 Standing water at Cairns Airport led Ansett Australia to cancel some flights . Portions of many roads , including major highways such as the Bruce , Captain Cook , Gillies , and Kennedy highways were reported by the Royal Automobile Club as closed due to inundation and washouts . Many motorists were left stranded by floodwaters on Bruce Highway . Emergency personnel crews were put on standby in Innisfail as water up to 60 cm ( 24 in ) threatened dozens of homes in the eastern part of town . In Cairns , over 50 people fled their homes . On 5 January , the Coast Guard of Australia began evacuating some 160 stranded campers in areas about 140 km ( 85 mi ) north of Mossman . Foods shortages occurred in some areas of Far North Queensland , forcing several emergency food drops , including to about 250 people on 4 January and 70 people on 5 January . Additionally , a policeman was winched by helicopter to deliver food supplies to 10 isolated people on 7 January in Goldsborough , which is located in the Gillies Range to the west of Gordonvale . Overall , Peter left two fatalities and about $ 10 million ( 1979 AUD ) in damage , at least $ 4 @.@ 5 million of which was done to sugar cane in Babinda , Innisfail , and Tully . 
