Worst of rain over but rivers yet to peak

The storm system that has dumped more than a metre of rain in parts of North Queensland has begun to weaken, but swollen rivers are yet to peak despite the easing rain.

Flooding in the streets of Ingham. Picture: Mostyn Swain

Heavy rain has started to ease in north Queensland but residents of Townsville and Ingham have been warned river flooding has yet to peak.

Hundreds of people living in low-lying suburbs of Townsville, dubbed “the black zone”, will likely be unable to return to their homes for several days as the threat of tidal and riverine flooding remains.

The government is assessing how to get power and food supplies to the agricultural town of Ingham, which remains inaccessible after flooding cut the roads north and south of the area.

Premier David Crisafulli, who is originally from Ingham and whose parents still operate a sugar cane farm there, said Australian Defence Force personnel are on standby to provide assistance to cut-off communities.

“We are a resilient state, and resilience means the communities are strong and tough,” he said.

“It doesn’t mean that they should be left on their own, though, and I want those communities to know that we’re serious about the recovery, and are on the ground to make sure that what needs to be delivered, is delivered.”

An aerial view from a rescue helicopter of the flood water in Ingham. Picture: QAS

The premier will be flying up to Townsville on Monday now that the airport has reopened.

A slow-moving low currently hovering off the coast of Ingham has dumped widespread falls of 600mm across the region in the past week. However, some areas have received well over a metre of rain, including Rollingstone, north of Townsville, which has been drenched with 1286mm.

Between 200mm and 400mm of rain has fallen over the past 24 hours, with some areas from Tully to Giru receiving up to 600m.

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Matt Collopy said the worst of the rainfall appears to be over, with modelling showing the storm system has begun to weaken.

“We are seeing a gradual easing in both the modelling and also what we’re observing on the ground and on the radar imagery,” Mr Collopy said.

“So, those strong winds we’ve observed over the past 48 hours are also expected to ease this morning.”

A further 150mm to 300mm is expected into Tuesday.

The Herbert River at Ingham was sitting well above major flood levels on Monday, holding steady at 14.84m. Flood levels may hit 15m over the coming hours, 0.2m below the 1967 flood record.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli and Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Chelepy during a flood update press conference in Brisbane. Picture: Supplied

The Ross River is also set to peak on Monday afternoon at 2m, after levels of 1.76m were recorded earlier in the day.

“This rainfall is resulting in a continued threat of dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding, flash and riverine flooding from Cairns through to Mackay, particularly concerning around Townsville and Ingham,” Mr Collopy said.

Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Chelepy said there was no one missing and no further deaths, as police continue to investigate how a 63-year-old woman died on Sunday after a rescue boat overturned.

Eleven swift water rescues were made overnight, with 480 calls for assistance received by the Queensland State Emergency Service.

More than 1000 homes are currently without power. A dozen independent schools, 66 state schools and 24 Catholic schools were closed on Monday, alongside more than 100 childcare centres. An update on Tuesday’s closures was expected to be provided later in the day.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said Woolworths and Coles had six weeks’ worth of food currently warehoused in the state’s north. He urged residents who were cut off and running out of supplies to contact their local council or emergency services.

“I want to thank all the supermarkets in North Queensland for assisting the government in ensuring that the supply chain of essential goods and services continues to the flood-affected Queenslanders,” he said.

In Ingham, the managers and assistant managers of the area’s two supermarkets were collected from their homes by SES workers to open the stores and provide food to the local evacuation centres.

Mr Chelepy said flooding has now started to impact west of the coast, with several people rescued from their cars at Charters Towers, 136km inland of Townsville. The rain is expected to track inland over the coming days and connect with another storm system migrating south from the Gulf of Carpentaria.