Sunshine Coast flooding, wild storms: Mammoth efforts from local volunteers

Heroic rural and urban firefighters have recalled their desperate efforts during recent storms, cutting paths to safety and carrying out a major North Shore rescue mission.

Fire brigade and State Emergency Services members and volunteers went to great lengths to assist with clean-ups and evacuations during the region’s recent wild weather.

Rural fire brigade volunteers used a tractor and chainsaws to force their way out after trees were ripped down in a “tornado” like storm at the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

Brigade members are revealing the lengths taken to help the region as the clean-up efforts continue following the six-day deluge and wild storm that wreaked havoc over 10 days across the region.

They are among many stories of heroic acts from residents, volunteers and authorities.

Meanwhile at the northern end of the region authorities evacuated 45 people from Noosa North Shore including a 35-week pregnant woman with labour pains.

Landsborough Rural Fire Brigade member and Caloundra Group Officer Craig Young commended the work of dozens of volunteers who rushed to help when the hinterland town was smashed by a wild “tornado-like” storm on Wednesday, March 3.

Landsborough Rural Fire Brigade member Craig Young with first officer Mark Jakeman. Picture: Che Chapman

“It was like a 747 landing on your roof,” Mr Young said.

“The noise of the hail and the wind was incredible … it lasted 15 minutes but it felt like an eternity.”

Mr Young said father and son Trevor and Mark Jakeman - the brigade’s first officer - were among the volunteers who went to great lengths to respond when calls for help were made at 3am.

The wild storm ripped trees down across roads throughout the region.

“They got the call at 3.30am that we needed to man the station and get started on a clean up,” Mr Young said.

“There were trees all over the road so Mark, the younger one said he had to get there so he walked two kilometres into town.

“His dad Trevor used the tractor to push his way through, and he had another member helping him with a chainsaw for the larger trees.”

The path they cleared gave residents and other members access to get out of their homes.

“I take my hat off to some of our younger members who were swinging chainsaws and pulling out logs, it was remarkable,” Mr Young said.

The efforts came after volunteers already spent days helping the Sunshine Coast and Gympie regions clean up from flooding.

Noosa Heads Fire Brigade station officer Rob Frey said members partnered with the State Emergency Services to assist 350 residents and campers at Noosa North Shore who were cut off from the mainland.

Mr Frey said the crews used a state emergency services floodboat to help evacuate about 45 people off the shore aided by the Noosa Coast Guard.

One of those evacuated was a woman who was 35 weeks pregnant and having labour pains.

“Our crews responded with fire aid, oxygen and a defibrillator and we packed up the boat with blankets and mattresses,” he said.

“We had put the call out to medically qualified people and four nurses put their hands up to help her.

“She was taken to hospital.”

The Tewantin ferry had to close as the Noosa River peaked and caused major flooding along Hilton Tce.

Mr Frey said many of the trapped group had little or low access to water supply, food and medical supplies.

Rob Frey pictured during swiftwater operation training at the Mary River. Picture: Tanya Easterby

He said a crew of four worked in stints throughout the flooding emergency in tandem with the rural fire services at the camping hotspot.

“Nappies, medical, food, drinks, we collected scripts from the pharmacies and picked it, all while the weather was going berserk around us,” Mr Frey said.

Mr Frey said all in all the combined emergency services response and the help from residents meant that everyone was kept safe and sound, albeit a bit damp.

“It was extremely tidal and there was flooding to low lying residents near Maximillian Rd, but they were safe and sheltered,” he said.

“Everyone did an exemplary job all around.”