QLD:More rain as Queensland food fears rise

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-2010
QLD:More rain as Queensland food fears rise

BRISBANE, Dec 12 AAP - Flood forecasters are assessing the impact of further rain overnight
over large parts of Queensland.

While the immediate threat has eased, there are concerns over flooding in central Queensland,
the central west and in the border rivers region.

Rain has contracted to the east coast.

"We're expecting those rain areas to move off (the coast) during the course of the
day," said Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) senior forecaster Tony Auden.

Localised storms could still pose a flooding risk, he said.

"They're very unlikely to cause heavy rainfall over a wide area," Mr Auden said.

Rain along the east coast will move inland by Wednesday or Thursday, bringing rain
and thunderstorms.

BOM flood forecaster Jess Carey said a flood peak in the Fitzroy River would not reach
the city of Rockhampton until midweek.

The Fitzroy will reach a 21 metre peak at Riversleigh and should take three days to
reach the coastal city.

The effect on Rockhampton is still being assessed, Mr Carey said.

There has been further rainfall in the border rivers area and river level rises would
bring minor to moderate flooding near Goondiwindi, Mr Carey said.

In central Queensland, Banana Shire mayor John Hooper said "quite a bit" of rain has
fallen overnight on Saturday and its effect was still being assessed.

However, the flood crisis has passed for the moment.

"We're pretty-well right now, I think," Mr Hooper said.

The Leichhardt Highway is cut between Wandoan and Miles and there are restrictions
on heavy vehicles between Taroom and Theodore, he said.

He said the flood level was falling at Theodore, and although the water was rising
at Moura the Dawson Highway should remain open.

There was overnight flooding in the small town of Wowan, cutting the Leichhardt Highway
but the situation has eased, Mr Hooper said.

Flood warnings are current for the Bulloo, Condamine, Maranoa, Paroo, Barcoo, Macintyre
and Warrego Rivers, the Balonne River and tributaries, the Fitzroy River Basin and Cooper
Creek, and for coastal streams and adjacent inland catchments south of Maryborough.

AAP stg/nb

KEYWORD: FLOODS QLD

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