State faces cyclone threat as flood recovery begins
Northwest Queensland faces the prospect of a double-barreled disaster as floodwaters recede and a tropical low in the Coral Sea threatens to develop into a hurricane.
The Bureau of Meteorology predicts there is a “medium” chance of a tropical low in the Coral Sea becoming a hurricane by Friday.
“Long term action [the low] It remains uncertain, but the system is likely to begin moving west towards the Queensland coast over the weekend, which will increase rain and winds,” the bureau said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.
Flooding caused by monsoon conditions last week blocked access to towns and destroyed an estimated 16,500 cattle in a region economically dependent on agriculture.
With soil already saturated in parts of northwestern Queensland, outback communities were at risk of further flooding if a new cyclone approached the coast.
In his speech announcing a $38 million disaster recovery package for the flood-damaged runway at Cloncurry Airport, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government would continue to monitor the system.
“We are very concerned,” he said. “The reality is that we are seeing natural disasters occur more frequently and more intensely.”
Jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Queensland governments, the package included $21.5 million in grants for primary producers; Up to $75,000 is available for each affected farmer in the Carpentaria, Cloncurry, Croydon, Flinders, McKinlay, Richmond and Winton areas, with $10,000 available immediately.
A further $11.5 million has been allocated for repairs and flood resilience improvements at Cloncurry Airport and a $5 million boost to the emergency feed programme, bringing the total to $7 million.
“Of course there will be more to do,” Albanese said.
“The goal today is to provide immediate support so this community can get back on its feet as quickly as possible.”
The prime minister, usually a regular guest at the McGrath Foundation’s afternoon tea on the third day of the Sydney Test, appeared in Cloncurry on Tuesday instead of the high-profile fundraiser, making the announcement alongside Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain and Cloncurry Mayor Greg Campbell.
Campbell said between 400 and 800 millimeters of a year’s worth of rain has fallen on his community in two or three days since Christmas Day.
“This [airport] “This is an example of how extensive the damage is,” he said.
“We are still seeing damage to cattle stations as the floodwaters recede… and then all that water flows into our northern neighbors Carpentaria, Doomadgee and Bourke Shires.”
He said flooded roads meant his town was isolated from Townsville and Brisbane.
“Julia Creek, the McKinley community, and communities to the north will likely remain on lockdown for the coming weeks, if not a month or longer,” he added.
“Part of this is a wet season in north-west Queensland, but the amount of rain we’ve had has actually made this a nationally significant event.”
Start your day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
