Should we sentence the Neil Turner Weir to death?

I think it is time for some calm in the debate surrounding the future of the Neil Turner weir at Mitchell. Recent media reports have a number of locals and politicians calling for the Weir to be dismantled, but I urge people to consider the facts before acting as Judge, Jury and Executioner.

Many old timers advised of the flow patterns of the Maranoa river when in full flood, these patterns have not changed, What they said the river did in the 1950’s is just what it did this time, and the weir did not exist in the 1950’s.The river has not run at a height exceeding 9m since 1956 and it is only the third time since 1846 that it has been above the 9m mark.

The flooding of the town of Mitchell has more to do with the volume of water in the river, rather than the presence of the Neil Turner Weir, A quick history lesson will show that.

In 1846, Major Mitchell first explored the region and found the Maranoa River, 15 years later, in 1861 Mitchell Downs station was founded. In 1864, a flood of 9.56m washed the homestead away and the owners moved to the present location of the Mitchell Downs homestead. The ruins where taken over by Mr Thomas Close and the Maranoa hotel was opened.  The town of Mitchell grew up around these establishments and grew to become the community it is today. For 148 years the town of Mitchell has existed happily on the banks of the river. On Friday, February 3rd, the Maranoa River rose to reach a peak of 9.84m, 0.28m above the previous record peak. There is not a road, building or person in Mitchell who was around to experience a flood of anywhere near this magnitude, a record that has stood for 148 years was washed away.

I would call for the operators of the Weir to undertake a review of the weir and pending that outcome, to make a decision on its future. I personally would like to see the weir desilted, rather than removed.

I would suggest that the lack of culverts under the railway line had a bigger impact on the extent of the flooding in Mitchell, rather than the Weir, Large culverts and bridges under the railway line through the town area where removed years ago and replaced by one small culvert. What the railway has done is build a levee to hold the water back onto the northern side of town.

The people of Mitchell deserve some answers and I think a detailed review of all structures on the floodplain is required, but let’s not condemn any community asset to the history books without a proper review.