FLOODS DROP IN QUEENSLAND

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31320, 16 March 1967, Page 17

FLOODS DROP IN QUEENSLAND

Attacks By Snakes A Menace (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) BRISBANE, March 15. Flood fears in northern Queensland eased tonight as rivers began to fall and Cyclone “Dulcie” moved away from the coast. The cyclone, which was 300 miles east of Mac Kay, was veering away from the coast tonight. In the flooded areas of Ingham, Townsville and Cairns, many people were busy clearing out mud and debris from their premises, but in low-lying areas water continued to cover the land up to 10ft deep.

R.A.A.F. aircraft and hundreds of small boats yesterday helped rescue hundreds of families, bringing the total of homeless in the region to more than 3000. A helicopter and small boat evacuation of the badlyflooded town of Ingham (population 6000) is taking place today. Ingham, midway between Townsville and Cairns, has been the worst-hit town. Fleets of small boats brought family after family into the town yesterday as people huddled on rooftops firing shots to attract help. An R.A.A.F. Dakota has been dropping supplies to marooned groups and four Air Force helicopters have been sent to the area. These are being used today in the evacuation, which has been hampered by snakes, for which North Queensland is well known. Fighting For Life A Roman Catholic brother, bitten by a snake on Monday, is fighting for his life, but has been unable to be evacuated from Ingham.

A doctor, with several other snakebite patients in the Ingham Hospital, said: “Snakes are one of the worst hazards in this flood—they are everywhere.”

said last night that the cost to the rural producers would run into millions of dollars. “Acres and acres of cane are laid as fiat as the linoleum on your kitchen floor,” he said.

The heavy flooding in northern Queensland has brought the area’s vital rural industries to a standstill. The flood-ravaged areas are in the heart of Australia’s sugar-producing area and play a big part in the beef cattle industry of Queensland, which is the biggest beef-producing state. Canefields Flooded Local reports say vast areas of sugar canefields have been flooded. A local government official