Flood Warning Update #14 3pm 5 March 2020

Food and medical supplies will be delivered to the isolated town of Dirranbandi tomorrow.

Balonne Shire Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) chairman Richard Marsh said the delivery would be done under the guidance of the State Emergency Service.

“Dirranbandi is still isolated at the moment with flood waters receding slowly,” he said. “The river height at Dirranbandi was 4.94m and is expected to remain above 4.8m through Friday.

“The Bureau of Meteorology has advised that the floodwaters at Hebel reached 2.05m at noon today and are expected to peak at 2.2m at some point tomorrow afternoon. BOM expects the water to remain high into next week.

“The Castlereagh Highway remains closed between Noondoo and Dirranbandi, and Dirranbandi and Hebel.”

Cr Marsh said the Bureau had also advised there could be isolated heavy thunderstorms throughout the Mungallala/Wallam Creek catchment, Maranoa and Balonne catchments.

“In the next 12-18 hours there may be isolated falls of 40-100mm before the system clears away tomorrow morning,” he said.

“With that rain and the already soaked soil in the region there may be renewed river rises in our local area but would not reach previous levels.”

Cr Marsh said the LDMG was advised by the Recovery Group that Nindigully had been added to mosquito fogging schedule.

“This work will depend on the weather so please be patient. Council’s hard waste collection also has been impacted by the weather and will recommence once the team is able,” he said.

“Most of our local roads are now open, although some are four-wheel-drive access only.”

The LDMG will remain at stand-up status until floodwaters begin receding at Hebel.

For more information visit www.bom.gov.au; and/or www.sunwater.com.au.  For assistance contact the State Emergency Service on 132 500.  For local road closures visit https://qldtraffic.qld.gov.au/ or phone 13 19 40.  Dial 000 in an emergency.