Queensland’s Heartland Underwater
8 April 2025. Shane McCarthy, AgForce General President.
It has been a devastating time for farmers in the south-west of the state, as they received record breaking levels of flooding in some areas which have washed away for many their livelihoods built on generations of blood sweat and tears.
Parts of inland Queensland received up to two years’ worth of rainfall in a matter of 4 to 5 days. Early reports received back by The DPI of stock deaths show this has resulted in the loss of more than 150,000 head of cattle, sheep and goats, with this toll expected to climb in coming weeks and months.
This record rain event has brought floodwaters twice the size of Victoria to Queensland’s southwest.
The remnants of ex-tropical cyclone Dianne have moved across the country and hit with ferocious force with towns such as Thargomindah, Adavale and Quilpie to name but a few, experiencing their worst flooding in living memory, and in some areas surpassing the usual benchmark of 1974. It’s been an extraordinary amount of water.
It has been hard for many to comprehend. Any stock losses are not good, and for those graziers who have lost 80% or more it is nothing short of catastrophic. This is all before we start to take in to account the infrastructure damage that is left in the wake of the floods.
More weather radars and river gauges in the region may have helped with a better understanding locally of what was unfolding. Better and more precise information may have helped but with so much rainfall in a short period of time, who knows. But it certainly wouldn’t have hindered efforts to get stock to higher ground. With no weather radars between Charleville and Alice Springs the graziers and BOM were flying blind. This needs to change, and AgForce will be following up on recent promises of a radar from both sides of politics.
The State Government in particular Premier David Crisafulli, Agriculture Minister Tony Perrett and Local Members Sean Dillion MP and Minister Anne Leahy have been fantastic. They were on the ground early to witness first-hand the devastation and to assure people they will be there now and for the long term.
Varying numbers of stock losses are being reported from 10% all the way to up to 100%. This is generations of genetics swept away in one merciless flood. The true extent won’t be known for months, it’s a matter of wait and see once the waters recede fully. The only way to get around fully has been by choppers and once again the generosity of these ”Angels of the Air” astounds me and many others. Nobody called – they just knew they were needed and came. They are busy slinging fodder, delivering food and medical supplies and moving people. They’ve done a great job.
It will take years for these farmers to rebuild, it’s not something done overnight. The mental health of these people, the producers, small business owners and residents of this wonderful part of the state will be an issue going forward. They are a resilient lot, but everybody’s cup overflows at some point if enough – pardon the pun – ‘water’ goes into it. We need to be there for these people just as we were there for them in the 2019 monsoon event further north and the floods in the Herbert earlier this year. They are a tough lot but a little help goes a long way.
The Federal Government through Ministers Anthony Chislom, Jenny McAllister and the Prime Minster Anthony Albanese have all come for a firsthand look and announced $105 million to rebuild fencing, seven million dollars for fodder and 13 weeks income support. All very welcome.
If you’re thinking about donating, please reach out to the locals first to find out what’s really needed. Even something as simple as buying groceries from the local store can make a big difference – that money circulates through the community, often up to seven times, helping families, businesses and services get back on their feet.
I encourage our urban cousins to visit once these communities are back on their feet and spend some welcome tourist dollars in those small communities. Once it dries out and they start to pick themselves up, this part of Queensland will turn into wildlife wonder. So get out and see it.
https://agforceqld.org.au/knowledgebase/article/AGF-02382/