Australia-More floods on the way as farmers count the cost.

The past week has seen the area of Australia affected by flooding increase, with very heavy falls recorded from the Pilbara in WA, to Bourke in western NSW and along the coastal regions of northern NSW. These areas can be added to the large tracts of land in Queensland that remain underwater, which also recorded more falls during the week.

In north western NSW, the past week saw Bourke and surrounding regions experience their heaviest rain in many years, recording in excess of 230mm. While flooding has affected roads and stock movements, the long term benefit of such rain is likely to be very significant, adding much needed moisture to soils heading into winter cropping programs and boosting restocker demand. Stretching east from Bourke, very good falls were also recorded at Walgett (173mm), Coonamble (89mm), Moree (131mm), Tamworth (110mm) and Armidale (82mm).

Coastal regions of northern NSW and parts of the Hunter Valley also experienced flooding this week, with many places along the coast recording falls in excess of 400mm. Unfortunately, the heavier falls tapered off through central regions of the state, with southern NSW, Victoria and SA again recording patchy, if any, rain.

In WA, heavy falls brought flooding to western parts of the Pilbara, with in excess of 300mm being recorded in the past week. In northern Queensland, further falls were recorded across gulf regions, although nowhere near the same extent as that recorded in previous weeks. Since the start of 2009, Normanton, in the gulf region, has recorded almost 960mm – easily surpassing last year’s 615mm.