Region staying positive with more wild weather on horizon

A NORTH Queensland mayor says he is ready for whatever else the wet season throws at the region, with more wild weather predicted this week.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned Cape York residents to brace themselves for the next bout of extreme weather, as a monsoon trough is expected to become more active in the region during the next couple of days.

It comes as heavy rainfall that blanketed the Cassowary Coast and Hinchinbrook regions causing widespread flooding, eased up yesterday allowing access to clear on the Bruce Highway south of Cardwell.

The national highway, however, was still expected to be cut off today. Corsis, southwest of Innisfail, received the heaviest rainfall, with 191mm from the 48- hour period to 2.30pm yesterday. Emergency services flood boats were involved in five property evacuations in Innisfail, moving 11 people.

Cassowary Coast Regional Council Mayor John Kremastos said the waters were receding across the region yesterday, with no more localised flooding in populated areas.

“By all accounts, this has been a one- in- 20- year event,” he said.

“We’ve had flooding in both the North and South Johnstone Rivers before, at the same time, in 1999.

“So this hasn’t been an insignificant event, but with our protocols we have in place and our teams being active and out all weekend, we’ve mitigated any damage.

“We’re quite comfortable where we are at the moment and I believe our teams are well prepared for anything that might come our way.”

He said it was too early to estimate the damage bill from the flooding.

BOM meteorologist Jim Richardson said conditions in the Gulf of Carpentaria and in the Coral Sea would become ideal for an extreme weather event.

“From Monday onwards, the conditions will become more favourable for a cyclone to form,” he said.

Emergency Services Minister and Barron River MP Craig Crawford said floodwaters were expected to take some days to recede.