Impacts of Queensland’s 40 days, 40 nights of flooding rains

Preliminary assessments have identified wide-ranging impacts across Queensland from the last 40 days and 40 nights of flooding rains.

Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said State Cabinet received a preliminary report on the damages and costs of the rain and associated flooding today.

"The estimates will be added to once floodwaters recede. These estimates may also increase further with heavy rain and flash flooding in south-east Queensland yesterday and more rain forecast this week," Mr Roberts said.

"Flood warnings remain current for the Fitzroy River, Paroo River, Bulloo River, Lower Thomson and Barcoo Rivers and Cooper Creek, Nerang and Coomera Rivers"

"Since Christmas, there has been heavy rain and flooding throughout Queensland. The joint State and Commonwealth funded Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) activated for 66 local government areas, including 56 local government areas affected by rain and associated flooding due to the monsoonal low."

NDRRA assistance can provide concessional loans for primary producers and small businesses affected by flooding, and freight subsidies for producers as well as personal hardship assistance and costs for restoring public assets, such as roads, and for costs of local councils' extraordinary disaster management.

The affected areas extends from the State’s far north to the NSW border.

"In the Emerald area, 3100 people have registered as evacuees. In all, 380 houses and 3 commercial properties, including the shopping centre, were flood affected. Of these 239 houses incurred significant damage and 50 businesses impacted by floodwater or downturn in trade."

"At Charleville, 20 houses and 15 commercial properties were flood affected, while 56 houses and 10 commercial properties were affected at Charters Towers."

"In Belyando Shire, 59 properties inundated and 30 properties were isolated for up to 8 days."

Mr Roberts said in the Charleville and Emerald regions, preliminary estimates are for $39 million in lost gross agricultural production. With on-farm infrastructure losses and damage of $46 million, the total primary industries sector currently stands at $85 million.

"These losses include $22 million for cereal grain and other crop losses - $22 million. Cotton losses are estimated at $14 million as well as losses of vegetable crops."

"There have been significant livestock losses of up to 4,000 cattle and calves. These preliminary estimates exceed $2 million."

Mr Roberts said there were long-term benefits from the rain, with increased water availability expected to boost grain production by 25%, significant boosts to cotton production and promote good pasture growth.

Mr Roberts said the mining industry had suffered major impacts with the loss of a dragline at Ensham mine and major impacts at North Curragh mine.

"These factors will impact on coal production in the short-term, but the coal industry is very robust and the overall impact should not be severe over the longer term."

Mr Roberts said there had been impacts on the tourism industry, particularly in the Whitsunday area, in terms of lost revenue.

He said infrastructure damage estimates from local governments were currently around $59 million, primarily to roads and bridges.