Australian defence force personnel will be deployed across south-east Queensland as rain continues to pour down on the country’s saturated east coast. The Bureau of Meteorology warned of potentially life-threatening flooding, with alerts stretching from Maryborough in Queensland down to the northern rivers in New South Wales. Some areas can expect up to 300mm of rain, after more than 500mm fell on parts of the Gold Coast in just 48 hours over the new year.
A flood watch was issued for Queensland’s Capricornia and south-east coast regions late Monday evening, with moderate flooding already reported on the Logan and Albert rivers. Flood warnings were also in place for the Nerang, Coomera, and Paroo rivers.
“We’ve seen very significant falls overnight and there’s more to come, from Maryborough to the border,” said Queensland minister for fire and disaster recovery, Nikki Boyd. “We expect up to 350mm of rain to continue.” The minister urged people to stay safe, noting that some areas are expecting up to 300mm of rain.
However, some areas are already experiencing the impacts of the heavy rainfall. On Monday evening, 44 people were rescued from a campground that had been inundated with floodwater in the Gold Coast hinterland, with one person transported to hospital with minor injuries. The state’s SES had received more than 700 calls in the last 24 hours, with nearly 5,000 calls received since Christmas.
The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services deputy commissioner, Kevin Walsh, said that the rivers and creeks are rising extremely quickly and catching people unaware. “With these bursts of intense rainfall, the rivers and creeks are rising extremely quickly and catching people unaware,” he said.
Queensland FloodGold Coast theme parks, including Movie World, Wet ‘n’ Wild, Dreamworld, and Whitewater World, closed on Tuesday due to the downpour. In northern New South Wales, rescuers responded to at least 115 incidents in 24 hours triggered by storms and flooding, with crews completing 27 rescues in the northern rivers region.
The NSW State Emergency Service assistant commissioner, Dean Storey, said that the risk of flooding is not over, with catchments in and around the northern rivers expected to continue to see the impacts of significant rainfall over the past 24 to 48 hours. “Catchments in and around the northern rivers continue to see the impacts of significant rainfall over the past 24 to 48 hours, and we’re expecting flood warnings to continue across the region,” he said.
To help with the relief efforts, the Australian defence force will deploy about 50 personnel and high-clearance vehicles to the Gold Coast, Scenic Rim, and Logan City council areas. The deployment is focused on clearing debris to enable better access to essential infrastructure.
According to the federal emergency management minister, Murray Watt, the compounding effect of the heavy rainfall and flooding on damage from previous storms meant that Queensland needed extra resources. “The reason for activating ADF personnel now is that the compounding effect of this heavy rainfall and flooding on the damage that we’d already seen with the storms meant that frankly, Queensland did need a bit of a hand with extra resources and they were brave enough to ask,” Watt said.
Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate said the deployment is “a good start,” but noted that the assessment and equipment needs are still being determined. The rain is expected to continue, with widespread rain of up to 200mm expected in addition to the big falls that have already been seen.