Rainfall records smashed, man killed in crash as big wet hits
Roads and bridges have been destroyed, a man died in a crash, and a pregnant woman cut off by floodwaters gave birth after a SOS call after a metre of rain fell in just seven days in parts of Queensland. LATEST PICTURES, VIDEOS
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Rainfall records have been smashed across north Queensland but the regional city of Mackay has so far dodged major flood damage to homes and businesses, though roads and highways are facing multimillion-dollar repair bills.
Three, four and five-day totals in Proserpine and Finch Hatton have beaten longstanding figures.
At Proserpine Airport 678mm fell in the 72 hours to 9am Tuesday – the highest total in 42 years of record-keeping.
A 23 year record was broken at Finch Hatton with 791mm falling over the same three-day period.
Figures released earlier show the staggering amount of rain which has already fallen in seven days with 1000mm at Finch Hatton inland of Mackay and 800mm at Proserpine.
More than 700mm was recorded at Mount Jukes, north of Mackay. The highest daily total was 316.6mm at Proserpine Airport, Qld. It was recorded in the 24 hours to 9am on Monday.
LOCAL HEROES HELP DELIVER BABY
There’s been joy amid the chaos and devastation of the Central Queensland floods – a little bundle of joy, to be exact.
In Eungella, west of Mackay, a pregnant woman cut off by floodwaters has given birth to a healthy baby girl after local medical “heroes”, including a retired doctor and an off-duty nurse, answered an SOS call.
Angel McKay and partner Dean Gajda welcomed their daughter Hayley Ann into the world after a group of locals came to their rescue on Tuesday morning when a rescue chopper and SES crews were unable to reach them.
The Queensland Ambulance Service shared the heartwarming story to its Facebook page on Tuesday afternoon.
“In the early hours of this morning, first-time-mum Angel went into labour with her baby girl at their Eungella home, however with recent treacherous rainfall wreaking havoc on the range and intense low-lying cloud cover, local paramedic and aeromedical crews were not able to reach her,” the QAS said
“Thankfully, QAS along with Retrieval Services Queensland (RSQ) were able to assemble a team of local medical heroes, including retired Doctor Beryl (Turner), off-duty Nurse Sue (Vetma) and General Practitioner Emma (Sedlacek), the team then braving the wild weather to reach Angel and aid her through delivery.
“Thanks to these dedicated members of the community, Angel was able to bring beautiful little Hayley Ann into the world without any complications. What a remarkable team effort!”
DRIVER RESCUED FROM FLOODWATERS
Emergency services have responded to a man who became stuck in floodwaters while attempting to cross the Bruce Highway in Gumlu.
Five emergency vehicles, including one technical rescue truck, responded to the call with ambulance and police in tow.
The man, who reported water over the bonnet of his car, was able to get out of the vehicle before emergency services arrived with the help of bystanders who threw him a rope.
Crews were able to help the man to safety shortly after they responded to the incident.
SEVERE WEATHER WARNING CANCELLED
Speaking on Tuesday afternoon, the Bureau of Meteorology said "significant totals" had been seen across the Central Coast and Whitsundays region.
"In the general strip between Bowen down to Camila we've seen roughly around 150 to 200 millimetres over the last 24 hours," senior meteorologist Harry Clark said.
"This comes on top of numerous days of 200mm-plus falls in previous days as well.
"So it's certainly a very significant rainfall event for that part of the world.
"All this rainfall has led to continued or renewed flash flooding in many of these areas overnight," Mr Clark said.
The BOM cancelled a severe weather warning for the Central Coast and Whitsundays District on Tuesday night at about 7pm.
“The immediate threat of severe weather has passed, but the situation will continue to be monitored and further warnings will be issued if necessary,” a statement on the BOM website said.
Despite conditions clearing, Mr Clark said isolated pockets could see localised falls of up to 100mm and possible thunderstorms throughout Wednesday and Thursday.
"Everything's so wet up there that it won't take significant further rainfall to still see those renewed flash flooding risks and riverine flooding risks," he said.
"We're definitely encouraging people to stay up to date with all the flood warnings."
While major flood levels were reached in the Pioneer river upstream of Mackay, the river peaked at a lower level than expected Monday morning.
"Some good news in that the Pioneer River has peaked a little lower than expected through Mackay itself," Mr Clark said. "Certainly we will need to remain alert for any further rainfall over the coming 18 hours, we could see some renewed rises in these rivers."
The Bruce Highway between Proserpine and Home Hill has reopened this afternoon, but remains closed at Lethebrook and Goorganga Plains.
YOUNG MAN FOUND DEAD IN BIG WET
Mackay’s weather drama began on Monday night when an emergency alert to watch and prepare for floodwaters was issued for residents living in the Mackay region.
A young man has been found dead near Mackay after his vehicle reportedly lost control and rolled following days of unrelenting rain.
On Tuesday morning, a French national had to be rescued from his sinking yacht after it drifted in the fast-flowing Pioneer River in Mackay.
The deluge has left dozens of motorists, truck drivers and tourists stranded with some describing the Bruce Highway as ‘atrocious’.
Isolated by mud and rockslide ravaged roads, a Pioneer Valley community is rallying together amid fears this major flood could be the final straw for a popular dairy farming business.
Travellers trapped by floods have expressed their gratitude to a seaside town that welcomed them with open arms, with a sergeant saying ‘it’s an unwritten rule that we all stand together’.
A severe weather warning for heavy rainfall remains in place for the Central Coast today, easing into Wednesday.
Flood levels in Mackay on Tuesday morning were lower than what was feared following "patchier" overnight rain than forecast, according to Acting Premier Steven Miles.
He said the Pioneer River peaked at minor flood levels while the river peaked at major flood levels in Mirani, leading to some inundation of mostly low-lying agricultural land.
"There are no reports of homes being affected," Mr Miles said.
"We continue to see significant road closures through the entire region (and) creeks and rivers are rising and falling very rapidly.
"Our concern at this stage is resupply for those communities who are now isolated."
Mr Miles said there was heavy rainfall predicted for Tuesday as he urged the community to be on alert for updates. He said local groups and organisations were working to resupply isolated communities with essential goods.
He also said he would make the Queensland Reconstruction Authority available to affected councils across Central and North Queensland.
The QRA helps disaster-affected communities with infrastructure repair and renewal.
SES ATTEND MORE THAN 90 CALLS FOR HELP
In the 24 hours to 9am Tuesday the heavy rainfalls continued across the Mackay region, with Bowen seeing 128mm of rain, Proserpine 195mm of rain, and Mackay itself getting 147mm.
Other significant rainfall totals included Ridgelands with 320mm, Finch Hatton 360mm, Eungella 308mm, Cannonvale 223mm, Jubilee Pocket 222mm, Jochheims 215mm, Mirani 213mm, and Marian Weir 200mm.
The bureau‘s latest severe weather warning advised an extra 300mm could be dumped over the Central Coast and Whitsundays today. Around the coast and areas from Mackay to Nebo, between 200 to 250mm could fall within a six-hour period.
Across Monday and early Tuesday morning, the SES received more than 90 requests for assistance, mainly for sandbagging and leaking roofs. Swift-water rescue teams were called to jobs at Sugarloaf, Gregory River and Hamilton Plains.
Emergency services have confirmed they are concerned that homes and businesses could become inundated over the next 24 to 48 hours.
Mackay Regional Council has revealed the Pioneer River is predicted to peak at 7am on Tuesday, with impacts expected on drainage in Mackay CBD.
Areas east of Sydney St and north of Gordon St will most likely be affected.
Residents are being warned to avoid parking in this zone.
On Tuesday morning, the Pioneer River was raging with floodwater and continuing to rise.
Mackay resident Laurie Henley was among those watching the water.
“I haven’t seen it up this high since the big tide last year”
“I’m worried about some of these boats, the waters running 7-8 knots right now and that’s a weak anchor line”
The Bruce Highway was cut in several places, landslides were impacting a range leading to an isolated hilltop town, trains and flights were disrupted and dozens stranded.
Between Hampton and Proserpine, the entire Bruce Highway is pockmarked with potholes and debris.
Many are unavoidable as incoming traffic forces motorists onto sections of flood-damages road.
Yet from Mackay to Elaroo, no creeks or floodwaters have covered the road as yet.
SES ATTENDING LEAKS, SECURING HOMES
Mackay SES volunteers are fanning out across the region as the rainfall smashes down and the call outs pick up.
Paula in Andergrove called in the SES at 1am Tuesday morning when water started leaking into her living room.
Warren Ponmoon stood on a ladder and assessed her roof at 8am.
Four other volunteers were with him on the job and they decided to tarp the roof.
For CQUniversity student Tatiana Hogan, it is her second job for the day. “We’ve been on and off since Thursday,” she said.
Mackay SES Controller Alex McPhee said 25 volunteers would be working across Tuesday alongside six flood boat operators.
“We have not had any major inundation into houses,” he said.
He said his crews had been putting up diversion walls to stop groundwater from seeping into houses.
Most people out looking near the boat ramp were staying in their cars, keeping out of the wet.
Graham Jackson was checking things out at Bluewater Quay: “A lot of stuff has already come along and washed up on the pylons.”
YOUR FULL GUIDE TO ROAD CLOSURES
MAYOR HOPING FOR BEST ON FLOODING
Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said he did not expect there to be any inundations in most of the urban areas in Mackay, but added there could still be localised flooding as rain continued to pelt the region.
"We don't have any expectations that the river is going to get any higher than what you see it now," Cr Williamson said.
"We know we have problems in some low lying areas at Finch Hatton … and also out at the Finch Hatton Gorge.
"There's a lot of water out there "The rain today may produce a little more in terms of localised flash flooding but hopefully it'll ease off after today."
Cr Williamson said there so far had been no flood-related emergency calls, but plenty of demand "on the civil ops crew in terms of road closures".
"We're quite happy about he fact that we're dealing with this … very old fashioned wet season in a pretty good manner atm," he said.
"I reckon out community's done a fantastic job. I'm really proud of the fact that over the last three days they've stayed off the roads."
His message for the community was "don't drive if you don't have to driver on our wet roads at the moment".
The low pressure trough which has hammered Mackay and the Whitsundays is expected to begin to move offshore to the north late in the day.
Over the southeastern Herbert and Lower Burdekin and far northeastern Central Highlands and Coalfields districts, six-hourly rainfall totals between 80 to 120mm are possible.
A watch-and-act flood warning was issued for Cremorne in the Mackay region about 7.30pm on Monday, with residents urged to seek high ground away from the Pioneer River.
A motorist was rescued near Sugarloaf, in the Whitsunday region, after the vehicle they were in stalled in floodwaters.
It follows several other rescues over the weekend and dozens of cars seen entering floodwaters.
It comes as area controller for the Queensland State Emergency Services (QFES) John Forde said Monday afternoon that the rain would see water inundate some houses and lower lying areas.
The heavy rain has also caused landslides.
HEAVY RAIN CAUSES MUDSLIDES
Video shows a muddy hillside washing onto the Eungella Range in the Pioneer Valley as the Bureau of Meteorology continues to roll out severe weather warnings.
In the 24 hours from Sunday 9am to Monday 9am, 392mm fell at Jubilee Pocket, in Airlie Beach, 372mm at Peter Faust Dam, 317mm at Proserpine Airport and 313mm at Preston and Bowen.
The bureau issued major flood warnings for both the Pioneer and Don Rivers with up to 500mm of rain expected in the next 24 hours in Mackay and surrounding areas.
Livestock has been swept away and properties turned into swimming pools as rain pummels the Pioneer Valley, swallowing roads and a large bridge crossing.
It has been reported a cow was swept away in floodwaters at Cattle Creek in Gargett, west of Mackay, as river levels rose dramatically on Monday afternoon under unrelenting rain.
A Gargett property owner was forced to rush to her paddock to save her livestock.
She was able to save two pigs and a sheep but there were fears held for one sheep still unaccounted for.
Community members converged at the dramatic scene along Mackay-Eungella Rd where water gushed over the bridge, carrying with it a large water tank plus hay bales.
A fenced yard could be seen totally surrounded by fast-flowing water, as bystanders said they were concerned the property usually held horses.
Some said it was the first time they’ve seen the creek over since Cyclone Debbie in 2017.
This was the very reason Daniel Manning, of Pinnacle, found himself at the water’s edge on Monday evening.
He said he had heard there could be animals stuck so he “brought my tinnie down … trying to do my part to help out”.
Despite best intentions, it is understood Mr Manning was advised to stay out of the water.
Mr Manning said he had never seen Cattle Creek flowing over Mackay Eungella Rd like this before.
He said he had driven by on Sunday and had seen the water get close, but it was nothing “like this”.
“There’s a water tank there now where there was cane and train tracks,” he said.
Numerous creatures and critters could be seen frantically swimming to the water’s edge including rodents, insects, toads and snakes.
Since 9am Monday Eungella has copped 254mm and Finch Hatton has received about 160mm.
Charlee Lennox, who moved to Owens Creek in the past few years, described the scene as “absolutely crazy”.
“I walk my dog down here and to the creek … every others week and it’s … completely underwater now where we normally walk,” Ms Lennox said.
“I never seen it like this before … when you think of how low … the creek normally is … and then you see it underwater.”
The Mackay hospital radiographer said she was concerned about being cut off from the city.
“I’m worried about trying to get in on Wednesday … I don’t know if the road (is) going to be underwater,” she said.
Sara Mattson, Wade Tucakovic and Jan Williams have lived in the Gargett area for about 12 months.
Mr Tucakovic said the image of the swollen Cattle Creek was “amazing”.
“It’s crazy,” Ms Mattson said.
“We’ve driven over it a few times in the (past) few days and … said to each other, there’s no way that could go over,” Mr Tucakovic said.
The trio was living in Rural View before moving further west, wanting a “tree change”.
Mr Tucakovic was stunned by this year’s wet season.
“We were here for Debbie, this is a lot different,” he said.
“It’s the first proper wet season we’ve seen,” Ms Mattson said.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned the Mackay region could received another 500mm over the next 24 hours.
Since 9am Sunday there has been rainfall totals in excess of 370mm in the Pioneer River catchment in the Finch Hatton area.
BOM has warned heavy to isolated intense rainfall were forecast for the remainder of Monday into Tuesday, which was likely to cause further rises during the next few days.
River levels are elevated along the Pioneer River and are currently below the minor flood level.
Higher flood levels are possible as the developing weather system moves over the catchment.
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