Bauple cattle farmers shelter locals after 300mm of rain falls

Residents at Bauple, close to the Bruce Hwy town of Tiaro, have sheltered at a farm after local roads were cut in the deluge which now has the cities of Maryborough and Gympie in the flood firing line.

Bauple farmers are rushing to fix widespread damage across properties in the rural township which was smashed by more than 300mm of rain in 24 hours.

Belinda Wood, who together with husband Shane and their two sons runs a cane and cattle property, said they had never seen so much rain in such a small amount of time before.

“There’s a few fences down and cattle to look at around the place, and a lot of roads are cut,” she said.

The couple was housing friends who had been trapped by the flood waters and couldn’t get home on Friday night.

It comes as both Gympie and Maryborough remain in the firing line with flood warnings for both cities as the Mary River rises.

Mrs Wood said that while the damage to her property was relatively minor there were concerns about the highway.

“The highway I hear is blocked south of us, which is causing problems. A lot of traffic backed up in Tiaro at the minute,” she said.

“We know there’s a few fences down in places that we have to go in fix before the cattle find it,” she said.

The river came up very fast on Friday night, but at the time of publication it looks none of the cattle have been swept away.

“So far so good,” she said.

If you are in an emergency, call 000 immediately.