Queensland floods: Eungella isolated, fears for Dale Fortescue’s dairy farm

Isolated by mud and rockslide ravaged roads, a Pioneer Valley community is rallying together amid fears this major flood could be the final straw for a popular dairy farming business.

For dairy farmer Dale Fortescue, flooding at his hometown of Eungella, which is cut-off by mud and rockslides, is a cruel culmination of a tough 12 months.

The Pioneer Valley producer, who runs his farm, Eungelladale, with wife Paula and usually delivers milk to local towns and Mackay, warned on Tuesday the isolation “will send us broke”.

The normal Wednesday run won’t be possible, and no deliveries means no income.

“We are on the skin of our teeth right now and now a week or so without pay,” Mr Fortescue said.

“It has been a hard year for us.

Dairy farmer Dale Fortescue walked up the Eungella range by foot to get back to his cows on Monday afternoon. The Mackay-Eungella road is closed to traffic due to rock and mudslides. Picture: Facebook

“We couldn’t get enough supply and then we had oversupply and couldn’t get enough sales and now this has happened.”

The major rain event is also expected to hinder milk production from his cows.

Mr Fortescue walked up the range by foot to get home after the road was blocked on Monday afternoon.

“It took an hour-and-a half to get up the range,” he said.

“Through the rocks, had to get home to help milk (the cows)

“There would be 20 odd slips on the range”.

QAS captured these dramatic images of the Eungella Range, west of Mackay.

Eungella has been hammered with rain in the past few days with the Bureau of Meteorology recording 308mm in the 24 hours to Tuesday 9am.

Eungella Chalet manager Tess Ford said the town was “pulling together” during the difficult moment.

“Eungella’s amazing when we are under pressure,” she said.

“Everyone pulls together.”

The chalet acts as the town’s go-to general store and Mrs Ford said she had been busy.

“No one can get out of here,” she said.

“A lot of people are coming in to get bread and milk, takeaway food.”