Cyclone isolates Normanton in North Qld

Flooding has isolated Normanton in far north Queensland, but Carpentaria Shire mayor
Fred Pascoe says it's a real blessing that Cyclone Olga hit early on Saturday.

When Olga swept across the coast at 5am (AEST) west of Karumba a few hours earlier
than expected, it was low tide and a major problem was avoided.
"We were pretty lucky as it crossed Karumba at low tide and that was the biggest
threat," Mr Pascoe told AAP.
"We averted that one, thank Christ. It was a lucky escape."
And the heartening news kept coming.
Before midday Cyclone Olga had been downgraded to a tropical low, although flooding
and strong winds were still prevalent in north Queensland, according to a Bureau of
Meteorology (BoM) spokesman.
A Department of Community Safety spokeswoman told AAP the only reported problem was
a fallen tree.
Ergon Energy spokesman Geoff Bowes said the network had stood up well to the
category one cyclone.
By 9am (AEST) there were fewer than 150 people without power.
He said one 22,000 volt wire came down near Normanton school about 5.20am (AEST),
which cut supply to around 550 customers.
Mr Bowes said the main headache now was the heavy rain and flooding in the area,
which was preventing crews reaching areas outside Normanton.
"We will get a helicopter in the air as soon as the weather allows us to patrol the
western rural feeder and if necessary ferry in a repair crew," he said.
"The Mt Isa to Normanton Road and Cairns to Normanton Road are cut. And the road
between Normanton and Karumba is cut.
"We are isolated at the moment for about a week.
"We are lucky as a truck came through yesterday so we have supplies."
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued flood warnings for areas around Townsville,
extending to Mackay.
"There's a monsoonal flow coming in off the Coral Sea so there will be more
significant rain on the way," the BoM spokesman told AAP.
"It's also expected to move south."