Drenched Southern Downs residents 'grateful' for wet weather

Leslie Dam at Warwick has opened all seven of its floodgates after reaching capacity. (Supplied: Chris McFerran, SE Qld Weather Photography)

Only two years ago, Gerard Walsh from Greymare on the Southern Downs recorded his driest season in 100 years.

He measured 144 millimetres in the gauge for the whole year in 2019.

He said he was now in disbelief after 200mm of rain fell on his property in a week.

Despite flood alerts — and road closures — across the region in the Condamine River catchment, Mr Walsh believed most residents were grateful for the change in conditions.

"We've just got a lot of grass for cattle, all our dams are full, all our creeks are running … Up until early 2020 it was the driest on record and it's just changed for the better."

Southern Downs resident Gerard Walsh says the consistent rain has changed conditions for the better. (ABC Southern Queensland: Nathan Morris)

The consistent rain this year has given the livestock on his property a new lease of life.

"Now we're running as many cattle as we should be, maybe even too many," he said.

"Certainly on the Southern Downs we've been waiting for the rain and even though it looks like we might have the biggest flood in the season across the next couple days it doesn't look as bad as the Northern Rivers." 

Residents say 'bring it on'

Half an hour east at Warwick, Leslie Dam is spilling a more than 105 per cent, with all seven floodgates open.

But Lake Leslie Tourist Park owner Adam Bennett remained unconcerned.

Lake Leslie Tourist Park owner Adam Bennett has described the wet conditions as "a magnificent sight". (Supplied: Adam Bennett)

"It's looking lovely and nice and wet," he said.

"In the catchment areas, there was 100mm plus so there's a lot of water."

Roads are cut across the region, with Mr Bennett currently cut off by water over the road out of Leslie Dam.

"It's a massive change for us, we bought the place in 2012 and we haven't seen this that full ever and it's just a magnificent sight." 

 More on the way

The bridge over Accommodation Creek at Ballandean is one of many closed roads in the region. (ABC Emergency: Pat Hession)

The Bureau of Meterology (BoM) has forecast major flood levels for rivers on the Southern Downs.

Isolated showers and thunderstorms are predicted, with some possible totals of more than 50mm.

BoM senior forecaster Shane Kennedy said it won't be as severe.

"There is a risk we could see some more rainfall in that area again, through tonight unfortunately," Mr Kennedy said.

"Not expecting it to be as widespread or long-lived as we saw overnight, but we could see another round of showers potentially thunderstorms again.