Queenslanders hope worst of the flooding has passed

This morning Queensland awakens with the hope that the worst has passed. The floodwaters that have isolated towns, forced thousands from their homes, and devastated crops and industry appear to have peaked.

But relief is heavily tempered by the realisation that homes remain flooded, communities are still cut off from the outside world and more downpours could prolong the agony.

A low-pressure system off Queensland's central coast is expected to dump further rain on the state. Showers and thunderstorms are predicted to continue until the middle of next week.

Flood warnings remain in force for nine river systems, and towns in northern New South Wales are preparing for the worst after being inundated by flooding last month.

The state has declared almost 60 local government areas to be disaster zones.

In South Australia, Premier Mike Rann on Thursday chaired a meeting of the state's Emergency Management Council to prepare for the torrent expected to pour down the streams of the Murray Darling River system.

The same day, the body of a 62-year-old Victorian man was recovered from a car washed from a central Queensland road, bringing the death toll to 10.

In terms of fatalities these floods are now Australia's eighth-worst in 160 years.

"The flooding is of monumental proportions," acting Attorney-General Brendan O'Connor said.

"Dozens of communities across Queensland are seeing the worst flooding in many decades."

But on Wednesday the bar re-opened at the Club Hotel in Chinchilla, 350km west of Brisbane, and in north Queensland the Townsville Bulletin reassured its readers that beer supplies - heavily reinforced as the floods approached - were likely to outlast the crisis.

In the enormity of the disaster that has overtaken Queensland this is hardly news. But for the 200,000 people in 40 communities affected by floods that will cost the state at least A$5 billion ($6.2 billion), such small tidings are welcome.

The great yellow-brown tide that submerged so much of Queensland brought huge suffering with it.

Thousands of people have lost their homes and belongings, destroyed or severely damaged by the rush of water and the foul-smelling mud and silt that have encrusted what remains.

Many living in flood-prone areas were not able to buy insurance.

In the Banana Shire town of Theodore, inland from Bundaberg, Anne Chater fled her surgery as furniture floated in waist-deep water, and returned two days ago to destruction.

"I tried to get flood insurance and I was knocked back," she told ABC radio.

In Bundaberg, residents at a caravan park were left destitute. Vans that could not be moved in time were pushed over and part-buried by mud.

In Rockhampton, where the 9.2m peak of the Fitzroy River inundated 150 homes and will continue to isolate the city for days, the misery of families whose lives were torn apart was compounded by the fear of snakes and sewage in floodwaters, and swarms of mosquitoes and flies.

At the city's racecourse, federal Centrelink officers were dealing with a rush of applications for help from people whose jobs have been lost with the flood.

Hundreds of businesses face serious losses, or even ruin.

The loss to farmers is vast. Milk supplies have been hit as dairy farms remain cut off, beef losses have yet to be calculated, as much as half of the state's 1.5m-tonne grain crop has been lost, and fruit and vegetable growers have been hammered.

Near Gatton, west of Brisbane, pumpkin and melon crops were washed down the Lockyer Creek. Elsewhere, crops that survived could not reach market - 200 tonnes of melons were stranded at Chinchilla, and other farms reported harvesting 50 tonnes a day in the hope that trucks might get through in time.

The state's huge coal industry has been crippled, and is losing A$100 million ($125 million) a day.

Roads, electricity and telephones remain severed in many areas.

Grocery chain IGA used a barge to supply its Townsville and Cairns stores from Brisbane. Trucks have been forced to detour by as much as 600km to reach the northern cities.

At Condamine, near Chinchilla, authorities are flying in medical, health and emergency workers, portable toilets, and thousands of litres of water and fuel a day.

But as the waters start to recede, Queenslanders are helping themselves. Premier Anna Bligh's flood appeal has passed A$12 million, and businesses, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Lifeline and community and service groups are bringing relief.

Volunteers, helped by BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto staff, have cleaned homes and service buildings in Emerald, Bundaberg's Rotary Club has packed a shed with donations, the Salvation Army is serving meals to evacuees at Theodore's Returned Services League hall; and mining companies sent helicopters to help.

Rescued horses, cattle, dogs and other animals are being sheltered at the Rockhampton racecourse, and Racing Queensland announced a A$1.5 million ($1.8 million) aid package for the industry, including one-off payments of A$2000 ($2511) for jockeys, apprentices, and track and stable hands left out of work.

The Defence Force has been airlifting supplies by C130 Hercules, Army Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters and navy Sea Kings.

At Rockhampton one shipment included 50 tonnes of groceries, from long-life milk and Weet Bix to pasta, rice, baked beans, cola, toilet paper, nappies and baby formula.

The Queensland and federal governments have started relief measures, and emergency grants are being paid to people, small businesses and farmers as they prepare for a huge rebuilding that will include A$1.5 billion ($1.9 billion) for roads alone.

AUSTRALIA'S FLOODS - A SNAPSHOT OF THE DISASTER

* The flood toll of 10 is Australia's eighth worst in 160 years.

* The cost to Queensland is at least $6.2 billion.

* The 9.2m peak of the Fitzroy River inundated 150 homes.

* Half of Queensland's 1.5 million tonne grain crop is lost.

* 200 tonnes of melons were stranded at Chinchilla.

* The coal industry is losing $125 million a day.

* Trucks have had to detour by as much as 600km to reach northern cities.

* The flood appeal has passed $15.7 million.

* Rebuilding will include $1.9 billion for roads alone