Initial Flood Warning Issued for Pioneer River Catchment and Cattle Creek in Queensland

Alert Details

An initial flood warning (IDQ20755) has been issued by the Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology for the Pioneer River catchment. The alert was issued at 2:37 am AEST on Sunday, March 1, 2026, following moderate to heavy rainfall observed across the region since Saturday morning.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers the Pioneer River catchment, with minor flooding currently occurring along Cattle Creek. Impacted locations and monitoring points include:

• Cattle Creek at Finch Hatton and Gargett
• Pioneer River at Sarich, Mirani Weir, Marian Weir, and Dumbleton Rocks
• Finch Hatton Creek at Gorge Road
• Blacks Creek at Whiteford
• Mackay and surrounding waterways

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas 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 the ABC and local media for updates as the situation can change quickly.
• For local emergency management warnings, visit www.disaster.qld.gov.au/warnings.
• For emergency assistance, contact the SES at 132 500. In life-threatening emergencies, call 000 immediately.

Expected Conditions

Moderate to heavy rainfall has resulted in elevated river levels. As of early Sunday morning, the following river heights and tendencies were recorded:

• Cattle Creek at Gargett: 3.71 m and rising
• Cattle Creek at Finch Hatton: 3.15 m and rising
• Finch Hatton Creek at Gorge Road: 2.64 m and rising
• Pioneer River at Mirani Weir: 3.23 m and rising
• Pioneer River at Dumbleton Rocks: 15.15 mAHD and rising
• Pioneer River at Mackay: 2.10 m and falling

Timeline

The alert is effective immediately. The Bureau of Meteorology expects to issue the next update for this warning by 11:30 AM AEST on Sunday, March 1, 2026.