There are reports of looters and a bull shark in the flooded Ipswich suburb of Goodna, west of Brisbane.

Local Councillor Paul Tully says the main street of the Ipswich suburb is four to six metres under water.

He says residents have reported seeing two boats of people breaking into homes along Brisbane Terrace.

"The people who do that in the time of a disaster are despicable - they're the scum of the Earth," he said.

"They deserve nothing less than a jail sentence for preying on people who are caught in one of the worst crises of their life.

"I just find it absolutely appalling what these people are doing."

He has also warned Ipswich residents to stay out of floodwaters after a bull shark was spotted in the main street of Goodna.

He says sharks are common in the Goodna stretch of the Brisbane river and residents should take care.

"Stay out of the water - you've got the problem of the sanitation of the water, but also the possibility of bull sharks and being eaten," he said.

"I never would have thought I would ever have seen a bull shark in the main street of Goodna."