Floods in Queensland

[Keith Orpin]

Guys,
I know Australia is big, but to hear that an area the size of France and Germany is under water, is hard to imagine ( Oh, apparently the crocs are now floating about as well !) . I just hope all you guys in Queensland are managing to stay dry, at least on the outside
Take care guys
Regards from a cold England
Keith

[Keith Webb]

There are also thousands of snakes swimming too. Deadly poisonous ones.

Originally Posted by Keith Orpin

Guys,
I know Australia is big, but to hear that an area the size of France and Germany is under water, is hard to imagine ( Oh, apparently the crocs are now floating about as well !) . I just hope all you guys in Queensland are managing to stay dry, at least on the outside
Take care guys
Regards from a cold England
Keith

[cliff]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

There are also thousands of snakes swimming too. Deadly poisonous ones.

Not only there but in the abandoned houses as well as people are discovering when they return to clean up after the water has gone down. While these normally don't bother us much, in conditions like these they are concentrated so any high ground they are occupying is so they can stay dry just like us

We had another 50mm of rain last night and it is predicted heavy falls of up to 200mm (8 inches) will continue over most of the flood area for the next 4 or 5 days which will make matters worse then now.

Most of the States summer crops are wiped out along with a lot of livestock. Prices for fruit, vegetables and meat will rise by 20-50% as supplies are trucked in from southern states or imported from overseas to make up the shortfall. One big supermarket chain has relaxed it's tough quality rules to allow slighty blemised fruit/veges to be sold at it's stores. Pineapple farmers are rushing to harvest what they can and get it to market before it rots in the fields. Sugar Cane farmers can't harvest due to the wet ground bogging machinery.

2011 is going to be a tough year for most Queensland producers and Queenslanders will be worse off pocket wise in paying for food. But guess what? We are a tough lot and we will bounce back quickly unlike the Aussie Cricket team who all need the boot so new younger players can start the winning ways again!

Many thanks to all those in other Aussie States & Overseas who have offered to help in our hour of need.

[Alan Nicholas]

G’Day from Rockhampton Oz! River level @ 9.14m, which is the third highest flood in history in these parts.
The sun is shinning and most of the city is going about their lives like any other day except for the poor buggers who have been flood affected in some way which is perhaps 10 - 15% of the city.
A lot the coal mines in the Central Queensland area are shut down due to open cut pits being full of water or road access to them has been destroyed.
Emerald - population approx 10,000 - 13,000. 80% of this town went underwater to some degree.
The Fairburn dam that is approximately 20 km upstream of Emerald had over 5m of water going over the spillway. Talking to mates out there they told me the dam wall was vibrating due to force and depth of the water.
As for the crocs… well they had better be able to swim bloody fast! The river is flowing very, very quickly.
As for poisonous snakes, well there around just like always except perhaps a bit more concentrated.
What amazes me is the amount of cattle and other livestock being swept down the river! 1 local claims to have counted 30 head of cattle going past his place on the river. If by chance they do get out of the river they tend to be a bit shitty and take a while to settle down.
This river system is the 2nd largest river system in Australia and at the moment it is chokers (full) and our wet season has only just begun with February generally being our wettest month.
As for the CMP’s I think they probably belong to members of the 1st Light Horse Re- enactment Troop.

Regards
Alan Nicholas

[cliff]

According to the News this morning enough water is flowing past Rockhampton every day to fill Sydney Harbour

[Jon Skagfeld]

Recent news in Canada reports that, because of the flooding, the price of wheat will rise dramatically.

Similarly, due to coke mines now being inoperative, the price of steel will rise dramatically.

Effects will be felt globally.

Yikes!!!

[Gordon Yeo]

Seems strange that the Australian wheat crop would be affected by flooding. Usually the bad news is drought. As reality check just how much of the total Australian wheat crop is grown in the flood affected areas.

[cliff]

Originally Posted by Jon Skagfeld

Similarly, due to coke mines now being inoperative, the price of steel will rise dramatically.

Effects will be felt globally.

Yikes!!!

Queensland normally exports 100 million dollars worth of coking coal a day according to the news and there is over 30 bulk coal carrier ships just sitting off the coast waiting to load when operations can start again which could be months.