South Burnett faces huge clean up and repairs after rain event
Some roads remained cut and others unusable after the rain bomb that caught the South Burnett by surprise in the past week, leaving a trail of damage that will take weeks to repair and clean up.
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The South Burnett faces a long clean up and recovery in the wake of torrential rain that caused an emergency alert to be issued for the region on Wednesday night.
The heavy rain meant parts of the Burnett Highway and D’Aguilar Highway were closed due to flooding between Kingaroy and Cooyar.
“Yesterday, a very moist and unstable airmass was in place over south-east Queensland,” a Bureau of Meteorology spokeswoman said.
“Thunderstorms initially developed over higher terrain and weaker troughs in the region.
“Later in the day, a stronger trough and southerly change moved through the area and generated widespread thunderstorms.
“Most of the 7-day totals for the gauges above and fairly widespread right throughout the South Burnett are in the range of 70-140mm, and many catchments were already close to saturated from Spring rainfall, which is why we have seen minor to moderate riverine flooding, as well as flash flooding responses around smaller creeks, streams and roads through the region.
“No records have been recorded.”
The region experienced road damage in the flooding and was likely to face an extensive and possibly slow clean up and recovery over the Christmas period, South Burnett Regional councillor Jane Erkens said.
Murgon Gayndah Rd near Cloyna State School was one road in need of extensive repairs after it was significantly damaged.
On Thursday there remained almost 70 roads closed and cut across the South Burnett.
Ms Erkens said the weather had proven to be a challenge as the council tried to close roads to keep residents safe, but also keep staff safe as well.
She said ultimately the advice had been for people to avoid driving unless it was absolutely necessary.
“The land is already waterlogged and such a lot of rain fell last night,” she said on Thursday.
The divisional councillor for Nanango said places at Wattle Camp had been badly affected as well as Goomeri.
Bjelke-Petersen Dam was full, she said.
The damage caused by the rain would mean a huge amount of work coming up to Christmas when it wasn’t always easy to arrange contractors and inspections, and Ms Erkens urged the community to keep that in mind.
She praised the community for keeping the council notified about which roads were affected and for staying safe during the weather event itself.
Overnight totals:
Gympie: 25mm
Kingaroy: 25.4mm
Nanango: 20-25mm based on Brooklands and Kingaroy gauges nearby.
Murgon: 16-23mm in nearest gauges, nearby at West Barambah - 67mm
Bundaberg: 58mm
Gin Gin: 61mm
Everybody appearing at Kingaroy Magistrates Court, Wednesday, June 18
Here is a list of matters listed at Kingaroy Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
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