Australia floods: water levels steady in worst-hit city
River levels in the flood-hit Australian city of Rockhampton are expected to remain steady today. The city’s Mayor said it looked as though the worst of the flooding had passed.
The Fitzroy river in Rockhampton was expected to peak at 9.4 metres. Its water level is currently 9.2 metres and is predicted to remain steady throughout Wednesday.
Up to 500 people who live along the river evacuated their homes in anticipation of further flooding.
The Fitzroy has already spilled its banks, inundating houses and businesses in Rockhampton. Water has covered the city streets ranging in depth from a few inches to waist-deep.
Air and rail links to the city of 75-thousand people were cut and only one main road remained open.
More than a week of pounding rains has left much of north eastern Australia under a sea of muddy water that is making its way through river systems
towards the ocean. It is the worst flooding in decades.
It appears as though we certainly have seen the worst of it. Brad Carter, Rockhampton Mayor
But there is some relief for people in flood-hit areas. Rockhampton Mayor Brad Carter said: “It appears as though we certainly have seen the worst of it. Even if it (the river) gets to 9.4 metres that’s the worst of it.”
Snakes and saltwater crocodiles continue to be a problem for people in flooded areas.
Rockhampton is the latest of 22 cities and towns in Australia to be swamped by floods that began building just before Christmas.
Government response
The Queensland Government has appointed a senior military commander to lead to recovery.
Queensland State Premier Anna Bligh announced a flood recovery task force to be headed by Australian Defence Force Major General Mick Slater.
An emergency state cabinet meeting was held in Brisbane to deal with the crisis.
Bligh said that Major General Slater will help plan the state’s road map to recovery and added that the rebuilding process would start straight away.
“We are now on the rebuilding task. We are determined to see regional Queensland back on its feet as soon as possible,” Bligh told reporters.
The flooding was already having an impact on Queensland’s economy, ruining crops and closing most mines.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has said the cost associated with the flooding will likely reach many hundreds of (m) millions of Australian dollars, and has announced relief funding worth (m) millions.
Rains have eased, and water levels have been dropping in some towns in Queensland.
Across the state, some one thousand people are living in evacuation centres, and it may be a month before the floodwaters dry up completely.