Widespread flooding is once again bringing chaos to the Outback, with heavy rains causing major disruptions to Queensland’s north and central west.
There have been persistent and heavy falls between Richmond and Hughenden, north of Julia Creek, and further south in Winton.
The ABC reports that Winton Shire Mayor, Cathy White, said voluntary evacuations were carried out in some parts.
Many roads around the town remain closed and travellers are urged to use extreme caution on those that are open such as the Landsborough Highway.
The ABC says low-lying properties were sandbagged earlier this week, as swift-water rescue and SES teams from Rockhampton and Gladstone were deployed to the area for the week.
LifeFlight crews had to airlift three stranded poeple to safety. PIC: LifeFlight
Many travellers have found themselves cut off by the floods, and ‘trapped’ in towns like WIntoin.
But, despite the inconvenience, those staying put were definitely doing the right thing.
The Mount Isa-based LifeFlight aeromedical crew had to airlift three stranded people after their vehicles became bogged after heavy rain … including one man who walked nearly 40 kilometres.
In the first incident, LifeFlight searched for a man 140 kilometres south of Hughenden after his car became bogged on a road overnight. After locating the vehicle without the occupant inside, the helicopter tracked the man to a location 38 kilometres from his vehicle.
It is believed the LifeFlight crew tracked the man via his footprints through the knee-deep mud in the floodwaters.
The man, who suffered from dehydration, was assessed by the critical care Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) flight paramedic.
He was airlifted to Hughenden Airport where the helicopter was met by the Queensland Police Service (QPS) who transported the man to the local hospital.
The LifeFlight helicopter also flew 70 kilometres south of Hughenden to rescue two men after their ute became bogged. The men, one of whom had a medical condition, were stranded overnight in their vehicle and had run out of food and water. The patients, both in their 40s, were transported to Hughenden Hospital for further assessment.
Meanwhile, there are fears that a low-pressure system growing off the Far North Queensland coast could bring intense rain, and may even develop into a cyclone.
The Courier Mail reports that communities are being warned that even if a cyclone does not form, residents will still be hit with a surge of intense rain over Saturday and Sunday, with rainfall expected to start on Thursday.
Cairns is set to collect up to 35mm of rain on Thursday with 45mm on Friday as the low approaches.
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