Help is on the way for a flood-ravaged region after the army flew in to assist recovery efforts and rebuild a key bridge that collapsed in a deadly deluge.
But the flood threat remains with more widespread showers and storms forecast, ensuring more anxious moments for north Queensland residents.
The prime minister arrived in Townsville to tour flood-hit regions on Thursday, including Ollera Creek Bridge which was destroyed amid days of downpours, cutting off main arterial road the Bruce Highway.
Anthony Albanese joined Queensland premier, David Crisafulli, at the Townsville Disaster Management Centre as torrential rain returned to the garrison city, sparking more flooding fears.
“I was doing breakfast TV this morning in the rain and I could barely hear because it was coming down on a metal roof,” Albanese said.
He addressed the disaster meeting at the busy management centre before heading out to the Ollera Creek Bridge rebuild which will restore a critical link to the isolated community of Ingham.
The town has been one of the worst hit by flooding that has cut power and forced hundreds to evacuate across the north, with two lives lost and a man missing after being swept away on Tuesday night.
Australian Defence Force personnel were assisting with constructing a temporary crossing at the bridge with army helicopters also borrowed from Singapore to help deliver essentials to hard hit regions like Ingham.
Another 300 emergency services personnel also arrived in the north as it braced for more wet weather.
Flood-affected residents like Marion Canty were anxious their homes would again be swamped, just days after going under.
“I am really worried,” she said.
Canty watched the flood waters inundate the bottom level of her Giru home, south of Townsville, on Sunday as she sat isolated and without power.
She has lived through at least four floods but the weekend incident was by far the worst.
Adding to her anxiety, it marked the first flood without her husband who she lost five weeks ago.
“I feel as though I have been left on my own,” she said.
Heavy showers were forecast for Townsville up to Friday, with the wet weather spreading to inland Queensland.
Up to 70mm hit west Townsville as widespread showers and storms with 50mm to 150mm rainfall lashed the north overnight.
Some of the heaviest falls were recorded out west at Longreach and Hughenden along with Emerald and hard hit Ingham.
Flooding at Ingham has cut power for days, disrupted telecommunications and affected food supply with residents at one stage told they had run out of running water.
The focus is on restoring power with crews flown in to assess the local sub station which was completely inundated.
The Ingham community is reeling after two women lost their lives, while emergency services were on Thursday still searching for the man swept away.
Extra police patrols had also been deployed to crack down on looting, with three offences reported in Ingham and Townsville’s Rosslea and Railway Estate.
“I am disgusted by these reports of people in our community taking advantage of this weather event and the devastation it has caused across our region,” Townsville Supt Chris Lawson said.
The Bureau of Meteorology warned of extensive rain across the north of Queensland on Thursday.
Widespread showers and thunderstorms were forecast across much of the state’s north, from Mount Isa to Rockhampton on Thursday, with heavy falls inland of Mackay and Townsville.
A number of flood watches and warnings were issued across northern and central inland Queensland.