February 22, 2015
The rain that accompanied TC Marcia is proving a headache for South Burnett drivers with a number of important local roads now blocked because of rising water.
Motorists are being asked to remain vigilant as the situation can change very quickly.
At 5:30pm on Sunday:
- Angels Bridge on the Murgon-Barambah Road is now open. The creek, which rose above the roadway level on Saturday afternoon, has now dropped but the bridge required a safety inspection before it could be re-opened.
- Krebs Bridge on the Bunya Highway is open however water is rising. Police are monitoring the situation.
- Cherbourg Road is open. The water level at “Big Shot” Fisher Bridge is falling.
- Silverleaf Road is open but drive with caution as there may be surface water on the road in parts.
- Marshlands Bridge on the Murgon-Hivesville Road is open but water is rising. Police are monitoring the situation.
- Kilcoy-Murgon Road near Goschnicks Road is closed. Other sections of this road are open, but drive with caution as there may be water across the road.
- Burnett Highway – open from Nanango to Gayndah, but drive with caution as there is water across the highway in parts, especially near the Tansey, Booubyjan and Ban Ban Springs areas.
- Wide Bay Highway – Goomeri to Kilkivan is open. However, Bell’s Bridge was closed on Saturday afternoon and remains closed. There is also water across the road in the Lower Wonga area. All bridges into Gympie are closed.
- Kilkivan-Tansey Road is open but drive with caution as there may be water on the road near Kilkivan.
- For up-to-date road conditions, always check the State Government’s 13-19-40 website
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State Emergency Service volunteers have also kept busy in the aftermath of Cyclone Marcia.
In the South Burnett, volunteers were on standby throughout the emergency and expended much time and energy packing and distributing sandbags.
They were also called to place tarpaulins over several homes.
Across Queensland, the SES has received more than 6100 requests for assistance since the beginning of the cycline (not including Brisbane City Council) .
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A farmer injured near Gayndah while checking the condition of his fences on Saturday has been airlifted to Bundaberg Hospital.
The RACQ CareFlight Rescue helicopter crew was called in to airlift the patient, who had a suspected broken leg, as water logged paddocks made it difficult to transport him via ambulance.
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Police are reminding residents to stay well away from flooded creeks and rivers.
“It would seem that the simplest of messages are often the hardest to receive,” a Queensland Police spokesman said.
“A quick dip, a bit of fun, shouldn’t end it tragedy, and shouldn’t risk the lives of emergency service personnel.”
He said flood waters contained multiple hazards and were not safe places to swim or attempt to cross.
They can be contaminated with dead and decaying animals, animal waste products, soil and oils, as well as dangerous objects such as building materials, trees and plant debris … and snakes.
And there can also be deadly and unpredictable undercurrents that can sweep away even the strongest of swimmers.
