Australian PM visits flood victims

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has visited flood ravaged towns to show her support to victims, many of whom have evacuated their homes.

The Balonne River is expected to reach a level of 13.4m this weekend, falling slightly shorter of the 14 metre mark first expected, and sparing the 5,000 people who live nearby of further destruction.

Residents of St George, however, are still preparing levee banks around their houses as a precaution.

Gillard inspected the town and then left in an army helicopter to inspect Rockhampton where the Fitzroy River is over 9m.

Some residents will not be able to return to their homes until waters subside next week.

The floods which have recently affected central Queensland cover an area greater than France and Germany combined.