News Service from House Harris

Qld: 'Wet towel' blankets north Qld

INGHAM, Qld, Feb 4 AAP - Flood-bound north Queensland is braced for another cyclone, but deputy premier Paul Lucas reckons the region's so wringing-wet already it can't take any more.

"It's like pouring water over a wet towel," Mr Lucas told AAP on a visit to the most drowned area around Ingham, between Townsville and Cairns on Wednesday.

"If we get another cyclone that dumps more water the ground can't take any more."

Ingham has copped another 366mm of rain over the past 24 hours, on top of more than 400mm dumped in the previous few days by ex-tropical cyclone Ellie.

Almost 3,000 homes in the town have been affected by the flooding with 50 inundated and dozens of people evacuated to emergency accommodation at a local high school.

Army and emergency services officials will meet at noon (AEST) to discuss the clean-up, while extra State Emergency Service and Red Cross volunteers are preparing to get involved.

The town is waiting for river levels to drop from the peak of 12.25 metres to seven metres before the clean-up can begin and experts can assess the damage, which is expected to exceed $110 million across the region.

But with another tropical cyclone forming off the north Queensland coast, the river is unlikely to fall low enough until the weekend.

Ingham resident David Harkin, a fitter and father of two, was preparing on Wednesday to evacuate after watching water run through the ground floor of his two-level home since Monday.

He's seen several snakes around his Fairford Road home in recent days.

"That's why I keep the broom here (at the front door) to chase the snakes away," he said.

Mr Harkin said he'd seen such things as cupboards and even beer kegs floating down the street.

His 16-year-old son Geoff said the family had lost furniture.

"It's quite distressing and it keeps rising," he said.

Hinchinbrook Shire Mayor Pino Giandominico said the more than 100 emergency workers were fatigued and more help was needed.

On Wednesday, the state government was opening a centre to provide cash assistance for food, clothing, medication and emergency accommodation.

Means-tested assistance will also be available for uninsured essential household contents and repairs to structural home damage.

Weather forecasters said a low pressure system about 150km off Cairns could form into a cyclone as early as Thursday morning.

Severe weather warnings remain in place for much of north Queensland and although the rain is easing, there's not much relief in sight for Ingham.

"We are expecting light to moderate rains but it could be heavy at times," Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) forecaster Brett Harrison said.

"The amount of rainfall should be less over the next 24 hours, but it will depend upon the low (pressure system)."