The Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry is now in the final stages of its statewide review, with only Brisbane and Ipswich hearings left on the agenda.

Last week the commission sat in Bundaberg, Maryborough and Gympie, where the focus was on the ability of local and regional planning systems to minimise infrastructure and property impacts from floods.

Evidence given by local residents pointed to drainage problems and the implications of substantial residential development.

On October 12 the commission moved to Maryborough where again the primary focus was on land use and planning that may affect the impact of flooding on infrastructure and property.

Wide Bay Water Corporation COO Peter Care gave evidence on the operation and emergency management at Lenthalls Dam, which lies on the Burrum River close to the town of Howard.

The dam is owned by the corporation and contributed to flooding upstream and downstream.

At Gympie the focus was again on longer-term measures to minimise the effects of flooding, and the warnings and assistance provided during and before the flood.

Properties in the three regional centres visited last week are at risk from local dams, which have little or no flood mitigation capacity. The commission was told dam operators do not have control of the release of water from the 10 dams in the areas under study.

Other topics under review are procedures for warnings and disaster management for local communities.

Hearings will be held in Ipswich and Brisbane over the next two weeks, with an additional week of hearings in Brisbane in November announced on Friday. The commission will delivers its final report to the Queensland Government in February.