Flood-ravaged, isolated residents brace for potential new cyclone in Gulf of Carpentaria

Residents in flood-ravaged parts of the Gulf of Carpentaria are bracing for even more rainfall as a tropical low forms.

The system will develop in the Northern Territory on Tuesday before gaining in strength and size as it moves east into the gulf mid-week, the Bureau of Meteorology predicts.

The low is likely to dump rain across already saturated catchments in the region with a 30 per cent chance it could form into a cyclone on Friday and Saturday, the bureau said.

Major flood warnings are in place for rivers in the gulf country, including the Nicholson and the Flinders, as communities recover from ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily.

“Even if it doesn’t turn into a cyclone, just as a monsoon low there is a potential to increase the rain through the gulf country again in all the places that don’t need it,” meteorologist Livio Regano said.

“We don’t really know just yet how much rain is going to fall … but there is already plenty of water in those gulf catchments so another one of these really isn’t what communities need right now.”

Residents of the gulf community of Burketown were all evacuated last year due to major flooding.

Dan McKinlay, chief executive of Burke Shire Council, said residents were “nervous” about another bout of rain this year.

The town has been cut off by Kirrily’s floodwaters for two weeks after water rose to the outskirts of the town.

The neighbouring community of Doomadgee has been isolated by floodwater for four weeks.

Residents on outlying properties across the region have also had to be evacuated and resupplies are expected to be flown into main towns this week.

“While the water around the town has started to recede we are a bit nervous about that low,” Mr McKinlay said.

“Last year the main reason we were evacuated was because rain fell on already saturated catchments, so that could be a problem [again] this time around.

“We are in a better position than last year. The District Disaster Management Group is watching this low and we will just have to wait and see what type of system does develop.”