St George residents are playing a waiting game after flood waters lapping at the town's edge settled below a predicted peak.
First tipped to reach 15 metres, the swollen Balonne River steadied at a record 13.95 metres at 4am (AEST) on Thursday, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
However, Balonne Shire Mayor Donna Stewart told AAP it will be a couple of days before the river subsides enough for a standing evacuation order to be lifted.
'It's all good (here) now we know the river has peaked and the water is going to start receding,' Ms Stewart said.
Flood waters moving down stream would on Thursday cut arterial roads servicing St George, she said.
Both Thallon Road and the Moonie Highway would be closed to traffic for most of Thursday.
Another problem for the town is ineffective sewerage pumps.
About 30 homes were inundated during week.
'There's quite a bit of emotion around and it's unfortunate a few (houses) have to be sacrificed to save the majority,' Ms Stewart said.
Further west at Cunnamulla council workers have reinforced the levee protecting the town ahead of the Warrego River's expected peak on Thursday.
The small town of Dirranbandi, south of St George, was cut off on Wednesday as flood waters moved towards the NSW border.
Police said roads into the town, which is protected by a levee, would likely remain closed for weeks.
Dirran Pub bartender Howard Best said locals had plenty of warning and most were well prepared.
'We know if they get rain up north it'll come to us a week later,' he told AAP.
Police stepped up their patrols of flood-damaged roads on Wednesday, offering support to motorists trapped by floodwaters, and to those returning home.
