<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>338532</docID> <postdate>2025-02-18 13:43:31</postdate> <headline>Roads cut, communities isolated but floods welcomed</headline> <body><p><img class=" wp-image-338533" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/northern-floods-e1739846357277.jpeg" alt="" width="881" height="587" /></p> <caption>Flooding at the Outback Pioneers venue in Longreach, Queensland has been going on for 10 days. Photo: Outback Pioneers</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Laine Clark</strong> in Brisbane</span></p> <p><strong>Roads have been cut and communities isolated but flooding has been welcomed by one inundated region.</strong></p> <p>As Western Australia mops up after a cyclone direct hit, Queensland is still being impacted by record rainfall.</p> <p>The state's northwest is the latest region to endure flooding after weeks of wet weather finally reached its catchments.</p> <p>Longreach has been one of the worst hit, with pictures of inundated tourist attraction Outback Pioneers showing the extent of flooding that has stretched for 10 days.</p> <p>But local mayor Tony Rayner said it has largely been welcomed in the region after a dry 2024.</p> <p>"A moderate flood is always a welcome flood," he told AAP.</p> <p>"We are waiting for the wet season to come ... to allow our properties to have enough feed and water to get through the year."</p> <p>A string of warnings remain across the north after heavy rain triggered flooding that claimed two lives and forced hundreds of residents to evacuate.</p> <p>"The flooding situation in Queensland is ongoing," the Bureau of Meteorology's Miriam Bradbury told AAP.</p> <p>"Some areas are still seeing significant flooding but in general most of that is on a decreasing trend."</p> <p>February 2025 is officially the wettest month in history for some north Queensland towns with Paluma near Townsville receiving two metres of rainfall, double what Sydney receives in a year.</p> <p>A relief package for impacted home owners is being finalised but the Queensland government said it was too early to estimate the damage bill.</p> <p>Main arterial the Bruce Highway has finally reopened north to Cairns after supplies had to be flown to isolated regions.</p> <p>In WA, floodwaters triggered by Cyclone Zelia's recent coastal crossing near Port Hedland appear to have peaked in the region.</p> <p>Remnants of the system remain but inland WA was expected to dry out in the next 24 hours, the bureau said.</p> <p>However major flooding at the Pilbara's De Grey River catchment is set to be ongoing "for some time".</p> <p>Freight routes across the remote Pilbara region are set to be cut for days, sparking panic buying with supermarket shelves stripped bare at Broome.</p> <p>However, contingencies were in place to have trucks arrive via South Australia and the Northern Territory to help restock stores.</p> <p>Floodwaters are expected to ease just as two cyclones look set to develop off Australia's coast.</p> <p>A tropical low is set to form in the Coral Sea off Queensland, with a "low" chance of developing into a cyclone from Friday.</p> <p>Another may form off WA's northwest coast with a "moderate" chance of becoming a cyclone from Friday.</p> <p>However, neither are expected to impact Australia.</p> <p>After Zelia's arrival, the cyclone name list will head back to the top of the alphabet when the next system forms.</p> <p>However don't expect Cyclone Anthony to impact Australia any time soon.</p> <p>The name has been skipped on the list due to its clash with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, with the next cyclone to be called Alfred.</p> <p>"Given the current prominent person in Australian politics we have moved onto the next name on the list," Ms Bradbury said.</p> <p>"This is not the first time this has happened. We do also retire names if we have particularly impactful systems - for example there will never be another Cyclone Tracy.</p> <p>"So we are skipping Anthony and moving next to Alfred."</p> </body>