Gympie CBD starts clean-up after second flood in three months

Battle-scarred business owners are putting on a brave face amid their second flood-clean up in three months as an alleged looter’s low act ends in criminal charges.

Gympie’s community spirit is on show once again with businesses banding together in the latest flood clean up despite a minority missing the memo.

Police have revealed a man has been charged for trying to break into a Mary Street shop while business owners were rushing to protect their shop fronts from rising floodwaters.

They are still searching for a woman who was with him at the time.

The floods peaked just after 6pm on Saturday at 16.01m, inundating businesses near Memorial Park, sports fields and properties along Brisbane Rd.

Mary Street, which was devastated in the February floods, was unscathed by this time with the river peaking at 6m below the former.

Savage Boxing Fitness Centre, in the lower lying area, was among the few businesses in the CBD which still got wet this time around.

The gym’s owner, Danny Hawkins, said there had been little damage in comparison to the 10 previous floods.

Danny Hawkins, Savage Boxing Fitness Centre owner is hoping that the building will dry in time for a Tuesday afternoon training session

“This was a walk in the park compared to last time, but we were definitely more prepared for this one,” he said

The fitness centre team began clearing out the gym during their Saturday morning training session as floodwaters crept higher.

They finished their preparations by the time the floodwaters made it under the door.

Thanks to the $10,000 worth of lessons in February, the only damage was to electricity cables and low-lying power switches.

The SES hosed the building out on Sunday and on Monday, volunteers continued the clean-up in the hope a session could be held as early as Tuesday.

Mr Hawkins was grateful for the community’s support.

“The community’s been great again, they always seem to bind together when times are tough,” he said.

The Savage Fitness Centre is determined to keep rebuilding the gym for the wellbeing of the community.

“This place has been such a good thing for a lot of the kids and adults in the community, so we’re always going to keep rebuilding if people want it. It’s a good place to be,” Mr Hawkins said

“It’s not just about people wanting to fight, it’s about people being healthy and having a good healthy environment. The town needs places like this.”

The Cooloola Panel and Paint workshop, still under repair from February, has been setback by the latest flood.

The damages were similar to last time, workshop manager Jason Rodger told the Gympie Times.

The water had come in on Saturday, and was at their roller doors at approximately 5pm on Sunday.

However, the workshop was only flooded for just over 24 hours this time around compared to the 4-5 days spent underwater in February.

“We are used to it, it’s not like it’s come out of nowhere,” Mr Rodger said.

“There has been other floods here, this place is always flooded and we know that.

“We’re ready for it, we always have a plan.”

The Hatch Coffee Shop, among the worst affected in February, was in full swing on Monday morning.

They had sealed the doors in advance and only had water up to their front steps.

Wayne’s World in Mary Street also received minor damage, and was up and running on Monday.

Meanwhile, the 20-year-old man allegedly seen attempting to break into a Mary Street business at 4.20pm on Saturday has been charged with one count of enter premises with intent to commit indictable offence.