Thunderstorms expected as Whitsunday Coast Airport and Mackay roads reopen
Video shows the extent of damage to the Bruce Highway in the Whitsundays as the region’s airport and several roads reopen. LATEST.
QLD News
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Aerial footage of the pitted Bruce Hwy has emerged after floodwaters receded on Saturday.
The Whitsunday Coast Airport reopened on Saturday morning as and multiple roads with traffic control in place around Calen, Bloomsbury, Inkerman, Bowen and Hamilton Plains.
At Goorgana, where Bruce Highway repairs were underway on Saturday, potholes were being filled and the surface made safe.
Traffic was running by mid-morning allowing for the Whitsunday Coast Airport to reopen.
Mayor Ry Collins advised drivers to stay out of floodwaters and drive to the conditions.
“Our council crews have been doing a fantastic job out there since first light doing some damage assessment and repairs, thanks for your hard work,” he said.
“If you need to travel please give it half an hour as there is a large number of heavy vehicles that need to clear through.”
All lanes were still impacted on Gregory Developmental Road in Charters Towers to Belyando Crossing.
The site of Friday’s dramatic Swift Water Rescue on Glenella Connection Road in Foulden has also since cleared with all lanes open.
Diversions remain in place for the Peak Downs Highway in Eton with roads closed on Marion Eton Road, North Eton.
Earlier, a man was rescued from the roof of his car after attempting to drive through floodwaters.
It comes after Mackay was lashed with 100mm of water on Friday while Proserpine had an estimated 136mm Thursday night and into Friday.
Mount Jukes received a drenching 146mm in the past 24 hours as Mount Pleasant copped 84mm.
Mackay received 50mm in the last 24 hours with 15mm falling in Proserpine.
Widespread flash flooding led to a number of rescues across Mackay yesterday with drivers getting caught in the water.
A swift water rescue crew were called to Glenella Connection Rd in Foulden, west of Mackay about 12.47pm Friday after a four-wheel-drive got caught in floodwaters.
Police blocked the north side of Fursden Creek while the crew launched their rescue operation from the south.
A Queensland Fire Department spokeswoman said the man escaped by climbing onto the roof of his car after water started lapping his windows.
No other person was in the vehicle and the man made it to dry land just after 1pm.
The driver refused assessment by paramedics.
Previously two men were rescued from floodwaters early Friday morning as more than 100mm fell on the Mackay region overnight.
Emergency services rushed to the Bruce Highway near Kelsey Creek just after 5.30am this morning to find two men stranded in floodwaters with their vehicle.
They were rescued uninjured.
This comes hours after a crash sent two people to the hospital in the Mackay region.
Two teenagers, a man and woman, were involved in a crash on the Mackay-Eungella Rd last night after 9.20pm.
Paramedics arrived to the scene and both patients complained of chest pains and were taken to Mackay Hospital in a stable condition.
Major flooding is expected for parts of Mirani with minor flooding to continue Friday afternoon following a high tide, especially around the Pioneer River.
It comes as Mackay was lashed with 100mm of water in the past 12 hours while Proserpine had an estimated 136mm since 11.30pm last night.
A severe weather warning has been issued for parts of the Central Coast and Whitsundays with heavy showers and storms north and west of Sarina.
There is flooding on the Bruce Highway from north of Bloomsbury to South of Proserpine.
All commercial flights in and out of Whitsunday Coast Airport were cancelled yesterday due to road closures south of Proserpine.
Kinchant Dam released excess water after rain lashed the region overnight cutting off access to Antonney’s crossing on Kinchant Dam Rd.
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