NSW and Queensland flood emergency warnings issued
I’ve got a bit more information on the flooding here, from the NSW SES:
Significant flooding is occurring on the Clarence River, with emergency warnings advising people to shelter in place for people living on Carrs Island, Grafton and downstream on Harwood, Chatworth, Warregah and Goodwood Islands. Residents on these islands will be isolated until flood waters recede.
Along the Richmond River, residents at Bungawalbin have been advised it is too late to leave the area and to seek refuge at higher ground due to major flooding. Major flooding is also occurring at Coraki.
Very heavy rain has fallen overnight in Queensland and in the Tweed Valley. This rainfall has renewed flood levels across the region and is expected to last well across Monday in a number of places including Tumbulgum.
Further south, the Macleay River may reach moderate flood levels at Kempsey and Smithtown, with residents advised to prepare to evacuate. Isolations are also possible at Hat Head, Crescent Head and South West Rocks due to flood waters across roads.
A flood watch for minor flooding in the state’s north-west and central-west is in place.
Key events
And I have some pics here from my colleague Ben Smee, who lives in Brissy, and has these pictures of the flooding:
Albanese asked about coming poll
The PM is jumping around the networks – he is now speaking on Today. He’s been asked about the election and says:
I’m focused on helping Australians… I think governments should serve their full term. We’re governing and we’re governing in a way that’s completely put politics aside.
We’re just about helping people, because that’s what people expect. And that’s what they deserve.
Albanese says insurance companies will be held ‘to account’ as premiums rise
The PM is speaking on Sunrise. He has been asked about if insurance companies, which have put their premiums up, are ripping us all off:
We will certainly hold the insurance companies to account. This is a time where they need to do a bit of repair of their relationships with the Australian public by doing the right thing and making payments immediately.
For people who are eligible, that’s what people expect.
About 230,000 still without power in Queensland and NSW
While thousands are still facing the threat of floods, there are also around 230,000 people without power across the two states.
About 30 rescues took place across Queensland’s south-east and northern NSW on the weekend.
Authorities have said there are crews on the ground trying to restore power – but it can be a slow job because of the changing weather, debris and dangerous conditions.
I will bring you more info as we go along the morning.
Brisbane flood water rescue under way
There is a rescue under way in Newmarket Road, Windsor, where cars have tried to drive through flood waters.
The Queensland government has stressed to use common sense, adjust speeds and not drive through flood waters. There has been some heavy rainfall overnight and the roads are dangerous.
Budget will be delivered ‘in the ordinary course’ – Marles
And finally, Marles has been asked about the budget:
This is what he had to say:
We’ve been working on a budget now, in the normal course, and budget submissions have been presented to the expenditure review committee. I sit on that.
And so we’ve been very busy in over the last few months, really, and particularly over the last few weeks, in the lead-up to the budget.
So the budget is going to be delivered in the ordinary course, and we will take it from there, and when we go to the polls, which is obviously in the not too distant future.
Deputy PM says Australia will give ‘due consideration’ to any Ukraine peacekeeping request
And now we are on Ukraine – Marles has been asked if Australia would join a peacekeeping mission, how many ADF we would send. He says there is a planning meeting in Paris on Tuesday.
We’ll participate in that, and if there is a request in terms of providing peacekeepers, we’ll give due consideration to it. But we’d make the point that at the moment there isn’t a peace to keep.
But I’d also make this point that we do have Australian personnel who are in the UK right now providing training to new recruits to the Ukrainian armed forces.
And indeed they’ve been doing that since the end of 2022, so we already have a deployed commitment of Australian personnel in relation to this conflict. We’ll look at whatever request comes.
All but one ADF personnel injured near Lismore released from hospital – Marles
Marles has said 11 of the Australian defence force personnel who were injured in a crash near Lismore are out of hospital.
All but one has been released. That’s good news, and the one person who is still in hospital is in a stable condition, not a life-threatening injury, and is expected to recover so broadly, this is good news for those personnel who were part of the accident that occurred on Saturday.
So that is a relief, although our thoughts are still with that person who’s in a hospital.
Marles says ‘still a job to be done’ after Alfred downgraded
Deputy prime minister Richard Marles is up talking on the ABC.
Asked if everyone was relieved Alfred was downgraded, he said:
There is still a job to be done. There’s something in the order of 500 Defence personnel who are deployed in Queensland right now, through Brisbane and on the Gold Coast, and indeed north of Brisbane as well. There’s another 700 who are deployed in northern New South Wales.
So right now, people are very much focused on the job, making sure that recovery centres are being supported, welfare checks being done, routes are being cleared.
‘Don’t go driving through flooded water’ – Crisafulli
And back up to Queensland where Premier David Crisafulli was speaking on ABC news just before.
He was warning people not to drive through flood waters.
My message is just to just to be careful: don’t go driving through flooded water. Do the little things right and you’ll get through this event.
We do have a bit of rain left to go … you must always put your safety first. That’s number one in a disaster. Property can be replaced, people can’t.
He said the cleanup would be a big job but Queenslanders were up for it.
I want Queenslanders to know whatever stage, wherever you’re at, we will see this through, and in doing so, we’ll be a stronger, more resilient state for it.
NSW SES says ‘not out of the woods yet’ from Alfred
Staying in NSW for a second, SES assistant commissioner Sean Kearns said the overall situation with ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred was looking more promising than it was a few days ago. Here is what he had to say:
We’re very glad to see some warnings reduced over the weekend, allowing some residents to return with caution in parts of Lismore, Kygole, Wiangaree, Arrawarra Beach, Darlington Beach and other locations as conditions have eased.
However, we’re not out of the woods just yet, major flooding and isolations are still occurring across many communities, and the predicted risk of heavy rain to continue throughout Monday and possibly into Tuesday will only exacerbate this risk.
We may see renewed river rises, but we’re hoping we have seen the worst of the rain from this event.
NSW and Queensland flood emergency warnings issued
I’ve got a bit more information on the flooding here, from the NSW SES:
Significant flooding is occurring on the Clarence River, with emergency warnings advising people to shelter in place for people living on Carrs Island, Grafton and downstream on Harwood, Chatworth, Warregah and Goodwood Islands. Residents on these islands will be isolated until flood waters recede.
Along the Richmond River, residents at Bungawalbin have been advised it is too late to leave the area and to seek refuge at higher ground due to major flooding. Major flooding is also occurring at Coraki.
Very heavy rain has fallen overnight in Queensland and in the Tweed Valley. This rainfall has renewed flood levels across the region and is expected to last well across Monday in a number of places including Tumbulgum.
Further south, the Macleay River may reach moderate flood levels at Kempsey and Smithtown, with residents advised to prepare to evacuate. Isolations are also possible at Hat Head, Crescent Head and South West Rocks due to flood waters across roads.
A flood watch for minor flooding in the state’s north-west and central-west is in place.
Ben Smee
Fears Brisbane homes will be inundated as dam overflows
Residents along Brisbane’s Enogerra Creek catchment have been warned to prepare to move to higher ground, as the Enogerra dam overflows.
The dam is currently at 240% capacity and spilling into the creek system, which last night peaked just below the major flood level.
The concern now is that a combination of a high tide, water spilling from the reservoir and continued heavy rain will cause inundation of homes.
Guardian Australia saw the creek breaking its banks and spilling into parks and nearby streets yesterday. Those pictures (taken about 10.30am) were from when the creek was below the “minor” flood level. It seems there could be much more severe conditions on the way today.
Pics from yesterday here:
Welcome
Good morning everyone – this is Cait Kelly, I will be with you until the afternoon.
It’s a big morning, so let me catch you up on the headlines quickly.
Major flooding has isolated 1,800 people as evacuation routes have been cut, as ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred continues to bring heavy rain to northern NSW.
A further 18,500 people across have been advised to prepare for isolations due to rising flood waters. Across the north-east of the state, 20,300 people (or 9,400 dwellings) are still currently under emergency warnings advising them to evacuate.
Ipswich city council has just issued an alert for flash flooding, and there are flood warnings for large parts of the state, including Noosa Rivers, Maroochy, parts of the Brisbane River, Logan, Cooper Creek and more. You can see the latest update from the BoM here.
I will also bring you more on this unfolding situation as we go along.
I’ve got a lot more for you this morning, so let’s get into it.