Nine years ago, flooding affected large parts of Queensland, claiming 33 lives as raging water consumed communities.

The flooding in Brisbane and its surrounds is the worst since 2011 when the city of 2.6 million people was inundated by what was described as a once-in-a-century event.

Research based on palaeological flood records suggests floods as big as those that hit Brisbane in 2011 may be more common than we think.