REGION COPS DRENCHING WITH MORE ON WAY
Officials say residents should have plan in place as roads closed by rising floods
FURTHER heavy rain is expected to lash the Far North coastline today with swollen rivers and creeks cutting off roads around the region.
Flood warnings remained in place for the Mulgrave, Russell, Tully and Murray rivers late yesterday with Goldsborough Valley cut off when Peets Bridge went under during the afternoon.
Falls of up to 300mm within 24 hours were again forecast to impact some parts, particularly in the Tully and Innisfail areas.
Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Sam Campbell said the system, which was producing the wet weather, was expected to continue moving north today with Cairns expected to cop its biggest drenching by midmorning.
He said it would continue moving towards Cooktown and conditions in Cairns could begin to clear by this afternoon.
“By Wednesday morning the rainfall will have eased back,” he said.
The highest falls to 9am yesterday were in the Cassowary Coast locations of Japoonvale (353mm), Mena Vale (291mm) and Tung Oil (244mm).
SES Far Northern regional manager Wayne Coutts said several volunteer crews had been placed on standby last night to assist residents.
He said there were a handful of call-outs yesterday, predominantly called to move fallen trees which were blocking driveways or had landed on properties.
Mr Coutts urged residents to monitor the conditions and not take unnecessary risks in flooded areas.
“Have a plan if you’re cut off,” he said.
“If you can’t pick up the kids from school or if you have to discuss with your boss that you might not make it into work – just so you don’t find yourself in a situation where you make poor decisions.”
The worst flooding around Cairns occurred in southern areas with Pine Creek Rd to Yarrabah cut off, along with several other roads around Gordonvale and Edmonton.
Gordonvale resident Tresa Plumb, who lives at the intersection of Little and Dexter roads, said their property regularly flooded.