PRIMARY school children have been left stranded at their adventure camp in North Queensland as flooding continues to impact the region.
The 76 grade six children are from Willows Primary School in Townsville and are stuck at Echo Creek Adventure Camp near Tully.
Eight staff and a parent are caring for the children and police are working with them to resupply food and other necessities.
Education Minister Grace Grace said she had been assured by police that the party would be moved as soon as it was safe to do so.
“The latest information I have received is that floodwaters are expected to recede over the next 48 hours,” Ms Grace said.
The education department is keeping parents informed on the situation and they have been advised to contact the school for the latest information.
It comes as the biggest flood in almost a decade inundates Ingham, effectively cutting the town in half at Palm Creek.
The Bruce Highway remains cut on either side of the town.
The Hinchinbrook Local Disaster Management Group met at 9am to discuss the current flood event. Part of the discussion entailed a briefing from the BOM Hydrology department key points being as follows:
Abergowrie is currently at 16.7m and nearing its peak.
Ingham Pump Station is presently at 14.32m and is expected to peak at around 14.75m early to mid afternoon today.
Gairloch is expected to peak at 12.7m early to mid afternoon today.
Halifax is expected to peak at 5.6m early to mid afternoon today.
The BOM expects that the major flood level of the river will remain until late Saturday morning after which time it is expected to drop to lower levels.
The BOM have also indicated that the current rain event has commenced moving northward out of the Herbert Catchment area and that no further significant rain is now anticipated.
Ms Grace said heavy rain had caused severe disruption to schools in and around Ingham and in Tully and a total of 13 schools and the Paluma Environmental Education Centre are closed today.
“As there is currently a Flood Watch for parts of North and Far North Queensland I urge parents to check local weather conditions and road access and not attempt to drive children to school if conditions are dangerous,” she said.
“Parents should monitor the school closures website, which is constantly updated.”
The schools closed in North Queensland today include Abergowrie SS, Forrest Beach SS, Halifax SS, Ingham SS, Ingham SHS, Macknade SS, Mount Fox SS, Paluma Environmental Education Centre, Toobanna SS, Trebonne SS, Victoria Plantation SS, Kennedy SS, Lower Tully SS and Murray River Upper SS.