An emergency "watch and act" alert has been issued for Jandowae Creek northwest of Brisbane, with residents warned to "prepare now" for potential evacuation due to the local dam level.
Another Queensland region, South Burnett, has begun its recovery that authorities fear may take years to complete after a wet start to the year.
Three people including a child were rescued from floodwaters but did not need hospital treatment. (Jason O'BRIEN/AAP PHOTOS)
Heavy rain again hit central and southern Queensland early on Thursday after a New Year's Eve downpour, prompting the rescue of three people including a child from floodwaters.
An emergency alert on Thursday was issued by the Western Downs council after the Jandowae Dam spillway exceeded the moderate flood level of 0.5m.
"Flooding is occurring in the area. Residents are urged to prepare now," a police statement said.
But Western Downs Mayor Andrew Smith said residents were "not panicking".
"There is water about, however the Jandowae Dam is a referable dam and that means we have to have an emergency action plan and warnings at certain heights of water going over the spillway," he told AAP.
"It's about preparing the community.
"However the Jandowae community is very familiar with the dam and that we get these warnings, but it is important to prepare."
Cr Smith said water levels could still change quickly due to storms, with the catchment area already wet and set to send most of the rainfall into the dam.
A flash flooding "watch and act" alert was cancelled at South Burnett northwest of Brisbane on Thursday after being hit with heavy rainfall in the early hours of New Year's Eve.
An Emergency Alert Watch and Act has been issued to Jandowae Creek from the Western Down Regional Council area.— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) Council advises in the Jandowae area. Residents are urged to Prepare Now.https://t.co/2Ypn4PuWv7 pic.twitter.com/uNIKKAcuSLJanuary 1, 2025
South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff said the region was now in recovery mode but warned it could take "months if not years" to repair local roads.
"We're cleaning up now and trying to get everyone back on their feet ... there's been massive damage (to the road network)," she said.
Parts of the Shire of Banana, west of Bundaberg, received 57mm of rain in one hour, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
"The severe storm rainfall was generally in the range of 50 to 90mm. Most of this fell in a very short period," the bureau's Felim Hanniffy told AAP.
The Burnett River received 85mm, with the Fitzroy River and Capricornia region recording 83mm.
Storm activity is expected to move out to the east coast between Rockhampton and Cairns on Friday after hitting central and southern Queensland, prompting water rescues.
Emergency services sprung into action after a vehicle with two adults and the child were caught in floodwaters at Lockrose west of Brisbane at 1.46am.
The trio did not require hospital treatment.
Water Authority Seqwater said on Thursday it would begin releasing water from Somerset and Wivenhoe Dams, northwest of Brisbane.
"There will be no concern for downstream residents," Seqwater spokesperson Jay Merritt told AAP.
"We're going to have Twin Bridges and Savages Crossing that we expect to be inundated. Local councils will take the appropriate action to close those crossings."
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