Road destruction: the Burnett Highway intersection with the Murgon-Gayndah Road near Booubyjan (Photo: Richard Pennell)

January 29, 2013

Many residents in the Booubyjan district are still flood-bound after the weekend downpour.

Booubyjan grazier Richard Pennell said flooding in Boonara Creek had caused major damage to adjoining properties.

The creek reached a peak flood level of 11.39m on January 25, more than a metre higher than its 2011 peak flood level. The creek rose by six metres in just four hours between 8:00pm and midnight.

“None of us thought the water would get here so fast from the Tansey-Goomeri catchment,” Mr Pennell told southburnett.com.au.

“It normally takes at least 24 hours, but the speed of the water was incredible.”

Most property owners in the area have experienced major losses of infrastructure and stock.

“The extent of damage down here is incomprehensible.”

The Burnett Highway remains impassable in several places with major washouts, and many residents are still unable to get their children to school.

Others remain completely flood-bound on their properties, waiting for the waters to recede.

Booubyjan is part of the Gympie Regional Council area.

Windera Creek in flood (Photo: Richard Pennell)
Many roads in the Booubyjan area are still impassable and some residents remain flood-bound (Photo: Richard Pennell)
Flooding along Boonara creek has caused major infrastructure damage and stock losses on adjoining properties (Photo: Richard Pennell)

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