Burnett residents are urged to brace for more rain and flooding tonight and into Sunday.
Many residents kept a close eye on the weather today as flood waters rose and planned trips to further abroad were cancelled due to flooded roads.
The North and South Burnett and Gympie Local Disaster Management Groups have moved to ‘activation level’ and are actively monitoring the situation.
LATEST REGIONAL UPDATES HEAD TO:
South Burnett: dashboard.southburnett.qld.gov.au/
North Burnett region: emergency.northburnett.qld.gov.au/
Gympie: disaster.gympie.qld.gov.au/
RESCUE FROM FLOOD WATERS
A person was rescued from flood waters early this morning at Booubyjan. Queensland Ambulance Service reported the rescue incident on the Burnett Highway at Booubyjan at 3.37am on Saturday, 26 February. Queensland Ambulance Service reported that paramedics transported one patient to Gayndah Hospital in a stable condition for precaution.
EXPECTING MORE RAIN
The South Burnett Local Disaster Management Group has been advised that the region is expecting to be impacted by increased rainfall and possible flash flooding over the next 24 hours, with falls of 100mm to 150mm possible overnight.
Some creeks and rivers are expected to drop in the next few hours even below some bridge levels, however current modelling shows that the level of Barambah Creek is currently similar to those experienced in January. If intensive rainfall occurs tonight Barambah Creek levels could rise a further 1.5m or possibly higher depending on the rainfall event.
At this stage, it is expected that Bjelke-Petersen Dam will continue to spill and may reach 125 per cent and is controlled under normal dam operating conditions. With the additional rain and spill from Bjelke-Petersen Dam, roads along Barambah Creek particularly access to Murgon and Cherbourg via the Burnett and Bunya Highways are expected to be cut until sometime Monday.
Heavy rainfall is also likely to affect a number of catchments across the region including Barkers Creek, Stuart River and Boyne River.
All residents in the South Burnett should continue to watch rainfall and flood warnings particularly along creek and river systems on the BOM Website www.bom.gov.au/qld/
If assistance is required please contact the SES on 132 500 and in an emergency contact 000.
Remember, water levels may change quickly across the region over the next 36 hours and if it’s flooded forget it.
DAM LEVEL TOTALS
Bjelke-Petersen Dam is at 116.11% Saturday 7pm (was 102.26% Friday)
Paradise Dam is at 112.8% (was 108.12% on Friday)
Fred Haigh Dam is at 52.26% (was 50.49% on Friday)
Boondooma Dam is at 97.62% (was 97.67% on Friday)
Cania Dam is at 27.66% (was 27.69% on Friday)
Wuruma Dam is at 69.5% (was 69.56% on Friday)
WEATHER WARNINGS
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast that a surface trough over southeast Queensland is forecast to deepen into a low over the Wide Bay and Burnett district in response to a strong upper low later tonight. Heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding is forecast to continue over parts of southeast Queensland this weekend. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 80 and 120 mm are likely to continue, reaching up to 180 mm over areas east of Kingaroy to Toowoomba today (Saturday) and south to the NSW border on Sunday.
Locally INTENSE RAINFALL leading to dangerous and LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING is possible with thunderstorms during this period, particularly over areas east of Hervey Bay to Yarraman, Toowoomba and Ipswich today (Saturday) extending south to the NSW border on Sunday. Six-hourly rainfall totals in excess of 300 mm are possible.
Heavy rainfall increases the potential for landslides and debris across roads.
For more details, please visit www.bom.gov.au/qld/warnings/.
Locations which may be affected include Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Brisbane, Maroochydore, Gympie, Kingaroy, Caboolture, Coolangatta, Ipswich, Jimboomba, Mount Tamborine and Redcliffe.
FLOOD WARNINGS (as of 5pm, Saturday)
The Bureau of Meteorology has recorded moderate flood warnings for Barker and Barambah Creeks and Brian Pastures and minor flooding at lower burnett river.
Rainfall totals of 70-480 mm have been recorded over the lower Burnett catchment area since 6 pm Thursday.
Additional areas of heavy rainfall are forecast for the rest of the weekend, which may lead to renewed river level rises across the Burnett River catchment.
A severe weather warning for heavy rainfall and damaging winds remains current for Southeast Coast and parts of Wide Bay and Burnett and Darling Downs and Granite Belt Forecast Districts.
Stuart and Boyne Rivers:
River rises are occurring along the Stuart and Boyne Rivers.
No observations are currently available for the Boyne River at Dunollie. However, river levels are expected to be below the minor flood level. The Boyne River at Dunollie may remain below the minor flood level (2.50 m) overnight Saturday into Sunday.
Barker and Barambah Creeks:
River rises and areas of minor to major flooding are occurring along the Barker and Barambah Creeks. Major flooding is occurring along the Barker Creek at Glenmore, Barambah Creek at Ficks Crossing, and Boonara Creek at Ettiewyn.
The Barambah Creek at Stonelands is currently at 8.74 metres and rising, with minor flooding. The Barambah Creek at Stonelands is likely to exceed the moderate flood level (10.00 m) Saturday evening.
The Barambah Creek at Brian Pastures is currently at 6.20 metres and steady, with minor flooding. The Barambah Creek at Brian Pastures is expected to remain above the minor flood level (6.00 m) overnight Saturday into Sunday.
Burnett River downstream of Mundubbera to Paradise Dam:
Minor flooding is likely along the Burnett River downstream of Mundubbera to Paradise Dam.
No observations are currently available for the Burnett River at Gayndah. However, river levels are expected to be below the minor flood level. The Burnett River at Gayndah is likely to reach the minor flood level (5.00 m) overnight Saturday into Sunday.
Burnett River downstream of Paradise Dam:
Moderate flooding is occurring along the Burnett River downstream of Paradise Dam.
The Burnett River at Walla peaked at 11.63 metres around 09:00 am Friday 25 February and is currently at 5.07 metres and steady. The Burnett River at Walla is likely to reach the minor flood level Sunday morning.
The Burnett River at Bundaberg peaked at 3.32 metres around 04:44 pm Saturday 26 February and is currently at 1.82 metres and falling. The Burnett River at Bundaberg is likely to remain below the minor flood level (3.50 m) overnight Saturday into Sunday. Renewed rises are expected with high tide overnight Saturday into Sunday.
Flood Safety Advice:
Remember: If it’s flooded, forget it. For flood emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500. For life threatening emergencies, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
