For the second time in six weeks, Rhonda Uren looks over floodwaters to see only the roof of her Maryborough home. But this time the water will peak higher.
Key points:
- Maryborough residents lose everything in second flood in two months
- Mary River tipped to reach up to 10.7 meters, with flows from Gympie yet to arrive
- Authorities say 42 businesses and 325 homes could be impacted
The Mary River at Maryborough currently sits at the level of last month’s major flood, and residents are being told to brace for a rise of a further meter or more as water travels out to sea from Gympie.
Ms Uren, who first evacuated in January, said she had not yet begun moving back into her home before disaster struck again.
“Luckily, we haven’t had anything in the house since the last flood,” she said.
“The insurance company wouldn’t pay up, so we haven’t had any repairs. So, we didn’t have to move too much out.”
Neighbors further up the street offered Ms Uren a place to say, as she prepared to cover the entire cost of damages caused by two floods in two months.
“I’ve been fighting the insurance company trying to get them to pay out, but they’re just not going to pay so I just have to fix it al myself,” she said.
History repeating
Like all residents in Maryborough and its surrounds, Ms Uren has been told major flood levels could reach up to 11 meters by late Monday or early Tuesday.
Wide Bay Burnett Police say 42 businesses and 325 homes could be impacted by the predicted flood peak of 10.7 meters.
Fraser Coast Regional Council Mayor George Seymour said the event is similar to the floods the devastated the community in 2013.
“This is a major flood and there is a lot of water coming down river from Gympie floods,” he said.
The Bruce Highway is reportedly cut in various locations including just north of Tiaro. Thousands remain without power in Gympie and hundreds have been cut off in Maryborough due to the rising waters.
But the council remains hopeful the flood levee, which was erected on the weekend, will continue to protect the CBD.
“The floodwaters have reached the levee along Sussex Street and it is holding the water back in that section,” Mr Seymour said.
“The levee is designed to 11.3 meters, so I’m confident with that.”
Not worth the risk
The Maryborough Excelsior City Music Hall narrowly escaped flooding earlier this year.
Conductor Mel Neilson said the band expects the water won’t be so forgiving this time.
“We have shifted all of our fridges, freezer and furniture onto our stage area but as one person said, it’s not a very good way to do a hall clean,” said Mr Neilson.
“We’ve just got to watch the water rise now.”
State member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders reminded locals that this was a major flood event and pleaded with residents to stay out of the water.
“We are heading to 10.7 meter flood which is huge, and it could go higher,” he said.
“Granville may be cut off until next Friday at this stage, there is a lot happening.
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