Qld shires off drought declared list

A long, dry summer in Queensland is starting to give way, with nine shires and two part shires taken off the drought declared list.

Despite drenching rain in many parts of the state, in part due to Cyclone Debbie, at one stage a record 87 per cent of the state was drought declared.

However, the government has now removed the declarations for Burke, Carpentaria, Croydon, Etheridge, Doomadgee, Kowanyama, Pormpuraaw, Mount Isa, Cook, Mareeba and Southern Downs.

Queensland Agriculture Minister Bill Byrne said it was good news for those communities.

"There is no doubt much of our state remains in the grip of a prolonged drought," the minister said.

"I am awaiting further advice from local drought communities in the Central Highlands and in the southeast, where there was heavy rainfall associated with Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie."