The biggest lessons the Gold Coast learned from the Cyclone Alfred was about ourselves.

What the Gold Coast learned from a cyclone hitting - and the division it has revealed in the city. SEE HOW IT BROKE FRIENDSHIPS

Dear Alfred, like most holidaymakers you loved the Gold Coast, stayed for a week.

Apart from the damage caused to our homes and beaches, what did we learn from you?

Firstly, a lot about the Crisafulli Government.

This was the first time we got to see Premier David Crisafulli and his ministers, work with City of Gold Coast leadership team. They visited the Disaster and Emergency Management Centre at Southport.

The Premier works marathon hours, and for him, it’s about being “on message”. Clearly, that was to talk up the resilience of Queenslanders.

A council insider said: “The Premier works hard, there is no doubt about that, 18 hour days, but he is also a micro-manager.”

Cyclone Alfred has not only caused challenges for the landscape of south-east Queensland. It has caused some political upheaval. Pictured Deputy Gold Coast Mayor Donna Gates, Mayor Tom Tate and Premier David Crisafulli.

When Police Minister Dan Purdie was approached by your columnist and Nine after his visit, he politely declined to be interviewed.

Alfred, have you ever heard of a pollie not wanting a free kick in front of the TV cameras?

The Premier was not happy with Acting Mayor Donna Gates — she received phone call from a staffer — about saying people who risked the lives of emergency workers by stupid behaviour on the beaches would be whacked with $16,000 fines.

Nor did the Government like the City putting out the worst case scenario flood maps. “

“We had to put out the actual flooding maps,” a source added.

So you see Alfred, the City was more much more transparent about you, our cyclonic visitor, than the water in most suburban backyard pools.

City CEO Tim Baker pushed for the mapping to be released, and each day he updated more than 3000 staffers with a call.

The other thing Alfred — can I call you Alf now we know each other so well? Good, because, between us, Alfie you caused a helluva stink at council.

Ms Gates did such a great job briefing the media each day while Mayor Tom Tate was trying planes, trains and automobiles to get out of Las Vegas.

So much so that several colleagues wanted her to continue in her Deputy role past April.

Now City chair Mark Hammel — he’s the tall farming fella dealing with the worst of your downpour in the north — he’s to be the new deputy in a few weeks but some councillors believe it was a bad look to immediately turf Ms Gates.

Cr Mark Hammel will be the new Deputy Mayor. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

This debate caused friendships to topple like that lifeguard tower off Narrowneck.

What about disaster co-ordinator Mark Ryan? He was the real calm before the storm. But when he had to call code red and issue the order to “shelter in place” — we all listened.

The biggest lesson from your visit?

Many of us, particularly emergency workers have two lives — between work and a commitment to home. You put a lot of us off balance Alfie, by making a choice.

A video has been taken of a jet skier and wakeboarder in Kleinschmidt Family Park at Maudsland. The Gold Coast hinterland park, popular with dog walkers, was a green glass field until Cyclone Alfred.

But you know we’re a fun place. Just look at the footage a friend sent, of a jet ski and wakeboarder at Kleinschmidt Family Park at Maudsland.

Faster than walking your dog. Goodbye Alfie — just don’t tell any of your mates up north about us.

Follow @PaulWestonGC 

 

Originally published as The biggest lessons the Gold Coast learned from the Cyclone Alfred was about ourselves.