Key Takeaways
- Torrential rainfall has been affecting parts of Queensland, particularly the north-west coast and the outback, for four days, with floodwaters continuing to rise.
- Multiple towns, including Doomadgee, Burketown, and Normanton, are cut off, and communities expect to be isolated for up to a week.
- A man in his 70s was found dead in a submerged vehicle, and authorities have urged caution around floodwaters.
- The Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe weather warnings, with heavy rainfall and flash flooding expected to continue in some areas.
- The state and federal governments have activated Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements for five councils in north Queensland.
Introduction to the Floods
Queenslanders from the north-east coast to the outback are entering their fourth day of torrential rainfall, with floodwaters continuing to rise in the north-west. The Bureau of Meteorology’s flood warnings map shows that multiple areas are affected, with severe weather warnings in place. The Gulf Country towns of Doomadgee, Burketown, Gregory, Normanton, Karumba, Julia Creek, and McKinlay are cut off, and communities expect to be isolated for up to a week. A man in his 70s was found dead in a submerged vehicle at Normanton on Tuesday, and authorities have urged caution around floodwaters to prevent further tragedies.
Weather Forecast and Warnings
The Bureau of Meteorology said parts of north-west Queensland, including Cloncurry, had received the equivalent of their average annual rainfall in the days since Christmas. Cowley Beach, near Innisfail, recorded 662.4 millimeters of rainfall since Monday, while Bingil Bay, about 135 kilometers south of Cairns, recorded 344.6 millimeters. Inland at Brinyard Station, north of Julia Creek, 215 millimeters of rainfall was recorded on Tuesday. Senior meteorologist Harry Clark said the north-west could see further flash flooding and riverine flooding over the next 24 hours, with heavy rainfall forecast to continue on Wednesday and possibly into Thursday for parts of the Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders, North West and Central West districts.
Impact on Communities and Livestock
The prolonged heavy rainfall and below-average temperatures have had many north-west graziers concerned that the weather event could be a repeat of the 2019 flood, which led to devastating stock losses. Cloncurry grazier Jacqueline Curley said she felt "sick in the guts" watching floodwaters rise in her paddocks. Heavy rainfall around Cloncurry has flooded Gipsy Plains station, with Ms. Curley recording 525 millimeters of rain in the 24 hours between Monday and Tuesday. However, she was hopeful most of her adult cattle had survived. Cloncurry Shire Mayor Greg Campbell said while it was too early to go out and check paddocks, some residents were "quietly confident" they had not lost as many animals as in 2019.
Road Closures and Disaster Recovery
Multiple roads across the state are closed, as is the Mount Isa rail line from Hughenden to Cloncurry. The Bruce Highway is closed both at Seymour River Bridge, north of Ingham, and again at Cardwell near Stoney Creek Road. The Flinders Highway is closed between Cloncurry and Julia Creek, and also between Richmond to Julia Creek, but open between Hughenden to Richmond. Nearly 50 roads across the state have been closed with high priority alerts to flash flooding, long-term flooding or other hazards, while multiple roads have been closed or partially closed due to flooding. The state and federal governments have activated Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements for five councils in north Queensland, including the Carpentaria, Cloncurry, Flinders, McKinlay, and Richmond shire councils.
Tourism and Economic Impact
Monsoonal rains are par for the course in Queensland’s tropics, but this deluge has hit in peak holiday season. Teresa Millwood, the mayor of the Cassowary Coast Regional Council between Cairns and Townsville, said it was a "big bite" out of the local tourism-dependent economy. "A lot of people have packed up and left, which is very unfortunate," Cr Millwood said. "Hopefully they’ll come back next week when the sun is shining." The flooding has also affected local businesses, with many forced to close temporarily due to the weather conditions. The economic impact of the floods is likely to be significant, with damage to infrastructure, livestock, and crops expected to be substantial.
Conclusion and Ongoing Support
The situation in Queensland is being closely monitored, with authorities providing ongoing support to affected communities. The state and federal governments have activated Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements to provide assistance to those affected by the floods. The Bureau of Meteorology continues to issue severe weather warnings, with heavy rainfall and flash flooding expected to continue in some areas. Residents are urged to remain cautious and follow the instructions of local authorities. The recovery efforts are expected to be ongoing, with many communities expected to be affected for several weeks or even months.
