Floods could cut off residents for a month

Properties downstream of Goondiwindi in southwest Queensland could be cut off by floodwaters for more than month, according to the local mayor. Goondiwindi Mayor Lawrence Springborg said floodwaters peaked on Saturday just below Goondiwindi’s 11m levees, but are now travelling slowly downstream and will inundate flood plains in western Queensland and NSW. “Our levee has saved our town as it has done time and time again,” he told AAP on Sunday. But he warned residents downstream of Goondiwindi, towards Mungindi, will likely be isolated for a month. “Resilience is being cut off by floodwaters for two weeks or more than a month, and these people survive that,” he said. The weather bureau said the Macintyre River reached 10.43m at Goondiwindi on Saturday morning before starting to recede overnight, and is currently around 10.27m. Mr Springborg advised people in the path of the slow-moving flood to make their way to the nearest town to stock up on essentials. While 90 fire and emergency services personnel are ready to be deployed, along with three helicopters, he said resupply by air should be an exception. Roads to Goondiwindi from the east should open in the next 48 hours but the town is likely to remain cut off in other directions. “The big challenge now is that our infrastructure is severely damaged, the roads were seriously knocked about before this, now they are extensively damaged,” Mr Springborg said. Meanwhile, in the towns of Inglewood and Texas, the cleanup is continuing. Crews had conducted 352 building assessments by Saturday, with two properties found to be severely damaged, 15 moderately damaged, and 105 suffering minor issues. Major flood warnings remain in place for the Condamine and Balonne Rivers, the Dawson River, and the Macintyre and Weir Rivers. Moderate warnings have been issued for the Bulloo River, Moonie River and Paroo River.