Weather eases as storm recovery effort gathers steam

More rain is on the way as the clean-up begins across a storm-hit south-east Queensland.

But the Bureau of Meteorology does not expect a repeat of the wild weather that lashed the region across the Christmas-New Year period.

Conditions finally eased this week, allowing the recovery effort to start after seven people died in storm-related incidents.

The Australian Defence Force began to arrive on Thursday to assist the hardest-hit areas where homes were destroyed and thousands left without power.

More than 50 ADF personnel are expected to be on the ground in the south-east by Friday.

“They’ll be dealing with some of the more complex tree removals and debris clearances for public spaces that are critical infrastructure,” Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen said.

A convoy of Australian Army Protected Mobility Vehicles on way from Caboolture to Greenbank as part of personnel from Brisbane’s 11th Brigade providing local assistance to the Logan, Gold Coast and Scenic Rim areas.Credit: Department of Defence

The bureau warned showers and isolated thunderstorms were set to return in the south-east on Friday.

Though residents should not expect another severe weather event, with more flooding unlikely.

“This activity will be very short and sharp,” meteorologist David Grant said.

“It’s highly unlikely that we’ll see a return of any high end, severe thunderstorm activity.

“A lot of our catchments are now saturated following the recent storm activity but we do not have a flood watch at the moment.”

Flooding at the Curtis Falls track in Tamborine National Park.Credit: Scott Clark/@ramrock_ent/Scott

The Gold Coast experienced a tornado on Christmas Day while Logan and the Scenic Rim regions were also hit hard after storms were followed by heavy rain and flash flooding.

Christensen said the storms had a huge impact on his region.

“Many in the community have shone a really bright light with character and resilience,” he said.

“There are also a number of people who’ve never experienced something like this and are now in the middle of a very challenging learning process.”

Scenic Rim, Gold Coast and Logan councils have received $1 million state government funding to assist with the clean-up.

“We know that there are still many homes with trees down in their yards,” Queensland Premier Steven Miles said.

“This $1 million is so that these councils can do what they need to do to get those trees cleared...as quickly as we can.”

Some homes have been without power since Christmas night.

At one stage more than 130,000 people were hit by blackouts.

More than 6000 were still without electricity but most of those should be restored by Friday.

About 900 homes have suffered major electrical damage.

“In those 900 cases, even when we get the electricity connected to their street, that house cannot be reconnected until the electrical work in the home has been checked and certified,” Miles said.

The storms caused “unprecedented levels of damage” to the network.

“It’s obliterated the network in some parts. Poles have been snapped in half,” Energex’s Chris Graham told ABC radio.

Expert loggers are arriving to help clear fallen trees that have damaged hundreds of power lines.

Assessments to date have identified 10 destroyed homes, 145 with moderate structural damage and another 386 with minor problems.

More than 75,000 people have already applied for grants with suburbs in Logan, the Gold Coast and Scenic Rim activated for state and federal assistance.

Gold Coast City Council on Thursday also announced rates notices and water bills would be postponed for two weeks.

-AAP