Old Bohle Bridge goes under: Volunteers preparing sandbags

Northern residents are still undecided how bad this rain is going to be, but those in low-lying homes are preparing to sandbag as the old Bohle Bridge goes under and Balgal Beach loses power.

Black River Rd closure, 2.30pm, February 1, 2025

Northern residents are still undecided how bad this rain is going to be, but those in low-lying homes are preparing to sandbag as the old Bohle Bridge goes under and Balgal Beach loses power.

Volunteers were filling sandbags in the pouring rain at the Mount Low site in order to get a stockpile built before nightfall.

Division 2 councillor Brodie Phillips helped volunteers as activity ramping up at 2.30pm.

“Things are all right at the moment. We’ve had people stopping here who have family that live in Hermit Park who are grabbing bags for them, because they are on a ‘prepare to leave’ down there,” Mr Phillips said.

Kurt Sayed (left) from Townsville & Northern Beaches Trailer Hire was one of the first to start filling sandbags at the Mount Low, (right) division 2 councillor Brodie Phillips

“We’ve had three delivers of sand here (Mount Low sandbagging site) in the last 45 minutes.”

Andy Dunn from Bushland Beach grabbed a handful of sandbags from the volunteers as he prepared to blockage his doorways if the rain continued.

“So far this is normal, it’s not as bad as 2019,” Mr Nunn said.

“We’re just doing what we need to do to prepare early.”

Bushland Beach resident Andy Nunn said he lived near Coles and felt the rain was OK for now, but could get worse

The suburb of Deeragun, located between the Stony and Saunders Creeks, started to see a lot of water on Saturday as the creeks struggled to empty out into the Bohle River.

Deeragun resident Peter Hay has seen the creek come up to his house before and used his Saturday afternoon to fill sandbags.

“I’m just getting prepared for when the river does come up, because it backs up into the yard,” Mr Hay said.

“This rain has a bit of a feel about it and I think it might end up being more than what they’re saying. I hate to say it.”

Deeragun resident Peter Hay is preparing for creek water to start coming onto his property.

A major flood warning has been issued for the Bohle River – at the time of writing the Bohle was at moderate flooding levels and was over the old Bohle Bridge.

Heath O’Brien’s Burdell home backs onto the Bohle River.

“I’m getting sandbags for the doors mainly,” Mr O’Brien said.

“We back on to the Bohle, so we’re a little bit concerned. If it happens, it happens, and we’re prepared.”

Bohle River behind Burdell, 1.20pm, February 1, 2025

Mr O’Brien said his family had gone into town to “grab a couple of bits and pieces” and when they drove back this afternoon they saw the old Bohle Bridge had half a metre of water over it.

Roads closed due to flood water in the northern suburbs include Black River Rd, Saunders Beach Rd, and Palm St behind Deeragun KFC.

Black River, 2.20pm, February 1, 2025

As of 4pm Saturday, the Bohle River and Black River were both at moderate flood levels (6.8m and 5.51m respectively), Bluewater Creek had reached the minor flood level, and Stony Creek was up to 3.9m and rising.

People are loading up trolleys at Bushland Beach Coles. Picture: Daneka Hill

Over 600 homes at Balgal Beach and Rolling stone have also been without power since 11.20am due to unknown damage.

Sandbag sites have been set up at Mount Low and Bluewater.

Originally published as Old Bohle Bridge goes under: Volunteers preparing sandbags