Flood cattle bill estimate now $300m

FLOODWATERS have killed up to 300,000 head of cattle in western Queensland, with losses put at $300 million.

Richmond Mayor John Wharton said there had been huge stock losses in his area, as well as McKinlay shire, and parts of Flinders and Cloncurry shires.

At an average value of $1000 a head, the estimated cattle losses meant a $300 million blow, he said.

The rural lobby group AgForce is scrambling to get emergency fodder shipments to stranded cattle, desperate to prevent stranded herds from dying.

AgForce chief executive Michael Guerin said authorities were facing “a dynamic, unfolding situation of catastrophic proportions”.

He said fodder was finally heading north to the disaster zone, after days of bureaucratic wrangling and a lack of coordination held up some air deliveries.

“The urgency is absolute for graziers who are asking for that fodder ... otherwise we’ll have an even larger catastrophe on our hands,” he said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced flood-hit graziers and farmers already given access to grants of up to $25,000 could now access payments up to $75,000.