Almost 1.5 metres of rain fell on the town of Cardwell in the first five days of February, causing flooding to 70 homes.

Sixty-five per cent of State Emergency Service call-outs since October have involved trees in NSW. But an arborist says the benefits trees provide outweigh the risks they pose.

Banana lovers with long memories know all too well what flooding in North Queensland can mean for the price of the lunch box ...