One of the major Australian conferences revolving around the open source operating system Linux set to begin later this week will likely get the go-ahead tomorrow, following disastrous flooding in the host city, Brisbane.
Linux.conf.au, which focuses on both Linux and open source software in general, was to be held in Brisbane from January 24 to January 29, but was thrown into doubt when Brisbane experienced its worst floods since 1974 and left the city resembling a ghost town as water wreaked havoc on Australia"s third largest city.
While parts of the event could still potentially be called off or delayed, conference organisers are "strongly confident" the event will go ahead one way or another with final confirmation due on Monday.
"The team is strongly confident that the conference will go ahead even though confirmation of some things are needed on Monday morning," the team behind the event wrote on the conference site yesterday. "Obviously, with a number of places having gone under water and sustained damage we will be making a few changes to the program and planned events."
Part of the main venue for the event, Queensland University of Technology"s (QUT) Gardens Point Campus, was impacted by the flooding, with representatives confirming the buildings closest to the river were inundated.
"QUT is currently experiencing inundation on the lower car park levels of those buildings closest to the river," officials wrote on the university"s website. "Action has been taken to mitigate water damage in those buildings most at risk. Authorities have cut power to some buildings on the campus."
It"s unclear at this stage what impact, if any, the damage will have on the conference, and if the main event will be moved elsewhere, although at this stage that seems unlikely given the river has now subsided back to normal levels.
The conference team will also take into account the impact that the more than 700 delegates may have on the city of Brisbane as it tries to clean up after the disaster before a final decision is reached tomorrow.