Michelle Landry (Capricornia, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Parts of my electorate welcomed the new year in with record thunderstorms and flash flooding. The township of Sarina endured chaos overnight on 3 January, as hundreds of millimetres of rain were dumped on the town in quick succession. The weather bureau reported that Sucrogen Weir, near Sarina, had 300 millimetres in 24 hours. A Sarina home was evacuated due to flooding amid concerns a hill behind the property could collapse. Over a period of 10 days Sarina had 519 millimetres of rain, the highest rainfall recorded since 1951 for the region.

The rain caused chaos for Queensland Rail after the north coast line between Mackay and Rockhampton was damaged; passengers travelling between Rockhampton and Cairns were bussed to their destinations. Our valuable sugar industry was also affected. Around half a million tonnes of cane has been left behind because of weather and milling problems, representing $20 million worth of sugar lost to the region. Road closures all over the region saw many people unable to leave their homes.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the volunteers of the Sarina State Emergency Service, police, fire, ambulance and other emergency services who assisted people in need. Thank you.