An aerial view of East Bundaberg. PIC: Paul Beutel Source: The Courier-Mail
BUNDABERG faces a monster flood powerful enough to knock over houses as Brisbane endures its second major flood in two years.
11.02pm: The Brisbane CBD kept relatively dry tonight, with the Brisbane River remaining within its banks despite a high tide around 10.30pm.
The river inundated waterfront establishments earlier today before receding, leaving a small amount of scattered debris but not enough to deter joggers and couples out for a stroll.
Nervous staff have sandbagged around the borders of their restaurants, with the water expected to rise again tomorrow morning and potentially again on Wednesday.
Trucks stationed along Eagle St pumped water from underground car parks, with many remaining closed and cordoned off to traffic.
10.20pm: A three-year-old boy has died in hospital, taking the total number of people killed by Queensland's flood disaster to four.
The young boy and a 34-year-old woman suffered head injuries when a tree fell on them at Gordon Park, in Brisbane's north, on Monday morning.
Shortly before 10pm, Queensland police released a statement saying he had died in Royal Brisbane Hospital.
Initial information suggests that the woman and three-year-old boy were standing on Kedron Brook bikeway when they were struck by the tree about 8.30am.
They were both taken to hospital in a critical condition.
Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
In other incidents, a motorcyclist's body was pulled from the Oxley Creek, south of Brisbane, on Monday.
He was seen being swept from his bike at Greenbank at Logan late on Sunday night.
An 81-year-old man's body was also pulled from the water near Bundaberg and a 27-year-old man died when he tried to cross a flooded creek near Gympie.
8.47: Issues affecting Telstra customers have been fixed and Triple Zero (000) calls across Queensland are now available
8.12pm: Brisbane is facing commuter chaos on Tuesday with central rail lines damaged in severe storms not expected to be repaired until Wednesday.
As the city prepares for flooding which could affect thousands of homes and businesses on Tuesday, the state government has warned that no train services will operate to the central Brisbane stations of Central, Fortitude Valley or Bowen Hills before Wednesday.
A helicopter rescue at Fairmead on the Burnett River downstream of Bundaberg. PIC: Beutel Paul
Up to 40,000 passengers use the stations during peak times and passengers are being advised to avoid travelling during peak times, use alternative transport, or allow for delays.
"Passengers planning to use trains to the CBD tomorrow should carefully consider their options," Transport Minister Scott Emerson said in a statement on Monday.
"There are unlikely to be sufficient buses available in Brisbane to handle the load if all regular train commuters make the journey to the city at the same time tomorrow."
Scaffolding from a building site in Fortitude Valley has damaged the line between Fortitude Valley and Bowen Hills stations.
Services to the city will terminate at either Roma Street or Albion.
Mr Emerson said crews were working around the clock to repair the damage but they won't finish before Wednesday morning.
On Wednesday just two of the four tracks on the central line will be open.
7.05pm: The Department of Education has released an updated list of school closures due to wet weather and floods - PLEASE CHECK YOUR SCHOOLS HERE.
Masterchef contestant and Jellyfish head chef Rhett Willis says the Eagle Street pier restaurant will be inundated, but not as bad as in 2011.
6.53pm: LOGAN residents are facing a once-in-20 years flood crisis as local rivers continue to rise tonight.
Dozens of residents in low-lying areas on the Albert River around Beenleigh were told to prepare to evacuate.
Water was lapping ominously close to properties in suburbs including Mt Warren Park, Eagleby and Waterford, with some yards inundated.
"We've never seen the water this high before," said Nola Bearcock, who has lived with her husband at Mt Warren Park for 10 years.
"It's definitely higher than 2011. The park behind our house must be under about six metres of water."
South Maclean residents are bracing for a 17m flood peak tonight, while Waterford residents awaiting a 9m river height on Tuesday morning.
Logan mayor Pam Parker said the flood was not expected to reach 1974 levels but needed to be taken 'extremely seriously'
"Data we have received indicates it is a one in 20 year flood event," she said.
Cr Parker said the council would open evacuation centres if needed.
Volunteers fill and load sandbags at the Ipswich SES. Picture: Mark Calleja
"We do not want to release any locations at this stage until we can be sure they are accessible to residents," she said.
6.45pm: The 6pm flood peak at Ipswich saw the Bremer River at 13.5 metres, about 1.5 metres below its projected peak.
Authorities have warned that there is still the possibility of a higher peak closer to that originally predicted somewhere between 6pm and midnight.
Ipswich Councillor Andrew Antoniolli said: "for the people I'm talking to, just half a metre can make a world of difference."
While the number of properties that may be affected had been downgraded to as few as 200, Cr Antoniolli said "it is like slow torture just watching the water and this slow crawl upwards".
6.15pm: Travellers trapped as Warwick isolated - Warwick remains cut in all directions tonight as the Condamine River continues to rise, trapping hundreds of residents and motorists.
Friends and neighbours help evacuate belongings from houses in Keogh St, West Ipswich. Picture: Mark Calleja
5.53pm: Latest number of homes and businesses without power in Southeast Queensland stands at 227,000.
5.43pm: THE Australian Defence Force (ADF) has joined the flood effort in dramatic fashion, being tasked to evacuate patients at Bundaberg Hospital to Brisbane.
A Joint Task Force (JTF) will assist with the transfer of 131 patients, 67 of whom require wheelchairs, and another 28 on stretchers.
The JTF was also assisting with damage reconnaissance, forward planning and prioritisation of debris removal.
The evacuation is the clearest indication of the rapidly growing crisis in Bundaberg which is facing its worst flood on record.
Just a few hours ago Premier Campbell Newman said patients on the lower level of the hospital would be moved to upper floors.
The ADF is also assisting with the evacuation of about 1500 people trapped by floodwaters in north Bundaberg which is at greatest risk of the rising Burnett River.
Mr Newman said it was entirely possible houses could be swept away by the fast-flowing river.
Removal of the Mooloolaba life savers tower on the Sunshine Coast. The nearby boat ramp had already been destroyed. Picture: Elise Poli
He said the speed at which the river was flowing made evacuation by boat impossible, and all roads into the area were impassable.
It is hoped most people can be airlifted out of the area by 7pm.
A total of 14 aircraft are assisting including the two Army Blackhawks, and 12 civilian aircraft.
5.13pm: Queensland police have declared a Disaster situation for Brisbane.
The warning includes areas of the Brisbane City and Redlands Council.
In accordance with disaster declaration, evacuation centres have opened in Southeast Queensland.
A police spokeswoman said anyone who wants to self evacuate can go to one of the centres manned by emergency services workers.
There were no numbers of self evacuations for Brisbane City or Redlands Council at this stage but she said they expect some activity over night and in the next few days.
A car appears from nowhere and almost runs over two police officers from foam caused by the storm system currently over Queensland. Source: Mick Bell
"Anyone who feels unsafe, or has damage to their home should head to an evacuation centre," she said.
Check mypolice.qld.gov.au for a full list of centre location and what to bring.
5.07pm: Phone services have been restored to Townsville and Mount Isa after phone services were disrupted for hundreds of thousands of people across the entire state today.
Anyone in need of non urgent help or reporting incidents are advised to call policelink on 131 444.
5.03pm: A landslide at Waterford, near Logan has forced the evacuation of multiple homes.
Police confirmed an emergency situation under the public safety preservation act was declared and four houses in Undara Place were evacuated around 4pm.
No was injured as residents voluntarily left their homes. Early investigations show no serious damage to houses in the area.
Doug Rapson and Morgan Ruig, residents of Torwood Street in Rosalie, move their belongings from the floods. PIC: Darren England
Queensland Rail has closed Beenleigh Train Station due to flooding in the car park. A spokeswoman said to avoid using any trains unless necessary.
4.30pm: Full list of flood school closures - More than 220 state schools - about one in five - will be closed for the first day of school on Tuesday.
4:12pm: QUEENSLAND'S telecommunications blackout is now state-wide with loss of phone, mobiles, internet and Triple Zero access from Coolangatta to the Cape. Telstra's fibre optic cables have been cut by floods causing IT systems to crash and wreaking havoc on airports, banks and shops in a meltdown likely to take days to fix.
4:06pm: The current wave of natural disasters will have an impact on the federal budget, Treasurer Wayne Swan says.
Asked if the summer of heatwaves, fires and floods would hit the budget, Mr Swan said: "Of course it will, of course it does."
In the wake of the 2011 floods in Queensland and Victoria, the federal government introduced a flood levy on taxpayers to cover the cost of the disasters.
Mr Swan said on Monday it was too early to think about whether the levy should be resumed.
"Yes, there is the dollar impact, but what we're focusing on today is the human impact of these events," he told Sky News on Monday.
Last December, Mr Swan conceded the government would be "unlikely" to honour its promise to bring the budget back into the black in 2012/13, because jobs and economic growth would be at risk if it pursued further budget cuts.
3.19pm: MPs in flood zones - Leaders from both sides of the political divide have headed to flood-struck Queensland towns, vowing to do all possible to respond to the crisis.
2.57pm: SEQ power update - Almost 250,000 - one in four homes or businesses in southeast Queensland - have been without power since Saturday while strong gusts and floods continue to hinder the network.
2.56pm: Toddler critical after hit by falling tree - A three-year-old boy is in a critical condition with head injuries after a tree fell on him and his mother on the banks of Kedron Brook at Gordon Park on Monday morning.
The Brisbane CBD suffered extensive damage from high winds and flooding linked to ex-tropical cyclone Oswald.
2.45pm: Keith Urban concert cancelled - Keith Urban's concert at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, originally rescheduled for tonight has been cancelled again.
2:31pm: Government expecting major flood damage in Bundaberg with the Burnett River running at 40 knots - so fast that rescue by boat will be very difficult and the force of the water is such that houses could be completely washed away.
All emergency personnel are descending on Bundaberg as an unexpected wall of water descends on the town.
Additional swiftwater rescue and emergency choppers have been despatched to the city to help evacuate residents from areas at risk.
Mr Newman said the situation in the city was extremely serious because of a record flood.
He said the velocity of the water flowing through north Bundaberg meant houses could be swept from their stumps.
The Brisbane CBD suffered extensive damage from high winds and flooding linked to ex-tropical cyclone Oswald.
"Some estimates have put it at 40 knots," he said.
"The velocity of the water, and the rises in the water levels, means that literally houses, particularly in north Bundaberg, and maybe other locations, could be swept away."
Mr Newman said level of the Burnett River was at nine metres, and rising.
Authorities are saying the Burnett River is expected to peak above 9.15m during late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
"These are record floods. We are in uncharted territories," Mr Newman said.
He said more than 2000 properties were affected in Bundaberg, and that had impacted on thousands of people.
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued earlier on Monday for people in north Bundaberg, and some other low-lying parts of the city.
Mr Newman said people should not risk their lives.
"If it is safe for you to do so, get out now," he said.
The Brisbane CBD suffered extensive damage from high winds and flooding linked to ex-tropical cyclone Oswald.
Mr Newman said residents in north Bundaberg were at risk of being trapped.
"People have been self-evacuating over the past few hours but there are still people in there," Mr Newman said.
"Obviously this is very dangerous because the floodwaters are projected to continue to rise. It is a very hazardous situation."
Mr Newman promised helicopters were being mustered to airlift people out, with 14 aircraft available to help.
Mass mandatory evacuations are underway at north Bundaberg after the Burnett River breached its banks.
Authorities are saying the Burnett River is expected to peak above 9.15m during late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
1:54PM: Brief respite along the Brisbane River as a falling tide drops water levels by 80cm. Next high tide at 10.30pm. That will be lower than today's peak. But tomorrow's high tide around 11am will be the same as today - but will coincide with the expected peak in floodwaters coming down the river.
Emergency crews respond to reports of injuries near flooded Kedron Brook in Brisbane's north. Picture: Rodney Chester
1.30PM: HOURS ahead of the expected flood peak in Ipswich the mud army is out in force, working to save as much as possible from the rising waters.
At SES regional headquarters in Thorn Street Ipswich, utes and cars with box trailers queue around the block as residents wait to load as many sandbags as sagging springs can manage to haul away.
Nathan Cowelll and his mate Tom Anderson are waiting near the head of the queue for their first load.
They're doing the sandbag run for family friends who live at North Booval.
A few cars further on Corey Bracken is hauling sandbags into the boot of his Commodore, ably assisted by Riley and Jackson.
Corey says his family should be ok, but his sister's dance studio at Bundamba is not looking too flash.
"We saw it on Facebook and just jumped in the car to do what we could," he said.
Volunteers were filling sandbags late into the night on Sunday, helped by automatic hoppers and dozens of willing hands.
Ipswich Councillor Andrew Antoniolli said the region is expecting some 500 properties to experience some degree of inundation with residents requiring evacuation.
Strong winds leave a yacht with torn sails on the Brisbane River at Breakfast Creek. Picture: Neale Maynard
"This time we are better prepared, though the downside is people are very spooked given what we went through two years ago," he said.
"Certainly it is helpful that the Bureau of Meteorology and the dam operators are working together this time."
Cr Antoniolli said the big difference with this flood compared to 2011 is that "this time water is flowing into all catchments, not just the one catchment."
"The goal is to get all vulnerable residents evacuated by nightfall," he said.
That is certainly the reality in Keogh Street, West Ipswich.
Karen Roycroft has seen it all before, having lost just about everything in 2011.
"We thought that was supposed to be a once-in-a-100 year flood but here we go again," she said.
"We got most of it out this time. In 2011 there just wasn't time."
Chevy Wilson has been helping cart the contents of a mate's place to safety by boat.
There is only enough room in the boat for the furniture, so Chevy is swimming beside it.
"I had my first ever beer in that house, of course I'm going to help out," he said.
1.15PM: The Miami Hotel on the Gold Coast has just been evacuated after its roof peeled off in the still-savage wind.
The popular pub is on the beachfront where wind gusts of almost 100km/h have been recorded today.
Loose roofing from the hotel is also threatening to bring down power lines and emergency crews are on the scene.
12.16PM: Part of the roof of the Tweed Heads Hospital has been torn off by strong winds as ex-Cyclone Oswald threatens northern NSW.
Residents in Murwillumbah and low-lying parts of Tweed Heads are being warned they may have to evacuate as the Tweed River rises.
An evacuation centre has been set up in Murwillumbah to accommodate up to 200 people who may have to leave their homes.
There were 15 flood rescues overnight and more than 1000 homes are without power.
12.12PM: LORD Mayor Graham Quirk has warned that flood modelling is not an exact science and areas not included on the map could still flood.
Although Cr Quirk said the estimated number of homes and businesses at risk of river inundation remained at 3600 and 1250 respectively, he urged people in flood prone areas to take precautions.
The Lord Mayor said if there was any confusion about whether a street or property was in the firing line, people should refer to the maps published on the council website.
"I would say those street names (listed) are being update, and I'd say to people refer to the maps. A picture paints a thousands words," said Cr Quirk.
He also expressed sadness that restaurants flooded in 2011, were now being inundated again but stressed that was more a "tidal event" than river flooding.
Yesterday Cr Quirk said the CBD was not at risk of flooding but today said projections were not "absolute".
"I just have to emphasise, a model is a model. We're not talking about absolute exactness. No one could ever predict what rain was going to occur overnight, the quantities and where that rain will fall," he said.
"There were predictions, but as we know storm cells change."
Federal Opposition leader Tony Abbott joined Cr Quirk at the Newmarket Road depot of the State Emergency Service to help volunteers fill sandbags.
A long line of cars was queued waiting for sandbags, which are being provided pre-filled, and free of charge.
Mr Abbott then travelled to Kedron to tour Emergency Management Queensland where the state disaster management group is meeting to discuss the flooding unfolding across the state's south east.
The Bremer River is now expected to peak at 15m at 6pm tonight, and the Brisbane River's Port Office gauge is expected to hit 2.6m at 11am tomorrow.
Both rivers will peak again in 24-hours, causing a double-whammy flood.
12.10PM: WINDS of over 100km/hr have caused havoc in Manly's normally quiet harbour, leaving a trail of damaged boats and pontoons along the coastline.
Hervey Shaw from the Brisbane Coastguard has confirmed police closed off all roads along the Manly waterfront at 10am today as flooding inundates the area.
Mr Shaw said several cars have broken down in rising flood waters as people disobey directions from police to avoid flooded crossings.
The Brisbane Coastguard were called to their first mayday call at midnight on Sunday as a 14m yacht, Amber Mist, was caught in strong winds with one man on board.
Volunteers from the Coastguard were able to rescue the man before the ship sank.
Coast Guard Commander Steve Fleming has urged all boat owners not to go to sea until the weather improves.
11.10am: TRIPLE zero coverage is down for mobiles and landlines on the Telstra network in sections of the state's north and west, police said.
The wild weather has disrupted the local Telstra exchanges at Gladstone, Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville, Cairns, Mareeba and Mt Isa.
Police said the coverage is down for Telstra customers only and urging people to use an alternative carrier.
The police, fire and ambulance have also set up a single temporary number for emergency Triple-0 calls.
For a list of alternative numbers, click here.
10.40AM: POLICE have told motorists they will be prosecuted if they disobey road signs and attempt to drive into flooded waters.
Maryborough's Superintendent Mark Stiles said the signs were displayed "for a reason" to protect motorists' safety.
"We all ask you to observe the following: to not drive into flooded waters, swim or play in flooded waters," he said.
"Do not drive around road closed signs - they are there for a reason and to protect you and ensure safety. If you do, we will prosecute you."
Supt Stiles pleaded with people to stay away from the floodwaters as sight-seers were hindering rescue efforts.
"Do not go sight-seeing - you are making our responses more difficult," he said.
He said police, fire, and ambulance services, along with the Fraser Coast Regional Council were working hard together in the wake of the wild weather.
10.38AM: Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate says the worst of the weather crisis is over for the city after this morning's high tide caused no major problems and the Hinze Dam peaked at well below flood levels.
Concerned residents in low-lying areas such as Budds Beach watched as water from the Nerang River swamped roads and parks and lapped their properties but there were no reports of homes being flooded.
The 1.6m tidal surge and huge swell sent waves crashing through the iconic Oskars restaurant on the Burleigh beachfront, inundating a swim school and disused restaurant downstairs.
Waves washed over Burleigh headland and foam covered Currumbin Beach, where sea water also surged through the surf club carpark, engulfing one car left parked there.
Cr Tate said Hinze Dam was expected to peak at 97m and water was flowing over the spillway, but it was still 4m below flood levels.
The flood threat was also easing for local creeks at Mudgeeraba and Canungra.
Mt Tamborine remained cut off by fallen trees and about 11,000 homes and businesses across the Coast were without power.
SES crews were responding to about 270 calls for help throughout the city.
"We've escaped the worst of it but the wind is still dangerous so we still need to be vigilant," Cr Tate told ABC radio.
"I'm more confident now that our city won't be flooded."
Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek said his electorate was "battered and bruised" from the gale-force winds overnight, which blew out highrise windows, ripped down awnings and signs and sent balcony furniture flying through the streets.
But Mr Langbroek, who is also Education Minister, said he expected all Gold Coast schools would re-open tomorrow for the start of the new school term.
10.35AM: ENGINEERS and hydrologists are scrambling this morning to reassess the impact of floods on Ipswich after warnings by Lockyer Valley Regional Council mayor Steve Jones that conditions were worse than thought.
Cr Jones said about 100 homes and businesses were flooded at Laidley, after water rose higher than expected.
The problem was the confluence of Lockyer and Laidley creeks, where there was simply too much water to get away due to low-lying land and flat country.
The Community Safety Department issued a flood emergency alert for the Bremer River and Ipswich City region.
People in flood prone or low lying areas should consider evacuation or seek higher ground. An evacuation centre has been set up at the Ipswich Show Grounds.
Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale said he was concerned that rainfall upstream in the Bremer River catchment was greater than recorded by the Weather Bureau.
"A lady rang me this morning and said she'd never seen such a downpour," Cr Pisasale said. "I rely on people like Jonesie. He's my little smart cowboy up there. He's got great local knowledge so I'm listening to what he says."
Cr Pisasale said it was estimated about 400 homes may get water damage in Ipswich, with about 750 properties in total having water across some part of their properties.
An emergency meeting was under way to try to estimate the height of the Bremer River flood. The Bremer passes through Ipswich.
Cr Pisasale said no part of the city's CBD would be impacted.
"But there's panic here," he said. "We've already got about a dozen in the emergency evacuation centre."
Cr Paul Tully, of the flood-prone Ipswich suburb of Goodna, said flood height figures were being reviewed constantly and had gone from 11m yesterday, to 12m but the latest was 10m tonight or early tomorrow morning.
At that height there could be fewer than 20 properties flooded, down from 600 in 2011.
"If new modelling is based on Gatton and the Lockyer, it could go higher. We've got to wait and see," Cr Tully said.
"We've had a few minutes of sunshine here but it's raining and windy again.
"Most of the people flooded last time are moving out. They aren't taking the risk.
"It's certainly not new for this place to be flooded. We've got people here who've been flooded four times."
Weather Bureau forecaster Ken Kato said the worst of the rain had passed, with the low expected to slide into NSW this afternoon.
Showers, strong winds and the odd storm would remain.
"We've really only got moderate falls occurring now, if anything," Mr Kato said. "But you've got all these rivers and creeks that have experienced significant rises and they have to have a chance to get away."
A mix of showers and sunny conditions were predicted for the rest of the week.
10.30AM: EMERGENCY Services have been called to free a mother and child trapped by a fallen tree.
The mother and child were struck by a tree while standing in a park near Kedron Brook, Gordon Park this morning.
The child has been transported to Royal Brisbane Children's Hospital with severe head injuries.
Fire and Rescue are in the process of freeing the mother, believed to be trapped under the fallen tree.
Emergency Services have been unable to confirm any further details at this stage.
10.11AM: POLICE have cordoned off large segments of Eagle Street in the Brisbane CBD as wild winds and flooding rain from ex-tropical cyclone Oswald causes mayhem.
Pedestrians and cars have been blocked from Charlotte St and Eagle St after the AMP building started losing windows and debris in strong winds coming off the Brisbane River.
Police have cordoned off the streets in the surrounding area due to concern about flying debris.
Cars are being moved out of the basement at Stamford Plaza on Edward St due to rapidly rising floodwater.
Police said the first high tide in the Brisbane River was expected at 10.30am.
They hope to gauge how the city's low-lying areas fare during its first flood test since the low-pressure system swept through southeast Queensland.
Strong winds have blown traffic lights off-kilter, making them face the wrong way, and plenty of downed tree branches are littering the footpaths throughout the city.
Several trees have been up-rooted in green spaces and parkland throughout the CBD.
10AM: ABOUT 100 homes and businesses are being flooded in the township of Laidley in the Lockyer Valley east of Brisbane, with water peaking 1m above the devastating 2011 floods that wiped out Grantham.
Water this morning has backed up about 1m higher than expected at the junction of Lockyer and Laidley creeks, with Mayor Steve Jones warning Ipswich that the downstream town had a much worse flood coming than thought last night.
Ipswich flood levels are now predicted to be about 1m up - from about 14m to 15m - on that expected last night.
Cr Jones said rainfall was much as predicted overnight, with Gatton getting 110mm in the 24 hours to 9am, Lowood 53mm and Wivenhoe 47mm.
"They stopped releases at Wivenhoe Dam to let our water go (below the dam wall) but it's still backed up at the junction of the creeks," Cr Jones said. "They've done a good job but there's just too much water trying to get away."
Cr Jones said much of the water had come from surrounding ranges and simply was not able to disperse quickly.
"The thing is, we live in a valley," he said. "We're dealing with a lot of water over very flat country. We've just had too much bloody rain.
"It's brought significant problems in Grantham, Glenore Grove and Laidley."
Cr Jones said 12 to 14 houses were impacted in Grantham, although they were not suffering as much as two years ago.
About 120 families had moved to higher ground. Of those that remained, some had not wanted to move and some had not yet made the move.
The State Emergency Service has received more than 1800 requests for help in the 24 hours to 4am today.
More than 830 of these jobs were in the North Coast region, particularly around Bundaberg.
There were more than 550 jobs in the southeast, particularly around the Lockyer Valley, Laidley and the Gold Coast.
Brisbane also recorded a large volume of requests. The most common jobs were leaking roofs, flood water threatening property, sandbagging and fallen trees.
Queensland Fire and Rescue Service responded to about 53 swift water rescues across Queensland yesterday.
Overnight swift water rescue crews attended nine cases in Worongary, Jimboomba, Laidley, Greenbank, Fernvale, Moorina (near Caboolture), Bundaberg North and Ducklo.
Premier Campbell Newman has launched the Queensland Flood Appeal 2013, a Queensland Government/Red Cross partnership to help Queenslanders impacted by recent floods and storms.
The Newman Government has kicked in with $1 million.
Mr Newman encouraged all Queenslanders to give to the appeal to help those in need.
"The destructive force of the weather caused by Cyclone Oswald has affected communities from the Cape to the New South Wales border," Mr Newman said.
Total affected by power interruptions since midday Saturday is the southeast is 283,000.
More than 2000 fallen powerlines have been reported.
For flood or storm related assistance, contact the State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500, or in a life-threatening emergency phone Triple Zero (000).
9.45AM: WIVENHOE, North Pine and Somerset dams have all jumped up to 100 per cent capacity after significant overnight falls.
An SEQWater spokeswoman said further falls would go into the dams' flood storage compartments, which are empty.
Water Supply Minister Mark McArdle had earlier given the order for the dam levels to be reduced to 88 per cent.
Releases starting last Friday did lower the dams, but they have quickly refilled.
The spokeswoman said they had no plans to resume water releases until the flood peak passed on Wednesday.
"When we say the dam is 100 per cent, that's 100 per cent of the full supply level. So there's still the flood storage compartment," she said.
Earlier, Premier Campbell Newman warned thunderstorms forecast for this afternoon could add to the looming flood crisis.
"There is some indication from the Bureau of Meteorology of a thunderstorm," Mr Newman said.
"If that develops, we could see flash flooding, given the potential for intense rain events, and people need to be mindful of that along suburban creeks. People could see a rapid rise in water."
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Ken Kato said the chances of a thunderstorm hitting Brisbane were about "30 per cent, maybe a little more".
"With thunderstorms, it's impossible to predict with certainty. There are some unstable conditions around today," Mr Kato said.
"We're mainly looking at southeast Queensland, but it's really hard to nail down locations. Most of the heavier rains have contracted to south of the border now."
He said in the past 24-hours, 53mm had fallen over Wivenhoe Dam, Helidon in the Lockyer Valley had recorded 133mm, and Gatton 110mm.
Mr Newman said the "very significant rain" in those areas, increased the likelihood of minor flooding of the Brisbane and Bremer Rivers.
"I do stress though - on everything I have to hand, this will not be as significant as the 2011 flood. But we will get more information as soon as possible to people in relation to that," Mr Newman said.
"In Laidley there are 110 people in evacuation centres. We expect that we will see 2011 flood levels but the intensity and the rising of the flood levels are not as bad as 2011."
Mr Newman said it was too early to say what impact the widespread flood event would have on the State's budget.
But the Premier said the government would donate $1 million to the Queensland Flood Appeal being conducted by the Red Cross.
9.40AM: Celebrity chef Matt Moran has shared a pic from his inner city venue Riverbar, which has suffered flooding this morning.
He tweeted: #riverbar living up to it name! Devastated http://instagr.am/p/VAZIOfEpPC/
9.38AM: RESIDENTS in the Moreton Bay region are on high alert as they brace for a higher tide than experienced yesterday.
Council is urging residents - including at Newport Waterways, Pacific Harbour, and Bribie Gardens - to ready themselves for a possible storm tide surge, tidal inundation and very strong winds.
They said the high tide is expected to be 0.2m higher than yesterday's high level and should impact low-lying coastal areas from about 10.30am.
"If your house might be at risk of inundation or flooding, now is the time to secure your property," the statement said.
Sand and sandbags can be collected from Redcliffe SES (42 Portwood Street), Deception Bay SES (24 Old Bay Rd) and Bribie Island SES (208-224 First Avenue).
9.30AM: WAVES have crashed through the iconic Oskars restaurant building on the Burleigh Heads beachfront, inundating a swim school downstairs.
Oskars owner Marty Kollrepp said he had owned the restaurant for 15 years and it was the wildest he had seen the ocean and tide.
Burleigh Headland is covered in foam which is flying through the air as fierce winds continue to blow.
8.20AM: THE body of a man is being retrieved from flood waters at Greenbank, south of Brisbane, this morning.
Police believe it is the body of a motorcyclist who was swept away while trying to cross a bridge last night.
Emergency services confirmed they found the man near Edwards Bridge at Goodna Road.
Police are in the process of retrieving and are yet to contact next of kin.
8.12AM: There are now 11,000 homes and businesses without power on the Gold Coast.
Traffic lights are out up and down the Coast, including on the Gold Coast Highway at Tugun.
8AM: BUNDABERG is facing its worst flood on record as the southeast also braces for flooding in the next 48 hours.
In his first briefing of the day, Premier Campbell Newman said "very significant" rain in the Laidley, Lockyer Creek and Bremer River catchments were recorded last night.
He said the falls appeared to make it more likely flooding would occur in areas identified in flood maps released by the Brisbane and Ipswich City Councils yesterday.
"People should look at those maps, and they need to take action because I believe this morning they will be impacted in Ipswich and along the Brisbane River," Mr Newman said.
"The intensity or the speed of the rising (water) is not as bad as 2011.
"Queensland is facing a very serious challenge right now. It's a serious challenge, but I stress we're up to it and people are not alone.
"What I need people to do right now, is firstly to remain calm."
He said nine evacuation centres had been set up in Bundaberg and 30 people were stranded on roofs and awaiting rescue.
"There are expectations today of a major flood, probably the largest the city has ever seen," the Premier said.
"The problem is there is very swift water, very dangerous water flowing and it's very hard to get to people in boats without endangering the rescuers' lives."
More will be known about the forecast flooding in southeast Queensland by this afternoon, and the Premier said forecast thunderstorms could also cause flash flooding in Brisbane.
In other developments, police recovered a man's body from floodwaters at Gympie overnight.
And residents of Gladstone North are without 000 services because of a Telstra issue.
Premier Newman said they should be encouraged to call (the SES number) 132500 if assistance was needed.
He will visit Ipswich this morning before returning to the Emergency Management Queensland complex at Kedron for another briefing and public announcement.
7.35AM: MORE than 100 Lockyer Valley residents have fled to evacuation centres as floodwaters exceed the 2011 water height.
A council spokeswoman said many residents had chosen to self-evacuate from their homes in Laidley and Glenore Grove.
She said a man had been rescued from Glenore Grove by the council and fire fighters last night but was unable to provide details.
An evacuation centre has been established at the Laidley High School and the Laidley council depot.
"There are a little over 100 people right now so that's a good sign, and obviously they are getting the message," the spokeswoman said.
"The water height in Laidley is slightly higher than the level it was in 2011 but I don't have a precise height at the moment.
"And over the next few hours, the water is due to fluctuate due to the creeks in the area."
7.21AM: THERE are reports that up to 30 people have taken to the roofs of their homes in Bundaberg to escape flooding.
Premier Campbell Newman said Bundaberg was facing the worst flood in its history, beating the level set in 1942.
The army's Blackhawk helicopters are on standby to help people in the region.
7.16AM: MOTORISTS are being urged to stay off the roads today as conditions remain hazardous.
Minor landslides have been reported in Aratula along the Cunningham highway, but the Australian Traffic Network has been unable to confirm reports at this stage.
Amelia De Vita from the Australian Traffic Network has warned people to turn on their lights, keep away from flood waters and give way at intersections with traffic lights out.
The Australian Traffic Network said roads from Mackay to Brisbane are impassable and motorists are urged to avoid any non-essential travel today.
7.10AM: THE body of a missing 27-year-old man has reportedly been found in Widgee Creek, west of Gympie, overnight.
The ABC this morning tweeted that the man's body had been found, but police media were unable to confirm the report.
There were grave concerns for the man, who went missing after his car was caught in flood waters yesterday, with his two companions rescued.
7AM: Residents in Brisbane and the coastal areas can expect to see weather conditions ease by midday as damaging winds and rain move southwards.
Senior Forecaster Vikash Prasad from the Bureau of Meteorology said the worst of the weather is now over for Brisbane and the northern areas but residents could still expect light rain and strong wind gusts for most of the morning.
These are expected to clear towards the afternoon.
Brisbane recorded rain fall of up to 172mm in the city and wind gusts of up to 92km/hr around the airport at 8.15pm last night.
The Gold Coast was the hardest hit with winds reaching over 100km/hr and rainfall of up to 640mm in Upper Springbrook.
Damaging wind gusts of up to 125km/hr were recorded at Cape Moreton yesterday evening.
6.50AM: The wild weather has kept emergency services busy, with the SES called to more than 1,800 calls for assistance in the 24 hours to 4am Monday.
More than 830 of these jobs were concentrated in the North Coast region, particularly around Bundaberg, according to the Department of Community Safety.
There were more than 550 jobs in the South East Region particularly around the Lockyer Valley, Laidley and the Gold Coast.
Brisbane also recorded a "large volume" of requests for leaking roofs, flood water threatening property, sandbagging and fallen trees.
The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service were tasked to around 53 swift water rescues across Queensland yesterday.
These included nine cases overnight in Worongary, Jimboomba, Laidley, Greenbank, Fernvale, Moorina (near Caboolture), Bundaberg North and Ducklo.
6.45AM: Fallen trees, floodwaters and strong gusts are hampering restoration efforts as more than 200,000 southeast Queensland residents are still without power.
Energex are also concerned there are around 1,200 powerlines down across the region, creating a risky situation for workers and residents.
"The Sunshine Coast looks to have been the hardest hit overnight," an Energex spokeswoman said.
She said around 83,000 homes and businesses had their power restored overnight and hoped the rest to be restored today.
"However the difficulty is that the weather is still unfolding quite a lot but we have plenty of crews on board."
"Due to the strong winds we can't have the workers up in buckets so there have been delays in restoring power."
She asked residents to be patient and assess their backyard for any damage to powerlines.
Call Energex on 13 19 62.
6.25AM: ANOTHER night of strong gusty winds and rain has disrupted Brisbane's public transport, with Citycats and ferries cancelled, and buses replacing trains on several lines.
Debris on the power lines at Fortitude Valley has knocked out services from Roma Street to Albion with buses running in their place.
Buses are also running instead of trains on the Ferny Grove line, from Northgate to Shorncliffe, all stations between Corinda and Ipswich, and Corinda and Richlands.
The Airtrain is out of action with buses servicing stations from Eagle Junction to the Airport, and buses are ferrying train passengers between Beenleigh and Varsity Lakes and Thorneside and Cleveland.
All trains and replacement buses have been cancelled on the Sunshine Coast line from Caboolture to Gympie North.
Delays of around an hour are expected for all services where buses are running in place of trains.
Brisbane Airport remains open but travellers are urged to check with their airline if flights are going ahead.
This morning several flights have been delayed, cancelled or rescheduled, but international flights, and those from Perth and Canberra have landed this morning.
Several Sydney flights have been cancelled, but some departing for Sydney and Melbourne have taken off.
Motorists are urged to limit travel to essential trips, and not attempt to drive through flooded roads.
6AM: Gold Coast residents are waking to widespread damage after winds of up to 94km/h hammered the Glitter Strip overnight.
A house has reportedly been demolished by the winds at Bilinga, streets are covered in debris and almost 3000 homes are without power.
Three M1 on-ramps are blocked by fallen trees.
There were several swift water rescues on the Gold and Tweed coasts overnight and some residents are bracing for floods.
Upper Springbrook has recorded 638mm of rain in the last 24 hours.
Gold Coast Airport remains open but some flights have been cancelled.
Winds are still gusting at 80km/h.
A firemen has told of seeing high rise sliding doors torn off by the wild winds and flung into the streets below.
He says emergency service workers spent a long and frightening night in Surfers as debris flew through the streets.
"We were ducking for cover - you hear all these racks and bangs and noises and you don't know what the hell's coming for you," the fireman told ABC radio.
"The wind gusts through the (high rises) must be pushing 150 to 180km/h for sure."
4.30AM: It was reported that a motorcyclist has been swept off a bridge into a flooded creek in southeast Queensland.
Witnesses have told police the man was riding across a bridge on the Greenbank-Goodna Road at Greenbank about 11pm (AEST) on Sunday when he was swept off by floodwaters.
Members of the public tried to get a rope to the man, but this was unsuccessful and he was washed down stream.
Police said a search for the man would resume on Monday morning.
Overnight, it was reported that Intense rainfall directly over the Wivenhoe Dam catchment was blamed for the sudden change in outlook for the southeast corner, which had been expected to avoid a repeat of the devastating 2011 floods.
Falls of another 100mm are now projected to cause the Brisbane and Bremer rivers to breach their banks over 24 hours from midnight tonight, with a second dose of flooding to flow into tomorrow and Wednesday.
Parts of Brisbane were already flooded last night, with four people rescued from an Ashgrove property after a torrent of water trapped them in their home on Mossvale St.
Police said the street had been evacuated early in the evening, but residents of the house decided to stay behind before becoming concerned by rising water and calling for help.
Preparing for the worst, more than 100 cars lined up for sandbags at Newmarket SES depot.
Ex-Cyclone Oswald's march down the Queensland coast left a trail of destruction and caused flash flooding throughout the weekend.
But in a dramatic few hours late yesterday, authorities revealed the worst was not over.
More than 5000 homes and businesses across Brisbane are now expected to flood over the next few days, including in suburbs such as Rocklea, Rosalie, Milton and Auchenflower, which were hit hard in 2011. But areas not flooded in 2011 are also now in the firing line, with creeks rising across the city along with the Brisbane River.
In Ipswich, 400 properties are expected to face some flooding in Brassall, Bundamba, Goodna, Churchill, Moores Pocket, North Boovall and West Ipswich.
Premier Campbell Newman said the floods would not be as devastating as two years ago.
He urged people not to panic, but to check the flood maps and to prepare if they were in an area that may flood.
"If it doesn't occur, then I'm sorry in advance," the Premier said.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said computer modelling showed 3600 residential dwellings faced some degree of flooding, including 1500 houses and 2100 units.
Another 1250 businesses are also expected to be flooded.
"It's worse than what we thought at lunchtime," the Lord Mayor said late yesterday.
"The intensity of the rainfall in certain localities, and the modelling which is before us is indicating the amount of water coming down from the west will result in flooding in the Brisbane River."
The first area within Brisbane to be affected by the rising river would be Moggill, he said.
"That would be very late on Monday evening when the river reached its heights," Cr Quirk said.
"Then there would be a repeat on the Tuesday evening.
"So we're not going to see any flood impacts on the CBD, but there will be properties in a whole range of suburbs."
He also warned of further flooding, caused by overflowing creeks and some big high tides.
"I'm getting reports of a number of our creeks reaching capacity, so again this is a double whammy this time compared to 2011," Cr Quirk said.
Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale said the forecast peak for the Bremer River was 14.45m, well below the 19.4m peak in 2011.
"Hopefully it's a little bit less than that, and it's also based on 100mm falling in the lower catchment overnight," Cr Pisasale said.
"What we want to do is tell people not to panic because it doesn't peak until midnight. This morning I will be making decisions in regard to evacuations and everything else once we know what the rainfall is."
Cr Quirk said the forecast flooding was "not impacted directly by releases from the dam" which were reduced from about lunchtime yesterday.
Mr Newman, who took responsibility for the decision to lower the level of Wivenhoe and North Pine dams on Friday, said further releases were in the hands of controlling body Seqwater.
"What happens is the Bureau of Meteorology do their forecasting with their models, they then provide estimates to SEQWater who plug that modelling into their system and then decide how they have to actually operate the dam," Mr Newman said.
He stressed the looming flood event would be "a far far lesser event than 2011".
"That's why people need to just be calm, look at the (flood) maps first, have a big think and then decide what to do," the Premier said.
"We're putting it out there if people are not on those lists, or those maps, they still might want to think about it, but on the information we've got this afternoon, they're in the clear."
The Insurance Council of Australia praised Mr Newman and Cr Quirk for giving residents as much notice as possible for the likely flood, saying it could help minimise the extent of property damage.
Late yesterday, insurers had received about 2000 claims related to the destructive weather event that has so far stretched from the Cape, to the southeast corner.
"Insurers are ready to do what they can. Call centres are standing by right now," Insurance Council Australia communications manager Campbell Fuller said. "They're staffed up and waiting for claims."
He declined to speculate on what impact a repeat dose of flooding would have on insurance policies for households already paying inflated premiums following the 2011 event.
"They will still be able to buy flood cover if they want it, but the cost of the premium will reflect the flood risk," Mr Fuller said.
Reporting by Robyn Ironside, Paul Syvret, Kate McKenna, Jacinda Tutty, Greg Stolz, Brian Williams, Peter Hall and Andrew MacDonald
