Levee banks save Charleville from disaster

4 Feb 2012, 5:21 pm   -   Source: AAP

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Despite fears they would be breached the levee banks around Charleville are holding firm, protecting the southwest Qld town from the swollen Warrego River.

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The levee banks holding the swollen Warrego River back from the southwest Queensland town of Charleville are passing their first real test, Premier Anna Bligh says.

With water lapping the top of the earthen defences, there were fears on Saturday morning the levees could be breached, sending a catastrophic tidal wave of water through the town.

But the premier, who visited the flood region on Saturday, says it looks as though the banks will hold.

"Right now the levee is holding and on all current forecasts it's likely to keep doing that, but there's not very much room for error," Ms Bligh told reporters.

"There's a 24 hour watch on the levee and if there's any change we'll be actioning it immediately."

More than 500 people registered with the town's evacuation centres will spend Saturday night being cared for even though their homes have so far escaped the flood.

"Right now their homes are dry, but they'll be sleeping in the evacuation centres tonight just as a precaution, and that's the right thing to do," the premier said.

Ms Bligh said the people of Charleville were coping with their third major flood in as many years.

"That's too many, and there's a lot of heartache here today.

"I've spoken to people who are very close to tears and they certainly don't want to see those floodwaters come over the levee.

"Right now though it's very pleasing to see that levee holding those waters back, the last time the waters got to this level there was no levee in town and the water was devastating Charleville ... the levee has never been tested like this and we'll see what it's made of."

The premier said communities like St George were now nervously waiting for the water to move downstream.

At Mitchell and Roma the flood levels were stable on Saturday afternoon, she said.

"But until the water goes down it's going to be difficult to appreciate just how much damage has been done."

Ms Bligh said many towns and properties throughout southwest Queensland had been isolated but relief efforts had been boosted by helicopters deployed by the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

"I'm very pleased the ADF has supplied four helicopters today and we'll have another four tomorrow ... but the people of this region are going to be cut off and isolated for a number of days to come."

With more water coming downstream, the premier said it was possible the river height may stabilise over the weekend then peak again on Monday or Tuesday.

Mayor Mark O'Brien said the town was holding up well under the strain.

"The community is fantastic," he said.

"This river will stay up around the seven metre mark probably till Tuesday or Wednesday, so I asked 300 people this morning if they'd like to be evacuated to Brisbane and I think I saw one and a half hands go up, so that's the answer about the spirit of the people of Charleville.

"At the moment the river is at 7.6, maybe 7.7 metres and there isn't a drop of water in the town, and that is unheard of in this place."

Police say sandbagging continues in low lying areas of Augathella where some people have self evacuated.

Police will resupply the residents of Quilpie with essential items during the weekend.

The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has declared catastrophe status for the floods.

The ICA said the formal declaration covers the southwest, including the Roma, Mitchell, Charleville and St George regions.

CEO Rob Whelan said an insurance taskforce had been established to identify and coordinate issues, and escalate the industry's response.

A disaster hotline, 1800 734 621, has been set up to help people who are not sure which insurer they are with, or who have general inquiries about the claims process.

"Some insurers are sending customer response teams out to the affected areas, including Roma, this weekend to assess damage and begin claims as soon as possible," Mr Whelan said, but it was too early to estimate what the damage bill would be.

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