Welcome floods cause stock issues

Graziers in western Queensland are facing significant livestock losses as welcome floods break years of drought.

Rain has fallen on land stretching between Townsville and the Northern Territory border, an area that is home to about 20 per cent of cattle in Queensland.

Creeks and dams are overflowing and properties that baked through consecutive days of extreme heat just weeks ago are now underwater.

"It's beautiful rain, but due to the fact that we've been in a couple of years of drought, a lot of the cattle aren't as strong as they should be going into it, and the rain is soaking rain," Richmond mayor John Wharton said.

It has brought hope to some farmers but further grief for others who have received their annual rainfall in less than a week.

"They're very happy about it but there is some livestock losses due to the severity of it," Mr Wharton added.

The black soil plains, out towards Winton and Longreach, have become boggy and slippery.

It means cattle are stressed and struggling to move around to get food.

"These people run thousands of head of cattle, so they're going to lose some," Mr Wharton said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has ordered her agriculture minister to consult western mayors about help for farmers.

They want access to a specific type of government assistance, which would grant low interest loans of up to $250,000 and $5000 in freight subsidies.

However floodwaters must recede before properties can be assessed and a decision on the funding can be determined.