Queanbeyan, NSW, residents have been evacuated today as the city endures its worst flood in 30 years. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the Queanbeyan River peaked at Oaks Estate and Queanbeyan’s Queen Street gauge at about noon today. Minister for Emergency Services and Monaro MP Steve Whan said Queanbeyan had been added to the list of areas declared natural disasters, as severe flooding continued throughout inland NSW. Mr Whan said heavy rain had fallen overnight along the Queanbeyan River, with falls of up to 103mm at Googong Dam and 88mm at Tinderry Mountain.“The Queanbeyan River peaked at over 8m in the town around noon today,” Mr Whan said. “This has meant extensive flooding through the streets of Queanbeyan and has forced the evacuation of the Queanbeyan Riverside Caravan Park. Queanbeyan has almost been cut in half by the floodwaters ... Significant damage has been done to infrastructure in the town, including the art gallery, roads, bridges, the sewerage treatment plant and drains. Water has even penetrated under elevated properties in the Riverside Shopping Centre as well as the Queanbeyan Leagues Club and Woolworths car parks.''....(Canberra Times)
