WHILE the drought is certainly far from over, mother nature has delivered a taste of much needed relief to some property owners across Queensland this week, with many producers registering decent rainfalls.
Many producers on the parched Darling Downs, Southern Downs and Western Downs were rejoicing as some received falls reminiscent of the 2011 floods.
On Saturday the southern town of Warwick received 128 millimetres while the Leslie Dam catchment area received 102mm, giving the dam an inflow and rising the dam capacity to 13.5 per cent.
The Condamine River at Pratten received 148mm, while Coolmunda Dam near Inglewood received 74mm with some inflow, and about 70 to 80mm of rain was recorded over the Wivenhoe Dam catchment.
Dalby residents were mopping up on Monday as the flooded Myall Creek subsided in the town after a weekend deluge.
Greg and Sharon Harms, Oakmore Park, Greenmount, said they received one of the best single rain events in 20 years.
Mrs Harms said they they received 125mm over a few days three weeks ago that was gentle soaking rain over their black soil country.
"This latest fall over the weekend gave us another 154mm that will set us up with ground moisture and replenish our underground water supplies," Mrs Harms said.
Cattle producer Marg Will, Trawalla North, Southbrook, had previously recorded only 26mm from the start of the year, but the heavens opened over her country on the weekend and she received an 147mm.
"We are certainly not out of the woods yet, but and hopefully more will come in the next few weeks," Ms Will said.
Ms Will's cattle have been away on agistment for the past six months and now she hopes they can return in the next month.
Elisabeth and Rodney Skene, Meldon Park Simmentals near Dalby, have just clicked 225mm since the start of January.
"We planted forage sorghum last week, and have had received 90mm from this weekend event and on Monday," Mrs Skene said.
"Two of our dams are full and others are filling - all up this rain is very good.
"At the moment we are keeping an eye on the Condamine River, as there is minor flooding as the water from Warwick has reached us now."
Jondaryan district grain grower Peter Waddell finally cracked the 150mm mark over the weekend.
John and Julie Pratt and family, Traprock Orchard, Tollando, Stanthorpe received 69mm over the weekend.
Again on Monday Tollando received 46mm at the house, their Waghorn property received 63mm, and the orchard received 69mm, giving them a much needed run-off rain into their dry irrigation dam by 50 per cent.
Mrs Pratt said she believes when the run-off finally flows into the dam it will fill completely.
Helen Walker
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
