‘Prepare now’: More flooding looms for Burdekin region

Burdekin residents are being urged to prepare now for moderate flooding to impact some suburbs and potentially cut off the Bruce Highway between Ayr and Home Hill.

Wednesday February 5. Heavy rain causes flooding in North Queensland. Dalton McInerney on the Burdekin Bridge at Ayr looks at the vast amount of water flowing down the river. Picture: Evan Morgan

Burdekin residents are being urged to prepare now for moderate flooding to impact some suburbs and potentially cut off the Bruce Highway between Ayr and Home Hill.

The Burdekin Local Disaster Management Group advised moderate flooding was expected for the Burdekin River at Inkerman Bridge, expected to reach 10 metres about 6pm Friday and rise overnight and into Saturday.

Impacts to the Bruce Highway at Plantation Creek have occurred around 10.5 metres before, like during the 2019 floods.

“You may become isolated until flood waters recede,” the LDMG warned.

“At 9.75 metres water may start coming over the bank at Tapiolas’ and Mcdowells’ breaks on Home Hill side and enter farms in the Jarvisfield area.

“You may lose services like power, communications, water, sewerage and gas.”

Groper Creek Caravan Park managers Wendy Coplick and Jeanette Garvey were busily preparing for a major flood overnight Wednesday.

Earlier this week, with their huts built on stilts to withstand major flooding, even the long-term residents of Groper Creek were “caught by surprise” with the relentless rain and flooding lashing North Queensland.

The 60-odd residents of the small fishing village in the Burdekin, 15km from Home Hill, have been cut off since Friday night.

Groper Creek Caravan Park manager Jeanette Garvey said it had been all hands on deck as the community prepared for major flooding, likely to isolate residents for days.

“The latest advice from the Bureau is that the Burdekin River will reach 10 metres at Inkerman Bridge Wednesday morning so we’re expecting about 1.5 metres of water under huts, but it depends in the coming hours,” Mrs Garvey said.

The Bureau of Meteorology said further rises were possible with the arrival of upstream flow that comes from Charters Towers, and forecast rainfall.

In the 15 years of living at Groper Creek, the long-term Burdekin local has experienced floodwater under her hut about 10 times.

Long-term locals have weathered dozens more floods and cyclones.

“All the community down here, we’ve all been communicating with each other and those who have been here a long time and been through plenty of floods have been helping the newer residents,” Mrs Garvey said.

“It’s all about neighbours helping neighbours and we’ve secured everything in the caravan park which is always hard work.”

Flooding at the Groper Creek Caravan Park in 2009.

The unofficial Groper Creek besser block ‘flood marker’ sits outside Mrs Garvey’s house, built by her husband Danny who died in 2023, which shows how high flood waters had risen in past years.

Locals gathered with a few drinks at the newly-opened public shelter built in Mr Garvey’s honour to check on the creek level on Tuesday afternoon before heading home, where they’ll likely stay for several days until waters recede.

Groper Creek residents enjoy some drinks at the 'Our Front Yard' shelter before heading home to wait out the rising floodwater. Photo: Kat Hampson

“There’s still been plenty of fishing … actually all this rain has brought out the barramundi so it’s been a great start to barra season already,” Mrs Garvey said.

Dave Coplick snagged this barramundi at Groper Creek as floodwaters rose on February 4, 2025.

The 2019 flood claimed the life of Home Hill man Justin Scott, who was swept away when a boat collided with a jetty pylon. His body has never been found.

Earlier in the day, Burdekin Shire Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort gave an update on the Burdekin flooding.

She said the Bruce Highway had reopened between Ayr and Townsville about 9am Tuesday morning, allowing supplies to restock Giru, along with the Burdekin’s two supermarkets.

The Giru township remains under essential water use restrictions until supply levels can be replenished, a process that could still take some time, with residents advised to only use water for essential needs.

Originally published as ‘Prepare now’: More flooding looms for Burdekin region