The Birdsville Hotel can expect a busy grey nomad season
Queensland’s drought-stricken south west is preparing for a bumper grey nomad season following surprise flooding which will see the desert bloom and birdlife flock to the area.
The Diamantina River, which runs through the Channel Country, has broken its banks for the first time in seven years, bringing massive relief to local graziers … and the promise of good things ahead for the tourism season.
Diamantina Shire Council Mayor Geoff Morton told 9News that Birdsville locals had been waiting for the water to arrive ever since Winton was drenched in early March because the area had been as ‘dry as a limeburner’s boot’.
“There are three areas of industry here, and that’s the council, tourism and grazing, that will do well,” he said. “For council, it means, it will help with our sustainability because it will provide work in repairing the roads. The bird life, after this around Birdsville and upstream from here, will be prolific which is good for tourism.”
The Diamantina generally bursts its banks once every four years and it’s the first time the river has burst its banks since 2011, so it’s seen as long overdue.
Mr Morton, who has lived in Birdsville for 63 years and is in his second term as Diamantina Shire Council Mayor, said the only disappointment was that the Diamantina River was the only source and local creeks and tributaries failed to top up the water as it travelled south.
“We had warning it was coming and the only thing is, as it came down the river, it fell away a lot,” he told AAP. “When it went past Diamantina Lakes it was the second highest flood reading by my records … by the time it got to here it was just a handy flood … all the large tributaries and creeks didn’t contribute.”
Although not a major flood, the drenching will mean steady crops until 2020 for farmers upstream and about one year for those around Birdsville.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a moderate flood warning for Diamantina River at Birdsville which had reached 5.94m yesterday morning and is expected to peak between 6m-6.3m either today or tomorrow.
Am considering a trip back to Birdsville later this year but not during the races, maybe for the Big Red Bash. Lived and worked there from 1973 to 1978 and was the best time of my life. Met and married my late wife there.
Hi
.any grey female nomads headin to Birdsville for the races