The federal government has agreed to send military assistance to Queensland in an attempt to minimise livestock loss as the state’s south-west grapples with a major flood emergency.
Many graziers have been forced to abandon their properties, with multiple towns facing rising waters.
There are about one million head of cattle in the region and another million sheep at risk, Premier David Crisafulli said yesterday.
Fodder drops to surviving cattle were critical, he said.
Emergency management minister Jenny McAllister told Today the federal government had agreed to assist the state with assets to move fodder and fuel around the region.
“Obviously, landowners are desperately concerned about their stock and aviation fuel is key to feeding all of that herd,” she said.
“Today we’ll be working through the kinds of assets that will be necessary to support that task.”
Overnight, floodwaters breached the levee wall protecting the town of Thargomindah in two places, inundating multiple homes.
Many residents of the town had already left their homes as waters rushed south.
They evacuated to the airport terminal, the highest ground in the town.
It is unclear when the water level is expected to peak with more rain forecast.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued multiple flood warnings, including for the Thomson River, the Paroo River, and the Warrego River basin.
The BoM has warned floods are likely to be the highest in the area for more than 50 years, since the historic devastation of 1974.
The federal and state governments have opened up the coffers to offer disaster relief funding to the region.
The Barcoo, Boulia, Bulloo, Diamantina, Longreach, Quilpie, and Winton councils are all eligible for the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements to aid recovery and clean-up.
