Basics run low in Queensland as shoppers panic

Empty bread shelves at a Brisbane supermarket. Photo . Getty Images

Queensland cities affected by the floods were running out of basic foods yesterday as panicking shoppers hit grocery stores to stock up.

The Bundaberg region was running short of bread, milk and fuel as fears grew that supplies would dry up because of blocked delivery routes.

Shopowners were trying all sorts of ways to get fresh fruit and vegetables into the city and one man decided to supply only nursing homes and hospitals in the area.

Beemart Enterprises owner Nev Beeston said he would probably be able to keep his Bundaberg retail operation open until at least tomorrow.

"We've sent a truck down to Brisbane to see if it can get through on the back roads. But we source mainly from the Rocklea markets and they're about to go under water."

Beemart wholesale and retail manager Jason Beeston said they were able to source some local produce, such as tomatoes and cucumbers, but their regular supplier in the Lockyer Valley was hit by the floods.

One Bundaberg service station ran out of unleaded petrol on Tuesday morning.

"We have had a lot of panic buying - [drivers] should be responsible, they can't go anywhere because the roads are cut," the owner, Gary Jensen,said.

He had originally thought the service station would have enough fuel to last until tomorrow.

One customer purchased 200 litres of fuel from him yesterday.

Bundaberg Regional Council urged people not to panic-buy fuel, saying it was being adequately sourced from Gladstone.

In Toowoomba, shoppers rushed to grocery stores yesterday to stock up on staples, unsure of when the next delivery would arrive. Shopper Wendy Smyth said the rush at The Range Shopping Centre's Woolworths was worse than Christmas.

"I've never seen it this busy before, not even at Christmas," Ms Smyth said, ringing up a bill of about $300.

"It's basically survival items; there is going to be some trouble getting supplies to Toowoomba for a while."

Staff at the Supa IGA grocery shop in the city were flat out yesterday and ran out of regular and powdered milk.

"They can't get the milk out of Brisbane so we can't stock up for a while. Fresh foods like bread and produce have been very popular and we've run out of bottled water," said staff member Peter Johnston.

At the Woolworths at The Ridge store, manager Rick Lester said he had no choice but to ration loaves of bread to two a customer.

"Our fresh milk lasted until lunchtime yesterday [Tuesday]," he said.

"The long-life milk was the next thing to go. We'll keep our doors open until we run out of stock."

Rockhampton Mayor Brad Carter said it was impossible to estimate how long it would be before trucks were able to leave Brisbane to service central and northern Queensland.

The inland supply route from Brisbane, which has kept Rockhampton's stores stocked with food, medicines and essential items, has been cut by the floods.

- APN, staff reporter