Qld weather: Major flood warning for Townsville’s Ross River downgraded

Townsville residents forced to evacuate because of the threat of major flooding are returning home, but severe weather continues in the state’s north with one holiday hotspot hammered by rain.

A major flood warning that drove thousands of Townsville residents from their homes has been downgraded, with residents told they may begin returning in stages.

But severe weather continues in parts of north Queensland, with one holiday hotspot hammered by rain on Tuesday.

Speaking in Townsville earlier today, Premier David Crisafulli said the city of Townsville had “dodged a bullet” after the Ross River was downgraded from a major to moderate flood warning.

“There is no doubt that the city has dodged a bullet, and if you reflect that nearly six years ago to the day, people were picking up the pieces, and to think that in many cases, has been spared is certainly a relief,” Mr Crisafulli said.

Townsville Local Disaster Management Group chair Andrew Robinson said residents could now go home.

“The flood levels are not going to hit the peaks that we had estimated that they could have reached,” he said. “We’re advising that people from the black zone can now go home.”

He asked for residents to remain alert and watch for any further warnings.

Severe weather continues in parts of the north, with the Bureau of Meteorology issue a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of the North Tropical Coast and Whitsundays.

Hamilton Island copping 128.4mm in two hours earlier today, and Mission Beach 103mm in the 90 minutes to 2.30pm.

Cairns, Yarrabah, Gordonvale, Airlie Beach and Redlynch could also be impacted by heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours.

Flood watch continues this afternoon for parts of the Burdekin, parts of the Gulf, and Thomson River catchments.

This comes as Charters Towers residents were asked to continue to conserve water after an intake failure at the weir yesterday.

A critical water alert was issued yesterday by Charters Towers Council with residents asked to only use water for drinking and three minute showers only.

And Katter’s Australian Party Deputy Leader Nick Dametto said the story

wasn’t as positive for Ingham residents, saying it was “in trouble right now”, with hundreds of homes inundated.

The Ross River at Aplins Weir was expected to peak this morning at a major level, but hit about 1.66m and is likely to remain at that level for the rest of Tuesday.

Water had receded in the river close to Townsville’s at-risk “black zones” on Tuesday, but residents forced to flee their homes have been asked not to return to their homes until authorities declared it safe.

Premier David Crisafulli arrives at the Townsville Disaster Management Centre. Pics Adam Head

Mr Dametto said while water began to recede on Monday night, it seemed to be holding during the day and not dropping at a fast pace.

The ADF are set to fly in a generator to run the towns water supply on Tuesday - if weather permits - however there is no timeline for the power to be restored to the town which has already been out for two and a half days.

“We’re gonna have crews working in parallel as soon as the water comes down, crews working on the substation to clear the water and ensure that they can dry out the asset before re-energising, but also out there checking the rest of the electrical asset, power lines, power poles, because there’s no use turning this thing on if it’s going to trip straight away,” he said.

About 200 locals were lined up for food and supplies outside Woolworths in Ingham with police at the door to supervise. Photo Cameron Bates

As much as 1.2m of rain fell across the region, with the wet weather hitting new targets further south, too.

Flash flooding left streets and cars inundated across Mackay after 100mm of rain in the 21 hours to 6am Tuesday.

Mr Crisafulli flew into Townsville on Monday to help facilitate service delivery across impacted areas, including hardest hit Ingham where a woman died in floodwaters on Sunday.

Flooding in Ingham on Tuesday morning.

Speaking to the Today show on Tuesday, Mr Crisafulli reassured locals his government would support them through the flood disaster.

“We’re going to be here for the long haul, I can assure you. I’m here on the ground because I have to make sure what we say needs to be delivered is delivered because you’re going to have communities that are really going to be tested,” he said.

“They’re resilient communities, but resilience doesn’t mean you just leave them on their own devices. They’re going to need a lot of help in the days, weeks, months and even years ahead.”

Flooding in Ingham on Monday. Picture: Cameron Bates

Between Cardwell and Townsville, up to 1200mm of rain has fallen in some parts since Friday, washing out the Bruce Highway and seeing SES respond to more than 500 calls since Saturday night.

More than 30 mobile network sites are down across North Queensland due to flooding and while many had been restored, an added seven sites have crashed since Monday afternoon.

Flooding in Ingham on Tuesday morning.

Rainfall has dramatically eased across much of North Queensland but there are still warnings that isolated falls of up to 180mm are possible.

On Tuesday morning, the Bureau of Meteorology issued a new severe weather warning for people in parts of North Tropical Coast and Tablelands and Herbert and Lower Burdekin forecast districts.

It said heavy rain that may lead to flash flooding is forecast between Cardwell to Yabulu. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 100mm and 140mm are possible, with isolated falls up to 180mm possible. This risk is expected to persist Tuesday morning.

Flash flooding in Mackay after 100mm of rain in the 21 hours to 6am on Tuesday. Picture: Mackay Weather Chasers

Rain is predicted to ease over the coming days, but meteorologist Dean Narramore warned flooding could continue and rivers could keep rising.

“We could see isolated falls up to 300mm over the next 42 to 72 hours that could fall on those already flooded catchments,” Mr Narramore said.

Senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury on Tuesday said rain was expected to become much patchier through the day.

“The risk of locally heavy falls will linger. Showers and storms will continue across North Queensland for most of the week ahead,” she said.

“Daily rainfall totals could be anywhere from 10mm to 100mm in the worst affected areas each day this week.

“Due to the saturated nature of North Queensland, further rain will continue to feed into already swollen rivers.”

Thousands of Townsville residents in at-risk “black zones” were ordered to leave their homes on Saturday, with up to 1700 homes in those areas predicted to be impacted by flooding.

But many locals ignored the warnings and went back to their homes on Monday. Those who stayed away were told about 11am on Tuesday that they could begin returning home in stages.

The Bruce Highway’s Ollera Creek Bridge north of Townsville has been cut in half by flood water.

“The peak of the black zone is predicted to be occurring around now,” Chief superintendent Graeme Paine said.

“I urge the community to please listen to the messages that will come from council because it may not be everyone can return.

“It may be an incremental return if it is based on the river heights across the next few days.”

The Ross River Dam now sits at 165 per cent capacity – a decrease of about 9 per cent overnight

The Bohle River at Mt Bohle is currently at 4.36m and falling, above the minor flood level of 4m.

The Bohle River at Mt Bohle is likely to remain around the minor flood level on Tuesday morning.

The Herbert River in Ingham was 0.35m below its record height in 1967.

Burdekin River at Sellheim peaked at 19.14 metres earlier on Monday, surpassing the previous record of 18.47m.

In Ingham, dozens of people had to be rescued from their homes on Sunday night as water levels rose, inundated homes, cut power and isolated the town.

Raging floodwaters have also completely cut off the area, after the Bruce Highway was washed away at Ollera Creek Bridge, north of Townsville.

Mr Crisafulli said the attention right now was on aerial support, with key assets such as the hospital coming back online on Monday night.

“There is a handful of key services like the supermarket and fuel stations, but our immediate focus is on airlifting generators, and we’re most grateful for the support of the Australian Defence Force to be able to get into there and provide power to some of those critical issues, things like additional fuel supply, things like the water treatment plant which is going to be going to be really, really key part of the recovery,” he said.

The huge line-up for fuel on Tuesday in Ingham after massive flooding has cut power and telecommunications. Photo: Cameron Bates.

“The second element is the substation, and the substation that has been offline is the reason why nearly 7000 households have been without power, and have been for some time.

“Workers are getting in on the ground to have a look at what the extent of that damage is, and then an assessment will be made about how quickly that can be repaired, or if there needs to be an alternate in that place as well.”

Mr Crisafulli said there were a number of roads that remained “out of action” and covered by water, urging residents to still be vigilant and keep off the roads where they can.

“I want to make a reflection on the state of the Bruce Highway and redouble our commitment to do something about it. We have worked well in a short period of time to develop the plan that road needs,” he said.

The Premier said this disaster is an example about how “ridiculous” the state of the Bruce Highway is.

“You’ve got so many thousands of people at the mercy of one road. It’s one road that hasn’t had the investment in for generations,” he said.

“The last thing you want to do is replace that bridge to the same standard in the location and expect a different result.

“Let’s build some resilience into that, use it as an example of what Queenslanders and Australians can do after a disaster. Let’s find a way to build back better.”

Mr Crisafulli said the Department of Transport and Main Roads were “throwing everything” at a plan to rebuild the highway. “They’ve gone and they’ve surveyed it from the sky, and the moment the water recedes, they’re going to look at every option. So there’s two elements, the first is the temporary option, got to find a way to connect the very least of the services, and then there’s the long term, and my preference is the rebuild be done parallel to a higher standard, and build in flood immunity there.”

Flooding at the Euramo Hotel with locals travelling by boat for a drink. Photo – Tori Muzic

Mr Crisafulli said the State Government had asked insurers to get on the ground to begin assessments on the damage.

“We want to work with you, and we want you to work with the community, and people have been hit pretty hard, and we don’t want them to be put through the ringer a second time.

“So we’d welcome those payments to flow to impacted people really quickly so they can get back rebuilding their lives.”

The Premier went on to say he would not be returning to Brisbane until he had been on the ground in Ingham and Cardwell where communities were most impacted.

Queensland Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said the planning was well advanced in police and emergency services to keep responding to the ongoing flood situation, as well as recovery.

He said they were looking at a three plus week recovery where additional resources will be kept on the ground.

“Also, we’re very mindful that Queensland has been known to throw up subsequent events, so we’re planning around what might come next, and can we sustain these operations for the coming months.”

Commissioner Gollschewski added there was a focus in policing anti-looting and that, so far, police had seen minimal offending.

It comes as an extraordinary video has emerged of a woman, being visited by a crocodile at the stairs of her highset house on the Haughton River near Giru.

The freshwater crocodile is seen struggling to swim against the rapidly moving floodwater and ends up by washed closer to the home.

“Don’t you come up under my house and up my stairs,’’ the woman can be heard saying on the video, posted by Anita on Higgins Storm Chasing.

“You nearly took out my pot plants then.’’

Mr Crisafulli – who had a disaster briefing in Townsville at 5pm Monday night – was flanked by Police Minister Dan Purdie and Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski when he met with local councillors and MPs about the response going forward.

“It’s important that I make sure that things that need to be delivered are delivered, and by being around that can occur,” he said.

“And I want those communities to know that they matter to us. We are a really proud state, and part of that is how decentralised we are.

“And these communities form a really important part of the fabric of who we are.”

A woman is visited by a crocodile at the stairs of her highset house on the Haughton River near Giru.

Townsville’s Ross River Dam has been automatically releasing water since Friday and sat at 174 per cent capacity on Monday afternoon. The timing of these releases will be assessed.

Townsville Acting Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney said things were different this time.

“2019 was a very different disaster, in the sense that we had a lot of rain over the catchment in the dam whereas (in 2025) there has been widespread rainfall throughout the city,” she said.

“In terms of response and recovery, in terms of disaster management, it is up there with 2019 and could be worse, we’re not quite sure yet.”

Flooding at the Euramo Hotel with locals travelling by boat for a drink. Photo: Tori Muzic

Premier David Crisafulli has received a briefing from the health minister about potential health dangers in North Queensland floodwaters.

“We’ve just received a briefing from the health minister as part of this … and that is something that we’re going to be speaking quite a bit about in the next 24 hours,” Mr Crisafulli said.

Mr Crisafulli said the region had seen a break in the rain, but warned the flooding risk was still apparent.

“But looking at modelling, and the Bureau says that there is still the prospect of rain, and so we have to prepare for that,” he said.

“The best case scenario could be a minimal amount of homes inundated, that would be an amazing achievement, considering we are staring down the barrel of seeing 1700, but until we see what happens overnight, we’re not out of the woods.”

Flooding around Ingham, North Queensland on Monday. Photo: Cameron Bates

He plans to spend time in the Townsville region before heading to Ingham.

“I’m in no rush to go back south, this is where our priority is.”

Ingham residents say the flooding ripping through the town are some of the worst they have ever seen.

The community is bearing the brunt of a days-long deluge that has smashed parts of North Queensland with up to 1.2m of rain.

By Monday afternoon, 119 people had registered at the evacuation centre at Ingham State High School.

Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre chief executive Linda McClelland said in the 35 years she has lived in the area she has never seen flooding this bad.

“I’ve seen a lot of floods come through our district, and none parallel to this one,” she said.

“When we talk about the yardstick of floods, we talk about the 1967 big flood, this one has exceeded that one.

Evacuees registering at the Hinchinbrook hurricane shelter at Ingham. Picture: Cameron Bates

“So it’s caught the community, even the locals aren’t aware, because they prepared for what would be a normal flood, and this has exceeded that.”

She said it was already quite fatiguing for a number of members of the community.

“Now the community doesn’t have access to any power. And slowly, people’s phones are running out, their fridges have turned off, and they’re starting to lose contact with the outside world.”

Ms McClelland said the Hinchinbrook Community Centre was among those impacted very badly.

“We’ve had workspaces go underwater, quite significantly,” she said.

“We’ve lost most of our vehicle fleet. I’ve got staff cut off all over the district and even through to Townsville and Magnetic Island

Ms McClelland said her organisation was reflective of the whole community who were “struggling to survive” at the moment.

David and Tracy Ebert look for items to salvage from the lounge room, after flood water inundated their Cardwell home overnight. Picture: Brendan Radke

Jackie West off from Ingham said she woke up on Monday morning to about 50 centimetres of water throughout her Ingham home, destroying her kitchen, dining room, lounge room and laundry.

“We’ve lived here since 2009, we actually moved from a house we were renting

that got flooded in the 2009 humungous, big floods, and we thought we’d move to somewhere that was flood free,” she said.

“This is phenomenal. I’m a local girl, I’ve never seen, and even people that have been here longer on this earth than me, have never seen water in places that it’s in at the moment, it is just horrendous.”

Ms West off said they were a bit worried it’s not over.

“We just launched a claim through our insurance. Thank God we are insured. They’ve said, they said, your house at the moment is not liveable,” she said.

“They said we don’t have power, we can’t cook, you can’t shower, but there’s nowhere for us to go.

“So as much as I’m concerned that there’s nowhere for us to go, there’s nowhere for Ingham to go.”

She said the town was very eerie. .

“If we knew it was over, then we knew we would have to clean up and get back to life,” she said.

Annabella Giorgas 11 walks along her street in Hermit Park as Townsville residents endure another day of heavy rain and threats of catastrophic flooding. Pics Adam Head

“But it’s the not knowing that’s the hardest.”

A woman living with disability, who only wanted to be known as Cat, said she had been left emotionally scarred after a long wait for rescue as floodwaters lapped at her thighs of her one-storey home in Dutton Street.

“I started ringing at 6.30am in the morning (Sunday) and by 2.30pm, they finally got here but I had to ring four times with no response.”

She shares the home with her 86-year-old mother.

“I was crying, I was hysterical, I even had someone hang up on me when I called triple-0, they said ‘we’re busy’.”

Cat said it was time to “bring in the Army” to help with rescue efforts.

She said the floodwaters were severe and “hit so fast”.

Webb Rd resident Christopher Faust moves cattle to higher ground

Jeremy Dametto, a relative of Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto, said he and his family, including wife and kids, were forced to evacuate from Palmer Street late on Sunday night.

“The house was starting to lift (in the floodwaters).”

He said the water was so high it was reaching the second level of the house.

Mr Dametto said his family was allowed into the Hinchinbrook Shire Council building but he was barred as he had a dog.

He said he slept on a public bench outside the council building on flooded Lannercost Street.

“It was a bit hard, a bit cold.”

Mr Dametto said he was hoping to relocate to the evacuation centre on Monday but was still awaiting transport through the flooded water along Palm Terrace and McIlwraith Street.

While closer to Townsville, Hermit Park resident Ross Bennett had endured the 2019 floods where waters rose within a matter of hours and inundated underneath his highset home.

Six years on from the devastating disaster, Mr Bennett said the difference this time was that they were well prepared.

“The river is coming up but very slowly, I think we will be fine at the moment, but will know by high tide today,” he said.

The Queensland Rail tracks remain underwater and will need to be inspected for damage before railway services to Cairns can resume. Picture: Brendan Radke

“We never got any warning in 2019, it just turned up in the street, we were under for seven days here, within a couple of hours we were all under.

“We were well and truly under here, it was well over the fence.

“We’ve had heaps of warning, heaps of preparation this time.”

Mr Bennett’s street had started to fill with water but their yard and under their home was so far unscathed.

Pimlico resident Brian Murphy, who has lived in the area for 44 years, was one of many homeowners who had water creeping closer to their properties.

Mr Murphy had decided to stay in his home and wait out the weather.

“I think I might get away with it, the worst was Night of Noah in 1998, we had 60cm come through, it was just about up to the windowsills,” Mr Murphy said. “I’m not too concerned. I thought it was going to go up Friday night. It’s definitely not the worst I’ve seen it.”

Emergency services check out Aplins Weir as it overflows. Townsville residents endure another day of heavy rain and threats of catastrophic flooding. Pics Adam Head

Disaster assistance payments have been offered for impacted residents in Gordonvale, Hinchinbrook, Palm Island, Tablelands, Townsville, Burdekin and Cassowary Coast, which are aimed to cover emergency essentials such Queensland Minister for Disaster Recovery Ann Leahy said the federal and state governments were prepared to offer more support when flooding subsided and damage costs were revealed.

Mr Crisafulli said it was “very early days” to estimate the damage bill for the region, and said focus would be on people’s safety.

“And then we rebuild, but rebuild we will, and I’m determined to make sure we rebuild to a standard that makes those communities more resilient for the next disaster.”

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