Floods continue to batter east coast

About 7500 people have been displaced in Bundaberg as it contemplates a recovery from the flood disaster.

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell says the worst is over for Grafton residents in the state's north but now evacuations are underway for locals in Macelan.

As a result of the flood level predicted by the Bureau of Meteorology for Maclean, the NSW SES is directing residents within the nominated areas to evacuate now.

Areas covered by this Flood Evacuation Order include the following streets:

Argyle, Bakers, Bank, Basin, Cameron, Centenary, Central, Church, Clyde, Diamond, Dunoon, Dwartes, Emerald, Houghs, Howard, Iona, John, Jubilee, McLachlan, McNaughton, Morven, Rannoch, River, Rush, Sapphire, Stanley, Taloumbi, and Union streets.

Their latest statement said: "Do not delay your evacuation. Roads will be congested or closed. You could become trapped and need rescue. Remaining in flooded areas is dangerous and may place your life at risk."

The evacuation order comes after the Clarence River peaked today just below the height of the levee wall in a record flood that caused the evacuation of 2000 people.

Visiting Grafton after the peak, Mr O'Farrell told reporters that while there was still concern for communities downstream, "it does appear as though the worst of it is over''.

He said the State Government would work with the local council and other relevant authorities to ensure the flood mitigation measures continued to work as well as they did today.

"I'm delighted that whilst at 11 o'clock the river peaked at 8.08 metres, it's now at 7.95 metres, it is going down.''

The levee was breached along some parts of the wall but Clarence Valley Mayor Richie Williamson said council workers contained it with sandbags and were now concentrating on towns downstream, including Iluka, Yamba, Ulmarra and Maclean.

"It's looking more positive but the situation is still very dire. It's improving for Grafton and our attention is now on Ulmarra and the levee system around Maclean," Mr Williamson said.

Ten local government areas hit by the flooding have been declared natural disaster areas, allowing relief funds to flow to assist in recovery.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Mr O'Farrell today announced joint funding from the federal and NSW governments.

The declaration triggers a number of disaster assistance schemes to assist with the cost of disaster relief and recovery.

A boy has died after a tree fell on him and his mother, bringing the death toll from the flood emergency to four.

Natural disaster assistance would be available to affected residents, small business owners and primary producers in the Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Tweed and Nambucca shires, the Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour City, Kyogle, Lismore City and Richmond Valley.

As the threat recedes in Grafton, crews are working across the state to restore power to thousands of properties after trees and debris became tangled in powerlines.

More than 19,000 homes are blacked out in the area stretching from Kempsey on the mid-north coast, right up to the Queensland border.

The NSW State Emergency Service has been inundated with calls for assistance with the heavy rain, strong winds and flash flooding bringing down power lines and trees and ripping roofs off homes.

Further areas could be declared in coming days as the clean-up effort continues.

Earlier, more than 1500 people were told to evacuate their homes in Lismore, Ulmarra, Cowper and Brushgrove in northern NSW with warnings of flooding as rivers peak throughout today.

A severe weather warning for Sydney was downgraded, after the city did not get the 100km/h winds that were forecast.

Thousands of travellers are still trying to make their way home after the long weekend are facing delays and disruptions at Sydney Airport, as ex-tropical cyclone Oswald forces airlines to cancel flights.

The majority of the flights affected are those to and from Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Canberra and Melbourne.

SES sandbagging near Grafton's Clarence River on Tuesday. Picture: Nikki Short

A Qantas flight from Brisbane to Townsville this afternoon has been diverted to Rockhampton, though the airline refuses to offer any details on the incident.

Meanwhile, those affected by the disaster have been posting images and message on social networking websites showing the impact the crisis is having on communities on the east coast.

In Queensland, Ipswich residents are breathing a sigh of relief after a lower-than-expected flood peak caused far less damage than expected.

The clean-up has begun after the swollen Bremer River, which flows through the southeast Queensland city, burst its banks and reached a flood peak of almost 14 metres last night, inundating about 350 properties.

The council says the evacuation centres are still open and some roads are cut off because of floodwater or sludge.

Premier Campbell Newman has also urged Brisbane residents to conserve water, warning that some parts of the city could run dry.

"The water (coming downstream) is four times muddier than it was in 2011. The effect of that has been to cause the two treatment plans to shut down.

He said at normal levels of consumption, the city went through 450 megalitres per day. "Right now we can only produce and supply about half that."

Bronte Beach in Sydney being hammered by the wild weather. Picture: John Grainger

"It is serious. We need people to conserve water."

More than 2000 homes and businesses have been flooded in the devastated town of Bundaberg.

Mr Newman called on all Queenslanders to roll up their sleeves and help those affected by the floods.

The Brisbane River has peaked and fallen short of causing serious damage. But it is thought that high tides in coming days could see the river rise again.

The Bureau of Meteorology said a smaller than predicted tidal surge will give the capital a small reprieve.

But Mayor Graham Quirk says he doesn't want locals to be complacent and any slight difference could have big impacts.

Hundreds of state schools in Queensland are closed on the first day of the new school year.

Update: Find out which Queensland schools are closed here

More than 30 private schools are also shut because of the floods and storms which have battered the state.

Rising water in the Clarence river is expected to test levee banks around Grafton

A number of schools in central Queensland, the Gold Coast and Brisbane, which were expected to be closed today, have had power restored and are open.

Sugar cane crops have been ravaged by torrential rain, leading canegrowers to seek financial support from the government.

Industry body Canegrowers says it's too early to determine the full extent of the damage but it appears the Bundaberg, Maryborough and Childers areas were worst hit.

Floodwaters have also reached the rooftops of more than a hundred businesses in the town of Gympie. About 25 homes have been also been affected by flooding, but it's not yet known if water has entered living areas.

The Mary River peaked at the major flood level of 20.3 metres on Monday afternoon, with floodwaters higher and flowing faster than in the disaster which hit Gympie two years ago. The river is taking its time to recede and remains at a major flood level of 17.4 metres.

Water is still swamping businesses in the heart of town.

Channel Nine's Paul Burt reports form Brisbane River earlier today

Along the Queensland coastline, shark nets are now adrift after being ripped from moorings along the Sunshine and Gold coasts.

Fisheries Queensland Shark Control Program manager Jeff Krause says nets have been torn from their moorings  along hundreds of kilometres of coastline in southern Queensland.

The Manly ferries had a hard time seeing the swells in the Sydney Harbour. Picture: John Grainger

"Nets have been dislodged from Rainbow Beach, Coolum, Marcoola and Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast and Kurrawa, Mermaid, Miami, Currumbin, Kirra and Coolangatta beaches at the Gold Coast,'' he said in a statement.

The ongoing disaster has already claimed four lives, including a three-year-old boy who was hit by a falling tree in Brisbane's north on Monday, while thousands around the state have been forced to evacuate their homes.

For the latest from Queensland see the Courier Mail

The others were a motorcyclist whose body was pulled from a creek south of Brisbane, an 81-year-old man whose body was found near Bundaberg, and a 27-year-old man who tried to cross a flooded creek near Gympie.

Premier Campbell Newman toured the stricken city by air this morning and said he was shocked by what he saw.

''I've seen perhaps even more extraordinary sights than we saw two years ago in southeast Queensland,'' Mr Newman told reporters.

He says Bundaberg is at the centre of the state's flood crisis, with so many in need of help now and in the future.

''This is the number one priority for myself, for my government - to do everything we can for the people of this city.''

So far there are no reports that homes have been swept from their foundations, as feared.

Houses on the Clarence river in Grafton this morning. Picture: Nikki Short

But authorities say that won't be known for sure until the floodwaters have cleared.

Mr Newman visited evacuation centres and accompanied one senior SES worker on a boat tour of her home, which had water up to its ceiling.

He says the courage some people are showing in continuing to work for the community, even when their own homes are going under, is amazing.

The Premier promised all possible support for Bundaberg residents in the days, weeks and months ahead.

''They've shown a lot of guts, they're not going to give up, they're not going to be crushed by this,'' he said.

Most of the 7500 people displaced by the flood have gone to stay with family and friends.

Police Minister Jack Dempsey says there are 1500 residents in evacuation centres across the city.

Three other people are trapped inside a house by rising water from the Tweed River at Fingal Head, the SES said.

Overnight, 14 helicopters rescued more than a thousand people in the city's north.

''Black Hawks were operating to midnight, using night vision equipment,'' Mr Newman told Sky News earlier today.

''There may still be people in there and we have to get them out.''

The immediate focus was to rescue people stranded on islands created by floodwaters moving at more than 70km/h.

Mr Newman urged people to try to make contact with authorities or get up on their roofs so they could be seen.

''We are concerned about houses being lifted off their stumps and swept away,'' the premier said.

''People cannot stay in north Bundaberg.''

Authorities are preparing to evacuate scores of hospital patients from Bundaberg, where 2000 properties have flooded.

CareFlight Queensland has relocated two Learjets and four helicopters to Bundaberg to help the evacuation operation.

One Learjet flew a critical care patient from Bundaberg to Brisbane on Monday night and CareFlight says more critical medical evacuations are expected throughout today.

Emergency crews in Penkivil St, Bondi, after a five-stoery high tree fell down outside an apartment building. Picture: Spielman Photography

Queensland's Chief Health Officer, Jeannette Young, said the first Hercules flight out of Bundaberg arrived at Brisbane airport at 11am (AEST), carrying 41 patients.

The patients will be taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women's, Princess Alexandra and Prince Charles hospitals.

A second Hercules is expected to arrive at Bundaberg later in the day and will transport a further 41 patients.

The evacuation will be completed with a return flight of the first Hercules.

Dr Young said as well as the hospital patients, around 60 dialysis patients from the Bundaberg region were also being transferred to Brisbane, in different aircraft.

The Burnett River is raging amid a record flood, and is expected to climb to 10 metres over the next few days.

That's about two metres higher than the 2010/11 flood.

Mayor Mal Forman said there was still a lot of water headed towards Bundaberg, with flood levels expected to reach 9.5 metres this evening.

He said helicopters continued to work through the night, carrying 120 more residents to safety.

A man and woman make the most of the foam on the Sunshine Coast. Picture: www.brandonrooney.com

''We are very concerned that everyone has been evacuated from north Bundaberg. Until the water has receded it's very hard to know, but we pray they are all safe,'' he told ABC News 24.

The mayor said 60 elderly people at the city's RSL aged care facility were isolated by floodwaters, but they will be moved on Tuesday morning.

About 12,000 properties are without power.

The city has adequate supplies of drinking water but the city's sewage plants have been flooded, Mr Forman said.

About 167,000 homes are currently still without power in the southeast of Queensland after 50,000 properties were reconnected overnight.

Four hundred Energex crews will work through today to restore more homes and are hopeful improved weather conditions will assist their efforts.

The Brisbane City Council had warned that up to 3600 homes and 1250 businesses could experience some flooding, but that could be revised down.

Brisbane will also see a flood peak on the high tide on Wednesday. The flood peak will be nothing like what the city saw during the 2011 flood disaster.

However, floodwaters have breached levee banks in the city of Maryborough overnight, and it's believed some homes and businesses may have been inundated.

A helicopter rescues a family at Fairmead on the Burnett River downstream of Bundaberg. Pic: Paul Beutel

Fraser Coast Mayor Gerard O'Connell said the Mary River peaked at 10.65 metres at 4am (AEST) today and inspections were underway.

''The water is creeping into homes and businesses but I think most people were able to expect that,'' he told the ABC.

In the Darling Downs town of Warwick, southwest of Brisbane, there are hopes most homes and businesses have escaped flooding after the Condamine River peaked overnight half a metre lower than predicted.

Mayor Peter Blundell hopes the lower peak will have saved about 60 homes and businesses that were at risk of having water above the floorboards.

But up to 40 properties would still have had some form of inundation.

''How many had water into their living areas, we're not sure,'' he said.

Energex says 160,000 customers are still without power across the state, and 1100 power lines are down in the southeast.

The State Emergency Service had received 3400 calls for help in the 24 hours to 5am today.

Most jobs were in central Queensland, the north coast, Brisbane and the wider southeast region, for evacuations, sandbagging and roof damage.

RAW FOOTAGE: Sections of the John Muntz Causeway in Queensland are completely submerged as the flooding continues.

A total of 46 council areas are now eligible for government assistance, including Brisbane City, the Gold Coast, Logan, Redland, Scenic Rim and South Burnett local government areas.

There is good news for residents in the flood-prone Ipswich suburb of Goodna, west of Brisbane, after escaping any damage from flooding.

The Bremer river peaked at Ipswich at 13.9 metres on Monday evening, well below the predicted 15 metres.

Ipswich councillor Paul Tully told the ABC not one of the 600 homes and businesses evacuated in his suburb of Goodna had flooded.

''People are going to wake to the most joyous news,'' he said.

Mayor Paul Pisasale said people would be able to return home today.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan visited Ipswich today, where a only maximum of 50 properties have had some level of flooding.

Mr Swan said there was a palpable sense of relief.

''It's good to be back here today and to see we've escaped the worst nature can throw at us,'' he told reporters.

Mr Swan said it was heartening to see the mud army out in force in the flood-prone suburb of Goodna.

''I think that's what we're known for, not just here in Queensland but right around the country and it's what I think the world admires about Australia, our capacity to pull together in a time of threat, neighbour helping neighbour,'' he said.

''It's all been on display and I think it is one of the great things that comes out of tragedies.''

He said the damage bill would not be known for some time, and the priority now was dealing with the human impacts of the disaster.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has attempted to reassure residents of the affected areas that the overall flooding won't be as severe as in 2011, but concedes that local flooding is worse in some parts of the state.

Mr Newman said floodwaters moving at more than 70km/h in Bundaberg had the potential to wash away houses.

But with the disaster affecting most of central and southeast Queensland, he said the government had to be careful where it placed emergency resources.

"Once again, sadly Queensland is facing a major disaster crisis," the premier said.

"(But) this state and its people will rise to the challenge. Together we will get through this."

Several other regional centres in central and southern Queensland are flooding or expecting significant floods, including Gympie, Maryborough, Warwick, Laidley and Rockhampton.

The cities of Brisbane and Ipswich in the southeast are also experiencing their own floods.

Queensland Treasurer Tim Nicholls estimates the damage bill will run into the hundreds of millions of dollars.

"(The damage is) obviously going to be in the tens, and more likely the hundreds of millions of dollars," Mr Nicholls said.

"The damage is going to be as diverse as local schools and local community halls to major infrastructure."

The state government on Monday opened up disaster assistance funding to residents of 10 more Queensland regions, including those in Brisbane and Ipswich.

The prime minister will visit Queensland in coming days as the federal government steps up assistance to the flood-ravaged state.

Julia Gillard says federal authorities are working at every level with the state to help people get through the disaster.

The prime minister says a massive C17 transport aircraft has now been added to a fleet of Black Hawk helicopters and two C130 Hercules aircraft evacuating patients from Bundaberg Hospital to Brisbane.

As well 100 defence force personnel have been deployed to the city.

The Hercules are flying patients into Brisbane and returning to Bundaberg with essential supplies while the huge C17 will transport heavy equipment needed by Queensland Fire and Rescue and the ambulance service.

Ms Gillard says the federal and state governments are working well together.

''I wish I could put this differently but the truth is our systems ... have been tried and tested time and time again because we've had to face so much in Queensland so we know how to work together - we know how to do it well,'' she told the ABC.

Disaster funding is already in place.

''Working with the state government, we've commenced the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements which are active in 46 local government areas,'' the Prime Minister said.

Meanwhile, Keith Urban will return to Brisbane for a rescheduled show on February 5. The country star was forced to cancel his Brisbane concert due to the floods.

Irish ensemble Celtic Thunder, who were due to play Brisbane Entertainment Centre today, said they were unable to perform in the flood-affected area.

Ticket holders are advised to contact the point of sale for refunds.

IN NSW, in Lismore, where 500 people are under evacuation orders, conditions are easing, with no reports of homes being inundated.

And in Darkwood, where more 400 people have been cut off since the weekend, floodwaters are now receding.

Reports that 20 have been stranded by floodwaters in Grafton is also being investigated, NSW SES spokesman Michael Eburn said.

It comes as more than 2000 people remain isolated, with around 850 people isolated at Ewingar west of Lismore and 400 at Darkwood on the mid-north coast.

But so far there have been no reports of any properties being inundated.

For the latest from NSW, see The Daily Telegraph

Mr Eburn said there has been 18 flood rescues since the wild weather began hitting the state, with people continuing to ignore warnings.

''If people could get the message of not entering flood waters that would really reduce that number,'' he told AAP today.

WHERE TO TURN TO FOR HELP AND INFORMATION

NSW:

Government Flood Information

Ministry for Police and Emergency Services

NSW flood warnings

Queensland:

Guide to essential services

QLD flood warnings

Brisbane city council flood maps

Meanwhile the SES said it was rescuing four people trapped in a 4WD in floodwaters at Bellingen, southwest of Coffs Harbour.

Calls for assistance, which has now reached more than 2900, are expected to increase as the weather system brings localised downpours of up to 200mm and winds of more than 100km/h to the cities.

There are reports of localised flooding around Camden in Sydney's southwest but that there was no threat for any rivers to flood, he said.

''Don't get out on the road if you don't have to today and stay clear of fallen power lines.''

In Sydney, motorists woke to blacked-out traffic signals and road closures as flash flooding swept through the city.

Summerland Way is now open to all vehicles between Grafton and Casino in the State's North after earlier flooding.

This means motorists can now travel between Sydney and Brisbane using the Pacific Highway to Grafton, then Summerland Way to Casino, then the Bruxner Highway to Ballina, then rejoin the Pacific Highway.

Summerland Way remains closed in both directions two kilometres south of the Queensland border at Dairy Flat due to a landslide.

The following roads also remain closed in both directions due to flooding:

In the State's North:

•    The Pacific Highway between Grafton and Ballina
•    The Gwydir Highway about 70km west of Grafton at Jackadgery due to a landslip
•    Armidale Road between Ebor and Nymboida
•    Bangalow Road between Bexhill and Lagoon Grass
•    Tweed Valley Way in Murwillumbah

The Ulmarra and Lawrence ferries remain out of service.

In the State's North West:
•    The Newell Highway at Goondiwindi
•    The Gwydir Highway between east of Moree and Pallamallawa

In the Illawarra:
•    The Illawarra Highway at Albion Park between the Princes Highway and Tongarra Road
•    Fern Street at Gerringong between the Princes Highway and Belinda Street

In Sydney:
•    Audley Weir has reopened in the Royal National Park
•    Stoney Creek Road remains closed at the Causeway at Shanes Park

Flooding and heavy rain has also stopped train services between Port Kembla and Wollongong in the Illawarra.

There had been 500 calls for help in the Sydney region, with a minor flood warning for the Nepean River at Menangle in Sydney's southwest.

NSW escaped the loss of life suffered in Queensland, although 50 people had to be rescued, 3500 called for assistance, mainly around Grafton, but also as far south as Sydney and the Illawarra.

19,000 homes were blacked out, from Kempsey on the mid-north coast up to the Queensland border.

Wild weather is hampering a search for a man feared drowned off the NSW Central Coast.

He was last seen walking into the water in Cabbage Tree Bay at Norah Head about 4pm (AEDT) on Saturday.

Another swimmer contacted police when he noticed the man's belongings still lying on the beach.

A search involving Tuggerah Lakes Police and Surf Life-Saving Australia resumed this morning but wild weather was restricting the search, police said.

But there was good news in the search for a canyoner who went missing in the Blue Mountains on Monday in the midst of wild weather.

The 26-year-old was found safe and well near Bowens Creek about 8.30am (AEDT) today, police said.

He is currently being walked out and will receive treatment for mild hypothermia and dehydration.

BoM forecaster Katarina Kovacevic said Sydney was spared the worst of the storm overnight.

Around 70 to 80mm of rain fell in the Sydney basin, with Frenchs Forest in the city's north the worst affected after being belted with 160mm since 9am (AEDT) on Monday.

However, the city did not get the 100km/h winds that were forecast.

''We did see the gusts, but we saw them offshore rather than impacting the coast,'' Ms Kovacevic told AAP.

A Sydney buoy, however, recorded waves of up to 10 metres.

The widespread disaster, triggered by heavy rainfall and wind from ex-tropical cyclone Oswald, comes two years after floods devastated much of the same areas of Queensland, resulting in 35 deaths.

The Insurance Council of Australia says $43 million worth of insurance claims had already been lodged.

Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan told reporters the Defence Force was ready to help disaster-hit communities in NSW, in the same way it was doing in Queensland.

''Flooding is emerging through NSW and the defence forces are on standby to assist as this crisis unfolds elsewhere,'' Mr Swan told reporters today.

Too early for a flood levy

Liberal Queensland Senator George Brandis today said it was premature to be saying ''categorically yes or no'' to a new flood levy.

It comes after Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan yesterday said the summer of heatwaves, fires and floods would hit the budget but it was too soon to discuss another flood levy.

''We don't yet have an early assessment ... of the costs,'' he told Sky News.

''The first thing someone like Wayne Swan and other Labor politicians think of is 'Ah ha, here's another excuse to have another tax'.''

He said whatever federal assistance was needed to help Queensland and NSW rebuild infrastructure could be accommodated if the Gillard government ''tightened its belt''.

Labor parliamentary secretary Mike Kelly said Australia had a ''proud tradition'' of using levies when necessary.

He pointed to the Howard government's gun buyback following the Port Arthur massacre.

Defending the Gillard government's $1.8 billion flood levy, Mr Kelly said some of that money had been deployed on flood damage prevention measures.

In Victoria, Premier Ted Baillieu says firefighters may never be able to extinguish some of Victoria's largest bushfires without a big soaking of significant rainfall.

It's been weeks since a major rain storm drenched parts of the state while a watch and act remains in place for residents of Violet Town, around 170 kilometres north of Melbourne.

A bushfire there of about 13-hundred-hectares in size is continuing to burn south of the community.

Firefighters are also working on two controlled fires at Harrietville, near Mount Feathertop in the northeast, and the Aberfeldy fire in Gippsland, to the southwest, that has already destroyed homes while burning through 71-thousand hectares.

Milder weather has allowed firefighters to strengthen bushfire containment lines, as late yesterday Ms Gillard visited fire-affected towns in the state's east.

Ms Gillard and Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu on Monday visited the towns of Seaton and Heyfield, where the Gippsland bushfire destroyed more than 20 homes and claimed the life of an 84-year-old man earlier this month.

Ms Gillard urged communities to be prepared and vigilant.

"I've also been here, too, to say to this community that we are thinking of them," Ms Gillard told reporters.

"We are yet to face what could be the worst of the bushfire season. Often in Victoria the weather in February is at its hottest and most dangerous," she said.

Ms Gillard said the fire was not out but only contained.

"I'd be asking people here in Victoria and around the nation to recognise that the bushfire risk is not over and people do need to be prepared and need to be very careful."

In Western Australia, a bushfire threatening homes had been contained last night, but firefighters warned it was not yet under control.

It had burned out 40 hectares in the southern part of Ambergate, in the city of Busselton, with authorities saying the cause of the blaze was suspicious.

DFES says the fire was contained but there was the potential for it to jump containment lines and affect nearby properties.

The fire started between Queen Elizabeth Avenue and Doyle Road near the Ambergate Nature Reserve.

It was moving slowly in a northwesterly direction towards the intersection of Ambergate Road and Edwards Road.

In a separate blaze, homes and plantations are being threatened by a bushfire burning about 900 kilometres north of Perth.

A watch and act alert has been issued for people in Miaboolya Road, Bibbawarra Road, North River Road and surrounding areas in the northeastern part of Carnarvon, on the state's north coast.

DFES said the fire, which started on Monday morning, could affect plantations along North River Road.

Residents were advised to put their bushfire survival plan into action.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Floods continue to batter east coast

Dengan url

http://kelapapantai.blogspot.com/2013/01/floods-continue-to-batter-east-coast.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Floods continue to batter east coast

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Floods continue to batter east coast

sebagai sumbernya