Floods devastate Queensland with 48,000 cattle lost | 7.30

Queensland Floods: Cattle Losses & Flood Gauge Failures - A Detailed Account

Key Concepts:

• Inundation: The state of being flooded.
• Grazier: A person who raises livestock, especially cattle, on a large farm or ranch.
• River Gauges: Instruments used to measure the water level in rivers, crucial for flood warning systems.
• Bureau of Meteorology (BOM): Australia’s national weather, climate and water resource forecasting agency.
• Hectares: A unit of area equal to 10,000 square meters (approximately 2.47 acres).
• Pneumonia: Inflammation of the lungs, a cause of cattle death during prolonged flooding.
• Tyranny of Distance: The challenges posed by vast distances in a country like Australia, impacting infrastructure maintenance and monitoring.

1. The Scale of the Disaster & Initial Impact

Northwest Queensland is experiencing catastrophic flooding, with 1.8 million hectares of land currently inundated. The impact on livestock is severe, with estimated cattle losses exceeding 48,500 head and expected to rise significantly as floodwaters recede. Graziers are facing unprecedented challenges, with some resigned to losing over a thousand head of cattle. The scale of the flooding is so vast it’s visible from space, and the event is being compared to the devastating 1974 floods due to its slow and prolonged nature. One grazier recounted finding cows “jammed up in the corner,” highlighting the desperate situation animals face. The situation is further complicated by the presence of saltwater crocodiles attacking stranded cattle.

2. Critical Failure of Flood Warning Systems – River Gauges

A major contributing factor to the escalating losses is the failure of many river gauges across the region. These gauges, essential for providing early warning of rising water levels, were either offline or providing inaccurate readings. Ashley Gallagher, a grazier, lamented the return to “the old days of ringing around stations” to gather information, contrasting this with the convenience of accessing real-time data online. The lack of reliable data cost graziers critical time to move their cattle to safety. The situation at Urela station exemplifies this, with 1,300 cattle reduced to mere dozens.

3. Causes of Cattle Loss – Beyond Drowning

While drowning is a direct consequence of the floods, cattle are also dying from secondary effects. Graziers in Richmond reported cattle deaths due to pneumonia and sheer exhaustion from prolonged exposure to floodwaters. One grazier described having conversations where colleagues reported, “They’re all gone… They’ve died in the paddock.” This highlights the multifaceted nature of the disaster and the suffering endured by livestock.

4. Historical Context & Comparison to Previous Floods

The current flooding is being compared to both the recent 2019 floods and the historically significant 1974 floods. The 2019 floods were described as happening “like a car accident” – rapid and sudden. The current event, however, is “slow and drawn out,” likened to a patient on life support, requiring sustained and prolonged response. This prolonged inundation exacerbates the challenges faced by graziers and increases livestock mortality.

5. Systemic Issues: Ownership, Maintenance & Funding

The ownership and maintenance of river gauges are fragmented, with responsibility shared between various government agencies (Bureau of Meteorology, state and local governments), water utilities, mining companies, and even private entities. Richmond Mayor argues for centralized management, stating, “You can save a lot of cattle if the gauges are all working and you save a lot of stress and you save a lot of loss.” Dr. Pete Flet, a waterways expert, describes this as a “tyranny of distance” and a complex logistical challenge. Maintenance is a key issue, with gauges often failing after significant flood events. Criticism has been leveled at the Bureau of Meteorology for a lack of long-term funding for upgrades.

6. Government Response & Investment

The federal government is currently undertaking a $236 million, 10-year project to buy back and upgrade a third of the 3,300 gauges in Queensland. However, this investment is seen as insufficient and too slow to address the immediate crisis. The Queensland government maintains its owned gauges were operational during the flood. Councils are also facing resource constraints, lacking dedicated personnel to manage and maintain the gauges effectively. A key point raised is the need for support to centralize the system.

7. The Importance of Functional Gauges – A Lifesaver

The concluding statement emphasizes the critical role of working river gauges. As stated, “The working river gauges, they’re a lifesaver. They’re saving cattle’s lives anyway and sometimes human lives when they’re working.” This underscores the direct link between effective flood warning systems and the mitigation of both economic and human losses.

Notable Quotes:

• “There’s no gauges. There’s no warning to tell you that that’s coming or or going to happen.” – Ashley Gallagher, grazier.
• “It’s like someone being on a ventilator or life support.” – Description of the prolonged nature of the current flooding.
• “And you can save a lot of cattle if the gauges are all working and you save a lot of stress and you save a lot of loss.” – Richmond Mayor.
• “My criticism of the bureau is not of those who work there. It’s of the lack of funding that has gone there to upgrade those facilities over a long period of time.” – Comment on the Bureau of Meteorology’s funding.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The Queensland floods represent a devastating event for graziers and the livestock industry. The scale of the inundation, coupled with the failure of critical flood warning infrastructure – specifically river gauges – has resulted in catastrophic cattle losses. The fragmented ownership and maintenance of these gauges, exacerbated by insufficient funding and logistical challenges, are systemic issues that require urgent attention. While government investment is underway, the current response is perceived as inadequate to address the immediate crisis and prevent future disasters. The situation highlights the vital importance of a centralized, well-maintained, and adequately funded flood warning system to protect both livestock and human lives.