Airlift to waterlogged Australia’s east coast ahead of flood peak

SYDNEY - Australia’s military was racing Monday to resupply Rockhampton ahead of floods that by mid-week could isolate the east coast city of 75,000.

Queensland is reeling from the worst flooding in the state in 50 years, with 22 towns besieged by water and 200,000 people affected.

A man died when his car was swept off a causeway, the third death since Christmas put down to the flood crisis.

With Rockhampton’s airport cut off and 1,000 people in evacuation centres, emergency food supplies were being flown in C-130 military transport planes to Mackay and carried on trucks to the city.

The deadline for the airlift is Wednesday, when the Fitzroy River is projected to peak and all roads to the city are expected to be cut.

“Many Rockhampton residents will recall the devastating floods of 1991 and 1954,” Queensland premier Anna Bligh said. “These river peaks are at those historical levels and unfortunately it’ll be a long time before this massive amount of water recedes.”

She said 150 houses had been inundated and 1,000 more had water lapping up to their steps.

If flood projections are correct, 400 houses could have water above their floorboards by Wednesday.

Bligh has come under fire for flying to Sydney to spend New Year’s Eve watching the firework display just hours after telling Queenslanders that the state was facing one of its worst natural disasters.

Rockhampton mayor Brad Carter urged residents who worried their houses would flood to go to the evacuation centres or to move in with family or friends whose houses were on higher ground.

“If the police tap you on the shoulder and tell you you have to shift, that’s a lawful direction,” Carter said. “We’re doing that as compassionately as we can, but once that direction is given, there’s no turning back - you have to evacuate your home.”

While the emergency has passed in Theodore, Condamine, Emerald and other Queensland towns, Acting Police Commissioner Alistair Dawson urged people there not to test whether roads were passable.

“It’s hard to make the call that the worst is behind us,” Dawson said. “It’s a unique event. Parts of the state are still in response mode while others are in recovery. I think we’re in the middle of the event.”