After spending so much time dreaming of a good rain, communities in flood-stricken parts of Queensland are now left counting the heavy cost of getting too much of a good thing.
And with fencing destroyed and many cattle dead, country areas used to doing it tough are doing it tougher than ever … and they could rely on grey nomads more than ever to help them survive.
The Mayor of remote McKinlay Shire, Belinda Murphy, told the Courier-Mail newspaper that the scenes of dead livestock and wildlife on the Flinders Highway outside Julia Creek were confronting.
But she echoed the calls of others councils across the region in begging Australians not to turn their back on the west in the coming winter months, urging grey nomads and all travellers to see the region at its best.
“The sodden soil will transform into green landscape — Mother Nature’s beauty will be on show after horrible cruelty,’’ she said. “In coming months flood-ravaged communities are going to need the tourist dollar more than ever after the monsoon rains washed away hundreds of millions of dollars from the cattle industry … please don’t bypass our towns.’’
Grazier Anthony Anderson told the Courier-Mail he estimated he would eventually lose 50% of his 4,500 head of cattle to the weather event.
He is still shooting stricken cattle and said that, in the days ahead, he expects to find more pockets of dead animals scattered across his family’s properties near Julia Creek, while other weakened cattle will succumb to pneumonia.
He described the recent torrential rain as “a bit like putting a high pressure hose on them for three days in 60km/h winds”.
Cloncurry Mayor Greg Campbell said the weather event had unquestionably brought the region to its knees and up to 150 defence personnel had been needed to help fly in fuel and fodder.
the last time we did that we ran into a massive mice plague due to the flooding
Having been through several floods, although minor compared to this, we will definitely be traveling the outback regions. Coastal and city regions still don’t get the importance of rural regional Australia.
We are visiting your way in April 2019. Could you please tell me what site is best for road conditions and any other relevant information that could help us on our trip.
We are travelling outback NW Queensland in April.
Would not give it a second thought, of course they are the backbone of our country.We MUST support them. Stevo,
we are heading your way very soon ending up at derby w/a
So sad and sorry for your heartbreaking experiences. Will be sure to visit if up your way in the future. Best of luck with it all.
Sitting in Townsville waiting for the roads to be open that way. I’m heading to NT but will stop at the small towns for a few days on the way.
If you are heading to Darwin or the Top End just be aware there has been limited monsoon activity for January and this month so far. If a late monsoon arrives, which is on the cards, be prepared for local and widespread flooding and even a cyclone as late as April. Cheers.
We travel the outback, mainly Qld, & have done so for many years except for the past 2 years as the roads got worse with more potholes & poor shoulders. We could no longer justify the expensive repairs to our motorhome. Build good roads & we/they will come