Ingham residents are praying they avoid a repeat of the floods that hit in February as the Bureau of Meteorology recorded high rainfall totals across North Queensland. Source: The Catholic Leader.
Townsville Bishop Tim Harris was in contact with the local parish yesterday, where he said it was proving to be “a very tough start to the year, especially in this Year of Hope”.
He said the parish staff knew that their “hope comes through our faith in Jesus Christ, through the witness of all those touched by the flooding, and through all those who reach out to help in these times of distress”.
“The rains have come so soon after Cyclone Alfred,” he said.
“Communities have again been isolated and cut off especially in the Ingham Region.
“People are on edge, naturally.”
North Queensland recorded high rainfall totals in the early hours yesterday with Cardwell Gap recording 450 millimetres.
The Bruce Highway was closed yesterday between Ingham and Cardwell near the Seymour River, the third time this year the highway has been cut by flooding.
While authorities did not expect inundation to homes in the region, Bishop Harris said the threat of flooding was taking a toll on the people’s mental health.
“In fact there is a concern that every time it rains the rivers will overflow,” he said.
“I think, going forward, flood mitigation planning will need to be expedited because communities and infrastructure are under stress.
“It is a lengthy process to begin rebuilding and a very costly one, financially and humanly speaking.”
He said Townsville City and suburbs had also been flooded in parts, with one of the shopping centre car parks going under.
“We are assessing if further damage to our churches and schools has occurred,” he said.
“The last insurance claim just weeks ago was significant.”
FULL STORY
Ingham prays to avoid repeat of flooding event after heavy rains recorded in North Queensland (By Joe Higgins, The Catholic Leader)
