Flood Warning Issued for Pioneer River Catchment and Mirani Township

Alert Details

A Flood Warning (IDQ20755) has been issued by the Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology for the Pioneer River Catchment. The alert was issued at 11:43 am AEST on Saturday, March 7, 2026, following moderate to heavy rainfall observed across the region.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the Pioneer River catchment and its tributaries, specifically impacting:

• Cattle Creek at Finch Hatton and Gargett
• Pioneer River at Sarich’s and Mirani Township
• Pioneer River at Hospital Bridge and Mackay
• Marian Weir and Dumbleton Rocks

What You Should Do

Residents are advised to take the following safety precautions:

• Do not drive, walk, swim, or play in floodwater as it is dangerous.
• Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams, and waterways.
• Obey all road closure signs and plan travel to avoid flooded roads.
• Monitor local media and the ABC for updates.
• For emergency assistance, contact the SES at 132 500. In life-threatening situations, call 000 immediately.

Expected Conditions

Minor flooding is currently occurring along Cattle Creek and the Pioneer River. While levels at Sarich’s and Mirani are currently falling, the Pioneer River at Hospital Bridge was recently observed rising at 5.45 m. The Mirani manual gauge is estimated to have peaked around the minor flood level of 6.00 m on Saturday morning. Further moderate to heavy rainfall is forecast for the next few days, which may lead to renewed river level rises.

Timeline

The alert is effective as of Saturday, March 7, 2026. Elevated river levels and potential renewed rises are expected to persist through the remainder of Saturday and into Sunday, March 8. The Bureau of Meteorology expects to issue the next update by 1:00 PM AEST on Sunday.