Qld floods: Darling Downs areas flood for first time in years

Darling Downs locals have woken to water lapping at their doorsteps following major overnight rain across the region, with one resident of 10 years saying he has never seen anything like it.

Darling Downs publican Greg Daley woke up to water lapping at the steps of the Quinalow Pub and his nearby home after the J.J. Gleeson Bridge went under following overnight rain that has left one person dead and another missing in South East Queensland.

Water had risen from Myall Creek, for which the Bureau of Meteorology has issued a major flood warning.

Dalby residents have been warned that rising floodwaters could inundate the town and potentially close parts of the Warrego Highway.

Dalby State High School has remained open, however, parents and carers were advised they can collect children from school early if it was safe to do so. “Please do so only if safe and take extreme care. All students remaining at school until the regular finish time will be safe and closely supervised,” a post on the school’s social media read.

“It was raining last night when I went to bed, pouring down, but I wasn’t expecting this to happen,” Mr Daley said.

“I had water in places I’d never seen it before and I’ve been here for 10 years.

“We’ve got a little caravan park across the road and there wasn’t any grass showing that’s for sure and there’s a big shed that’s never been hit before but the water all went through the shed.”

Mr Daley said the water rose around down about 5am but had since receded.

Quinalow pub with flood waters lapping at the doorstep. Photo: supplied

He said while about 92mm of rain was recorded at Quinalow, water raged down the creek from near the Bunya Mountains where totals of around 180mm were recorded.

“We could have no rain here and 6 inches in certain other areas and our creek runs like hell, bursts at the bridge and runs down the road,” Mr Daley said.

“It then takes about a day for the water here to flow down to Dalby.

“It’s hard and fast and it comes all the way from the mountains.”