Flood affected producers helicoptered into Cloncurry from their isolated properties to address the Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk as she toured the area. Producers gathered at the Cloncurry Community Precinct on Thursday February 7, teary-eyed and still in shock from the devastating North West floods and addressed the Queensland Premier of their losses and seek support. The Premier spoke with graziers about the effects the floods had on each of their properties before travelling out of town to witness the paddocks of dead cattle for herself. Cloncurry producer Robert Chaplain, from Wynberg Station, east of Cloncurry, spoke with Premier and said he hoped Labor, the LNP and the Greens would put their differences aside to work together to deal with the flood’s aftermath. “It's not going to be a quick rebuild, it will take time,” Mr Chaplain said. “Each property has different circumstances. There's such large losses – some properties are talking 100 percent losses. “The impact on our property has been ongoing. We stepped out of drought seven days ago into a natural disaster. “We have experienced some losses at our property here (Cloncurry), and we have witnessed big losses at our property near Maxwelton. “And there's infrastructure, some places are totally underwater.” William McMillan, from Mt Roseby Station, north of Cloncurry told the premier that cattle on his property were still in water up to their stomachs with minimal dry land. “In some areas there would be cattle underwater and cattle that have been swept away,” Mr McMillan said. “It is heartbreaking to see everything you’ve worked for and grown and build over the generations, be taken overnight. “Landholders need support and we need action now.” Cloncurry Shire Mayor Greg Campbell, drove Premier Palaszczuk north of Cloncurry to the heartbreaking reality of the floods. “The situation we are facing – I have never seen anything like it. The conditions we have had as gone from early good rain to devastation within 24 hours,” Cr Campbell said. “Some of the properties in our shire, to the south may not be as heavily affected but to the north of our shire and neighbouring shires in Julia Creek, Richmond and the lower Gulf will cause devastation on herds. “So we need all levels of government at federal, state and local and other agencies to help our producers out. There is going to be a lot of work to coordinate hay drops and to get the best outcome for the stock that are left and try and ease the burden on our producers.” READ MORE: Robbie Katter tours North West flood affected communities. While you are here, subscribe to our weekly email delivered to your inbox 6am every Friday.
TOUR: The Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Cloncurry Shire Council mayor Greg Campbell listens to the heartbreaking stories from Cloncurry graziers. Photo: Samantha Walton.
Flood affected producers helicoptered into Cloncurry from their isolated properties to address the Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk as she toured the area.
Producers gathered at the Cloncurry Community Precinct on Thursday February 7, teary-eyed and still in shock from the devastating North West floods and addressed the Queensland Premier of their losses and seek support.
The Premier spoke with graziers about the effects the floods had on each of their properties before travelling out of town to witness the paddocks of dead cattle for herself.
Cloncurry producer Robert Chaplain, from Wynberg Station, east of Cloncurry, spoke with Premier and said he hoped Labor, the LNP and the Greens would put their differences aside to work together to deal with the flood’s aftermath.
Robert Chaplain, from Wynberg Station, consults with the Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Photo: Samantha Walton.
“It's not going to be a quick rebuild, it will take time,” Mr Chaplain said.
“Each property has different circumstances. There's such large losses – some properties are talking 100 percent losses.
“The impact on our property has been ongoing. We stepped out of drought seven days ago into a natural disaster.
“We have experienced some losses at our property here (Cloncurry), and we have witnessed big losses at our property near Maxwelton.
William McMillan, from Mt Roseby Station, north of Cloncurry told the premier that cattle on his property were still in water up to their stomachs with minimal dry land.
“In some areas there would be cattle underwater and cattle that have been swept away,” Mr McMillan said.
“It is heartbreaking to see everything you’ve worked for and grown and build over the generations, be taken overnight.
Cloncurry Shire Mayor Greg Campbell, drove Premier Palaszczuk north of Cloncurry to the heartbreaking reality of the floods.
“The situation we are facing – I have never seen anything like it. The conditions we have had as gone from early good rain to devastation within 24 hours,” Cr Campbell said.
“Some of the properties in our shire, to the south may not be as heavily affected but to the north of our shire and neighbouring shires in Julia Creek, Richmond and the lower Gulf will cause devastation on herds.
READ MORE: Robbie Katter tours North West flood affected communities.
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