NRW DEPARTMENT MONITORS FLOODING ACROSS NORTH

Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace said his department was closely monitoring heavy rainfall across the Townsville region and other northern centres.

"I was advised this morning that Ross River Dam is at around 50 percent capacity and continuing to fill rapidly with significant in flows,’’ he said.

"Paluma Dam, 70km north of Townsville, is also at around 80 percent capacity with strong in-flows being recorded. And residents of the Burdekin region are aware that the Burdekin River Dam is already full to capacity and over-topping at around 209,000 megalitres a day and rising which is an incredible amount of water heading down the Burdekin.’’

The Minister this morning announced he would return to Townsville from interstate meetings to assist with local issues associated with flash flooding across Townsville.

"Further heavy rainfall has been recorded in the Haughton River catchment, around 55km south of Townsville, and more rainfall is forecast for today,’’ he said.

"The heavy rainfall is expected to cause flooding in Major Creek and the Haughton River.

"Based on advice from the Bureau of Meteorology, major flooding is expected at the Giru township, 52 kms south of Townsville, at 3am tomorrow morning.

The Minister said heavy rainfall last night included Upper Major Creek (97mm), Upper Reid (59mm) and Cameron Hill (57mm).

Contact: Clare Gillic, Minister's Office, 3896 3688.