Mountains of debris expose true impact of Xmas-New Year Gold Coast storms

Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate says parts of the Glitter Strip have been “basically obliterated” by the Christmas-New Year storms, leaving in their wake a “once-in-a-generation” clean-up with enough green waste to stack 80 football fields 2m high.

Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate says parts of the Glitter Strip have been “basically obliterated” by the Christmas-New Year storms, leaving in their wake a “once-in-a-generation” clean-up with enough green waste to stack 80 football fields 2m high.

Cr Tate was giving an update on “Operation Clean-Up’ on Friday, almost a fortnight after violent storms smashed the city – damaging at least 800 homes, more than 100 community and commercial buildings and uprooting hundreds of trees.

Gold Coast City Council has issued a big 'thank you' message to services helping with the restoration and clean-up efforts after a horror week of storms. Picture: Gold Coast City Council/Facebook

“The storms have left our city facing a once in a generation storm clean up with some homes and infrastructure basically obliterated,” Mayor Tom Tate said.

“We are now faced with a mammoth clean-up task, including the removal of green waste and storm debris across the impacted areas.

“It is estimated that the green waste left across the city as a result of storms would fill up to 80 football fields, two metres high.”

Hundreds of trees have been uprooted across the region. Pic Annette Dew

Cr Tate said the council was offering kerbside pick-up or skips for removing storm-related debris, depending on the extent of damage.

“We ask when it is time for your street pick-up or skip that you do not mix any other waste with your green waste,” he said.

ADF help in the clean up at Kriedeman Road in Wongawallan after ferocious storms slammed the Gold Coast area. Pics Adam Head

“We also ask that only those who are storm affected use this service so that our teams can focus of those most in need.

“Grants will also be available to aid in the removal of storm debris for vulnerable members of our community.”

Operation Clean Up program director Ainslie Buffett said more than 45 crews had been deployed to clear roads and parks of dangerous debris.

“The City and our partner agencies are continuing to assess the damage and so far there are more than 800 houses and more than 115 commercial and community buildings damaged,” she said.

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Owner of Spectrum Plants Gold Coast Wes Trevor says his business was destroyed after the double whammy of storms and floods. Pics Adam Head

She said a website would be launched next week allowing residents to keep track of kerbside debris collections.

“We ask people to ensure their waste is on the kerbside the day before their schedule pick-up and also separate their green waste from the other storm debris,” she said.

“Clean up work is already underway and as a part of this the City has removed load limits on green waste for domestic customers and waived commercial green waste fees.

The council is operating extended hours at waste and recycling centres from 6am to 6pm to help in the clean-up.