Bundaberg residents are evacuating their homes and businesses as the city faces its worst flood in more than a decade.
Low-lying parts of the city, about four hours’ drive north of Brisbane, were already under water and residents in the city’s north, east, south and central areas have been advised to leave their homes immediately due to the flooding and isolation risk.
An emergency alert for major flooding was issued this afternoon, ahead of the Burnett River’s expected peak at more than 7 metres overnight.
Calypso McLean left work to prepare her Bundaberg North. (ABC News: Lucy Loram)
North Bundaberg resident Calypso McLean came home from work to prepare her house.
She was told by colleagues that her house had gone underwater in the 2010 flood, which reached a peak of nearly 8 metres.
“I was quite upset and incredibly stressed when I really worked it out this morning,” Ms McLean said.
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“It felt very real on my drive home to realise, ‘Oh my god. My house might fill with water — where am I going to stay?’ Two days ago I never would have imagined this.
“I’ve got quite a few friends who live in town and a lot of them have come to help me get my stuff out today that I need, so I can stay with them for as long as I need to.”
Calypso McLean has lived in her home for about six months. (ABC News: Lucy Loram)
River likely to peak overnight
Bundaberg Regional Council has advised that the Tallon and Burnett bridges have now been closed.
Mayor Helen Blackburn said about 280 homes and 120 businesses were at risk from the floodwater.
“We have had doorknocking that’s occurred earlier today for all of those houses [where] their floor level might be under the highest level that we’re expecting, which is 7.5 to 7.6 metres,” she said.
“Go evacuate to your friends and family or evacuate to our evacuation centre.”
An evacuation centre has been set up at the Bundaberg Recreational Precinct in Branyan.
SES Bundaberg local controller Kieran Galey said crews were split between delivering sandbags for those in need, and door knocking in areas at risk of inundation.
“And as those waters start to recede, we’re going to start getting a clearer picture of who has been impacted, and we’ll be getting our SES crews into those properties to help them with that clean-up process and any hose-outs that are required,” Mr Galey said.
The SES controller said a “very big, significant amount” of people had already left their homes for either refuge centres, or to the homes of family and friends.
“We do encourage them that if they are in those areas that are going to be impacted, that they do leave their properties now before it is dark, because it is safer on the roads in the meantime until tonight.
“They may not be able to see that water.”
Rutchiya Sariboot said she was concerned for her chickens, which she had to leave at home. (ABC News: Lucy Loram)
The Burnett River sat at just over 6.7 metres late Tuesday afternoon.
Cr Blackburn said although the river was rising slower than expected, it was still expected to reach about 7.6 metres.
“We’re thinking that the floodwaters will be up for potentially 24 to 36 hours,” she said.
“I’m sure that we will bounce back and help one another to get sorted on the other side of this, but at this point in time we are just concerned with making sure that everybody is kept safe.”
Rutchaya Sariboot was one of dozens watching it rise at a boat ramp on the city’s north side.
She said she had not seen a flood while living in Bundaberg for the past decade, but had prepared her home and stocked up at the supermarket before evacuating.
“We are ready for the flooding, because we all move our stuff up to a high level, and we packed up and got food ready,” she said.
Bundaberg at 8am on March 10. (Supplied: Cassandra Kirk)
Flood will be largest in nearly two decades
Many long-term locals live with the memories of past flooding events.
Shari French’s cosmetics business flooded in 2013 and she is nervously watching to see what the water does this time.
“I’ve got a lot of expensive equipment in here, so I’m a bit worried that it’s going to get damaged,” she said.
“I don’t want it to go the same.”
Shari French’s store has flooded before. (ABC News: Lucy Loram)
Coyne Mahoney and her son Nixon live on the river in a house that has been in her family for more 100 years.
Ms Mahoney said the house has withstood every flood since the late 1890s and she was hoping this time would be the same.
“To date, her floorboards have never been wet, so it’s a little concerning, but not that concerning for me in particular,” she said.
“It could always be worse and I’m really hoping no-one is badly affected this time.”
Loading…Every Burnett catchment spilling
Sunwater general manager of operations Colin Bendall says every dam in the Burnett catchment is spilling.
Paradise Dam, west of Bundaberg, is sitting just below 200 per cent capacity after peaking at 204 per cent.
“Paradise Dam is performing exactly as it’s designed to do and as we expected so there’s no dam safety concerns there at all,” Mr Bendall said.
The flooding in Bundaberg is expected to worsen. (ABC News: Johanna Marie)
Western Downs bracing for flooding
Major flooding is also expected west of the Sunshine Coast in the days ahead.
The Western Downs Regional Council said it expected major flooding to start at Charley’s Creek in Chinchilla from 3pm on Tuesday and continue to build until it peaked at midday on Thursday.
A flood emergency warning has been issued for residents to prepare to leave.
The council says some homes will affected, likely into the night, so residents are being urged to prepare now and not wait until after dark.
Members of Sandy Hook Ski Club in Bundaberg cleared out the clubhouse on Monday night in anticipation of major flooding. (Supplied: Michelle Dick)
The council said low-lying parts of Warra, south-east of Chinchilla, are also at risk of being affected by the rising waters of Cooranga Creek.
The water is due to peak at about midnight and highway closures are likely.
An emergency warning for Warra residents to prepare now for expected flooding has been issued in the past hour.
Chinchilla and Warra residents are encouraged to stay with family or friends where possible and use the disaster dashboard for updates.
No evacuation centres have been opened in the region at this stage, Mayor Andrew Smith said.