Vanessa Jarrett

2 months ago | abc.net.au | Vanessa Jarrett

As property prices continue to skyrocket across most of Australia, there are still pockets of cheap homes in regional communities. The small town of Cracow is off the beaten track between Eidsvold and Theodore in the Banana Shire, 500 kilometres north-west of Brisbane. Four homes sold in the township last year for between $83,000 and $170,000.

2 months ago | abc.net.au | Vanessa Jarrett

A case of the serious Japanese encephalitis virus has been recorded in a Central Queensland pig, two months after the virus was detected in piggeries in the state's south-east. Queensland Health today confirmed the case in the Banana Shire Council area was the first time the disease had been detected in a pig in Central Queensland. Mosquitoes contract JEV when they bite infected pigs or wading birds, and it's then spread to humans through mosquito bites from the infected insects.

Mar 19, 2025 | abc.net.au | Julia Andre |Vanessa Jarrett

An emergency warning is in place for Halifax in north Queensland, along the Herbert River in Hinchinbrook region, urging residents to take shelter now. A severe thunderstorm warning with heavy rain is in place for Townsville, Palm Island, Giru and Rollingstone in the north. Cardwell Gap had the highest rainfall overnight with 450 millimetres to 5am Thursday, while 267mm fell at Ingham and 226mm at Halifax.

Mar 13, 2025 | abc.net.au | Freya Jetson |Vanessa Jarrett

The Ingham region has received the biggest falls across parts of the state overnight with 123 millimetres at Abergowrie Bridge. Thunderstorm activity is expected today from the Whitsundays to the top of the Cape York Penisula and across to the Northern Territory border. Power supply will be connected by Sunday to the remaining 30,000 homes still without power across the state.

Feb 18, 2025 | abc.net.au | Vanessa Jarrett |Aaron Kelly

After a wet night more rain is expected to fall on Far North Queensland and the coast today. A weak tropical low is moving away from the coast. Flood warnings remain in place for some areas. Heavy showers and thunderstorm activity have continued to hit parts of North Queensland as the Bureau of Meteorology monitors a tropical low off the coast. Senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said some parts of the flood-stricken north tropical coast received up to 100 millimetres of rain overnight.