We'll be back!

Channel 9 News finally gave us all a close up look at the destruction of our beautiful park - and, for those who have spent any time at Colleges Crossing - it was gut wrenching.
The park has been a magnet for people of the south-east for a century. Now its a pile of rubble.
But, the council has pledged to rebuild - and the job is enormous. Have a look at the Nine news story by Darren Curtis: http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/colleges-crossing-a-disaster-zone/xr3nld5
or click on the headline.
Its hard to picture what it will look like after the bulldozers start the reshaping of the park.
Getting there is also going to be a challenge - I checked out the alternate route over the Mt Crosby weir road - and its already a construction zone.

The Mt Crosby Road bridge over Colleges Crossing has been submerged since the 8th Jan and punished by the raging Brisbane River flood. Look what that water did to the park - what has it done to the structural integrity of the bridge.
When can we start selling coffee? I think its going to be some time before we can realistically consider it.
But this area is resilient - and changed a bit over the years - here's a picture taken in 1915.

As the promised reconstruction gets underway its doubtful that it will look exactly like it used to - here's some memories:

Whatever happens - it will still be Colleges
- a unique riverside park. And, we'll be there at its rebirth.

Park Devastated

The water has dropped in the Brisbane River at Colleges Crossing with the gates closed at Wivenhoe.
The river height monitor at the Mt Crosby weir is not registering at the moment - but one would expect that the roadway would be exposed.
Word is that there is a lot of damage on the approaches to the bridge. At Colleges Crossing this afternoon the bridge was still under water, and the roads are covered in debris and silt.

From the Karana Downs side of the river the damage to the park on the opposite bank is obvious. This has been enormous destruction. Aerial shots from nearmap.com taken last Friday showed that the tree that was a major feature of the cafe had been uprooted. Today the scene in the park was akin to the aftermath of a cyclone.

What appears to be the bird hide has been dumped into the middle of the river.

As the river keeps falling, and when Mt Crosby Road is open it will be possible to have a close-up inspection of the disaster. It doesn't look pretty, and won't be fixed quickly. So many trees have been destroyed, and it appears that a lot of the park has been reshaped by the raging torrent over the past two weeks.

This afternoon, a wild storm raged through the area, something that is becoming a bit repetitive of late.
There's also a warning of a flood (king) tide expected on Friday in Brisbane. The river is still tidal at Colleges Crossing, and it will be interesting to see if that big tide on Friday will have much impact.

Packed and Ready to Go

Called in by the local authorities and SES late last night to prepare the cafe for a new flood peak.
Word is that the flood waters from Lockyer Creeek - near Gatton will combine with increased releases from Wivenhoe dam - and hit around 13m at Colleges Crossing.
Water is not far from the cafe wall with the river level tonight at 10.21m.
The SES joined staff in packing and preparing the cafe for evacuation.

We were also advised that the only alternate route to the Colleges Crossing bridge - the Mt Crosby weir is closed. The river level at the weir is 12.69m.
That means for anyone living in this area - a 50km round trip.
Which local politician said recently that no money should be spent on Colleges Crossing? Good luck with your future career.
If the flood levels do reach the heights predicted - the cafe and the caretakers house will be shifted to higher ground.
It is one of the unique features of the Colleges by the River cafe that it was designed for just such an emergency.
Tomorrow (Monday) a decision will be made whether to shift the cafe to higher ground on the back of a flatbed truck.
But, preparing for that meant that staff and SES people worked until the early hours packing everything up.
The caretakers residence was also prepared for evacuation - it may also be transported out of the park.
Work teams will be back on site early in the morning to access the situation.
Thanks to everyone who helped with the work at the cafe throughout the night.

Relaxing Sunday

Colleges by the River is open - serving breakfast and espresso coffee.
The park is part of the river bed at the moment - with flood heights matching the October levels.
While its low tide at the moment - the river height is a fraction under 9 metres.
The Mt Crosby weir is 11.21m and rising. The weather is overcast - but quite calm - so far.
We appreciate the support of those people who are making the effort to visit the park and cafe.
There's no place in the south-east where you can watch the floods close up while enjoying your bacon and eggs.

Perfect Day

It's a perfect day on the river. As the Lily Allen song goes ... the sun is in the sky why oh why would I want to be anywhere else - but the Brisbane River is still flooding the Colleges Crossing Recreation Reserve - which is still closed. The river level at the park is 9.26m - high than our last flood in October. Mt Crosby Road is still closed with the Colleges Crossing bridge still under water. The Mt Crosby weir is at 11.5m. We have the long weekend on the way - but with the park gates closed - access to the park is limited and difficult, so the cafe will remain closed.

It's a beautiful morning...

A beautiful summer day - and the Brisbane River is still climbing at the Colleges Crossing Recreation Reserve. The river is getting close to 9m. Check the river height tracking program by clicking on the headline.
At the Mt Crosby weir the river has risen over 11m. Its going to be a interesting couple of days. Mt Crosby road is of course closed, and the Colleges Crossing bridge is still drowning under the raging river. When this flood is over - there will need to be plenty of cleaning up in the park.
There are still plenty of spectators lining the road down to the park, but the park is closed to vehicles.
The population of the park has increased by one - with the only residents Grant and Megan proud parents of another baby girl. Congratulations.

Here we go again

The Brisbane river at Colleges is on the rise - getting to the levels reached in October.
Here is a picture taken this afternoon of a bbq shelter that was near the normal river edge..

The river height at Colleges Crossing is closing on 8m - and is racing through the park and over the crossing bridge on Mt Crosby Road.
10 metres of flood water is racing through the Mt Crosby weir in a spectacular flow.
The road - park - and cafe at Colleges Crosssing are still closed.

Record Wet

Brisbane has recorded its wettest December in 150 years. While there has been a break in the weather this morning - there's still a chance of a shower or two today.
Seqwater has advised that releases have started from Wivenhoe dam - and combined with Lockyer Creek flows there is expected to be continued flooding downstream into the weekend.
The river height at Mt Crosby is getting close to 10m and rising. The level at Colleges Crossing is on its way to 8 metres. CLICK ON TITLE TO SEE THE MONITORING STATION CHART.
That means that the bridge over Colleges Crossing will continue to be submerged and the park closed.
Tomorrow - Thursday is forecast to be fine, with a few showers expected over the weekend.
Just when the cafe will be open depends on how long the flooding will continue to keep the park locked down, and when the roads will be open.
Hopefully now that the public holidays are over there will be some work done on the unsealed section of the detour over the Mt Crosby weir.

Water, water, everywhere...

Report in today's Courier Mail that the water being released each day from Wivenhoe would sustain the entire Australian population almost three times over.  8,000 megalitres (million litres) per day are flowing down the Brisbane River from the dam release.  That's enough water to sustain 55 million people!
The water is again playing havoc with traffic on Mt Crosby Road, with the bridge over Colleges Crossing closed for another day.
The river level at the park is 4.5 metres, and high tide is due at 12.30pm.
The forecast is for a fine and sunny day with a max of 30.
The cafe will be open as normal.
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/dry-argument-over-now-were-flush/story-e6freon6-1225973594516

Mt Crosby Road Closed

The Wivenhoe dam is again releasing water, and has again impacted on the bridge over the Brisbane River at Colleges Crossing.  Mt Crosby Road is closed as the river rushes over the bridge.  The barricades are up and the detour around Allawah Road and the Mt Crosby weir is the only way around.  The cafe and park are open with the road barriers below the entrance gate.  We will have staff on to look after those who can make the trip.  The shame is that the weather is beautiful - sunny and comfortable under the tree on the deck.  Why there has to be large disruptive releases from the dam on an ad hoc basis - instead of a controlled continual releases, is the big question.  The road crossing at Colleges Crossing is obviously totally inadequate if every dam release closes the bridge.  Anyway, there's normal service at the cafe.  Enjoy!