Floodwaters to move south as rain finally eases
Widespread rain is set to finally ease throughout the state, but the threat of floods persists as communities face a prolonged recovery.
Parts of Queensland had more downpours of more than 100 millimetres on Wednesday, from the remnants of ex-tropical cyclone Dianne.
Saddler Springs in the Central Highlands topped the gauges with 141 millimetres while Evans Head in NSW got 87 millimetres.
It came as Queensland Police released dramatic footage of a rescue of a man and his horse on the Landsborough Highway, three kilometres west of Tambo.
The 31-year-old Blackall man was on his way to Toowoomba on Wednesday, to seek surgery for his wounded horse, when he ran into a flooded creek at night and was swept off the road.
Police said the driver climbed on top of the roof of his 4WD and waited hours until emergency services arrived. An SES crew managed to rescue him and the horse, without injury.
Longreach District Disaster Coordinator Inspector Chris Smith was another reminder to be vigilant on roads during severe weather.
“When it is dark, it is often difficult to see that a road could potentially be hazardous,” he said.
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“No matter how shallow it may look, it’s not worth risking your life or the lives of emergency services who rescue you.”
“It may seem like an inconvenience, but by taking the time you need to seek alternate routes, it may just save your life.”
Meanwhile, the outcome is less positive in the search in NSW for a man lost in floodwaters about 100 kilometres west of Taree on Saturday.
The Sydney man, believed to be aged in his 70s, was swept away when he tried to drive across a flooded causeway.
“Police were told an SUV towing a caravan had been swept into floodwaters,” a NSW Police statement said.
The vehicle was located the next day. The man remains missing, and the extensive search was suspended late on Wednesday.
The dangerous wet weather that has hit both states is expected to shift to northern and eastern Queensland on Thursday, as rain eases across much of the state’s southern inland.
Flooding at Jundah, in Queensland’s far west. Photo: Queensland Fire and Emergency
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But major flooding continues in the west. Warnings are still current for multiple rivers and creeks, and are not expected to ease for some days.
Queensland’s floodwaters are expected to head south, moving into parts of north-west NSW next week. That could leave communities isolated for up to 10 weeks.
In western Queensland, floods cover an area the size of NSW, with water levels in some areas exceeding records set more than 50 years ago.
Homes have been inundated, communities evacuated and fences destroyed across the region, triggering fears of significant livestock losses.
About 150,000 sheep, cattle and goats have been lost, although the full devastating extent won’t be known until water levels eventually ease.
“The impact [of] that for individuals will be massive, but also for the communities,” Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said of the livestock losses.
“Agriculture underpins these communities and they’re going to take a long way to get back on their feet.
“This recovery will take months and years.”
Crisafulli said he was working with the federal government to assist communities, with repairing fencing among the priorities.
Total fencing damage is already estimated at about 3500 kilometres, with almost 5000 kilometres of private roads also hit by floods.
“We will be working with the federal government to explain how important it is that we develop packages to be able to get that exclusion fencing back up and running,” Crisafulli said.
“If it’s not, we go back to the bad old days of wild dogs running, roaming free, of proud industries being at the mercy of Mother Nature.”
The state government has announced assistance grants of up to $75,000 for affected primary producers.
