The agricultural sector in North Queensland is confronting a deepening emergency as floodwaters from the region's most severe flooding event since 2019 begin to recede, revealing a staggering scale of loss.
A Mounting Toll on Livestock and Land
Authorities report that almost 20,000 head of livestock remain unaccounted for, with the full extent of the disaster still largely unknown. Winton Mayor Cathy White described the situation as "unfolding day by day," emphasising the ongoing challenge for producers and emergency crews.
Helicopter pilots are conducting critical fodder drops to cattle mobs that have been isolated by the rising waters. "Already this morning, I've had phone calls from the helicopter pilots there — they're taking fodder, doing fodder drops this morning on the Diamantina River to two separate mobs they found yesterday afternoon," Mayor White explained.
Shires Bear the Brunt of the Disaster
The shires of Cloncurry, Julia Creek, and McKinlay have been hit the hardest. Producers in these areas have suffered catastrophic losses, with thousands of cattle already confirmed dead. Mayor White warned that more livestock losses will be discovered as the floodwaters continue to subside.
The region has seen only its second day of sunshine following the deluge, marking the start of what will be a slow and difficult recovery process. However, this fragile progress is now under threat from a new weather system developing off the coast.
New Cyclone Threat Compounds the Crisis
The Bureau of Meteorology advises that a tropical low developing in the Coral Sea has a moderate chance of intensifying into a tropical cyclone by Friday or Saturday. This system is expected to bring heavy rain to the Cape York Peninsula initially, with potential impacts from Cairns to Mackay over the weekend.
This emerging cyclone threat caps off a week of extreme weather across Australia. While the north grapples with floods, the southern states are bracing for a severe heatwave. The Bureau has issued warnings for Victoria and South Australia, where temperatures are forecast to soar above 40C from Wednesday, with some inland areas potentially reaching a scorching 45C to 46C.
The dual crises of flood and impending cyclone present an unprecedented challenge for North Queensland's communities and its vital agricultural industry, with the path to recovery now looking increasingly complex and uncertain.
