Saturday, January 1, 2011

Rockhampton Airport Closed due to Floods

A Virgin Blue flight to Brisbane was the last flight out of Rockhampton Airport at 1.45pm on Saturday 1 January before it was closed to normal domestic passenger (RPT) services due to flood water inundation.

Light aircraft and helicopter operations may still be possible, though aircraft operators are being advised to regularly review NOTAM information.

Indications from the Bureau of Meteorology’s web site is that Rockhampton Airport could be inundated until 11 Janaury 2011, with clean-up operations commencing after that time.

The Rockhampton City Council has deactivated the paid parking system at Rockhampton Airport, and has urged that all vehciles currently in the Airport carpark be removed as soon as possible. The Mayor was quoted as saying, "It’s important for residents or visitors who may have parked their cars at the Rockhampton Airport car park to move them as soon as possible as the airport car parks will be subject to flooding very shortly".

"All cars that are still parked in the car park today will be towed to the Rockhampton Showgrounds for safekeeping, but we are requesting help from friends or family who may be able to move their loved ones cars voluntarily" he said.

The Mayor is also encouraging tourists and visitors to stay at neighbouring cities such as Gladstone and Mackay and not travel to Rockhampton as the city will be cut off for up to 2 weeks with the closure of the airport and highways to the south and west.

Meanwhile, Australian Army Sikorsky S-70A Blackhawk and Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters, are buzzing the skies over Rockhampton, evacuating residents and conductong food and other drops to isolated residents.

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