Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
ABC News
ABC News
National

Gulf of Carpentaria residents ready for it to 'stop raining' as communities enter third month of isolation

Flinders River in flood. (Supplied: Johnty O'Brien Drone Photography)

Queenslanders in the Gulf of Carpentaria are experiencing their strongest wet season in roughly a decade, and residents say they are ready for it "to stop raining". 

Communities and pastoral stations have been isolated since December and, with more rain on the way, will be cut off for several more weeks.

Although the big wet has been welcomed in the region, it has meant a huge ongoing logistical operation air-dropping supplies into communities like Doomadgee, Burketown, Normanton, and Karumba.

As summer comes to an end, locals are keen to see things start drying up with concerns the temperature of the floodwater will start to "cook" the land.

Gulf is 'cooking' in floodwater

The Carpentaria Shire has recorded around 1.5 metres of rain since November.

Iffley Station in the Carpentaria shire. (Supplied: Flynn Cahill)

"That's pretty remarkable for our neck of the woods given that we've had about eight very dry years," said Mayor of Carpentaria Shire Council Jack Bawden, who is based in Normanton.

He said he was concerned that the water would begin to heat up and damage the land beneath it.

"Ideally, it needs to stop raining. Because it's so flat out here, it floods so easily and right now we have a lot of country under water," Mr Bawden said.

"That flooded country is going to start cooking in the hot water and will start killing all the grass."

The flooded Nicholson River in the Gulf of Carpentaria is at its highest level in about a decade. (Supplied: Adam Turnbull)

Adam Turnbull runs Bowthorn Station about 70 kilometres west of Doomadgee.

He's recorded a metre of rain since October — the biggest rain he has seen in eight years of managing the property.

"We need some sun to start drying things up now," he said.

"I never thought I'd say I'd had enough rain, but I have."

More rain on the way

Further heavy rainfall is predicted for the Gulf region in the coming days. (Supplied: Bureau of Meteorology)

Emergency services expect communities will be cut off for another several weeks with a monsoon trough bringing further heavy rain over the next week.

"The Nicholson-Gregory river system is causing us a bit of grief, near Doomadgee and Burketown," said Elliott Dunn, Emergency Management coordinator for the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) in Mount Isa.

"The long-term isolation is a major concern," he said.

"2010 is probably the last time we counted isolation in months not days."

Despite the deluge, Mr Turnbull said graziers were excited for a strong year ahead.

"When we can finally get out there, it's going to be a cracking season for us," he said.

"I think it's going to be a good year for everyone up here."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.