Rockhampton floods recede, crocs new fear Flood levels have peaked well below the 2011 level in Rockhampton, officials say. SALTWATER crocodiles and venomous snakes are worrying Rockhampton residents and authorities as the Fitzroy River falls further below an 8.6 metre peak. The central Queensland river has been receding since Saturday morning, sparing Australia's beef capital the devastation of a predicted 8.7 metre inundation. While fewer streets are being evacuated - compared with early 2011 when the river peaked at 9.2 metres - the sighting of crocodiles on streets at Koongal and Depot Hill is still a concern. Maurice Stafford, a 66-year-old Depot Hill resident, is doing his best to stay out of deeper waters, following the sighting of a nearby crocodile. "I'm definitely not going to look for one," the retiree told AAP with a chuckle. There would be a crocodile there, don't worry about that. Down there - there's a big channel that takes into the river. A block away on East Street, a female resident said she was reluctant to let her daughter's two dogs play in her flooded backyard after she spotted a snake. "I saw something move through the water," she said. Other residents are using boats to access flooded homes, with one man seen delivering a pizza in a tinny on Sunday afternoon. Fire and Rescue officers have been dropping off food to flood bound homeowners. Rockhampton deputy mayor Tony Williams said crocodiles were likely to be lurking around low-lying areas, as the river dropped below 8.5 metres on Sunday. "The Fitzroy River is a natural habitat for saltwater crocodiles," he told reporters on Sunday. It's always a danger there. It's something that we need to be mindful of, and informing the residents not to go into those waters because of those risks that are there with those crocodiles. Rockhampton Airport was closed on Friday night but on Sunday, flights were resuming aboard turbo prop aircraft with up to 74 seats. The Fitzroy River was expected to fall below 8m on Monday, and to three metres by Wednesday ahead of planned clean-up operations. Beaches to Rockhampton's east, including Yeppoon and Emu Park, have been closed because of debris and cattle carcasses. Floodwater filled the backyards of about 1100 backyards, but Rockhampton Regional Council expected fewer homes and businesses to have water above the floorboards compared with 2011 when 200 dwellings were inundated. About 26 people have moved to an evacuation centre and Ergon Energy has had to disconnect 23 homes in low lying areas. The council is advising residents to brace for the pungent odour of rotting vegetation as the floodwaters recede. "Whilst there have been minor surcharges in the sewerage network, these are isolated and have been addressed as soon as practicable," a spokeswoman said in a statement. The Bruce Highway south of Rockhampton was reopened to light vehicles on Sunday morning after being closed overnight because of fast-flowing water over the Yeppen Crossing.