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ABC News
ABC News
National

Plans underway to get supplies to Eungella mountain community after landslips, heavy rain

Residents in a small mountain community west of Mackay fear they could be isolated for weeks following a period of heavy rain.

The Eungella Range Road suffered a number of landslips during the week-long weather event, which started last Wednesday, with large boulders, trees and mud strewn along much of the road.

It means essential supplies may have to be flown in to the area.

"That's one of the things that we have to consider, but of course that's very expensive," Mackay mayor Greg Williamson said.

"Or do we get supplies in to Moranbah and drive it in from the back end ... there's a lot of wet roads there as well, so it requires a fair bit of planning to make this happen."

Prepared for disaster

Long-term Eungella resident Maz Wright expected it would be at least several days before people were able to make their way down the range.

"I'm old school ... my sister calls me a mad prepper, but it's worked," she said.

"We've [the community] organised anyone that has anything extra, they can drop it off at the foyer of the hall and people can come and pick up what they need.

"It's getting to be old hat up here.

"We've all messaged each other and checked how it's all going."

Dairy farmer Dale Fortescue said he was continuing to milk his cows in the hope the road would reopen in the next few days.

"That's all you can do ... there's a bit of blue sky today, so hopefully they'll be able to get a bit of a track down," he said.

"We've been through this a few times in the last few years, so we're getting used to it.

"It's been a bit hectic the last few years with disasters, but anyway that's part of living up at 'Planet Eungella' I suppose."

Working together

Emergency liaison officers in the mountain communities were speaking with residents to find out if people had urgent requirements.

The mayor said so far, the community was holding up well.

"It's a resilient community and I take my hat off to the Eungella people. They have been through a lot — cyclones, bushfires and now floods," Cr Williamson said.

"The last time they faced this issue was the during the bushfires [in 2018] and they were cut off for a very long time."

At this stage, the extent of the damage is unclear, but geotechnical experts are on site assessing the situation.

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