Recent rain acts as lifeline for many

HEAVY downpours across the west have been a lifeline for many on the land, but some graziers are just weeks away from destocking their properties for the first time in more than half a century.

During the Australia Day weekend, a severe thunderstorm moved across the southwest and produced heavy rainfall which soaked the drought-stricken region and led to flash flooding in several areas.

Two heavy rainfall days on January 17 and 25 gave the dry Maranoa much-needed reprieve, with 97mm recorded in Roma for January, up from the month’s average of 67mm.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Alex Majchrowski said Roma received 45mm of rain over the Australia Day weekend, Wallumbilla received 17mm, Mitchell 0mm, Chinchilla 58mm, Tambo 22mm, Surat 9mm, Charleville 78mm and St George 11mm.

For Queensland horse trainer Craig Smith, if a second downpour doesn’t occur soon, he will be destocking all his cattle for the first time since 1964.

“We have been running only 30 per cent capacity of our cattle at this time of year, and if it doesn’t rain in the next five weeks or so, we will destock down to zero.”

Mr Smith said that the region needed triple this amount of rain to make a dent in the drought.

“This is the driest condition I’ve seen in 55-years in Wallumbilla,” he said.

“I don’t think it’s ever been as long and widespread as the time now.”

The trainer based between Roma and Wallumbilla said the weekend rain did however ease the situation on the land for many.

“It filled a little bit of the dam and gives the property a green profile which helps a bit, but we definitely need some follow-up rain,” he said.

He said despite this, parts of his property received little rain.