North Queensland is grappling with the aftermath of devastating floods, as farmers and communities come to terms with the extensive damage caused by days of torrential rain. The floods have already claimed two lives and severely impacted local agriculture, affecting crops including sugarcane, avocados, bananas, fishing, and livestock.
According to AgForce CEO Shane McCarthy, farmers won’t know the full extent of the damage until the floodwaters recede. He noted, “Farmers are pretty resilient, that's why they're in farming. It takes a special breed.” The approach of successive wet seasons, coupled with Cyclones Jasper and Kirrily, has made this period particularly challenging.
Dan Galligan, CEO of Canegrowers, stated, “Floods are very insidious things. When you’re looking at 10 to 12 days of damage before you can even start to think about what you need to do, to rebuild is pretty hard.” With more rain forecast, farmers are bracing for additional setbacks.
Heavy rainfall is still expected across the region, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning of totals up to 200mm before the weather eases on Wednesday. “It’s actually still pretty early in February, so this is still a wet season, so we don’t know what’s going to come around the corner,” Galligan added.
Despite these challenges, recovery efforts are underway. Key roads have been reopened, providing much-needed supplies and support to flood-stricken towns. The Ollera Creek Bridge, which was destroyed by floodwaters, has been rebuilt and remains under heavy vehicle use, allowing access to isolated communities.
“Genuine relief is starting to be provided to far north Queensland,” said Queensland Trucking Association’s CEO Gary Mahon, as around 200 trucks waited to deliver supplies to desperate residents.
But challenges remain. The Macrossan Bridge near Charters Towers is still closed, leaving many trucks stranded. “Companies are reportedly losing up to $100,000 a day,” Mahon explained. For towns like flooded out and isolated, the return to normalcy will be slow.
On Monday night, two men went missing after driving their car through floodwaters near Ollera Creek. While one man sought help, the second was found later by rescue teams. Queensland's police have been urging caution as the community navigates this crisis.
A community member expressed their dismay, stating, “The wisdom of their decision would definitely be in question,” referring to the dangers posed by flooding waters. This occurred amid reports of other individuals abandoning their vehicles due to rising waters.
Meanwhile, flood recovery is not limited to farmers and logistics. Charters Towers is facing strict water restrictions, with infrastructure failure complicate the already tangled situation. Thousands are without power, and many residents have been unable to return to their homes after evacuations commenced over a week prior.
After the rain eases, residents will face monumental recovery efforts. Destroyed furniture and belongings are already starting to line the streets, and the presence of mould is beginning to spread, making the clean-up even more challenging.
“It’s fair to say the mental toll is significant,” said one community leader, acknowledging the emotional strain faced by many residents as they come to terms with their losses.
While the immediate focus remains on getting supplies to communities, there is also concern for the future. Forecasts suggest another wave of rainfall could hit North Queensland, with warnings of potential totals reaching up to 300mm.
The sentiment among residents is one of cautious optimism, as they hope for improvements amid the turmoil. With a will to push through, communities are banding together, supporting each other during this difficult time.
The road to recovery will be long, but with resilience at their core, the people of North Queensland are determined to overcome this natural disaster.