Worst flooding in 50 years ravages outback Queensland as evacuations considered for Thargomindah

The worst flooding in 50 years is ravaging outback Queensland and hundreds more residents are facing the prospect of having to be evacuated from their homes.

State Emergency Services Minister Dan Purdie said the area now covered by water was "double the size of Victoria" and graziers in areas where more rain is forecast have been reporting floodwater well above the major 1974 levels.

The south-west town of Thargomindah, 1,100km west of Brisbane, has been inundated and many residents spent the night at the airport.

Bulloo Shire Mayor John Ferguson, whose area includes Thargomindah, said the scale of flooding in Queensland's south-west corner was unprecedented.

He said the town's airport had turned into a refuge that included a makeshift hospital and that residents were sleeping in their cars.

Cr Ferguson said floodwater had broken the levees constructed in the town.

"I don't think anyone would have seen a flood this big here in Thargomindah," he said.

"[Flooding] usually comes up into the main street, but you know it's never a problem — you can always handle it.

The prolonged event has taken its toll on the community's spirit.

"'Some people have worked for 48 hours straight to try and save the town," acting Bulloo Shire chief executive Tamie Warner said.

"Unfortunately, I think people felt very defeated when the water broke through.

Cr Warner said authorities were seriously considering evacuating the entire town.

"I think that we're very close to that point," she said.

More rain on the way

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Angus Hines said remnants of ex-Tropical Cyclone Dianne would bring about 50mm of rain to sodden western communities.

"The difference from last week's rainfall is the speed this system is moving through ," he said.

"It's likely to have moved across Queensland within 24 hours."

Mr Hines said there was a chance thunderstorm activity would extend from the Capricornia Coast through through to the north-west and the Gulf Country.

"By the end of the day, most of Queensland will have had a chance of rainfall," he said.

The town of Eulo, between Cunnamulla and Thargomindah, has been inundated by the Paroo River, which is in major flood, and authorities are working to repair failed levees.

"There's cattle, there's sheep, there's goats, they're caught on islands up and down the stream," he said.

"There's unlucky ones that aren't on islands — they're standing up to their sides in waters.

Mr Newsham said the region needed support in coming days.

"It just goes to show the infrastructure is not good enough — especially these towns on a river that need this sort of infrastructure to bring goods in," he said.

"If they need to bring hay into Eulo or supplies, a big plane can't land there."

Nervous wait in Maryborough

On the Fraser Coast, Maryborough locals are hopeful they have weathered the worst of the wet after floodwater crept into low-lying parts of the heritage city.

Perched on the banks of the Mary River, the Wide Bay Rowing Club shed had almost 1,000mm through it when the river peaked just short of six metres at Maryborough on Saturday.

"The reports at the moment suggest that we — pardon the pun — have weathered the storm," club vice-president Simon Done said.

Maryborough is downstream of the catchment of Gympie, where more than 150mm of rain fell on some areas during the weekend.

Vital supply route damaged

More rain is anticipated across the state's north before wet conditions ease in the coming days.

But heavy downpours through the wet season have already taken their toll on regional roads.

Charters Towers Mayor Liz Schmidt said recent heavy rainfall had caused significant surface damage to the Gregory Developmental Road between Greenvale and Charters Towers.

The inland route is "extremely important" for moving freight and supply in the region, especially when access is cut to the state's major supply route, the Bruce Highway.

"There seems to be a lot of focus on the coast rather than sending the high productivity vehicles on the inland road," Cr Schmidt said.

Showers are expected Tuesday across the south-east and a hazardous surf warning has been issued for the K'Gari Coast, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.