File photo taken and suppied by Brian Voon Yee Yap. The bridge where the Warrego Higheway crosses the Maranoa River at Mitchell. Wikipedia.

Date / time: 02/02/2012 04:08:48 [UTC]
Event: Flood
Area: Australia
Country: Australia
State/County: State of Queensland
Location: Mitchell

Description:

A disaster situation has been declared for the town of Mitchell in western Queensland, with flood levels predicted to hit nine metres. Premier Anna Bligh says the declaration gives police and emergency service agencies the power to order people out of their homes if they refuse to go voluntarily. “The situation at Mitchell, situated on the Maranoa River between Charleville and Roma, continues to be managed by local disaster management groups,” the premier said. “There is currently water in one property and the river continues to rise.” An emergency flood alert has been issued for Mitchell residents with people in low lying areas advised to consider self evacuation to higher ground or emergency centres. Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said more heavy rain was expected across parts of inland Queensland on Thursday. “This continued rainfall could potentially worsen any existing flooding or cause localised flash flooding,” he said. Mr Roberts said an emergency alert was also issued in Charleville on Wednesday night, where Bradleys Gully peaked at 1.75 metres at around 2am (AEST) but waters rose less than expected. “I am advised that all but three families are expected to be back in their homes by the end of today,” he said.

Paul Birch from the Flood Warning Centre says the Maranoa River will peak on Thursday afternoon but should start falling again overnight. “Evacuating those low lying areas of Mitchell is certainly a good idea,” he said. “Upstream at Forestvale and particularly Currawong it’s now above the 1990 flood which is a big one for there. “At this stage it looks like Mitchell will get to about 8.5 metres – Currawong is currently at 9.3 metres and if it gets to 9.5 that means water will get into houses at Mitchell.” Mr Birch said the water levels were expected to peak for half a day then fall fairly quickly. “Mitchell is just on the edge of the heavy rain which is falling to the southwest at the moment but falls of more than 100mm in the next 24 hours are possible.” While flood levels in Charleville are expected to reach six metres in the next couple of days, the FWC said the water levels should remain well below the flood levee height. In response to a call from the Local Disaster Management Group, an extra 16 rescue personnel have been sent to Charleville, St George and Augathella. The Bureau of Meteorology says the heavy rain should ease before the weekend. “The good news is we’ll see a significant easing on Friday afternoon,” forecaster Michelle Berry said. “Over the weekend there’ll be isolated shower activity, so thankfully we’ll see the conditions easing quite a lot.” Ms Berry said the heaviest rain on Thursday was expected around Mitchell, St George, Roma, Charleville and Blackall.

“Those areas will see the heaviest falls today, and also through the central west through Longreach.” Balonne Shire Council mayor Donna Stewart said St George, on the Balonne River, was braced for floodwaters flowing down from Mitchell. Ms Stewart said some residents at Dirranbandi, about 80km south of St George, were isolated by floodwaters. “There’s people isolated from floodwaters from around Christmas time when we had a small flood,” Ms Stewart said. “The people on the flood plain below St George (on the lower Balonne River), they get isolated very quickly and frequently in seasons like this.” She noted there was far less water in the Balonne River than in March 2010 when a major flood inundated St George. “It’s a different set of circumstances … we have to watch things closely and make a prediction in the next 24 hours. “We will open our disaster plan this morning.” Just before noon (AEST), the Maranoa Regional Council said the Maranoa River at Mitchell was at 8.5 metres, exceeding the Mitchell flood of 1990, when the river peaked at 8.2 metres. It is predicted to peak in Mitchell at 8.7 metres at 1pm today, but this may be affected if further rain falls, the council says. Maranoa River at Currawong was at 9.3 metres and rising.

Maranoa Mayor Robert Loughnan said emergency SMS messages, and landline calls, were being made encouraging Mitchell residents to self evacuate. “The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting 100mm of rainfall in the Mitchell area over the next 24 hours,” he said. “With the river rising today it is expected that some properties are likely to be affected.” The Warrego Highway is closed between Roma and Amby. The Bungil Creek at Roma was at six metres and rising slowly. The Balonne River at Surat was at 10.15 metres and falling.