© ABC: Paul LockyerCooper Creek has been in flood since heavy rain in western Queensland late last year
A monsoonal low has dumped more than 130 millimetres of rain over parts of south-west Queensland overnight.
That has led to flooding in Bradley's Gully, which cuts through the centre of Charleville.
Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts says around a third of Charleville will be evacuated.
"For the town today ... expect potentially up to 500 people to be evacuated from their homes, which is quite significant," he said.
"People from the nursing home have been evacuated to the hospital.
"The mayor describes it as the worst in years so it's quite a significant flood for the town."
Queensland Health says some residents from Charleville's Waroona Home have been moved to the nearby hospital while others have been sent home with relatives.
A spokeswoman says hotels are being assessed to see if they can take patients if the hospital has to be evacuated and the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) is on standby to fly people to Roma for treatment if necessary.
Caravan park owner Julian Delchau says many homes along the gully have been inundated.
"A lot of people are going to higher ground - the showground is taking a lot of accommodation where they can at the moment," she said.
"Anywhere there's higher ground, everybody's parked their cars and lifting stuff off the ground and doing the best they can."
A long-time resident of south-west Queensland says the floodwaters are the biggest he has seen since 1968.
Alby Lyons from Cheepie, east of Quilpie, says there is significant flooding in the region.
"I've never seen it - I think it's the second biggest - I thought the last one was a big flood, but this one out does it," he said.
"It'd be a good metre over the highway this morning. I drove out to have a look this morning and I thought I was looking out over the ocean."
Grazier Michael Treloar, from Boothulla Station between Charleville and Quilpie, says the headwaters of the Paroo are the highest they have been in decades.
He says river levels on his property are almost at record levels and could cause problems further downstream.
"The river's running very high this morning - I'd say almost a record here, higher than 1990 levels," he said.
"That water is crossing over the Quilpie Road now and that'll be shut.
"You've also got Quilberry Creek which was very high last night. It actually put four inches of water through the roadhouse there on the Quilpie road."
Further east, Roma is expecting major flooding this afternoon.
© ABC News: David BrookA road sign is all that can be seen on a flooded Birdsville road
Most of the region's highways are cut and in the far south-west, Bedourie and Birdsville remain isolated by floodwaters.
Scott Mason from the Diamantina Council says water innundated the Birdsville school when the stormwater drains failed to cope with the downpour.
He says the damage bill for roads could be close to $10 million.
"The shire's road infrastructure is estimated between $7 million and $9 million at this stage," he said.
"It'll be business as usual just making sure that everyone has access to food and that the clean-up can continue once waters recede."
Rescues
Earlier this morning, police rescued a woman and a child caught in floodwaters in Charleville.
Their car was swamped on Wills Street, near the swollen Bradley's Gully.
Another woman was also rescued from floodwaters at Roma in Queensland's southern inland and a man was rescued from a flooded river in Townsville in the north.
A band of heavy rain continues to move across southern parts of Queensland.
Authorities are reminding residents to stay away from floodwaters.
Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ) spokesman Bruce Grady says floodwaters have claimed too many lives.
"We've had 14-plus deaths in the last two years around floodwaters, so our advice is simply keep away," he said.
"Do not take the risk of either trying to drive through or play around fast-moving water."
Meanwhile, the RSPCA says livestock owners should move their animals to higher ground in case their properties flood.
RSPCA spokesman Michael Beattie says the organisation has already been called to a rescue north-west of Brisbane this morning.
"There's a cow that has been trapped in a swollen river in Morayfield so that's one difficult situation already," he said.
"Unfortunately we expect more, so just a very poignant warning I guess to please move your livestock to higher ground."
Southern Queensland
© ABC Local: Monica JamesDisaster zone: floodwaters at a property near Quilpie, west of Charleville
"Indications are around the Mitchell area it's the highest it's been since the April 1990 flood - it's still rising quite rapidly," he said.
"It probably won't get to the 1990 flood levels, but it's still a major flood in and around the Mitchell area and extending down the Maranoa towards Beardmore Dam with quite fast rises today."
Authorities are also monitoring rising floodwaters in Queensland's southern inland at Mitchell and Roma.
The State Emergency Service (SES) and residents are sand-bagging low-lying properties in Roma.
Maranoa Mayor Rob Loughnan says more than 120 millimetres has fallen in the area overnight and that has cut major highways and turned local creeks into raging rivers.
Councillor Loughnan says they are also monitoring the river at Mitchell.
"The Maranoa river has got a very big run in it and we're certainly monitoring that at the moment," he said.
"Certainly a big run - as big as the run in 1990 - I'm told it looks like a flood situation over there."
Councillor Loughnan has appealed for residents not to hamper emergency services.
"We're still getting far too many sightseers, particularly at the critical points where we don't want traffic," he said.
South-east
© Commonwealth of Australia, Australian Bureau of MeteorologyThe desert parts of Australia received a particularly good soaking this week
Bureau forecaster Ben Annells warns there could be more flash flooding this afternoon.
"We have a developing low pressure system off the Fraser Island area, which is going to move north during the day," he said.
"Basically what we're going to see are continuing rain areas through that area today - still some locally heavy falls expected, which may lead to some further flash flooding issues.
"[It's] still quite windy - we have gale warning current for the coastal waters."
More than 100 millimetres of rain has been recorded on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts in the 24-hour period to 9am AEST.
The Sunshine Coast has received the heaviest falls in the region with more than 150 millimetres recorded overnight.
Flooding in the Mooloolah river is beginning to fall as the high tide recedes.
Home are being being sandbagged, roads are cut and the airport is closed because of the wild weather on the Sunshine Coast.
The Maroochy River broke its banks this morning on Bradman Avenue, forcing residents in low lying areas to sandbag their homes.
Flights in and out of the Sunshine Coast Airport have been diverted, cancelled or delayed and some bus services have been diverted due to flooded roads.
© Commonwealth of Australia, Australian Bureau of MeteorologyThe month of February had anomalous precipitation levels as well
"There's been extensive rain around the whole of the Sunshine Coast between 150 and 200 [millimetres]," he said.
"That's easing and the issue that's coming up with the formation of the low over Fraser Island - we might get some high winds.
"So if you can stay at home, please stay at home and take care while driving."
Rain is continuing to fall in Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan and on the Gold Coast but it is not as heavy as last night.
There is a long list of local roads cut across the region and authorities are warning people to watch out for water hazards on major arterials.
Rainfall readings are continuing to increase on the Gold Coast.
Almost 150 millimetres has fallen at Molendinar and Evandale since 9:00am AEST yesterday.
Other falls include 134 millimetres at Loder Creek Dam and 132 at Biggera Creek dam.
A big tree fell on power lines in the Oxenford and Upper Coomera areas this morning and Energex says electricity has been restored to most of the 1,600 customers who lost supply.
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