It was arguably the flood that the Mole district west of Tenterfield needed to have in order to drag itself out of years of drought when around 125 millilitres of rain fell recently in the valley, mostly on March 23.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Sandra Smith of hay and cattle property Trenayr on the Mole River said she appreciated the soaking but could have done without the damage, with many along the river losing fencing and flood gates.
READ ALSO:
She has just now been able to get back onto the paddocks after they went underwater in the deluge, to clear off the debris and stand up fencing ahead of planting around 50 acres of oats. She said the damage isn't as extensive as it was in the 2011 floods when fences just disappeared. The replacement ones are fairly easy to re-stand.
That will be on the homestead side of the river. Crossings have been washed out or filled with debris or remain too soft, making them impassable especially for cropping equipment.
"We should have planted rice," Ms Smith quipped.
It will be the first time in years she has planted any crop with confidence. Nothing was planted in 2018 and 19, with very little sown or harvested last year.
The Bruxner Highway was cut at several places during the worst of the flooding, with the Beardy River bridge the first to go under with the water level higher than it was back in 2011. It was followed by most bridges as far as Goondiwindi.
Ms Smith had ploughed one paddock to allow the predicted rain to penetrate the dry surface but its top soil can now be found in the next door paddock. That paddock's top soil is on the road.
She said the hills are now green but it's too late in the season for a bulk of feed to grow.
Whether the drought has finally broken will depend on the district continuing to receive rain to the end of the year, but it's good to see dams full and springs working again.