Cattle surrounded by floodwaters in Queensland’s channel country. Photo: Helen Commens

AS widespread flooding continues to head down the channel country and into the towns of Eulo and Thargomindah, more Government support has been announced to help impacted producers rebuild.

Significant rain has fallen in Western Queensland again overnight, as another front moves from west to east. Areas around Winton, Tambo and down to the New South Wales border have received 50 to 100mm – adding to an already saturated landscape.

More rain has fallen in Western Qld in the past 24 hours.

Qld premier David Crisafulli is back out in Longreach, with agriculture minister Tony Perrett, disaster minister Ann Leahy and local member Sean Dillon. They announced recovery grants had been increased from $25,000 to $75,000 – similar to the assistance given to producers in North-West Qld during the 2019 floods.

Infrastructure damage is expected to be extremely expensive, with the floods passing through areas that have invested heavily in exclusion fences.

144,000 head unaccounted for

The Queensland Department of Primary Industries has been surveying the losses through its website.

Director general Graeme Bolton told a parliamentary inquiry today that 94 surveys had been returned and 144,000 head of livestock were reported missing or deceased.

“That is about 69,000 cattle, 69,000 sheep and 7800 goats and other livestock,” he said.

“Through those surveys, we also know there is about 3500 kilometres of fencing impact and about 4500 kilometres of local roads.”

Mr Bolton said the department was working with disaster management groups to organise disposal of carcasses and with the Department of Health to make mental health support available.

Hay drops are ongoing as helicopter companies, government and producers band together to feed stock stranded by the floodwaters.

Many have remarked that the number of livestock losses will not be known for a long time, with some cattle producers in the area hoping that animals had floated down the river and found dry ground on neighbouring properties.

Cattle losses are still inevitable, with pictures are already surfacing of bogged and dead cattle, along with sheep, goats and kangaroos.

Government needs to drive investment, Cattle Australia

Asked about the response to flooding during today’s parliamentary inquiry, Cattle Australia chair Garry Edwards said where there had been a catastrophic impact, there needed to be a strong response from Governments to get those producers back on their feet and investing in their businesses.

“We are very fortunate in the cattle industry to have a product that is highly demanded. There are lots of countries seeking to expand the volume that they get to take out of our industry.”

“The challenge at the moment is how we get these people back on their feet and how we get them stocked again. If we learn from the events of 2019, one of the most profound acts was the grants of $75,000 that were provided to producers for an immediate relief to get them up and running again, to start building fences and getting back operating again.

“There is a lot of opportunity here and we have to remember that this weather event will be exceptionally beneficial to the majority of people who have experienced it. There is a small group who will have a catastrophic outcome.”

Mr Edwards said infrastructure for weather forecasting was an issue.

“Unless you have been in one of those events and experienced what is occurring out there, it is very hard to imagine waking up at night with metres of water surrounding you with little to no forecast,” he said.

“That is not necessarily just a Qld issue, it is one for regional Australia is how we help improve that infrastructure and those early warning signals.

“Those people in those communities are going to need a lot of support and to be fair, not the token support of food and clothes – but actually investing in those communities.”

Bi-partisan support for new radar in the area

With a Federal election only a month away, both major parties have pledged to fund a new radar for the area – worth $10m.

Many in the area have spoken about a lack of warning about the floods and the inaccuracies of the weather radars in the area. The closest radar to some of the most heavily impacted areas is in Morven, which is more than 200km away.

Nationals leader David Littleproud welcomed Labor’s support for the new radar.

“The announcement of Labor matching the Coalition’s commitment towards installing a new weather radar near Quilpie is most welcome, especially as communities across the Maranoa electorate continue to feel the impacts of this significant flooding event,” Mr Littleproud said.

“In recent days, I’ve heard first-hand harrowing stories of survival from locals facing these flood events.

“If families had been given more notice, they would have easily had time to get to safety, which is why this project is so important, and I thank the government for matching the Coalition’s commitment to ensuring this vital piece of infrastructure is delivered for the region.”