Drenching rain across parts of North Queensland has saturated some parched western properties, while cutting the Flinders Highway between Torrens Creek and Prairie.

The sale of Etta Plains at Julia Creek for just under $25 million has been hailed as the much-needed agenda setter north west Queensland's embryonic irrigated agriculture industry needs.

A tropical rock lobster growout facility in North Queensland is expected to create a new $500 million aquaculture industry.