Devastating Queensland floods; Fiji expecting another cyclone

I find this sickening that Australia are our nearest neighbour so to speak (along with Fiji); I follow the news and do not recall this getting more than the most cursory attention.

I got to know about this through Collapse Net..

Shame, shame on the New Zeakand “media”!

NSW, QLD floods devastating: Abbott

Thousands evacuated as floods show no signs of easing

Regional areas of NSW and Queensland hit hard

Abbott asks Australians to help our their neighbours

News.com.au

February 03, 2012 11:37AM

OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott has described the floods in NSW and Queensland as devastating.

"We know that again there are devastating floods in southern central Queensland and northern central NSW," he said today.

"Obviously all Australians' hearts are with the people in those areas who are now, yet again, flood impacted."

Mr Abbott said he had spoken to local members in the affected areas who were helping to prepare against the worst of the floodwaters.

"It's very important that all Australians do what they can to help our fellow Australians in need," he told reporters in Sydney.

Heavy rain and localised flooding continues to close major roadways across northern NSW, isolating and delaying thousands of residents after a week of downpours.

More than 11,000 people are isolated across the state and more than 2200 spent the night in evacuation centres as flooding that has affected the region for 10 days shows no sign of easing.

Central and southern Queensland were also heavily affected, with monsoonal troughs dumping huge amounts of water across the region.

A defence force airplane is transporting humanitarian supplies to Moree as floodwaters rise in the region.

The northern NSW town is expecting a large flood to hit it today.

The Mehi River near Moree is expected to swell to levels not seen since 1976 as the flooding in northwestern NSW continues.

The air force has diverted a Hercules aircraft from a planned training mission to take supplies including bedding to the town.

RAAF aircraft played a crucial role in supporting relief operations in Queensland during floods a year ago, the Defence Department said.

NSW Transport Management Centre spokesman David Wright said major roads will "remain closed until further notice" and has advised motorists to take alternative routes to avoid flood-affected areas.

"Motorists are advised to avoid all non-essential travel in flood affected areas of NSW," Mr Wright said. "When driving exercise extreme caution.".

About 1600 people were evacuated from homes in NSW towns North Moree, Yarraman, Gwydirfield and Bendygleet last night, with the Mehi River forecast to burst its banks this morning.

Most were being accommodated at the Police Community Youth Club in South Moree.

A further 680 people left their homes in Pallamallawa and Biniguy, east of Moree, as the Gwydir River flooded.

State Emergency Service (SES) spokesman Andrew Richards said there's a predicted flood peak in Moree of about 10.6 metres at about 9am (AEDT) today with the Mehi River forecast to burst its banks.

"That's the equivalent to the 1976 flood there in Moree," Mr Richards said.

"It's not quite the record but it's almost the record."

About 1650 residents may be asked to leave their homes in Wee Waa early today as the Namoi River threatens to flood.

"The situation on the north coast looks like easing, although we are continuing to monitor the situation," an SES spokesman said.

"The northwest is a real focus at the moment."

The SES performed 11 flood rescues yesterday, including a number of medical evacuations.

NSW Police took more than 80 calls at its flood public information and inquiry centre.

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell and Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner are due to tour flood-affected parts of Moree this morning.

Meanwhile the Federal Government has announced that disaster funding will be made available in Tenterfield, Greater Taree, Moree, Narrabri and Gwydir local government areas.

and in Fiji which has just had flooding

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Fiji faces fresh storm threat

Radio Australia News,

1 February, 2012

Forecasters fear Fiji's flooded Western Division could be facing the prospect of more heavy rain, thanks to a tropical depression which has already affected most of Vanuatu.

Another tropical depression, which had threatened to form a cyclone off Fiji, has been downgraded, but meteorologists are now tracking another one.

Nadraki weather expert, Neville Koop, has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat program that depression is threatening to form a cyclone in the next day or so, and is now moving east towards Fiji.

"It moved over Vanuatu last night, passing over Santo island north of Port Vila," he said.

"It did bring quite heavy rain and some gusty winds to large parts of Vanuatu...early indications are that it hasn't done any significant damage. It is expected to intensify as it continues to move east-south-eastwards towards Fiji."

Mr Koop says if it does develop into a cyclone it could cause major problems in Fiji's west.

"What this means is that we'll start to see some of the heavy rain on the eastern side of this system affecting the western part of the country, probably later tonight," he said. 

"And they're still recovering from quite heavy rains last week so we're a little concerned that if there is more heavy rain it could lead to more flooding."

At least six people have died from the floods and a state of disaster is still in place for Nadi, Lautoka, Ba, Sigatoka and Rakiraki.