Central Queensland cops heavy rain with Moranbah recording 120mm overnight

A driver, whose ute was swept away in fast-moving floodwaters, has been rescued after more than two hours trapped on the sunken vehicle’s roof. LATEST.

Prospect Creek is over the roadway on Sarina Marlborough Rd. Image: Isaac Regional Council flood cameras

Swift water rescue crews have reached a driver who was trapped on the roof of his ute for more than two hours in a remote part of the Whitsundays.

It comes after fast-moving floodwaters swept his vehicle off the roadway at the Belyando crossing, west of Mount Coolon about 9.17am Thursday.

The driver reportedly told emergency crews he had to climb onto the roof of the ute and the water was rising.

Multiple crews were called to the site, travelling for several hours because of the remote location on Gregory Development Rd, arriving about 11.30am.

A swift water rescue boat was launched, and the crew was able to reach the driver, who was safety brought to land.

A Queensland Fire Department spokesman confirmed the driver of the ute was safe and paramedics were their way to the scene to assess him.

The QFD spokesman said it was believed the driver attempted to drive through flood waters before his ute was submerged forcing him to seek refuge on the roof of their car.

Peak Downs Highway at Nebo. Picture: Janessa Ekert

This comes as heavy rain has moved further inland over the Bowen Basin with drivers warning of tyre-damaging potholes on one of the region’s major arterial stretches from Mackay.

Motorists are sharing images of multiple roadways being flooded after some Isaac areas copped more than 100mm of rain.

Isaac River recorded 126mm overnight, while Moranbah Airport had 94mm.

Laglan Rd had 119mm, Silver Hills had 103mm, and areas in and around Emerald had around 50-60mm – as a result multiple roadways are impacted by water or flooded completely.

Anyone driving to Glendon has been warned Bee Creek has covered the roadway.

Matthew Pickering posted a photo of his damaged tyre after travelling on the Peak Downs Highway.

Matthew Pickering warned other drivers to beware of potholes between Junction and Nebo, posting there were “definitely some big ones” with a photo of a damaged tyre rim and wheel.

Roads closed because of flooding as of Thursday morning are Golden Mile Rd, Suttor Developmental Rd, Dysart Clermont Rd, Lotus Creek Rd and May Downs Rd.

Isaac Regional Council lists 73 impacted roads across the Mackay-Isaac regions, with the majority closed for flooding. Visit: dashboard.isaac.qld.gov.au

This comes after Hamilton Island copped 321mm in 24 hours, with a plane aborting its landing and golf carts struggling to drive up a steep road as a waterfall of water rushed down.

Mackay was also flooded in a matter of hours this week, cutting off all roads to the airport and stalling some cars that tried to drive through.

More to come.

Originally published as Central Queensland cops heavy rain with Moranbah recording 120mm overnight