Dam levels reduced, record for Rocky

A swiftwater rescue officer saves a young boy in Frenchmans Creek at Rockhampton. PIC: Allan Reinikka/The Morning Bulletin Source: Supplied

WATER releases from Wivenhoe and North Pine dams will start this afternoon as the State Government takes a "no chances" approach to a heavy rain event in the south-east.

9.05pm: A SMALL town near Biloela in central Queensland has been put on emergency alert as flooding worsens tonight.

Residents near Callide Creek have been warned that an urgent flood release from the Callide Dam is expected to reach 1.5 metres.

The Banana Shire Council has opened the Jambin Hall for the evacuees.

For further information contact the Banana Shire Council on 4992 9500, listen to your local ABC radio station, or log on to www.disaster.qld.gov.au. Only call triple zero (000) if you or your property is in danger or if someone is injured.

5.26pm:

More than 500mm fell in 24 hours in parts of Rockhampton as the central Queensland swings into clean-up mode after record rainfall left parts of the city without water or power.

4.21pm: Sewage bubbling up out of grates and flowing into the streets of Gladstone does not pose a health risk, the city's mayor says.

Gladstone Mayor Gail Sellers says her region has been inundated with rain from ex-tropical cyclone Oswald, which is bearing south down Queensland's east coast.

Ms Sellers says authorities have been notified about sewage rising up into the streets, but residents should not be concerned.

Emergency crews in the state rescued several people from Rockhampton floodwaters, including the 14-year-old boy in this video. Courtesy ABC News

"The reason it's not a problem is it's so diluted," Ms Sellers told AAP.

"We've got so much water here, it's so diluted, it's not a health risk and we're dealing with it."

Ms Sellers said road access to Gladstone had been cut from all directions, but she did not expect it to remain that way for long.

But if the Bruce Highway was cut for an extended period, there could be supply problems, she said.

Ms Sellers said the city was still not clear of Oswald's wrath, with more rain and 90km/h winds predicted across the region.

But the mayor was optimistic there would not be much damage, given the city had already dealt with 600mm of rain in the past two days but only experienced minor localised flooding.

"Our staff here at council have been working hard, they've been here all night, so we're over it," she said.

The city's harbour has been closed, the region's national parks are shut and Gladstone's Australia Day celebrations on Saturday have been cancelled.

However, Gladstone Airport has been cleared of water and remains open.

The dramatic rescue of a 14-year-old boy from floodwaters in Rockhampton. Picture: ABC News

3.30pm: THE SEVERE weather conditions in Queensland have prompted Qantas to cancel flights.

Several flights to and from Gladstone, Rockhampton and Moranbah have been disrupted or cancelled today, a spokesman for the airline said.

Customers can rebook on alternative flights and Qantas is hoping to reschedule people onto the next available flights.

3.20pm: Moreton Bay Regional Council is expecting Youngs Crossing Road to close from about 8pm tonight as water is released from North Pine Dam.

Impacts may be felt on local roads including Youngs Crossing Road and Vores Road.

Council will erect signs advising drivers of any closures 

1.30pm: Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale said he was not expecting any widespread flooding in the city, which was hit hard in the 2011 floods.

But he said people in the Bundamba and Woogaroo Creek catchment areas need to remain vigilant and aware of the risk of localised flash flooding.

Australia Day events cancelled

While some roads may be closed the latest computer modelling indicates there should be only minimal stream rises in the Bremer River between One Mile and the junction of the Brisbane River.

"It is important to note that while significant rainfall is forecast, the dryness of the catchment means we are not expecting any major flooding." he said in a statement.

12.16pm:  WATER releases from Wivenhoe and North Pine dams will start this afternoon as the State Government takes a "no chances" approach to a heavy rain event in the south-east.

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald is continuing to head south over land, dumping heavy rain in its wake.

Send us your wet weather pics via email to cmonline@qnp.newsltd.com.au or MMS to 0428 258 117 (include your name with MMS for attribution)

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Rob Webb said between 200 and 300 mm was expected over the greater Brisbane region this weekend.

Premier Campbell Newman said they did not want to take any chances in the wake of the 2011 floods, and the dam releases would be "modest".

"I'm not worried, but I'm concerned," said Mr Newman at the emergency services complex at Kedron.

Water Supply Minister Mark McArdle said 41,000 mega litres would be released from Wivenhoe over 24 hours from late today, and 8000 megalitres from North Pine over 11 hours.

How the weather will descend on southeast Queensland.

The releases would reduce the capacity of Wivenhoe to 88 per cent, from just over 91 currently.

"Our aim is to protect the people and property of South East Queensland by making certain the dams are at their most efficient and at their best levels to take inflows and allow outflows to occur to ensure property damage and lives are not risked," said Mr McArdle. 

Mr Newman said the main concerns for Brisbane and the Gold and Sunshine Coasts were suburban creek flooding and storm water drains.

"For motorists, if the road is flooded, forget it. We don't want people risking their lives to save others," he said.

"For parents, stop kids from playing in storm water drains. It's a death sentence."

Mr Webb said it was too early to say if similar heavy rain events would occur in coming weeks.

"Water temperatures are still very high, so the likelihood of further cyclones does exist between now and April," Mr Webb said.

12.00pm: THE heavy rain across the state has broken a daily rainfall record for Rockhampton as the downpour surges towards the south-east.

In the last 24 hours to 9am today 349mm fell on Rockhampton breaking the town's daily record.

Dangerous flooding has hit Rockhampton in Queensland causing problems for residents.

The previous record was 271mm on December 20 in 1973.

The highest rainfalls record in the last 24 hours occurred around Rockhampton with Upper Dee, south of the town, having the most rain at 569mm.

Just outside of Rockhampton, Pacific Heights recorded 557mm and Glenlands had 459mm.

North of Rockhampton at Yeppoon 350mm was dumped on the town in 24 hours.

As the storm cells moved south overnight about 100mm was dumped on Bundaberg.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Pradeep Singh said just 7.8mm has fallen on Rockhampton since 9am today and just 50mm was likely in the coming 24 hours as the rain band moved south.

He said areas from Gladstone to St Lawrence could expect up to 80mm of rain today.

The Wide Bay and Burnett Regions, Marlborough and the Sunshine Coast could see up to 300mm today.

He said conditions similar to those in Rockhampton last night are expected in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast tomorrow.

Heavy rain caused a big washout along part of the Bruce Highway at roadworks at Cardwell. Cardwell resident Les Harris looks at the damage. PIC: Evan Morgan

The Gold Coast should experience the most rainfall from tomorrow night with about 300mm likely.

Mr Singh said Brisbane had already recorded rainfalls over 50mm in the last 24 hours until 9am.

Young's Crossing at Lawnton, in Brisbane's north, recorded the highest rainfall in the south-east with 69mm in the last 24 hours.

"In the south-east the rain will start to get into the 100mms over the night and into Saturday we are forecasting two to 300mm of rainfall for the next couple of the days," Mr Singh said.

Just 22mm fell in Brisbane in the last 24 hours until 9am with 46mm on the Gold Coast.

"The heavier falls will expand all the way to south today and than we expect the heaviest falls to be on Saturday night in Brisbane with thunderstorms," Mr Singh said.

The weather in Brisbane should start to ease on Sunday and into the working week.

Mr Singh warned that conditions on the coasts would be "quite bad" in the coming days with gale force winds likely on the Gold Coast with the Sunshine Coast already experiencing strong winds.

The wind and rain would also bring big swells with up to 4.5m waves expected on the Gold Coast from tomorrow.

Thousands of homes in north Qld are without power and rail lines have been closed as heavy rain continues.

12.05pm: TWO men have had to be rescued after their dinghy overturned and was swept into the Fitzroy River while they were herding cattle away from floodwaters.

The incident occurred around 11am at Depot Hill, just outside Rockhampton.

The two men were trying to save cows from floodwaters at Gavial Creek when they overturned.

SES and swift water rescue technicians were sent to the incident and found the two men a short time later.

Meanwhile, a helicopter has been dispatched to rescue a group of people from the Capricorn Highway at Wycarbah, southwest of Rockhampton.

QFRS were not called to the incident and police said they had reports a car was floating in a paddock after it was swept off the highway.

There is no other information available at this stage.

11.30: RESIDENTS from the Sunshine Coast to Bundaberg are being urged to prepare emergency kits stocked with food, water and other essentials like nappies as the region bunkers down for up to three days of anticipated heavy rain which could cut roads and trap residents.

Townsville residents Alexander Colley, 10, Jaaron Colley, 7, and Ryley Colley, won't let a little flooding stop them from enjoying their last few days of the school holiday. PIC: Wesley Monts

Bundaberg is expecting a deluge of some 500mm in the next 48 hours which could cause localised flash flooding. Gympie mayor Ron Dyne said his city was expecting a lesser 200mm over the next three days which was not expected to affect the flood-prone business on Mary Street.

The Sunshine Coast is anticipating stronger winds as today progresses and heavy rain, strong winds and big swell of up to 5m over the weekend which may impact a high tide on Sunday.

Council disaster management groups are keeping an eye on major rivers which have the potential to flood and inundate homes and businesses if rain falls over the catchments, including the Burnett River in Bundaberg and the Mary River in Maryborough and Gympie.

Bundaberg council's disaster management officer Matt Dyer said the region was expecting up to 200mm a day over the next two days.

"We are currently modelling scenarios and local disaster management groups are on alert. We've learned many lesson from the 2010 and 2011 floods," said Mr Dyer.

"The next 48 hours will be most telling."

Already State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers have responded to call-outs across the north coast region to deal with leaky roofs and to cut down dangerous trees.

Residents on the Sunshine Coast are being urged to clear their yards of dangerous debris ahead of possible gale force winds tomorrow. Some people have started collecting sandbags to protect their homes after learning from last year's extreme rainfall events.

A cruiser was washed onto rocks at Airlie Beach yesterday as the bad weather generated by ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald set in. PIC: Bob Fenney

11.17am: TWO men are feared to be missing in waters off Rockhampton.

The pair were onboard a 38-foot fishing boat in the Casuarina Passage off Port Alma when it started taking on water around 11.20pm on Thursday night.

A distress call was received at the time but rescue vessels and aircraft could not go to the area due to rough weather conditions.

The Passage leads directly to the Coral Sea.

Air and sea searches started this morning but have been hampered by heavy rain and high winds battering the area.

10.15am: SANDBAGS will be made available to Brisbane residents concerned about localised flooding ahead of heavy rain forecast for the Australia Day weekend and in to next week.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk this morning announced pre-filled bags could be collected from BCC depots at Shamrock Street at Darra, Redfern Street at Morningside, Lathe Sreet at Virginia and at the Newmarket SES depot in Wilston Road.

Cr Quirk said the step had been taken after the Weather Bureau issued a severe weather warning for parts of the capital, which included possible heavy rain, strong winds and potential flash flooding.

He said BCC was hopeful the city would be spared the worst of the bad weather but residents should nevertheless remain vigilant - particularly in low lying zones around the Norman, Bulimba, Breakfast/Enoggera, Stable Swamp/Oxley and Cabbage Tree creek catchments and the Zilman Waterhole at Boondall.

"This is not to alarm people but simply to say we are on full alert," he said.

"We will be ready for the event of creek flooding which is the most likely scenario over the coming week if we get substantial and sustained heavy rain."

Cr Quirk also urged drivers to take care on the roads and monitor weather updates. Residents not yet signed up to BCC's free early alert system can do so at www.brisbane.qld.gov.au

9.50am: RESIDENTS have escaped injury after a "large" landslide sparked initial fears of a house collapsing at Frenchville, north of Rockhampton, this morning.

An emergency services spokeswoman said reports of the Archer View Tce two-storey home caving in at 8.20am were false.

"Fire and Rescue have told us there was a large landslide resting against the lower level of the two storey house," she said.

"There were no injuries and residents have asked for either an engineer or assistance from council."

It is not yet known what damage was caused to the house.

9am: THE teenage boy who was stuck in high, "fast moving" floodwaters in Frenchville, north of Rockhamton, has been rescued.

The teenager has been taken to Rockhampton Base Hospital in a stable condition.

8.40am: AN AUSTRALIA day ceremony has been washed out by the torrential rain in Rockhampton.

Fire fighters and ambulance officers were among those that were to be honoured at the Department of Community Safety's Australia Day celebration today.

The event, which was to be held at the North Rockhampton Bowls Club, was cancelled this morning and is likely to be rescheduled for later in the week.

8.15am: FIVE Queensland Fire and Rescue crews have been called to save a teenager who is reported to be stuck in "fast moving" floodwaters in Frenchville, north of Rockhampton.

The teen, believed to be around 14-years-old, is understood to be clinging to a tree.

An emergency services spokeswoman said swift water rescue technicians are in the water and trying to make their way to the teenager.

The incident was reported around 7.15am and is the only incident believed to have occurred since 20 swift water rescues were conducted overnight.

MAJOR ROAD CLOSURES DUE TO FLOODING:

- Bruce Highway at Ingham, Marlborough, Marmor, Midgee and Toobanna
- Burke Developmental Rd, Highbury and Howitt
- Burnett Highway at Dululu and Mount Morgan
- Dawson Highway, Calliope
- Leichhardt Highway, Dululu

6.45am: FIRE fighters were called to more than 20 swift water rescue incidents around central Queensland overnight as heavy rainfall continues to drench the state.

More than 400mm of rain has been dumped on the Rockhampton region in a 24-hour period, with the heavy rainfall expected to hit southeast Queensland by Saturday.

Bureau of Metrology senior forecaster Brett Harrison said 469mm of rain has been recorded south of Rockhampton since 9am Thursday and this amount is the heaviest across the state.

A further 300mm of water fell at Samuel Hill north of Rockhampton, with Rockhampton recording 292mm of rain and Yeppoon copping 289mm.

Mr Harrison said the rain is expected to continue in the Rockhampton region and across Queensland, but the heaviest rainfall will start to move south as of today.

"We do expect the rain to continue through those areas but I don't think we'll see another 400mm," he said.

"The heaviest fall will slowly move southwards now. Areas between Rockhampton and Hervey Bay should expect the heaviest falls. It's too early to tell how much will fall, but the peak should be around the 300mm mark.

"Around the southeast the heaviest falls will be seen tomorrow and Sunday and the most rainfall will be around the Sunshine Coast Hinterland region."

Mr Harrison said a flood warning currently stands for coastal rivers and adjacent streams in central Queensland between Sarina and Bundaberg.

More warnings are expected to be issued today.

Meanwhile, emergency services have confirmed QFRS attended more than 20 swift water rescues around central Queensland overnight.

An emergency services spokeswoman said the most significant incidents occurred in Yeppoon and south of Rockhampton, but no major injuries have been reported.

In Yeppoon two houses have been inundated with floodwater while another two homes on Moonmerra St in Kabra, southwest of Rockhampton, are under threat of water.

Seven people had to be evacuated from the Kabra homes around 3.30am this morning.

A woman and her two children from Middlemount, northwest of Rockhampton, were also rescued by crews around 3.20am when their car became isolated by floodwaters near Mackenzie River.

A man was also reported to have become stuck in a tree on the Leichhardt Highway at Wowan, southwest of Rockhampton, around 4.45am and crews were still in the process of rescuing him around 6.30am.

State Emergency Service was also kept busy overnight, called to 280 jobs in 24 hours.

Of these 100 were for Rockhampton, 43 for Mackay, 40 in Gladstone, 17 in Yeppoon, 11 in Emu Park, nine in Mt Morgan, eight in Townsville, six in Tannum Sands, five in Bundaberg and five in Cairns.

One of the incidents included two cars that became stuck on the Bruce Highway at Bob's Creek around 3.45am this morning.

Three SES personnel rescued those inside the cars.
 

6am: Emergency crews have rushed to six swift water rescues as rain continued to fall on Rockhampton overnight.

A Queensland Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said everyone involved had been accounted for but the emergency crews had been kept busy throughout the night.

Multiple roads were closed in the region with the Bureau of Meteorology issuing a flood warning for the Fitzroy River.

Senior forecaster Tony Auden said the rainfall was likely to continue.

"It does look like we can expect heavy rainfall to persist for the next couple of days," he said.

"But we should see an easing trend around that region on Saturday."

He warned of more possibilities of flooding in the region in the next couple of days.

MIDNIGHT:
BRISBANE and parts of the southeast face localised flooding this weekend, with the potential for about 300mm or more of rain from today until Monday.

It will be the first good drenching of city back yards in six months and will be followed by hot and muggy conditions next week.

By the time it dissipates, the monsoon low will have brought rain to more than 2000km of Queensland's coast and parts of NSW.

Torrential rain has lashed north Queensland, with Ingham, Halifax and Tully and parts of Townsville suffering some flooding.

More than 25 bulk carriers were forced offshore yesterday as huge seas and torrential rain whipped up by ex-Cyclone Oswald shut down loading at Hay Point near Mackay, one of the world's biggest coal ports.

Port authorities expect it is likely to be a three-day delay costing the state $8.5 million a day in royalties.

In the Whitsundays, tourists embraced the wild weather by surfing and kite boarding as airports reopened.

The rain also flushed out the odd north Queensland local, including two crocodiles seen walking on roads in Ingham.

Rainfall in the southeast over the next four days is expected to range from 100mm to 300mm.

Heaviest falls will be near the tropical low and under isolated storms, with the coast being battered by rough seas.

Brisbane's mean January rainfall is 159.6mm.

The low's impact in parched inland areas will be much less than on the coastal strip.

The Mackay to Gladstone region was copping the brunt of it yesterday, with Samuel Hill north of Yeppoon recording 148mm in six hours. Rockhampton had 79mm, Carmila to the north 73mm and Gladstone to the south, 58mm in the same period.

The remains of Oswald should be just north of Rockhampton this morning.

The weather bureau expects the monsoon low to be between Gladstone and Bundaberg tomorrow.

Weatherzone forecaster Melissa MacKellar said there was a low possibility of the system reforming into a cyclone tomorrow.

"It looks like Brisbane is going to be a bit wet but at least the risk of cyclone development in the tropical north will decrease for a while after this," she said.

Ingham Mayor Rodger Bow said most houses escaped inundation despite localised flooding.

"The heavy weather has backed off, the river is subsiding and the system has moved south. Now, we have to sit and wait for the water to go down," Cr Bow said.

Ex-Cyclone Oswald was heading southeast yesterday at 24km/h, with wind gusts of more than 125km/h.

 Brian Williams, Peter Michael, Kathleen Donaghey,Rickie-Lee Arnold, Robyn Ironside and Rose Brennan

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