Brace 'for the big one'

UPDATE, 5.30pm: Mayor Ron Bellingham has warned flooding due to peak later today or tonight could be the worst in the city's history.

Tiddalik (far right) and friend check out the Condamine late yesterday.

UPDATE, 5.30pm: SOUTHERN Downs Mayor Ron Bellingham has warned the region to brace itself for a flood "equal to the Christmas flood or bigger than 1976".

The Condamine River could peak at eight or possibly nine metres by the evening, with the 1976 flood, the highest on record, peaking at 9.1 metres.

"In Warwick, the SES and council staff have door-knocked residences and businesses within the 100 year flood line, which is beyond the flood of 27 December," Cr Bellingham said.

He said of current concern was Gravel Creek at Killarney.

"People are telling me it is as high as locals have ever seen it," he said.

It is understood that the Condamine River at The Head above Killarney has burst its banks and this water will reach Warwick later tonight, with no sign of heavy rain letting up.　

The river at Killarney was at around 6.5m at midday and had flooded the main street.

Flood levels in Stanthorpe are also expected to be as high, if not higher, than the 1976 flood levels and around 25 homes have been evacuated as a precaution.

Flooding is also happening at Allora where Dalrymple Creek is on the rise.

"Quart Pot Creek at Stanthorpe has cut the New England Highway at the bypass and reports of damage to the northern end of Carnarvon Bridge are being investigated," the mayor said.

Cr Bellingham said positive news for the Stanthorpe community was that both Morello and Harslett Dams were holding.

There were earlier fears both dams would burst, sending a new torrent of water into Stanthorpe. This followed rumours yesterday that both Connolly Dam south of Warwick and Storm King dams had burst, which a council spokeswoman said was untrue.

The weather bureau says rain will ease to showers tomorrow, but it is all but impossible to predict when the Condamine might reach its peak.

"Council is urging everyone to diligently observe flood levels, however we encourage residents who are unaffected not to go out sight-seeing as this is using up valuable police and SES resources," Cr Bellingham said.

The O O Madsen Bridge and McCahon Bridge both remain closed, with the highest the Condamine River has ever reached in Warwick being 9.1 metres in 1976. 

Dams in the region are above capacity.

Water is running 900mm over Storm King Dam and 830mm over the Connolly Dam spillway. Leslie Dam is overflowing at 60,000ML per day - more than half its total capacity - and currently all seven gates are open at 800mm.

There are fears that this may result in the Condamine River backing up into Warwick from its junction with Sandy Creek downstream of the dam.

SunWater has warned that the rate of the release could rise further depending on inflow to Leslie Dam, while Connolly Dam south of Warwick is roaring into Rosenthal Creek.

Major rain has also fallen in the Swan and Emu Creek catchments which feed into the Condamine River, furthering the risk of severe flooding in Warwick, added to the water from Killarney.

All roads leading from Warwick to anywhere are closed, with the exception of Warwick to Stanthorpe.

Allora and Killarney are also currently isolated. Stanthorpe to Wallangarra is closed.

Killarney is now without town water, with access to the water treatment plant cut due to flooding of Spring Creek.

No further water will be treated until the flood recedes and council has strongly urged Killarney residents to use water for essential purposes only until further notice.

The only town water currently available is within the two town reservoirs.

Mayor Bellingham said staff and volunteers at Slade Campus, the Warwick Indoor Recreation and Aquatic Centre (WIRAC), the Stanthorpe Civic Centre and the Allora Community Hall were taking registrations and attempting to make evacuees as comfortable as possible.

"However people are asked where possible to stay with friends or to utilise commercial accommodation prior to going to evacuation centres," Cr Bellingham said.

"This will assist with demand on volunteers and ancillary organisations."

Residents being evacuated are asked to ensure they bring with them adequate supplies of medication, along with towels and bedding where possible.

SES Controller John Newley alerted Warwick residents to the availability of sandbags from council’s Willi Street Depot (former Rosenthal Shire Council Depot).

"Alternatively, people willing to help fill sandbags are encouraged to head to the Willi Street Depot to offer assistance," he said.

The latest Bureau of Meteorology bulletin issued at 5pm on Tuesday said southeast Queensland was under the influence of a deep moist easterly airstream, with an upper trough located over the Darling Downs.

Heavy rain areas and local thunderstorms are expected to continue tonight through the Darling Downs and Granite Belt districts, with heavy falls leading to further localised flash flooding and worsened existing river flooding.

The heavy rain areas are expected to gradually weaken overnight and during Wednesday morning.

Current river level data is sketchy as many automatic gauges were damaged in the last flood. Council staff are taking manual readings.

Bracker Road and McEvoy Street in Warwick are still closed.

The other problem for Stanthorpe today was that the town’s sewerage treatment plant flooded yesterday and effluent washed into Quart Pot Creek.

A Southern Downs Regional Council spokeswoman warned downstream residents to avoid all contact with the creek water.

"As a result of the flooding, raw sewage will have mixed with the fast flowing waters of the creek," the spokeswoman said.

"The sewage will be in a highly diluted state because of the amount of floodwater but people should still avoid entering the water downstream of Stanthorpe for the next few days."

Motorists are being urged to postpone any unnecessary travel around the region.

Residents are reminded to monitor local radio, television and the Warwick Daily News website for further information.

Call for flood assistance can be directed to the council on 4661 0399.

The Daily News editorial department will be shifting to flood-proof premises shortly. Call deputy editor Jeremy Sollars on 0419 700 466 with any urgent enquiries.

Latest river heights...

Condamine River at Killarney 6.25m (rising) 11:53am

Condamine River at Elbow Valley 6.48m (rising) 1:02pm

Condamine River at Murrays Bridge 8.25m (rising) 1:07pm

Condamine River at Scots Colllege 6.27m (rising) 12:22pm

Condamine River at Warwick (McCahon Bridge) 6.2m (rising) 4:41pm MON

Glengallan Creek near Backwater Ck 4.75m (falling) 1:07pm 

MORE UPDATES TO FOLLOW.

Originally published as Brace 'for the big one'