Residents and visitors across the Burdekin Shire are being urged to remain vigilant as wet season conditions continue to impact the region, with ongoing rainfall, increased river flows and multiple weather and safety alerts issued over recent days.
The Burdekin Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) has advised communities, particularly in Giru and surrounding areas, to stay informed as heavy showers and thunderstorms continue along the tropical east coast between Port Douglas and Ayr. With catchments already saturated, any further heavy rainfall could quickly lead to localised flash flooding, with a Flood Watch expected to remain in place as another burst of monsoonal rain develops this week.
Burdekin Falls Dam Spill and Closures
Burdekin Falls Dam began spilling excess water into the Burdekin River over the weekend, with Sunwater confirming that increased river flows are expected to continue. At this stage, flows are expected to remain within the river’s beds and banks, however authorities have stressed that conditions can change rapidly.
As part of standard safety procedures, the section of Burdekin Falls Dam Road directly below the spillway was closed from 4pm on Friday, the 2nd of January, and remains closed while the dam continues to spill. In addition, the Burdekin Falls Dam boat ramp was closed at 9:30am on Saturday, the 4th of January.
Residents are encouraged to monitor dam levels through the free Sunwater App, which provides real-time updates and alerts for spills, releases and local closures.
Road Safety and Travel Conditions
Widespread rainfall has caused damage to roads across the region, with flooding, debris and changing conditions making travel hazardous. Drivers are reminded not to rely on past experiences, as roads can deteriorate quickly.
The Burdekin Shire Council Disaster Dashboard (disaster.burdekin.qld.gov.au) remains the first point of call for emergency news, road conditions, weather warnings and power outages. Those travelling outside the shire should check QldTraffic for up-to-date and reliable road information.
Authorities continue to remind motorists: if it’s flooded, forget it.
SES Responds to Rising Demand
The State Emergency Service (SES) has experienced a significant increase in call-outs since Christmas Day. Warren Francis, Burdekin SES Local Controller and Burdekin Shire Council Disaster Management Officer, confirmed crews have responded to more than 35 calls for service, with 31 relating to leaking roofs.
While some jobs were resolved quickly, the Mr. Francis said roof repairs can take between three and five hours per job, and in some cases cannot be completed due to roof obstructions or unsafe conditions.
“We encourage people to maintain their roofs and clean their gutters and downpipes coming into the wet season,” Mr. Francis said.
Residents requiring assistance with storm or flood damage can contact the SES on 132 500, or call Triple Zero (000) in life-threatening situations.
Power Outage Preparedness
Ergon Energy Network has also urged residents to prepare for potential power outages during severe weather. Community members are reminded to stay well clear of fallen powerlines and report life-threatening situations immediately. Power outages can be tracked using Ergon’s Outage Finder (www.ergon.com.au/outages/outage-finder), and residents are encouraged to report outages if their property is affected while neighbouring homes have power.
Staying Informed and Prepared
Emergency services are urging the community to stay connected through official channels, including the Burdekin Disaster Dashboard, local radio stations such as Sweet FM 97.1, and the Bureau of Meteorology for weather warnings and river height updates.
Residents are also encouraged to visit getready.qld.gov.au to create or review their household emergency plan, including evacuation routes, emergency supplies and arrangements for pets.
With wet season conditions expected to continue, authorities are reminding the community that preparation and staying informed are key to keeping families, properties and emergency responders safe.
2025's flooding has residents on edge for what's to come this wet season. Photo credit: Mark@BurdekinDrones
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