702mm in 24hrs: Rollingstone, Paluma hit hard by rain storm

Insane rainfall in the Paluma and Rollingstone areas has caused power lines to fall across the Bruce Hwy, Rollingstone Ck to burst its banks, and Paluma Dam to reach a record-breaking 160 per cent.

Power lines down just off Bruce Highway at the Balgal Beach turn off. 10.30am, Feb 2

Insane rainfall in the Paluma and Rollingstone areas has caused power lines to fall across the Bruce Hwy and pushed Paluma Dam to a record-breaking 160 per cent capacity.

Fallen powerlines have been seen at the Balgal Beach turn off on the Bruce Hwy and at the Ollera Ck bridge near the Paluma turn off.

Ergon Energy said people should stay far away from fallen powerlines.

“Whenever there are reports of fallen powerlines we will switch the power off for safety reasons, but where there is flooding crews may not be able to get in and confirm the state of the network,” a spokesperson said.

“We cannot safely reconnect customers until the damage has been assessed and repaired. In these conditions, delays are likely.”

The Bureau of Meteorology has recorded 24hr rainfalls of 571mm at Paluma Dam, 501mm at Paluma town, 702mm at Rollingstone, 449mm at Bluewater and 437mm at Toolakea.

Balgal Beach resident Elissa Wenzel said she’s been without power since 11.15am Saturday.

“It looks like it’s getting worse but we only moved here two yrs ago,” she said of the weather.

“It’s flooding in places I’ve never seen before. I think a lot of drains are blocked.”

Rollingstone Creek, Sunday morning Feb 2 8.15am. Credit: Elissa Wenzel

Rollingstone resident Stephen McAndrew spent his Sunday driving a loader around creating diversion channels on his property opposite the Rollingstone Pub.

“Four creeks are now running through my property. Never had it this bad before,” Mr McAndrew said.

“I’ve had 1250mm up until now.”

Locals have also been reporting Rollingstone Ck has burst its banks - Mr McAndrew said that was accurate.

BOM had the Rollingstone Ck water level recorded as 3.25m at 1.36pm, Sunday (Feb 2).

Wallabies seek shelter at the Balgal Beach medical centre. Credit: Elissa Wenzel

Mutarnee residents are currently watching the Ollera Ck closely as the creek continues to rise up to the Bruce Hwy bridge, where a powerline has fallen across one lane of traffic.

Ponderosa Rd resident Simone Lennox said the power lines are down across the north-bound lane on the Ollera bridge.

“We live just north of Ollera... and had no power since 2.15am,” she said.

“We’re doing a fuel run to Yabulu shortly to run generators.”

Later in the day, Ms Lennox reported that she was unable to reach Yabulu and was turned around by police before Liechhardt Creek north of Bluewater.

Bluewater Creek starts to flow through backyards. Kristy Waugh's pool is completely hidden by creek water. Sunday (Feb 2)

Bluewater residents are also on tenderhooks as Bluewater Creek rises throughout the day,

Darren Thompson said Bluewater Creek was getting close to 2019 flood levels at 2pm, Sunday.

“Getting 2019 flashbacks,” he said.
“Creek has come over bank and now connected to yard river. If rain doesn’t slow down in next couple of hours it’s going to exactly the same situation (as 2019).”

Simone Lennox took this picture on the Bruce Hwy's Ollera Creek bridge at 7.28am, Feb 2.

Barrett St resident Sue Brown backs onto the Ollera Ck and said she’s never seen the creek rise so high.

“The rain is just not stopping at all,” she said.

“As low as we are, it (Ollera) comes up significantly with the high tides. We’ve had no power here since 2.30am. Maybe, due to that power line on the bridge.”

Crystal Creek running under the Bruce Hwy, 6pm Feb 1.

Crystal Creek Caravan Park owner Natalie Jaques-Sinclair said they’d been experiencing “torrential rain” and it was only getting heavier.

“The creek we’re on, which is the Crystal Creek, is about to break its banks,” she said.

“We are built up higher than that so the park will be safe. We did have an older gentleman come to us saying the creek was about to break and to make sure there wasn’t anyone camping down there.”

Paluma residents are reporting only those in Star Valley have phone reception, power has been cut off since 2.30am and Paluma itself has experienced over 800mm with debris on the road and trees needing to be chainsawed and pulled off the road to get to Star Valley.

Originally published as 702mm in 24hrs: Rollingstone, Paluma hit hard by rain storm