LDMG Advice No. 21 - 3 November 2022 - 8.00am

LDMG Advice No. 21 - 3 November 2022 - 8.00am

This is an update from the Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) for the Balonne Shire (Status: Stand Up).

This morning at 7.00am the Barwon Highway closed to Goondiwindi.

ISOLATED, FLOOD AFFECTED SOUTHERN AREAS OF THE BALONNE SHIRE COUNCIL

If you become isolated by the current flooding and are in need of re-supply of essential food items or medication, transport of these items may be arranged through the Local Disaster Management Group.
If you are in need of assistance with re-supply during this period, please contact Balonne Shire Council on 4620 8888 or by emailing council@balonne.qld.gov.au

(To clarify – Nindigully and Thallon are not expected to become isolated)

Carnarvon Highway to Mungindi (just north of Mungindi) is currently open with caution and is being closely monitored – highway could close and isolate Mungindi with inflows from further upstream today.

ROAD CLOSURES ARE IN PLACE FOR YOUR SAFETY

Please do not ignore road closure signage on our road network. Damage has occurred on the Bollon Dirranbandi Road at the Culgoa Bridge approaches. Council understands the urgency to get produce to market however, damage to the road network further delays opening the road for the wider community and increases the costs significantly. Travelling on a closed road may result in infringement notices and claims for damages. Insurance companies are unlikely to pay should your vehicles be damaged. If it's flooded, forget it.

MUNGINDI

Kerbside waste collection will go ahead in Mungindi today.

BOM advice issued 7.00am EST 3/11/2022 – Major flooding is occurring at Mungindi with a height of 7.76m. The Barwon River is still expected to reach around 7.8m. Inflows will continue from upstream with the Weir River at Talwood likely to peak at 3.9m.

We are still monitoring the Carnarvon Highway that may isolate Mungindi and will continue to use our dashboard and alerts to notify residents. Residents in the township of Mungindi can obtain supplies at the local supermarket and should ensure they have sufficient supplies for isolation.

Both Moree Plains Regional Council and Balonne Shire Council have crew and equipment on hand to monitor the levee bank and pumps in place.

NINDIGULLY AND THALLON

BOM Issued its last warning at 3.32pm on Tuesday 1/11/2022. Since then, gauges on the Moonie River indicate conditions are easing with a height at the Nindigully Bridge yesterday (9.00am) at 2.75m and falling. At the Thallon Bridge at 7.00am the height was below minor at 4.18m and steady.

The Carnarvon Highway is being monitored for water over the road and is likely to close just north of Mungindi.

ST GEORGE

BOM Issued 1.56pm 2/11/2022 - The Balonne River at St George is expected to remain below and near the minor flood level (6.00 m) during this week as upstream floodwaters continue to slowly arrive.

DIRRANBANDI AND HEBEL

BOM Issued 1.56pm 2/11/2022 - The Balonne River Minor at Dirranbandi is expected to be just below the minor flood level (4.00 m) and falling slowly. Small, renewed river level rises are expected along the Balonne River Minor at Dirranbandi and the river level is likely to reach the minor flood level (4.00 m) during Thursday.

The Bokhara River at Hebel is currently at 1.32 metres and rising, with minor flooding. Further slow river level rises are expected over the next few days and the river level may reach the moderate flood level (1.50 m) into the weekend.

• Dirranbandi Bollon Road remains closed
• Castlereagh Highway between Hebel and Dirranbandi is closed and is continuing to be monitored – unlikely to re-open this week.
• Dirranbandi township remains on a Water Boil Alert this week.

Vector control will commence in Dirranbandi from 5 November.

BOLLON

No warnings

ROAD UPDATES

There is water over road at flood ways or low-lying areas across the region and damaged pavements. With current rainfall in the region roads could close without notice.
• Balonne Highway (to Bollon) – open with caution water over road (75km west of St George)
• Barwon Highway to Goondiwindi is open with caution – there are sections with water over the road that could rise significantly with rainfall in the area
• Barwon Highway is CLOSED to all traffic to Goondiwindi
• Bollon Dirranbandi Road is CLOSED to all traffic (with damage on the approaches to Culgoa Bridge)
• Carnarvon Highway (to Mungindi) – Open with caution – being closely monitored and may close without notice
• Carnarvon Highway between Mungindi to Moree is CLOSED to all traffic
• Carnarvon Highway (to Surat) – open
• Castlereagh Highway (St George – Dirranbandi) -open with caution
• Castlereagh Highway (Hebel – Dirranbandi) – CLOSED to all traffic
• Mitchell – St George Road – open
• Moonie Highway – water over road in various locations in both the Balonne Shire and Western Downs – open with caution

Roads are closed for those seeking to travelling in and out of New South Wales across our border towns of Hebel and Mungindi, please monitor road conditions carefully due to major flooding occurring in parts of New South Wales. Please use extreme caution as many roads have pavement damage. Remember road conditions can change without notice

Stay up to date by subscribing to the Emergency Dashboard. https://emergency.balonne.qld.gov.au/ for all the latest weather and road conditions. Other links www.bom.gov.au/qld - https://qldtraffic.qld.gov.au/. https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/live-traffic-nsw. In an emergency dial 000 or SES on 132500. For more information phone Council on (07) 4620 8888 - this includes after-hours service.

Remember if its flooded forget it.

Councillor Samantha O’Toole
CHAIR - LOCAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT GROUP