WATCH AND ACT NO. 16

FRIDAY 27 MAY 2022 – 12noon

This is a FLOOD WATCH and ACT from the Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) for the Balonne Shire. Our LDMG remains at STAND UP and will continue to monitor and/or respond, as required.

VECTOR CONTROL

Council will begin a vector control program this Saturday 28 May 2022 - Wednesday 2 June 2022. The program is as follows (subject to change depending on weather conditions):

Date
Morning
Evening
Saturday 28 May
St George
St George
Sunday 29 May
Mungindi, Thallon, Nindigully
St George
Monday 30 May
Bollon
Dirranbandi
Tuesday 31 May
Mungindi, Thallon, Nindigully
St George
Wednesday 1 June
Bollon
Dirranbandi

MUNGINDI

Bureau of Meterology (BOM) advised as at 11am today the Barwon River was 6.47m at Mungindi. The Barwon River at Mungindi is rising and expected to reach 6.7m and peak on Saturday 28/5/2022. It is expected to remain at these levels over number of days. Carnarvon Highway Thallon to Mungindi re-opened this morning (27/5/2022).

DIRRANBANDI

At 7.20am this morning BOM advised the Balonne River minor at Dirranbandi was at 4.92m and falling. Castlereagh Highway at Police Lagoons (outside of Dirranbandi) remains open with caution. Dirranbandi Bollon Road remains closed.

HEBEL

Downstream at Hebel the Bokhara River is rising above moderate flood levels and was at 1.6m and steady. BOM advise that it may peak at the major flood level (2m) into middle of next week. Castlereagh Highway (Dirranbandi – Hebel) remains closed and residents are advised to monitor conditions to the south at Angledool which may close the Castlereagh highway into NSW. https://www.livetraffic.com/

ST GEORGE

Surat was at 9.38m today. The second peak is expected to arrive at Beardmore Dam into early next week. The impact at St George will be below moderate flood levels (8m), lower than last weekend.

NINDIGULLY AND THALLON

As stated above the Carnarvon Highway re-opened through to Mungindi this morning. Thallon to Noondoo Road remains closed.

ROAD UPDATES

All road users are reminded to check road conditions before travelling and that road conditions can change without notice. Major highways are affected including:
• Balonne Highway west of St George - Bollon - Cunnamulla - Open
• Carnarvon Highway – St George - Thallon - Mungindi – Open
• Carnarvon Highway heading to Surat – Open
• Castlereagh Highway – St George – Dirranbandi – Open with Caution
• Castlereagh Highway – Dirranbandi to Hebel - Closed
• Moonie Highway – Open

A number of local roads are either closed or subject to flooding with inability to access and repair due to wet and sodden conditions. Council is continuing to monitor, put out warnings and will undertake emergent works as weather and conditions permit.

GENERAL UPDATES

Any properties or townships isolated for extended periods can request re-supply by contacting Council and we will co-ordinate through the LDMG and SES.

Residents can stay up to date by subscribing to Council’s Emergency Dashboard. https://emergency.balonne.qld.gov.au/ for all the latest road conditions, weather warnings and power outages.

For more information listen to ABC local radio and visit Council’s Emergency Dashboard - https://emergency.balonne.qld.gov.au/ with links to www.bom.gov.au/qld and road closures visit https://qldtraffic.qld.gov.au/, or phone 13 19 40.

For more information phone Council on (07) 4620 8888 - this includes after-hours service. Remember if its flooded forget it.

Councillor Samantha O’Toole
CHAIR - LOCAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT GROUP