A rural town is preparing to spend much of winter isolated, with the wet weather in NSW and Queensland predicted to cut off the community for an extended period.
Weilmoringle, in far north-west NSW, is on the Culgoa floodplain and is mostly reliant on dirt roads prone to being cut off when the rivers rise.
Although floods are an accepted part of living in 'Weil', most of the last 20 years has been spent in devastating drought, so farmers say wet conditions are being cautiously celebrated.
Cut off from home
Locals say they always have months worth of supplies, some landholders own helicopters and students are given "wet weather packs" at the start of every term with a month's worth of work in case they become isolated.
"A lot of people still can't get home, it's been two weeks," local Sally Davis said.
"It’s going to be like this for the rest of the cold season I’d say, we’re always stocked with all the supplies we need.
"It’s been significant rain and outstanding for the countryside."
The Weilmoringle teacher has been cut off from her home since she left to visit Dubbo two weeks ago.
"Vehicles are starting to get through into Weil now but a few washed off the road already," she said.
"People who were inexperienced or had inappropriate vehicles have abandoned their vehicles and they've washed up against trees.
"12 months ago drought really broke for us and it's been consistent rain ever since. Rain going into winter is brilliant, this rain is worth a fortune for sheep and goats."
The major flood peak is expected tomorrow, but rain is forecast for the weekend and flows have been consistent down the Culgoa and Barwon Rivers.
"A six metre flood level would see water enter the community, with breaches at some low lying parts of the levee but the flood is expected to peak at 5.8 metres on Friday," Brewarrina Shire Council general manager David Kirby said.
"We can deal with this next peak from an emergency capacity.
"The residents of Weilmoringle are probably the most resilient you'll ever meet. They know if it gets too high they'll evacuate if needed but we shouldn't have any major concerns."
Preparing for floods
Being prepared is critical, including protecting vulnerable residents and getting stock to higher ground.
"A few elderly community members have been moved into town for their safety, no ambulances could possibly be sent out at the moment so they’ve been put into care at Brewarrina hospital," Ms Davis said.
"Those people may go back home when roads dry out because those are the risks we face with the lack of infrastructure.
"Despite that, there's real optimism at the moment. We haven't seen rain like this in a very long time, it's perfect conditions for recovery."
Drought recovery
Almost back-to-back droughts devastated the country and locals said it looked like a "desert" at the end of the last dry.
"It's amazing how forgiving the country is, people kept saying there'd be no feed on the ground ... there's been pretty good regeneration," Weilmoringle grazier Ed Fessey said.
"This is only the first year we've had fairly consistent rain so we've had enough moisture for grass to get going.
"They're quite unusual conditions, this is shaping up to be like 1983 with a good summer leading up to a very good autumn.
"With this current outlook everyone needs to be aware all of a sudden you could have a pretty major flood. It's about being aware and prepared, having your management plans in place.
"Living on the flood plains that's what you've got to do.
"It's all part of the variability of the Australian landscape, you just deal with it."
