Floods to have mighty impact
TOWNS as far south as Bundaberg and inland to Charters Towers will cop a soaking from Cyclone Debbie and the expected low pressure system this week, with flooding shutting down some of the state’s critical ports, mines and agriculture.
The weather bureau has warned severe flash flooding is likely to hit much of North and central Queensland in coming days, crippling multibillion dollars’ worth of primary and other industries.
Ports, coal mines, railways, schools and airports in the cyclone zone will be closed until further notice, bringing central Queensland’s workforce to a standstill.
Townsville and Mackay airports will stay closed today with safety inspections required once the cyclone has passed.
The Collinsville and Newlands coal mines have sent workers home while they temporarily close down operations.
Farmers around the Bowen and Mackay regions are particularly concerned about the impacts of the cyclone on the state’s agriculture with sugar cane already waterlogged and pushed over by the gale force winds.
More than $ 1 billion worth of raw sugar is at risk of being destroyed by Cyclone Debbie in the sugar cane areas of Burdekin, Proserpine and Mackay.
“Winds ( from Cyclone Debbie) will lead to widespread crop damage as well as significant damage to farm infrastructure for other intensive industries such as nurseries and chickens,” Queensland Farmers’ Federation president Stuart Armitage said.
“Farmers are bracing for the damaging winds and storm surges up and down the coast.
“The significant rain from the cyclone can also result in localised and extensive flooding. As the cyclone tracks south and inland, farmers well outside the initial landfall region will be at risk of flooding.”
Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie is expected to ease back to a Category 2 cyclone by 2pm today as it passes just north of Collinsville.
It is then expected to turn and track towards the southeast coast tomorrow afternoon, bringing rain and showers to parts of southern Queensland later this week.
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast rainfall totals of around 150mm around the Sunshine Coast region and more than 100mm in Brisbane on Friday.
Authorities also warn the remnants of Cyclone Debbie may cause flooding and torrential rainfall around the Wide Bay and southeast Queensland regions next week.
A flood watch was issued yesterday for the Ross, Bohle and Black rivers, Bluewater Creek, Haughton, Lower Burdekin, Don, Proserpine and Pioneer rivers.
The Bureau of Meteorology said as the rainfall moved further inland, the Fitzroy, upper Burdekin, Belyando, upper Flinders, upper Thomson and upper Barcoo Rivers could also break their banks.