy Titan]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/special-reports/suncorp-stadium-on-fire-as-brisbane-river-floods/story-e6frf7px-1225986189205

Shortly after 10.30am a large explosion boomed from behind the vent, sending black plumes of smoke billowing into the air.

"There's been a secondary explosion from the vicinity of the substation," a fireman said over radio.
As an alarm bell continues to ring as background noise, firefighters have gained access to nearby rooftops to check for damage and a current safety status.

They are still trying to find a way into the stadium.

[Cowboy Titan]

Floods and fire close Suncorp Stadium
January 12, 2011 - 1:31PM

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/floods-and-fire-close-suncorp-stadium-20110112-19nbz.html

Ninety per cent of the ground was under water late on Wednesday morning and the stadium will no longer host Sunday?s A-League clash between the Brisbane Roar and Wellington.

But police and the venue?s managers, AEG Ogden, were quick to douse a report the stadium was on fire after a small explosion in an isolated transformer room as a result of flooding.

http://images.smh.com.au/2011/01/12/2129979/Suncorp%20Stadium-420x0.jpg
Suncorp Stadium this morning. Photo: Getty Images

??It was brought under control very quickly and there was no damage,?? Suncorp Stadium spokesman Greg Adermann told AAP.

Adermann said Roar and Football Federation Australia officials were looking at alternative arrangements as the ground was unplayable due to south-east Queensland?s flooding disaster.

Due to the congested nature of the A-League schedule a month out from the play-offs, there is more chance the fixture will go ahead at a different venue than being postponed.

It?s understood the main options include finding another Queensland venue to hold the match, moving it to Wellington or calling it off and splitting the points.

The stadium managers, the Roar and the Football Federation Australia were meeting on Wednesday morning to discuss alternative arrangements.

There is sunshine in Brisbane on Wednesday and more dry weather forecast but the likelihood of the game being played in the city appears slim due to the expectation of more flooding.

Also the number of roads cut in and around the Milton venue, near the CBD, means it will be extremely difficult for the club to draw a decent attendance to the match.

??What it comes down to is how much it floods and the ability for people to get around the city,?? said a Roar official.

Conversely, Queensland Cricket remains confident the Gabba will be playable for Saturday night?s Twenty20 match between the Bulls and NSW but will wait until later in the week before making a call on Friday.

??We?ll have (a pitch) ready for them,?? curator Kevin Mitchell Jnr told AAP.??It might not be a million bucks but we?ll have something that?s playable.??

The Bulls -- like the Brisbane Broncos, Queensland Reds and Brisbane Lions -- have cancelled training but will attempt to practice indoors on Thursday.

Reds players are instead putting their efforts into flood relief, including safeguarding Queensland Rugby Union headquarters at Ballymore which is facing flooding from the swollen Enoggera Creek.

Most Reds squad members were at Ballymore on Wednesday sandbagging while another group of players were dispatched to a council sandbagging centre.

The Faingaa twins, Saia and Anthony, have announced they will donate their first match payments from the Super Rugby season to the flood cause and have urged fellow players to do the same.

AAP

[DIEHARD]

Unbelievable. It's like one of those Hollywood movies where iconic landmarks are underseige. Lang Park!

I hope everyone is ok out there, things are crazy here in Brisbane but luckily most of my friends and family are ok and trying to track down the rest.

I had to bail out my girlfriend from ground zero, she lives in Albert St near the Botanic gardens.

I just can't believe the magnitude of this all.

[DIEHARD]

I was really worried about my cousin in Ipswich but he lives on higher ground. He has lost power since yesterday arvo but has his generator going and BBQ and camping fridge. S I guess he is one of the luckiest men in Ipswich right now.

He is in the RAAF as a mechanic, I thought he'd be deployed but he is attached to the Super Hornets.

[Cowboy Titan]

Just saw an overhead shot of Suncorp Stadium. The entire field is inundated and the water is above the signs on the sideline.

[DIEHARD]

Just saw an overhead shot of Suncorp Stadium. The entire field is inundated and the water is above the signs on the sideline.

That is just insane and probably the most visually telling picture. You know like those pictures in fiction of the Statue of Liberty in ruin.

Hopefully Lang Park can bounce back fast.

I hope all Queenslanders are ok out there. I think they have really pulled together to minimise the damage and harm. Let's keep it up.

Anyone else from Brissie? Ipswich? Or Toowoomba?

[Ryan]

Just saw an overhead shot of Suncorp Stadium. The entire field is inundated and the water is above the signs on the sideline.

Where can I find that photo?

[DIEHARD]

The beach at Southbank is cms from being swallowed by the Brisbane river!

[TITAN PETE]

Where can I find that photo?
http://images.triplem.com.au/2011/01/12/516250/Suncorp-flood-blog.jpg

May not be the pic Cowboy is talking about

[DIEHARD]

Wheel of Brisbane is surrounded by water too!

[Cowboy Titan]

http://images.triplem.com.au/2011/01/12/516250/Suncorp-flood-blog.jpg

May not be the pic Cowboy is talking aboutChannel 7 were flying over. A guy was paddling a kayak on the field and another guy was walking chest deep in water. Considering the water is going to go another metre or so higher tomorrow, the surface won't be a pretty sight.

Realistically though, SEQ has alot more important issues to worry about than a sporting field - even if it's sacred turf.

[Mushi]

Just saw suncorp on the news - OMG. It is past the second level of seating now. Just so unbelievable this is all happening just up the M1 from us gold coasters. Hope any of our Brissie, Ipswich, Toowoomba and surrounding suburbs members are all safe and well.
Brad - are you guys out of the danger zone?

We had family in Lockyer valley but all are ok. One house flooded but they are at another family members. My poor uncle was stranded on the highway for 2 days but is finally home safe and well tonight.

[DIEHARD]

Im out of the danger zone and stocked up on food and fuel and also bailed out my girlfriend from the city where she lives at ground zero. The streets below her building are now deep underwater.

Steve, our mod here, is ok too on the northside. He recently said he volunteered for making pizza for the evacuees at the RNA through a local Eagle Boys.

Goatus is ok for now, but his street did flood last week. He said he has drilled holes in his Torana so it will dry out quicker.

Bobby, my mate in the wheelchair who comes to the Legion and is a Bulldogs fan, is ok, he lives in higher ground in Strathpine but is cut off.

Ive heard lots of bad stories about rugby league fans who have lost their houses and also their parents lost their houses as well. Rugby league is like a family for me and any rugby league fan is my neighbour, so my heart goes out to them and I hope we can all pull together in the months and years ahead.

I also saw the dry dock at the maritime museum is now... not dry and the naval destroyer is now floating.

[DIEHARD]

I wonder where the Roar will play?

Is QE2 or Skilled Park or maybe the Gabba options?

[Cowboy Titan]

I wonder where the Roar will play?

Is QE2 or Skilled Park or maybe the Gabba options? I couldn't see the Gabba being used while the cricket pitches are down. I heard on the news a few minutes ago that the game has been postponed.

[Cowboy Titan]

Someone decided to save King Wally!!!
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs049.snc6/167955_143922582331113_141812715875433_260611_3626 595_n.jpg

[DIEHARD]

LOL I just saw that on NINE news, I love it!! I LOL'd and I bet many others did.

I love that QLD sense of humour. Now the King is ready to take on the floods!

That will be an iconic picture forever!

[DIEHARD]

I guess if Ballymore is in decent condition it would host the Roar.

[TITAN PETE]

I guess if Ballymore is in decent condition it would host the Roar.

Ballymore was being sand bagged yesterday by the Reds players so hopefully it was saved

[bigjim]

Channel 7 were flying over. A guy was paddling a kayak on the field and another guy was walking chest deep in water. Considering the water is going to go another metre or so higher tomorrow, the surface won't be a pretty sight.

Realistically though, SEQ has alot more important issues to worry about than a sporting field - even if it's sacred turf.


Heard yesterday, that they had just finished relaying the pitch and the reporter quoted $1,000,000 wasted. I thought this sounded a little pricey for turf.
Whatever the cost, it will be miraculous if they can get the ground ready for the coming season.
Broncos might have to play initial home games at Skilled.

[shamus]

Heard yesterday, that they had just finished relaying the pitch and the reporter quoted $1,000,000 wasted. I thought this sounded a little pricey for turf.
Whatever the cost, it will be miraculous if they can get the ground ready for the coming season.
Broncos might have to play initial home games at Skilled.

Skilled will struggle with just the Titans on it. :nope:

[thelwall]

skilled park only looks like that in in summer

[Cowboy Titan]

Heard yesterday, that they had just finished relaying the pitch and the reporter quoted $1,000,000 wasted. I thought this sounded a little pricey for turf.
I guess the turfed area would be around 125m x 75m (rough guess) so that works out to around $100/metre if it cost $1m. I thought I paid alot @ $5/metre for my turf.

[Cowboy Titan]

Suncorp Stadium
http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2011/01/13/1225987/215629-suncorp-stadium-in-flood.jpg

[Mushi]

On the news last night they said the water level rose to seating level 5/6 and flooded all change areas, tunnels, carparks underneath etc and of course the turf area will be destroyed. At the moment they said it looks highly unlikely that it will be ready for the start of the NRL season. (channel 9 news fri 14/1/11)

[DIEHARD]

Wow that is the big Broncos v Cowboys game too.

I hope any records and historical items at the QRL HQ have been protected...

[titansrawesome]

well i think they should put dragons vs titans on friday now and change this game to maybe the gabba depending on thats condition or ballymore

[DIEHARD]

I'm sure Suncorp Stadium will be ok in time, but if not I'd like to see Rugby League return to the Gabba where it still holds the ground record at 47,906

[Mushi]

Yes they had time to remove all records etc out of the rooms in time so all that was saved thankfully. I am sure they will work VERY hard to get it ready in time and fingers crossed it will be ready - broncos vs cowboys draws a huge crowd normally!

[onlooker]

The devastating images of floodwaters at Suncorp Stadium may require an open chequebook according to Turf Research Scientist Bernie Proctor. As Australian?s come to grips with the flood tragedy, many Queenslanders are dismayed at the level of inundation at their favourite sports ground.

Austadiums.com talked to our expert on turf Bernie Proctor about the flood and the impact this will have for future sporting events at Brisbane?s largest stadium.

The flooding at Suncorp Stadium and the resulting fire in the generator room was a shocking reality for Proctor.

?I was shocked on so many different levels... The severity of which the flooding hit the city of Brisbane and the way it inundated Suncorp. The fire in the generator room, was really, for me, the ?final straw? on just how much they can go through?

Proctor said there was no way for the turf to be protected considering the amount of water that flooded Brisbane.

?This was a 1/100 year event, last flooded in 1974 and I would suspect that it may not happen again, for many years to come. ?

?As I understand it, the shorting of the power generation system may have been a contributing factor. Had there been electricity to pump out excess water, (in this event) where would the water have gone? There was simply too much water for the site, and Brisbane and the rest of Queensland, to manage.?

?Risk assessments should now be carried out to ensure their systems (secure energy source) are guaranteed for any type of future event, whether it being similar to this, or even just a power failure?

The cost to repair the Suncorp playing surface may need an open chequebook.

?Do they have an opencheque book? It?s hard to even speculate without knowing what?s under the water, timeframe of it draining/subsiding. Also, as to the timeframe it may take to dry. Clearly, by the cancellation of the Soccer this coming Sunday, it?s a sign that they may not have a playable surface for some time to come.?

The water on the playing surface will cause damage, but not as much damage had the flood impacted upon the Gabba, which has been cleared for Sunday?s Twenty20 cricket match between Queensland and NSW.

?Muddy water, or in fact any form of water, over a surface for extended periods of time, is never a good thing. However, the level and type of silt of particulates within it will have a varied effect on the differing surfaces that becomes flooded. For instance, if it was the Gabba flooded instead of Suncorp, the last thing the wicket square would want is larger particle sized sand and other organic material sitting on the surface.?

?Sure, high silt material will, inadvertently, cause blockages to drainage systems and so on, and these can be cheaply cleaned (compared to an overall rebuild), but it will ultimately affect the infiltration/percolation rate of the profile.?

It is likely that many truckloads of silt from the flooded waters will need to be trucked out before a new surface could be laid.

Proctor says that the modelling of Suncorp Stadium would have unlikely considered the 1/100 year flood impact, but in the future the Trust could look at better drainage for freak events.

?This 1/100 rain event, would never have been modelled and is, as being reported, a true freak of nature. They may, depending on the drainage of the surface, increase the particle size for any future events, but this would have to be a consideration by the Trust or site managers.?

The tragedy in Brisbane has been extreme, but a story a stadium journalist can tell is what impact it would have on a curator. As a former curator Proctor delivers a sign of what it would be like to see your turf under 3-4 metres of water.

?Coming to a site after a rain event like the current situation in Brisbane and in fact, Queensland, is nothing short of depressing. After, often weeks/months of preparing, caring & maintaining a surface, to know that there is literally nothing you can do to stop it, is possibly the only comforting factor, not to mention the work you will have to return it to its former glory.?

?Certainly the footage that is has, almost, gone viral around the world is devastating?.

The period of time to return the Suncorp pitch to its former glory could be a long one.

?I would suspect that the top 50-100mm (maybe more) will be sliced off, fresh sand and a new surface laid. This is, of course that a suitable turf surface is not also affected by flooding at their supplier, as most major stadiums like this and ANZ in Sydney, would have a complete surface at a farm, being treated exactly the same in case of emergencies like this.?

For sports fans the message is Suncorp Stadium will take a while to recover from a 1/100 year flood event.

http://www.austadiums.com/news/news.php?id=464

[DIEHARD]

Suncorp Stadium rebuild to take 12 months

SUNCORP Stadium will not be restored to its former glory for at least eight to 12 months as the famous ground faces a winter of disruption.

After being inundated during last month's floods, the former Lang Park will re-open for business when Brisbane Roar host Gold Coast United in an A-League derby next Saturday, February 12.

But it will be anything but business as usual behind the scenes.

With substantial damage to the Level 1 area of the Western Stand, dressingrooms, referees' rooms, medical rooms, control rooms and media facilities will be shifted to the carpark at the southern end of the ground closest to Milton Road.

The cream of footballing talent will now be housed in a series of demountable buildings and partitioned areas throughout 2011.

The Brisbane Broncos and other NRL sides, the Queensland and NSW State of Origin teams, the Queensland Reds and visiting Super Rugby teams, Wallabies, All Blacks and the Roar will all have to make do in a virtual tent city.

Suncorp Stadium general manager Alan Graham said it was a "massive" task to rebuild the nerve centre of the ground.

"We are only guessing at this stage but we think the construction is going to take anywhere from eight to 12 months," Graham said.

"It is not only all of the dressingrooms but you have to re-wire everything and all the services have to go back in. It's fairly substantial.

"You are talking about a length of 130m of rooms that have to be rebuilt. We are looking at how we can schedule certain work so we can get back into some spaces earlier."

Graham said the makeshift facilities were as comprehensive as possible given the circumstances.

"We have got everything that the teams need to run gameday," he said.

"We've essentially set up a full compound in Carpark 1."

The hallowed turf has not been ripped up since the flood water subsided, however officials will decide to replace it or not in the next month.

There are concerns the silt from the flood water will hamper drainage but Graham said the playing surface was in surprisingly good condition.

"In terms of playing surface, it has come back really well and it's going to be a good quality surface. Our ground staff have done a fantastic job," he said.

"Because we have got that silt that has permeated into the profile, a decision will be made in the next month.

"We probably wouldn't be doing it (re-surfacing) for a few months but at least we will be able to set a date in the next month or so."

Graham pleaded with A-League fans looking to attend the Roar-United clash on February 12 to pre-buy tickets so officials can accurately cater for patrons.

Source: http://www.news.com.au