Qld town faces 'worst flood in memory'
Updated
Heavy rains have caused chaos on roads across Queensland. (user submitted: Charles and Mary Tyson )
Several southern Queensland towns have been affected by flooding as rain continues to fall across large parts of the state.
Residents at Chinchilla in Queensland's southern inland are bracing for their worst flood in more than a century.More than 100 millimetres of rain has fallen in the town since last night and more heavy rain is forecast across the Western Downs.
The water level at Charleys Creek in Chinchilla has been rising steadily throughout the morning and the town is now isolated, with the Warrego Highway cut to the east and west.
Dozens of businesses are closed and homes have been evacuated.
The owner of the Club Hotel, Justin Byrnes, says his pub is among dozens of businesses affected.
"It's lapping the front verandah of our hotel, which is probably four foot off the ground, five foot off the ground," he said.
Mr Byrnes says it is the town's worst flood in memory.
"We've got up to 30 people here giving us a hand sandbagging, pumping water out, doing everything," he said.
"What we're hearing is that this will far exceed '83, which is probably the worst one in memory that's documented."
And the situation is expected to worsen.
The official flood record for Charleys Creek is 6.6 metres, and this afternoon authorities are bracing for 7 metres.
Bill McCutcheon, from the Western Downs Regional Council, says many homes are also at risk.
"The door-knocking is certainly being done. There'll be no forced evacuations," he said.
"All we'll be doing is helping people as they want to leave."
About 80 kilometres to the south-east in Dalby, Myall Creek is predicted to peak at 3 metres later this afternoon and roads are already closed in the area.
Theodore
The rising Dawson River in the Queensland town of Theodore, west of Bundaberg, has prompted authorities to evacuate low-lying homes, the hospital and the retirement home.The Dawson River has already surged to 13.7 metres - the trigger point for evacuations.
Banana Shire Acting Mayor Maureen Clancy says emergency plans are being put in place.
"We're trying to get our Red Cross coordinators into the town to coordinate some of this evacuation," she said.
"We're looking at getting the material that we need when we do evacuate - blankets and pillows - and the problem we have is the town is isolated.
"Getting it in there isn't that easy but all this is in progress."
Authorities are also keeping a close watch on rising river levels in other towns along the swollen Dawson River, including Moura and Baralaba.
Most towns along the river remain isolated.
Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts and Deputy Premier Paul Lucas will fly to Emerald and Biloela this afternoon to meet local disaster management groups.
Some homes in the Central Highlands are expected to be inundated if the Fairbairn Dam continues to rise.
"It's really just to touch base to get a bit of a feel for what's happening in the region, but there are of course other areas across the state which are experiencing very severe weather conditions at the moment," Mr Roberts said.
However, the western Queensland town of Charleville, which was badly affected by flooding earlier this year, appears to have escaped the worst of the current wet weather.
North eases
As the trough continues to move south, the flood threat in the state's north is beginning to ease.More than 100 millimetres of rain fell in the Ingham area over the past 24 hours, but the Bruce Highway has now re-opened in both directions.
There are reports that up to 2,000 cars were queued on the road.
Hinchinbrook deputy Mayor Andrew Lancini says people in the town are breathing sighs of relief, with water levels lower than last year's devastating flood.
"Speaking to some residents this morning they just can't believe how low the water was," he said.
"We've been spared gracefully."
Councillor Lancini says there have been no reports of homes being inundated.
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