Storms threaten to dampen New Year’s revelry in south-east

A number of motorists also needed help as water levels rose, with one reportedly seeking shelter in a tree before rescue crews arrived.

A man was taken to hospital after he was rescued from the top of his vehicle, which became stuck in floodwaters at 3.43am at Oxford in central Queensland.

A water rescue team found another motorist in floodwaters near Gladstone after he reportedly climbed out of his car and into a tree about 3.30am.

The weather bureau said Kingaroy received 149mm in 24 hours, nearly doubling its record for a daily December downpour set in 2008.

Queensland’s highest rainfall was 182mm at Torbanlea, north of Maryborough on the Fraser Coast, followed by 169mm at Hervey Bay’s Black Swamp.

Seqwater said flood releases from south-east Queensland’s largest water storage, Wivenhoe Dam, were possible within the next 48 hours.

Flood warnings remain for the Fraser Coast’s Burrum and Cherwell Rivers, as well as Wide Bay’s Stuart River and central Queensland’s Boyne River.

AAP