Floods bring damagebut hope to the Outback

The State Emergency Service has located a Bell 412 Helicopter at Bourke Airport for the next six weeks to respond to flood emergencies. Our photo shows crew members Chris John and Rhys Williams ttogether with Chris Morral from Bourke Shire Council preparing to take off from Bourke Airport on Tuesday morning for a levee bank inspection at Wanaaring. Photo TWH

Widespread flooding rain over southwestern Queensland has meant huge stock losses, town evacuations, isolated communities and closed roads throughout the region.

Queensland’s small western towns and surrounding graziers have copped the worst of it, with widespread falls of over 200mm, leading to the isolation of Quilpie and Thargomindah, and Adavale residents being evacuated by helicopter to Quilpie prior to the town’s inundation late last week.

On Monday night the town of Thargomindah lost its temporary emergency levee right after a visit from Federal Opposition leaders, Peter Dutton and his Deputy David Littleproud.

Mr Dutton flew in and promised a new $10 weather radar system for outback Queensland if the coalition is elected.

Mayor of Bulloo Shire John ‘Tractor’ Ferguson said that the people of Thargomindah were resilient people who would take this flood in their stride. […]

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