Far North Queensland faces more life-threatening floods.

Far North Queensland is in for another wet and wild weekend, with residents being warned to brace for more dangerous, life-threatening flooding.

It’s not the news locals wanted to hear, especially those from Ayr to Tully—including Townsville—who’ve already been hammered by floods over the past week. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning, predicting heavy rainfall from tonight, with some areas expected to cop up to 250mm in just 24 hours.

The heavy rain also brings the risk of landslides and debris blocking roads, adding to the challenges many communities are already facing. Flood warnings are in place for several areas, including Townsville, Palm Island, Ingham, Ayr, Giru, and Lucinda. The good news? The rain should start easing by Monday.

Some Relief as Power Slowly Returns

Amid the chaos, there’s a glimmer of hope—power is one step closer to being restored for many residents. Crews from energy provider Ergon have managed to bring the Ingham substation back online, marking a major step in reconnecting homes and businesses to electricity.

Over the coming hours, workers will be checking lines and carrying out emergency repairs in flooded areas. For residents in Ingham who’ve been in the dark for days, this means they’ll finally be able to charge their phones, do laundry, and keep their food cold again.

Yesterday, Ergon was able to restore power to 700 homes, but some smaller communities—like Halifax and Macknade—are still cut off, with locals desperately needing food, medical supplies, and other essentials.

ADF Steps In with Emergency Bridge

There’s more good news on the recovery front—the Australian Defence Force has finished building a temporary bridge on the Bruce Highway at Ollera Creek. This single-lane bridge will serve as the only road access into flood-affected areas like Ingham and Hinchinbrook Shire from the south.

However, authorities have made it clear: this bridge is strictly for emergency service vehicles. It’ll be a lifeline for getting much-needed supplies and support into isolated communities.

For now, residents are doing their best to pick up the pieces, but with more rain on the way, the tough times aren’t over just yet. Stay safe out there, North Queensland!

4o