Australia Weather News
A washout caused by heavy rain at Marqua Station. - ABC
Pastoralists north-east of Alice Springs are assessing damage to station roads and fences after heavy rain fell in the region last week.
Rain from a monsoonal low which flooded parts of the Top End travelled south, with significant falls on the Barkly Tablelands and central Australia.
Marqua Station received 140mm over four days, after a long dry period.
The station's Blair Power said there was "plenty of damage" to station roads and fences following the rainfall.
"All the roads, we are going to have to hook into with the grader, dozer and loader," she said.
"There is plenty of flood fencing to do as well, when we can get to them.
"Quad bike access is about our limit at the moment. The boys went for a drive the other day and one of the washouts in particular was deeper than the quad bike."
Ms Power said repairs around the station were expected to take months.
"Our grader driver is off on holidays at the moment, so we will just fix up the roads around the house," she said.
"When we can get [the grader driver] back he will be flat out for a couple of months."
Country starts to green up after welcome rain
Despite damage to the property, the rains were welcome relief to the region, which has struggled with a 'severe deficiency' of rainfall for the past 38 months.
Ms Power said the country started to green up not long after the rains finished.
"There is plenty of green pick around. Now the sun has come out it has all started to come up," she said.
"Even the trees have responded really well."
The grass sprouting after the rainfall would set up the station's cattle for the rest of the year, Ms Power said.
"It would still be nice to get some more but we shouldn't have to worry too much for the rest of the year if we don't get any more," she said.
"It will kick our calves and cows along nicely. We have been carrying around 4,000 head.
"It will probably stay the same, we won't restock it, but we might keep our weaners on instead of sending them to another block, keep them on and feed them up here."
ABC