Severe flooding in outback Queensland has devastated the region, resulting in the death or disappearance of over 100,000 livestock, as farmers brace for further inundation. According to preliminary estimates from the Department of Primary Industries, 105,348 animals, including cattle, sheep, goats, and horses, are affected. The floods have also caused significant damage to infrastructure, impacting roughly 3,183 kilometres of fencing and 4,076 kilometres of private roads.
Queensland’s Minister for Primary Industries, Tony Perrett, expressed his shock at the figures and indicated they are likely to rise as floodwaters recede. He highlighted the vast scale of the disaster, which has affected an area of 500,000 square kilometres in western Queensland. Perrett empathised with the local farmers who will spend weeks and months assessing their losses and starting the challenging journey to recover.
In response to the crisis, the government has mobilised resources, providing assistance with fodder and fuel, alongside deploying staff to support recovery efforts in the region.
Moreover, weather forecasts predict that the remnants of ex-tropical cyclone Dianne will bring additional rainfall, potentially exceeding 50mm this week. Bureau of Meteorology’s senior meteorologist, Angus Hines, warned of ongoing significant flooding in central and western Queensland. While the Mary and Noosa rivers in the east are currently receding, the overall flooding situation remains severe.
Hines noted that the cyclone is expected to move quickly across the state, potentially allowing rain to drain into already swollen rivers. Areas in western and central Queensland should prepare for elevated riverine flood levels lasting days or even weeks.
As the situation develops, the full extent of the damage and ongoing challenges faced by Queensland’s farming communities become increasingly apparent, with a long road to recovery ahead.