Rockhampton residents are preparing for the Fitzroy River to inundate low-lying parts of Australia's beef capital, despite a lower flood peak that's expected to spare thousands of properties.
The Bureau of Meteorology has revised down the peak from 9.4 metres to 9m, which is expected to reach its height on Wednesday.
The previous 9.4m forecast meant it would have been the worst flood for the Fitzroy River in more than 60 years.
At that level, Rockhampton Regional Council warned 5400 properties would be threatened, including 3000 homes.
Rockhampton Mayor Margaret Strelow said the downgraded prediction, lower than the 2011 flood, meant a huge difference to the number of affected properties.
"We would expect probably over 200, maybe 215 proprieties, will have water over the floorboards," she told ABC TV news.
"A lot more will have a metre or more of water through their yards."
District disaster co-ordinator Superintendent Ron Van Saane said they were happy the peak had been revised, but weren't taking anything for granted.
"By no means are we out of the scrub with this," he told reporters. "It's still going to be a major flood and we still have a lot to do."
Supt Van Saane said they were working with residents in low-lying areas, but many were refusing to leave.
"We know why people do this, but we'd urge them to consider the effect it will have on resourcing (for emergency services) if we have to respond to them at short notice," he said.
Many residents in the flood-prone suburb of Depot Hill, known locally as 'Swampies', were spending Monday moving their belongings to higher ground, but many were staying.
"Nah I won't go anywhere, I've got everything I need: milk, bread, beer. We'll be right," resident Zac Moss told AAP, pointing out his kayak he planned to get around in once the roads flood.
Many locals planned to use small boats to travel to the local Fitzroy Hotel when they could, which was keeping a supply of milk and bread as well as drinks.
Publican Tiona McGugian only took over running the hotel at the start of March, and planned to live in the pub, which could see water up to its floorboards, during the flood event.
"We'll stay and rough it out, every other publican that's run the place has done it, so I'll give it a crack," Ms McGugian told AAP.
Authorities have set up an evacuation centre at Rockhampton Showgrounds while Supt Van Saane said they would have 60 extra officers, including water police and mounted police, to help with patrols and respond to emergency incidents.
Rockhampton Airport closed just after midday.
Levees have been set up around the terminal, however the runways and other infrastructure will have water over them for most of the week.
Unlike in previous flood events, Rockhampton won't be completely cut off, with the southern Yeppen crossing remaining open, and travellers being diverted to Gladstone airport for flights.
