Rainfall is easing, rivers are receding and emergency alerts have been cancelled in Queensland, Premier David Crisafulli says, as the state moves towards recovery.
Almost 118,000 of the 450,000 homes that lost power during the extreme weather remain without electricity.
"That is a significant amount," Crisafulli said in a media briefing from the Gold Coast on Tuesday.
"That is 118,000 homes, businesses, people who are not able to get back on their feet and it is a lot of people without the ability to go about normal life."
The premier said electricity company Energex is "working around the clock", and that most people "have acknowledged how difficult the situation has been".
'Best briefing we've had for a while'
"The rainfall is easing, rivers are receding and the threat of heavy rainfall is disappearing. With that comes the step from response towards recovery," Crisafulli said.
"I reckon this is the best briefing we've had as a state for a little while. I want this community, the broader region and indeed all of the state [to] know that we are determined to make sure that there is zero daylight between response and recovery.
"We're going to make sure that every single Queenslander is part of that — from the north of the state impacted by floods a month ago, through to the people here who have borne the brunt of this cyclone — everyone will be part of making sure the recovery goes into full swing."
Flooding is seen in Newmarket, in Brisbane, Monday 10 March. Source: AAP / Jono Searle
The Albert River at Beenleigh peaked at 6.02 metres while the Bremer River peaked near the major flood level overnight at 11.47 metres. Both rivers are easing, along with the threat of heavy rainfall.
Upper Springbrook received a total of 1,146mm of rainfall, while 592mm fell at North Stradbroke Island, 522mm at Redlands, 513 at Brisbane city, 475mm at Coolangatta and 313mm at Ispwich.
Emergency alerts have been cancelled, which comes with a "sense of relief for a large number of people," Crisafulli said.
He acknowledged the combined effort of emergency service personnel on the ground "and the difference that they are making".
Schools re-open, transport network a 'moving feast'
The premier said 360 state schools reopened on Tuesday, meaning "more than half of Queensland kids are back at school today".
"With that comes the ability for their parents to be able to try to get back to life as normal. With that is the ability for a nurse to go to the hospital, which then means someone can have an elective surgery they've been waiting for."
Crisalli said the transport network is a "moving feast", with major roads such as Warrego Highway, which connects Brisbane and the state's west, being cut at Forest Hill.
"We are hoping that clears very soon," he said, adding that the Cunningham Highway has reopened.
Roads are closed on the beach front at Coolangatta to make way for workers clearing trees. Source: SBS News / Alexandra Jones
There has been some disruption to water supplies in some areas.
Crisafulli said a few people remain in evacuation centres, which local councils will be closing. "We will be helping making sure that those people are able to either be returned to home, or where they have issues with their housing, that we assist them in that regard."
As the clean-up begins, six community recovery hubs will open across south-east Queensland, which the premier says "exist to give people hope".
Mayor says Ipswich 'dodged a bullet' as flooding peaks
Overnight, major flooding inundated Ipswich, east of Brisbane, but the city's mayor said "it could have been much, much worse".
"It felt like we dodged a bullet," Teresa Harding told ABC News earlier on Tuesday.
"I know there will still be families whose homes are flooded, and there will be businesses flooded, and as a community, we'll work through that. But yes, it could have been much, much worse.
"We'll wait for the waters to recede and do a full damage assessment, and work with our community."
Harding said these kinds of events are "emotionally devastating" for the community.
"You're not alone. I'm so sorry you've had to go through this. It is very traumatic. Talk to your family and friends. We'll have the evacuation centre and places of refuge for people to come to," she said.
"If you want to pop in and have a chat and a couple of tea, we'd love to see you."
Northern NSW: Major flood warnings lifted, evacuation centres to shut
Meanwhile evacuation centres in northern NSW are due to shut as the latest emergency threat for the region winds down with floodwaters from Alfred receding.
More than 50 emergency crews were out in the Tweed region finishing damage assessments, with four properties already deemed uninhabitable due to water damage.
About 7,500 homes and businesses were still not connected to power on Tuesday as heavy rain continued to fall in many areas.
Major flood warnings had been lifted for most areas, except parts of the Richmond River.
With additional reporting from the Australian Associated Press
