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Barwon-Darling floods: Flood levels biggest in a decade

Communities on the Darling River are preparing for flooding with the volumes of water heading south set to increase.

Else KennedyElse Kennedy
@elsekennedy
3 min read
December 14, 2021 - 5:00AM
The Weekly Times
Heavy rain in south east Queensland last week is set to increase flows through the Murray Darling Basin. Picture: Carolyn Reynolds/Severe Weather Australia
Heavy rain in south east Queensland last week is set to increase flows through the Murray Darling Basin. Picture: Carolyn Reynolds/Severe Weather Australia

Heavy rain in Queensland is sending some of the biggest flows in a decade pulsing through the Barwon-Darling river system, with residents in downstream communities preparing for flooding.

Heavy rain last week is expected to increase already-high flow forecasts for the Barwon-Darling, with residents of downstream Menindee meeting on Tuesday to prepare for potential flooding.

On Thursday WaterNSW said up to 1800GL of water was heading towards Menindee Lakes over the next two months, a volume just under four times that of Sydney Harbour, and equal to the inflows the Lakes had received over the preceding nine months.

But after heavy rain in Queensland late last week, those flows were “almost certain to increase”, and residents should wait for further announcements from the Bureau of Meteorology regarding the height and timing of high water levels, a WaterNSW spokesman said on Monday.

The extra rain has been bad news for farmers in south east Queensland, who had been hoping to harvest what was left of their crops, but may now have to write off anything still in the paddock.

McGregor Gourlay Goondiwindi Agronomist Rob Austen said heavy rain and hail caught him by surprise on Thursday.

His rain gauge registered 100mm after just 10-20mm was forecast.

The rain was the “last thing” the area needed after more than a month of heavy rain, he said.

Goondiwindi totalled 228mm in November, 381 per cent of the region’s long term average. At Mr Austen’s property, the gauge registered over 400mm in five weeks, almost the normal yearly average.

He said this year’s wet harvest had been “a twist of the knife” for farmers who had just come through a couple of rough years.

“We did it pretty tough through the drought and even last year was hit and miss.

“This year was a magic run. Everyone had crop in and got decent rain through the season, and then it just kept coming,” he said.

“Most of the crops here are harvested, but not 100 per cent. There’s still some crop out in the paddock, and some of that is knee deep in water. It will be a long time before we’ll see a header in there and it will pretty much be written off now,” he said.

Some cotton that had been planted for the summer has been washed out, and there was a “question mark” around whether to replant, he said. “It is getting pretty late in the game.”

“It’s a bit scary so early in the season. Our flood months are usually February and March so it could all go underwater again yet.”

But the water would be good for livestock, and paddocks were looking green and well-stocked, he said.

Mr Austen said many farmers in the region had learnt hard lessons from the last few years of drought and had diversified their businesses.

Some growers were also looking to make use of the soil moisture to plant summer crops of mung beans and sorghum.

“There’s money in mud, as they say, so we’ll pick it up somewhere else I hope.”

The Barwon river was in flood on Friday, sending cropping properties under water, and more water was on its way from the Balonne River, which has burst its banks.

Downstream at Bourke the Darling river was at 7.4m and rising on Friday.

SES Western Zone chief superintendent David Monk said resource planning for downstream communities like Menindee was well underway.

“We have volunteers from across the State who are on standby to assist the Menindee

community when the need arises,” he said.

“Residents who are typically impacted by flooding should start their own preparations now,

by preparing a list of actions to be taken prior to the floodwaters arriving such lifting

furniture and moving vehicles, equipment, pumps and livestock to higher ground,” Mr Monk said.

WETLANDS FILLING

While the floods have been bad news for farmers, wetlands throughout the Murray Darling Basin are flourishing, and can look forward to a summer of flows.

Flows down the Darling Anabranch reached the Murray River this week for the first time since 2016, and the Barwon-Darling was enjoying its biggest flows in a decade, according the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder.

On the Murrumbidgee river the Gayini flood plains have filled, hosting thousands of water birds after extended flows.

More Coverage

Floodwaters claim another life as warnings remain in place for QLD, Victoria
Dominica Funnell
Towns in Victoria’s east warned to brace for floods
Laura Placella, Duncan Murray

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