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UP TO to 500 homes had been inundated in the Charleville floods in a “very serious disaster” for the outback town, Premier Anna Bligh said today.
Ms Bligh visited the evacuation centre in the flood-ravaged community today and declared: “The worst isn’t over yet for the South West”.
She said Charleville had experienced “a very serious disaster” and reported up to 500 homes had been inundated.
Overnight, 110 people slept in the evacuation centre and 192 people had breakfast this morning.Flood waters in the town have subsided substantially but many residents along Bradley’s Gully are still in shock.While only two homes were totally destroyed, hundreds of others will go through a long and painful process to have their homes restored.
Sight-seers flocked to watch the muddy torrent which had risen to almost three metres over the bridge by 1pm and was still rising.While no homes or businesses were affected, minor to moderate flooding continued below Gympie downstream to Home Park with moderate flooding expected to reach around 12 metres at Miva tomorrow morning.It was expected to drop to 9.5 metres by the time it reaches Tiaro later tomorrow afternoon and to remain below the minor flood level by the time floodwaters reached Maryborough.Most floodwaters had dropped on the Sunshine Coast today as constant rain turned to showers, with just minor flooding at Tewantin and at Maroochydore as both the Noosa and Maroochy Rivers topped their banks at high tide this morning.However private river jetties and pontoons still disappeared below the high tide mark causing some interesting spectacles as locals took up traditional vantage points.
Mick Kelly and Lyn Shannon of Noosaville were two of the hardy souls who waded out with their morning coffee and newspaper.Energex worker Rob O’Reilly of Marcoola Beach said callouts were dropping off after a frantic couple of days when teams had been busy restoring power to homes where rubbing cables has caused localised blackouts.He said there had also been problems with luxury homes and unit complexes at Sunshine Beach where basement carparks had flooded and pumps had been unable to cope with the deluge.
Combined dam levels in the southeast are currently 80.5%. This is the first time the levels have been above 80% since March 2002.Wivenhoe Dam has increased to 69.4% (up from 61.5% since Friday.) Wivenhoe’s level has also been boosted by releases from Somerset Dam.Somerset Dam was at 97.8% on Friday and is now above full capacity, with cone valves releasing water into Wivenhoe.North Pine Dam is at 100% with 55mm the floodgates are currently open.
Hinze Dam on the Gold Coast has been overflowing for more than two weeks.
Lake Baroon Pocket on the Sunshine Coast is overflowing. Borumba Dam is inaccessible due to flooding on Yabba Creek Rd.In the southwest, the Balonne River is continuing to rise at St George and high major flood levels are expected to continue next week.
Murweh Shire Mayor Mark O’Brien said it was the worst flood he’d seen in Charleville, with up to two-thirds of the community swamped.
The Maranoa River, Bungil Creek, Wallam and Mungalalla Creeks are also in flood affecting Springfield, Roma, Tomoo and Dirranbandi.
Flooding is easing at Bradley’s Gully in Charleville and the 50 people who spent the night in the town’s showgrounds are expected to return to their homes today to start the clean up.
Area Director for Emergency Management Queensland Chris Artiemiew said another 30 people were transferred from the local hospital to a temporary clinic at the showgrounds.
“We flew a lot of Queensland Ambulance Service people in last night, to supplement those already here,” Mr Artiemiew said.
“Some people from the nursing home were flown out last night. They’ve been flown into Brisbane.”
The Federal Government will offer thos affected by the floods assistance.
Residents in Murweh and Maranoa council areas will also be eligible for additional personal hardship and distress assistance, including: Emergency Assistance Payments of $170 per person and up to $780 per family; Essential Household Contents Grants of $1,660 per individual and up to $4,980 per couple or family; and · Essential Repairs to Housing Grants of up to $10,250 per individual and up to $13,800 per couple or family.Individuals requiring assistance should contact the Queensland Department of Communities, Disaster Relief Assistance Scheme hotline on 1800 173 349.
The State Emergency Service had over 1200 calls in the 24 hours to 5am today, and responded to 60 jobs in the south-west - for temporary roof repairs, sandbagging and chainsaw operations for fallen trees.
A Department of Community Safety spokeswoman said 123 of the calls came from the Brisbane area.
Overnight most of the rain moved offshore, but fairly frequent showers are expected in the south-east today.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Tony Wedd said a low up off Fraser Island was gradually moving away from the coast, and taking the heavier rain with it.
Since 9am yesterday, Sandy Cape on the tip of Fraser recorded the highest rainfall - with 120mm.
The Sunshine Coast copped another 70 to 80mm and Dayboro scored 87mm.
In Brisbane Lawnton recorded 66mm and Redcliffe 55mm.
Mr Wedd said even Biloela in the Capricornia district had 54mm.
“It’s been a very widespread event. There’s been a great deal of rain-bearing cloud from this monsoon event and most areas got reasonable falls,” Mr Wedd said.
Showers were expected to remain fairly frequent today, becoming more isolated tomorrow and Friday.
“Over the weekend we’ve got another upper trough so probably late Friday I guess showers will increase again and we’ll probably see some more rain around.”
He said dams throughout south-east and western Queensland should rise with falls of between 30 and 50mm in the Wivenhoe catchment area and even better falls in the Somerset, Samsonvale and North Pine dam catchments.