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Grazier welcomes 'gentle' flood in Qld's central-west

By Chrissy Arthur, Wednesday February 8, 2012 - 12:50 EDT

Flooding Thomson River at Longreach on February 3. ABC Local: Chris Ball - ABC

Away from the flood devastation in Queensland's southern inland, a central-west grazier says flooding in the Thomson River will be a huge boost.

Moderate flooding in the Thomson River is again rising at Longreach, with a peak expected later tonight.

Major flooding is then forecast downstream for the Cooper Creek at Windorah, south-west of Longreach, over the weekend and into next week.

Grazier Angus Emmott, south-west of Longreach, says channels all the way to the South Australian border will benefit.

"Three big seasons in a row - it is just incredible," he said.

"After 10 years of drought, you just rub your eyes and look around at all the green feed and think, 'wow'.

"It is a nice, gentle flood - shouldn't do too much damage to fences and should grow a lot of food, so it is great at this point in time.

"With the Barcoo and the Thomson, all river flats here right down through to South Australia and beyond will have a nice covering of water, which will mean there is going to be great feed, so it is very much a good news story.

He says the bird life in the region is "just amazing" at the moment.

"They are all breeding, the insects are getting a real go-along, so all the natural environment as well as us as pastoralists - we're all benefitting from this good season," he said.

- ABC

© ABC 2012