<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>337558</docID> <postdate>2025-02-04 14:53:08</postdate> <headline>‘Dodged a bullet’: relief for city as floodwaters fall</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-337451" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/20250202186975730043-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>North Queensland is bracing for more flooding. (Scott Radford-Chisholm/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Savannah Meacham</strong> in Brisbane</span></p> <p><strong>A garrison city has "dodged a bullet" after floodwaters fell short of reaching their peak as a rain-soaked region prepares for a massive clean-up.</strong></p> <p>Record-breaking rain has lashed north Queensland for days, sparking floods that have cut power, damaged roads and forced hundreds to flee their homes.</p> <p>However the Townsville community is breathing easier after the Ross River fell short of peaking at a major flood level on Tuesday morning.</p> <p>It allayed fears that floodwaters would rival those that devastated the region in 2019, when two lives were lost and thousands of homes inundated.</p> <p>"There is no doubt that the city has dodged a bullet," Queensland Premier David Crisafulli told reporters in Townsville.</p> <p>"If you reflect that nearly six years ago to the day, people were picking up the pieces, and to think that that, in many cases, has been spared is certainly a relief."</p> <p>People evacuated in Townsville's "black zone" - spanning Hermit Park, Rosslea and Railway Estate - have still been urged not to return home until authorities say it is safe.</p> <p>Floodwaters in Ingham are beginning to subside after the Herbert River rose beyond a 15.2m flood record set almost 60 years ago.</p> <p>Mr Crisafulli remembered his parents reflecting on the devastation of the 1967 floods and how the town hoped it would never happen again.</p> <p>"This event has proven that another one did come ... the devastation is quite frankly, incredible," he said.</p> <p>The Ingham community is already reeling after a 63-year-old woman died when an SES boat helping people through floodwaters struck a tree and flipped on Sunday.</p> <p>Recovery efforts will become the focus as flooding begins to recede, with widespread rainfall set to ease in coming days.</p> <p>There is much to be done at Ingham where water levels remain at hip height, forcing authorities to seek help from the air.</p> <p>The local hospital is back online but the Australian Defence Force is helping airlift generators to provide power and fuel supplies for services like the water treatment plant.</p> <p>Authorities are also assessing how quickly it can repair the Ingham substation which was completely inundated.</p> <p>Less than 10,000 homes across the north remain without power, with nearly three-quarters of those in Ingham.</p> <p>Mr Crisafulli promised to stay on the ground in north Queensland to oversee the clean-up.</p> <p>Joint state-federal government hardship payments have been made available to flood-hit regions.</p> <p>"We stand shoulder to shoulder with ... every Queenslander," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said during Tuesday's Question Time.</p> <p>"We have indicated that we, of course, provide whatever assistance is requested."</p> <p>After some areas copped more than a metre of rain, north Queensland is set to receive some relief.</p> <p>"We're seeing a general easing in conditions and the widespread rainfall that's leading to life-threatening (flooding) and evacuations is now much more unlikely," the Bureau of Meteorology's Luke Shelley said.</p> <p>Rain across the region eased on Monday afternoon with six-hour totals peaking at 50mm to 100mm rather than the 600mm totals of the weekend.</p> <p>A severe weather warning is in place between Yabulu and Cardwell where there may be heavier rainfall.</p> <p>Mr Shelley said most of the river levels were beginning to trend down despite rainfall forecast to continue for the next few days.</p> <p>"Any additional rainfall over the coming days is likely to keep that steady, but not likely to exacerbate the situation," he said.</p> <p>Police have urged residents to heed warnings despite the wet weather seemingly easing.</p> <p>"If you see a break in the weather, it doesn't mean that it's clear to go home," Chief Superintendent Graeme Paine said.</p> <p>Nearly 300 people are still in evacuation centres across Townsville and Ingham.</p> <p>Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said there has been one reported looting offence in the region.</p> </body>