Qld: Maryborough flooded but peak not as bad as expected

AAP General News (Australia)
02-13-1999
Qld: Maryborough flooded but peak not as bad as expected

BRISBANE, Feb 13 AAP - The south-east Queensland city of Maryborough and its surrounds
have avoided the record flood levels that had been forecast to hit the area.

Levee banks put in place to channel the expected torrents around Maryborough's central
business district were not tested, and today all roads were open and the city was mopping up
after only limited flooding in low-lying areas.

While the Mary River peaked at 8.76 metres at 9pm yesterday, the level was almost a metre
less than had been projected.

"Another half a metre more would've caused a lot more problems," Mayor Alan Brown said
after inspecting the city and surrounds by helicopter.

Maryborough became a divided city yesterday afternoon when its Lamington and Granville
bridges disappeared under the flood. The bridges remained underwater today.

Floodwaters have quickly receded, and only a film of mud remains to be cleaned up.

Local MP John Kingston said the people of Maryborough were in good spirits as they tackled
the clean-up.

"We've been reasonably lucky this time," Dr Kingston said.

He said Maryborough residents had become old hands at flood clean-ups, and many people were
laughing and joking as they "worked like hell" to shovel mud from their properties.

The Bruce Highway between Brisbane and Maryborough was reopened yesterday as floodwaters
subsided.

At the height of the flood threat about a dozen homes were evacuated and shopkeepers also
moved stock.

Prime Minister John Howard today met at Ipswich with Premier Peter Beattie to discuss
federal disaster assistance for Queensland.

Mr Beattie, who flew north to Cairns today, said his state would be struggling to cope with
the combined impact of the devastating floods in the south-east earlier this week and Cyclone
Rona, which hit Cairns and Port Douglas.

Dairy farmers have already estimated losses in the north and south-east at $20 million over
the next 12 months and sugar cane crops between Mossman and Townsville are expected to suffer
significant damage, as did some cane farms in the south-east.

AAP sd/mjt/was

KEYWORD: FLOODS QLD (CARRIED EARLIER)

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