Rainfall totals highlight Queensland flood emergency

A year’s worth of rain has already fallen in some Queensland communities this year resulting in widespread floodwater inundation and damage, Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said.

Mr Roberts said analysis of official rainfall figures for 11 major Queensland centres this year until this morning (see table below) shows residents of Proserpine (1469mm) and Charters Towers (618mm) have already received more than their respective annual average rainfall levels of 1359mm and 613mm.

“In Ayr, Townsville and Yeppoon, more than 80% of annual average rain has fallen this year and there has been localised flooding issues in each of these local regions,” Mr Roberts said.

Mr Roberts said in other major flood-affected centres, like Mackay, Emerald, Charleville and Rockhampton, had received more than half of their annual average rainfall as well as contending with major falls upstream in the catchments.

“2008 is not shaping up to be an average year by any estimations. The rainfall figures in these centres show just how difficult the weather has been for residents, local communities and emergency services staff and volunteers,” Mr Roberts said.

“These rainfall levels are usually spread over 12 months. In centres, like Mackay and Proserpine, falls of hundreds of millimetres of rain have occurred in only hours.”

“While joint State and Commonwealth-funded Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) have been activated for 77 local government areas, which account for approximately 80% of the State’s land area, many areas have missed out on significant rainfall.”

“Many Queenslanders could be excused for asking when is the rain going to stop, but others must be asking when it is going to actually start or continue for them.”

Mr Roberts said for instance, in Toowoomba, only 102mm of rain has fallen so far this year – well below its January average rainfall of 132mm let alone its annual average of 944mm.

17 February 2008
Media contact: Kirby Anderson 0418 197 350