Cairns flood: Queensland homes cut off as Barron River creates new channel

The scale of the devastation­ emerged as locals came to terms with a new channel carved to the sea by the raging Barron River, cutting off more than 50 homes on Cairns northern beaches.

The scale of the devastation ­ inflicted on flood-hit far north Queensland emerged on Wednesday as locals came to terms with a new channel carved to the sea by the raging Barron River, cutting off more than 50 homes on Cairns northern beaches.

Holloways Beach resident David Walliams was used to watching holiday-makers park up and head down to the shore just up from his home on Casuarina St. But in a matter of minutes on Sunday, the road was devoured, with a 100m hole carved through the suburb.

“Nature tells you a story every now and again,” Mr Williams said. “The water kept coming up then all of a sudden I saw a tree fall over about 50m ahead and ­created a wave about 3ft to 4ft high. All the mangroves went into the ocean.”

While the rush of water was cleared in about 20 minutes, the rift is permanent. Now residents of 55 homes now cut off from town must decide between a Christmas away from home or weeks without water, power and sewerage.

Casuarina St in Holloways Beach. Picture: David Walliams

Cairns Mayor Terry James said works to create a causeway were under way, with more long-term solutions to be explored.

“It seems senseless to put it back the way it was and let the same thing happen again,” Mr James said.

A number of “vulnerable persons” have been evacuated from Kowanyama, an Indigenous community on the western coast of Cape York, for their safety as flooding begins to worsen near the Gulf. As more residents were moved from Wujal Wujal, emergency services said 24 isolated communities had yet to be ­assessed on Wednesday morning.

Several major roads north of Port Douglas will take months and even years to repair, with bitumen washed away in 120m landslides at Cape Tribulation.

Damage assessments of homes and business were set to begin in earnest on Wednesday. Only one property has been confirmed completely destroyed and a further 57 deemed severely damaged and unliveable, however this number is expected to climb. Power is expected to be restored to 90 per cent of properties by December 23.

Police and other emergency personnel board Chinook helicopters to fly to the township of Wujal Wujal. Picture Queensland Police

Insurance claims are rising, with 2921 lodged in the past week, according to the Insurance Council of Australia. Major insurer Suncorp said tradies were already on the ground doing repairs.

The federal MP for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, and Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr agreed the repair bill was likely to be at least $1bn. Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said it would take “big dollars” to repair major infrastructure such as roads and bridges. “We are looking at a very expensive repair bill, there is no doubt about it. The infrastructure assessments have only just begun,” he said.