Coast bears brunt of Oswald as Queensland takes stock
Rabobank's Rockhampton-based state manager, Brad James, said while Oswald had brought more rainfall in certain areas than cyclone Yasi two years ago, the impact was mainly confined to coastal regions this time and rainfall inland was beneficial.
Mr James said there would be stock losses and damage to infrastructure, particularly fencing, on beef properties from Mackay to Rockhampton but it was too early to quantify the damage.
"Cattle can go missing in floods but turn up later - they float downstream - and it's often inaccurate to give an early estimate," he said.
For cultivators, moving south to Bundaberg, Mr James said the storm had been "quite destructive" with early reports of significant losses for citrus orchards and tree crops on the Burnett River floodplain.
Cotton growers inland were thankfully spared this year after incurring significant damage in 2011, Mr James said.
Canegrowers chief executive Steve Greenwood said flooding rains had ravaged pockets of land, and major damage would be sustained by some growers, particularly in the Bundaberg, Maryborough and Childers areas.
Mr Greenwood said the crops in those areas would have been about 2.5 million tonnes and was reasonably well established after the November harvest. But with rivers still rising it was too early to determine the full extent of the damage.
Damage in the 18 sugarcane areas across Queensland and New South Wales would be assessed over the next week, but Canegrowers said Australia's production overall was not expected to be significantly downgraded.
The Queensland Resources Council said the export coal industry could take several weeks to resume full production, but despite the heavy rainfall mines were by and large resuming normal operations.
There were reports of significant damage to the Blackwater and Moura rail systems that carry coal from the southern and central Bowen Basin to the port of Gladstone, where operations have also been hampered by about 800 millimetres of rain.
China-backed Yancoal closed two of its Queensland coalmines. Production at Middlemount open-cut mine was likely to be impacted for at least three weeks although its Yarrabee mine, closed at the weekend, would return to normal this week. Yancoal shares were unchanged.
A spokesperson for Gladstone Ports said shiploading had recommenced at RG Tanna Coal Terminal as was rail unloading. Barney Point Coal Terminal was set to resume unloading yesterday. All coal ports were open to shipping and coal seam gas-LNG operations reported only minor disruptions.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
Oswald hit mines and farms close to the Queensland coast hardest. Cattle and sugarcane growers south of Mackay were still assessing stock losses and crop damage, citrus and tree crops on the Burnett River floodplain reported early significant losses, and some coastal infrastructure (like fencing) was expected to be damaged. Inland rainfall was often beneficial in areas away from the coast.
Rabobank's Rockhampton state manager Brad James said some areas saw more rainfall from Oswald than from Cyclone Yasi two years earlier, but this time the impact was mainly confined to coastal regions while inland rainfall tended to be beneficial for crops and pastures.
Yes. Brad James warned there would likely be stock losses and damage to infrastructure—particularly fencing—on beef properties from Mackay to Rockhampton. However, it was too early to quantify losses because cattle can be carried downstream in floods and sometimes reappear later.
Early reports described the storm as “quite destructive” in the Bundaberg area, with significant losses reported for citrus orchards and other tree crops on the Burnett River floodplain. Assessments were ongoing as rivers continued to rise.
Canegrowers reported flooding had ravaged pockets of sugarcane country—particularly in Bundaberg, Maryborough and Childers—and damage assessments across 18 sugarcane areas were to be completed over the following week. Despite local losses, Australia’s overall sugar production was not expected to be significantly downgraded at that stage. Cotton growers inland were largely spared this year after facing significant damage in 2011.
The Queensland Resources Council said export coal production could take several weeks to return to full capacity. While most mines were resuming normal operations, heavy rainfall (about 800 millimetres reported at Gladstone) caused significant damage to key rail systems such as Blackwater and Moura that carry coal to the port of Gladstone, hampering operations.
China-backed Yancoal closed two Queensland coal mines. Production at the Middlemount open-cut mine was expected to be impacted for at least three weeks, while the Yarrabee mine—which had been closed over the weekend—was expected to return to normal that week. Yancoal's shares were reported as unchanged.
Yes. A Gladstone Ports spokesperson said shiploading had recommenced at the RG Tanna Coal Terminal and rail unloading had restarted. Barney Point Coal Terminal was set to resume unloading, and all coal ports were open to shipping. Coal seam gas and LNG operations reported only minor disruptions.
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