Floodwaters stop cars on Bruce Highway in Whitsundays

Drone footage shows the extensive flooding across the Goorganga Plains and one lane of the Bruce Highway is opened. LATEST

The Bruce Highway has flooded in the Whitsundays, with cars stopped in floodwaters near Goorganga. Photo: CJ Magee

The Bruce Highway between Mackay and Proserpine is now open under single-lane traffic control after the roadways was flooded as the region was lashed by rain earlier this week.

Footage taken by Proserpine resident Rebecca Parnell shows the extensive flooding across the Goorganga Plains, even as the water had begun to recede.

The Bruce Highway at Lethebrook was closed on Friday after the Mackay Whitsunday regions were pummelled by heavy rain, causing significant flooding across multiple roadways.

Proserpine resident Rebecca Parnell took this footage of Goorganga Plains on Sunday after the highway had been reopened in a single lane capacity. Picture: Rebecca Parnell

Despite this multiple vehicles still attempted to cross the flooded highways resulted in at least one swiftwater rescue call-out and other vehicles being stranded.

The road closures remained in place on Saturday as the wet weather continued.

A single lane of highway at Lethebrook was reopened on Sunday morning under traffic control but motorists are warned to allow extra time and expect delays.

The Bruce Highway was closed for two days at Lethebrook after the Goorganga Plains flooded after the Mackay Whitsunday regions was hit with heavy rainfall.

Swift water rescue crews rush to help trapped duo
Swift water rescue crews rescued two people trapped in a car stuck in raising floodwaters between Mackay and Proserpine last night.

The calls for help came in just before 7.30pm on the Bruce Highway at the Lethebrook Rd intersection at Lethebrook.

A Queensland Fire Department spokeswoman said the vehicle was driving through floodwater when the trouble began.

The water was initially at a stable level but soon started rising slowly and was fast flowing around the vehicle, pushing for urgent calls to help the two people after their vehicle was washed off the road.

It is understood the water had risen from the footwell level to above the headlights of the vehicle.

One of the occupants tried using an umbrella to measure the depth of the water and said the current nearly swept the umbrella from her hands.

The two were rescued from the vehicle at 8.30pm.

Emergency services also observed a b double truck on the side of the road in the same area, but after searching found no occupants.

Roads are flooding across the Whitsundays, including the Bruce Highway at Lethebrook, with some motorists ignoring warnings and driving into floodwaters.

Earlier on Thursday rising floodwaters have shut down the Whitsunday Coast Airport and the Bruce Highway leading to Proserpine.

In a post made to its Facebook page on Friday the airport announced it was cancelling all remaining flights.

“The Bruce Highway has been closed due to rising floodwaters,” the post read.

“Once the highway is reopened by the roads crew, WCA staff will conduct a runway inspection and notify airlines of resuming operations.”

Travellers are encouraged to contact their airline directly for updates on flights.

“Please do not attempt to access the airport,” they said.

“Remember, if it’s flooded, forget it!”

The Bruce Highway is now closed between Lethebrook and Tobin Rd, Proserpine.

This comes after two drivers were picked up after finding themselves stuck in floodwaters on the Bruce Highway south of Proserpine.

Emergency services were called to the Goorganga Plains 7km north of Laguna Quays after receiving a report several cars were stopped by flood waters after 7.30.

A Queensland Fire Department spokesman said three vehicles were stranded by flood waters and a crew drove into the waters in their truck to aid the drivers.

One car was able to turn around and drive out of the water, while drivers in the other two vehicles were picked up by the firefighters and are being taken to Proserpine.

At the time of writing Lascelles Ave remains unaffected by flood waters and the Whitsunday Coast Airport remains operational, with a flight from Adelaide arriving 10 minutes early and a Jetstar flight from Brisbane landing five minutes late.

This comes after 100mm of rainfall on the Mackay-Whitsundays in the last 24 hours closed many roads, including the Bruce Highway near Lethebrook.

A post to the North Queensland Weather Watch Facebook group showed the highway was completely covered by water near Lethebrook with multiple cars in the water.

Queensland Police are warning the public not to play in or drive through floodwaters.

It also comes after a 15-year-old boy was swept into a stormwater drain in Mareeba.

Mareeba Police Station Acting Sergeant Daley Boney said the incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of flood waters.

“We strongly advise parents to highlight these dangers to their children, to ensure they aren’t putting themselves in unnecessary risk by playing in stormwater drains, rivers and parklands,” Sergeant Boney said.

“The wet weather is expected during this time of year, but it does not mean we should be complacent.”

Police are urging motorists to adhere to road rules, including road closed signs in place to prevent people driving into flood waters.

They warn disobeying road signs will result in penalties such as fines or loss of demerit points.

Originally published as Floodwaters stop cars on Bruce Highway in Whitsundays