General News
26 March, 2025
At long last: wet season arrives in the North West
One inch of rain in March is like three inches in January, says a prominent grazier.
GRAZIERS across the North West and much of the Outback are breathing a sigh of relief as significant late-season rain arrived this week, offering a much-needed boost to parched pastures.
After a sporadic wet season, this week’s downpours targeted areas that missed out on earlier precipitation, particularly in the channel country south of Mount Isa and west of Longreach.
“It’s been very positive,” said Cloncurry stock and station agent and grazier Sam Daniels.
“Where the majority of the rain fell; most of it’s been where there hasn’t been a lot of rain for the whole summer.”
The late-season rain is expected to produce a valuable feed source heading into winter.
“It’ll grow a good body of good feed leading into cooler months, which will take us a long way into the back end of the year with good grass,” Mr Daniels explained.
“One inch (of rain) in March is worth three inches in January.
“It couldn’t have come at a better time because we’ve had a long and hot summer.
“It’s the first time ever we’ve had to pull up at lunchtime for the rest of the afternoon in March – I can’t remember that happening before.”
Mr Daniels told North West Weekly that he expected cattle markets to be bolstered as a result of the rain, and believed that prices would remain positive in 2025, despite uncertainty around United States policies that could have an impact on the Australian cattle industry.
GROWERS HAPPY
RICHMOND Shire mayor John Wharton was tickled pink as he watched “soaking rain” hit most corners of the council area.
The downpours have caused the Flinders River to surge, bringing relief and frustration.
Cr Wharton said the river was flowing at approximately 180,000 megalitres per day.
“We still can’t get water out of it to develop our farming industry,” he said, expressing a 25-year struggle to secure water access for irrigation.
The recent rain has also provided ideal conditions for dry farming, particularly in areas with deep black soil.
“This sort of weather’s got huge potential for dry farming,” Cr Wharton explained, noting the subsoil moisture would allow for successful cropping.
Richmond Shire is leading a chickpea plantation trial at Maxwelton and the mayor said the rains created perfect planting conditions.
The trial, backed by the Department of State Development, aims to demonstrate the viability of chickpea farming in the region, with potential net profits estimated at around $600,000 for the council.
“Councils need to build income streams,” Cr Wharton said, highlighting the importance of diversifying revenue beyond rates and government grants.
The only negative from the rain was the likely damage to the unsealed road network in the Richmond and surrounding council areas, the mayor said.
RAINFALL TOTALS
(Weekly up to 9am Tuesday)
Bedourie – 147.7mm
Birdsville – 126.2mm
Boulia – 31.6mm
Burketown – 118mm
Camooweal – 166.4mm
Century Mine – 289.2mm
Cloncurry – 93.4mm*
Hughenden – 86.4mm
Julia Creek – 62.22mm*
Mount Isa – 103.8mm
Normanton – 144.2mm
Richmond – 66.8mm
Urandangi – 139mm
* Figures via the Bureau of Meteorology. Some measurements could be impacted by the loss of power at the weather station.