Emergency services are scouring the flooded Burnett River in Bundaberg for a missing man.
About 1am, police received reports a man had gone into the water from a houseboat at Burnett Heads and had not been seen since.
The river in the coastal city, 400 kilometres north of Brisbane, reached a major flood peak of 7.4 metres on Wednesday morning and has been slowly falling since.
Acting Inspector Ryan Thompson said police officers were assisting with land searches along the banks.
He said water police, SES floodboats and volunteer marine rescue were involved in the search, while swift water rescue crews scoured the river in the early hours of the morning.
LifeFlight rescue helicopter is also helping with the search, as are drones.
The clean-up is now well underway after floodwater inundated about 240 homes and 120 businesses.
The city’s rescue helicopter has also been needed to reach people trapped by floodwater.
A woman in her 70s had to be rescued from her home after she was bitten by a snake. (Supplied: LifeFlight)
About 1pm yesterday, a woman in her 70s needed to be airlifted from her isolated home, after she was bitten by a snake that her cat had brought into the house.
LifeFlight landed at a closed nearby school oval to reach the woman, who was being cared for by an off-duty paramedic, who had immobilised her leg and kept her calm.
She was flown to Bundaberg Airport, then taken by ambulance to Bundaberg Hospital in a stable condition.
Road network under pressure
The city’s road networks have been under pressure since the flooding cut off most major access points.
While most are starting to reopen, the northbound Gin Gin Road remains cut at Splitters Creek, and access to the city from coastal areas and East Bundaberg at Kendall Flat remains under water.
Bundaberg Police Inspector Grant Marcus said the water was not dropping as expected, and investigations were underway to determine why.
“There is a levee along there that has failed, about 100m of that levee; we don’t know if that is or isn’t contributing,” Inspector Marcus said.
“As the water drops it enables us to go in and have a look to see what’s causing that.
“There is work being undertaken to see whether or not pumping that water out will speed up that process.”
Piles of flood-damaged items line the streets of Bundaberg, ready for collection. (Supplied: Di Wills)
Clean-up begins
Hundreds of volunteers are hitting the streets across the city as part of the Mud Army.
They are ready to help residents of inundated homes with the clean-up.
Large piles of flood-damaged items already line the streets, ready for the Bundaberg Regional Council’s first free rubbish collection on Saturday.
Mayor Helen Blackburn said there were plenty of services ready to help.
Mud army volunteers are briefed in Bundaberg. (ABC Wide Bay)
“There is a Mud Army website people can contact to get that Mud Army there,” Cr Blackburn said.
“And for people that are really struggling, if they’re vulnerable and in need of assistance, the SES is absolutely there to assist them, as is the Queensland Fire Department.”
Hardship payments are now available for flood-affected residents across multiple suburbs.
Structural assistance grants and disaster loans are also available.
A home in Bundaberg East that was inundated by floodwaters. (ABC Wide Bay/Nikki Sorbello)
Individuals can apply for $180 to buy food, clothes and medicine, increasing to $900 for a family of five or more.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain said the financial support would help Queenslanders push through the challenging days ahead.
“We know this is an incredibly difficult time for people whose lives have been turned upside down, which is why we’ve moved quickly to make these grants available to those who need it most,” she said.