Rockhampton’s 75,000 residents sighed with relief as the swollen Fitzroy River failed to peak at the potentially devastating 9.4 metres level that officials predicted, but more rain is expected in the coming days.

A peak of 9.4 metres was expected to flood a further 400 homes and completely cut off the already flood-devastated town.

Snakes and crocodile danger in Queensland floods

Rockhampton Regional Council Mayor Brad Carter welcomed the news that the water level had only reached the 9.2 metre mark.”It is good news. It looks like it may have stabilised,” he said.

But Senior forecaster Tony Auden warned that predicted rain could cause more flooding.”The widespread falls of up to 50 millimetres could provide enough inflow to give some kind of river rises in the next few days.”

“Those heavier falls should be very isolated, so small pockets of area and not a huge volume of water to go into the river system. But it’s a case of having to wait until the rain hits the ground.”
So far Queensland’s worst floods in 50 years has inundated 22 towns and caused 9 billion Australian dollars worth of damage.

Premier Anna Bligh today appointmented Major General Mick Slater to helm a flood recovery taskforce.