Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced $38 million in financial support for flood-affected Queensland communities as widespread flooding continues across northwestern Queensland.
The Department of Primary Industries estimates that approximately 16,500 cattle are dead or missing in floodwaters, and flood damage to about 800km of fencing and 1,400km of private roads has been reported.
A man in his 70s was found deceased in his car, surrounded by floodwater.
Cloncurry Shire mayor told reporters that more than a year’s worth of rain had fallen over “two or three days” and “much more” in places since Christmas Day onwards.
He said the flooding has resulted in the community being isolated “from road from the east end to the southeast” and that northern communities, including Julia Creek and McKinlay, would “probably (be) isolated for weeks to come”.
Heavy rain has eased across northwest Queensland, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
“However, even in these places where the rain might start to ease off, we will continue to see riverine flooding,” senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said.
A tropical low set to form in the northern Coral Sea has a 35 per cent chance of developing into a tropical cyclone off the coast of North Queensland on Saturday, the bureau forecast.
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