BIG rain has continued to fall across large parts North Queensland and the Northern Territory, with more than 600mm recorded on some properties on the Barkly Tableland this week.

While the biggest falls have been recorded on the Barkly, significant rain has also fallen in parts of north-west Qld and in the lower parts of the channel country – an area that is now expecting a big flood to head down the Georgina catchment.

Peter Hughes who owns Lake Nash station near the Qld/Northern Territory border told yesterday’s Week in Beef that more than 500mm had fallen.

“It is a 10-inch (250mm) rainfall country – I say if you get six inches (150mm) you have done very well. It is very unusual and then for it go back to the west, it usually comes east, but it went back and soaked the Territory,” he said.

Parts of the Barkly Tableland and North West Queensland have received the biggest falls this week.

Asked whether it was too much rain, Mr Hughes said it was hard to say.

“We are not used to that sort of rain, but it looks like it will be a wonderful season. It is undulating country, the cattle always have somewhere to get back to, so they will be fine.

“We have had a run of good years at Lake Nash, probably going toward 12-13 years.”

Asked about the season on some of the other properties in the Hughes family’s portfolio, which extends across large parts of Qld, Mr Hughes said most of them had received good rain.

“It is still fairly dry at Taylor Plains (near Mugallala) and only just recently, we had good rain at Keeroongooloo and moderate flooding”

“But certainly our northern places have had very good rain. Miranda had a big flood that was worrying, but it turned out alright and Millungera has had a lot of rain.

“This is just a good fashion wet really.”

More rain is forecast in South Australia in the next week, with the majority forecast this weekend.

Controversy about weather radars

The rain put water into the Elkedra Station homestead in the NT, which has drawn concern about the local weather radar not working effectively. A recent media release by NT Cattlemen’s Association said the Tennant Creek radar was showing clear skies while the rain was falling.

Amber Driver from Elkedra said: “You’re trying to make decisions in real time; whether to move stock, whether to pull people out and you’re looking at multiple weather reports across different platforms. One says heavy rainfall, another says scattered showers, the radar shows clear skies. You’re left trying to work out which one is actually accurate while the water is rising.”