Severe monsoon rains have triggered major flooding across northwest Queensland, completely cutting off remote Gulf communities for what locals fear could be several days. With every access road closed, towns like Normanton and Karumba are now isolated, facing emptying supermarket shelves and the ever-present danger of wildlife, including a crocodile spotted next to a flooded bridge.
Towns Cut Off as Roads Submerge
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for the Gulf country as heavy rainfall floods major roads and settlements. Denise Buchanan from the Gulfland Motel and Caravan Park in Normanton, located roughly 680 kilometres west of Cairns, confirmed the town is now completely stranded. While Normanton itself, built on a slight rise, has not flooded, the surrounding roads are impassable.
"We are completely isolated," Ms Buchanan stated. "Water just runs off, but either side of us we are completely cut off." She compared the intensity of the rainfall on Sunday night to a Townsville cyclone and warned that isolation could last at least four to five days if the rain continues.
"Normal" Weather Event Leaves Shelves Bare
Despite the severe disruption, long-term residents describe the deluge as a typical wet season event. Chrissy Jenkins, owner of the Karumba Point Sunset Caravan Park, said the flooding was "quite normal, not surprising" but acknowledged its impact. Karumba, at the mouth of the Norman River, is also cut off, with a king tide expected this weekend worsening conditions.
In Normanton, the practical effects are being felt. Ms Buchanan reported that while a new food shipment is expected soon, shop shelves are already emptying. Leanne Campbell from Cam’s Corner Store echoed that normal cars cannot reach the town, with park areas and surrounds filled with water.
The flooding has been captured dramatically by official cameras, including an image from the Carpentaria Shire Council showing a crocodile resting beside a bridge engulfed by the floodwaters of the Little Bynoe River.
Broader Impacts Across the Region
The isolation is affecting communities differently. Julie-Ann Walden, who runs the Burketown Convenience Store and Post Office 225km west of Normanton, said her town missed the worst of the rain. However, with all roads closed, she anticipates significant delays to mail deliveries due to flooding in surrounding areas.
Bureau of Meteorology Community and Communications Officer Daniel Hayes advised that the monsoon trough is expected to continue moving south, suggesting the severe weather may not be over. For the stranded residents of the Gulf, the wait for the waters to recede and for vital supply lines to reopen has only just begun.
