SE Qld weather: Campers, motorists rescued as rain system unleashes hell on southeast

Dozens of campers and several motorists have been rescued from floodwaters in South East Queensland amid a relentless deluge. It comes as the federal and state governments announced funding for those impacted.

Relentless rain is expected to continue across South East Queensland on Tuesday, after major flooding inundated the region on New Year’s Day, closing roads and forcing emergency rescues and tourist evacuations across the Gold Coast and Scenic Rim.

Overnight, a group of 44 campers were taken by bus to the Nerang evacuation centre after becoming stranded on a private camping ground near Hayters Rd at Natural Bridge, about 50km south of the Gold Coast.

Firefighters rescue campers south of the Gold Coast after the area was inundated with huge rainfall. Picture: QFES

Rescues south of the Gold Coast after the region was hammered by rain and flash flooding. Picture: QFES

And five people were rescued when their vehicles became stuck in floodwaters.

The City of Gold Coast has advised residents that all Gold Coast beaches will be closed today due to hazardous surf conditions, with the council urging people to stay out of the water and avoid walking near surf-exposed areas.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for the South East, between Coolangatta and Maryborough, just after 5am, saying big rainfall totals of between 100-200mm were likely over the next several hours, with isolated 24-hourly totals of more than 350mm possible.

LATEST WEATHER ADVICE

Heavy rainfall and life-threatening flash flooding was forecast to continue throughout Tuesday, with at least 90mm more rain expected on the Gold Coast and 70mm in Brisbane.

As of 9.20pm on Monday, Currumbin Creek had received 573mm since New Year’s Eve, Upper Springbrook 534mm, Lower Springbrook 440mm, Little Nerang Dam 380mm, Mt Nimmel 360mm, Springbrook 351mm, Neranwood 338mm and Tallai 330mm.

In pictures: Flood devastation across SE Qld

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There has been more flash flooding on the Sunshine Coast this morning, with Crosby Hill Rd at Tanawhat and Old Marchoochydore Rd at the Eudlo Creek Bridge, Forest Glen under water.

There’s also been damage to Black Mountain Rd.

Sunshine Coast Council and the Department of Transport and Main Roads has closed the roads and asked drivers to avoid these areas.

FULL LIST OF ROAD CLOSURES, POWER OUTAGES

Inland suburbs Pimpama and Ormeau experienced dangerous washouts as riverbanks broke overnight.

The torrential downpour came just as residents were clearing out their damaged homes following a series of wild Christmas storms that ripped roofs off houses and downed hundreds of powerlines, with trees uprooted and strewn across fences and roads.

A powerful double trough system began wreaking havoc on New Year’s Eve, with many people celebrating among fireworks and lightning shows.

Emergency services ready to perform a swift water rescue on the Gold Coast. Picture: Charlton Hart

HELP FOR THOSE IMPACTED BY STORMS

Businesses, not-for-profits and farmers impacted by the destructive Christmas night storms in South East Queensland can now get government assistance for impact suffered.

The federal and state government has announced Disaster Assistance and Essential Working Capital Loans for affected small businesses, primary producers and not-for-profits in the City of Gold Coast, Scenic Rim Regional Council and Logan City Council areas to assist with the repair and recovery of essential equipment, and for loss of income.

Freight subsidies are also being made available to primary producers to alleviate the costs of moving stock and operating materials.

Assistance is being provided through the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

This is on top of the personal hardship grants and other assistance previously announced for the three hard-hit local government areas.

All fees payable for mediation through the Office of the Queensland Small Business Commissioner will be waived for eligible SEQ business tenants and landlords from December 25, 2023.

To further measure the impacts of the SEQ weather event on small businesses, a new SEQ Natural Disaster Business Survey has been launched on the Business Queensland website.

Woodlands Park at Mudgeeraba under water on Monday. Picture: Adam Head

‘RAPIDS AT OUR BACK DOOR’: DRAMATIC EVACUATIONS, RESCUES

On the first day of 2024, firefighters conducted 10 swiftwater rescues and evacuated hundreds of camp goers who woke to raging storms and nearly 400mm falls of rain.

Theme parks Dreamworld, Movie World and Wet N’ Wild were forced to shut on New Year’s Day as relentless rain poured over the city, sparking emergency evacuation plans.

Movie World, Dreamworld and White Water World remained closed on Tuesday.

Worongary resident Jonathan Kinderman said he woke up to “rapids” at his back door just before 5am.

“I had to wake up our four small kids and jump the fence to our neighbour on higher ground as roads were also flooded,” he said.

“We just heard the rain and noticed the flood level rising.

“We lost most of the house and the back of the property.”

Mr Kinderman said while they had not received much damage from the Christmas storms, they and other residents lost power for five days.

By 10am on Monday more than 200mm of rain had drenched his suburb.

“I believe the water levels have dropped, but more rain is expected to come,” he said.

The Coomera River at Clagiraba Rd in the hinterland reached major flood levels by Monday morning, peaking at 6.57m, before slowly receding during the afternoon.

A car caught in floodwaters at Clagiraba Weir. The driver was rescued from his roof by a local. Picture Glenn Hampson

The Pimpama River at Stewarts Rd also peaked at a moderate 3.48m, but levels began to fall from mid-afternoon.

A watch and act alert was issued for the Gold Coast on Monday afternoon.

Mayor Tom Tate asked residents to pack a three-day survival kit and prepare to move to higher ground, and to plan for pets and vulnerable family members in case of emergency evacuation. “Make a decision early,” Mr Tate said.

“Don’t wait because it can be very difficult for ambulances to get in there for other people.”

Logan also was on flood alert and the city council was offering sandbags to residents.

State Disaster Co-ordinator, Assistant Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy, said floodwaters had risen at extreme rates, isolating houses and communities “very quickly”.

“We’re seeing landslides occurring on our roadways, we’re seeing washouts,” he said.

Mr Chelepy said an additional request for clean-up support and resources would be made to the federal government following the back-to-back weather crises.

“Yesterday, we had a conversation about the potential use of ADF generators to support our generation network, but working with Energy Queensland it was determined the generator support we could get through the ADF did not suit our network,” he said.

Infrastructure Minister Grace Grace said army reserves or veterans could be deployed to storm-ravaged communities amid the ongoing threat of severe thunderstorms and flash flooding, while additional police would be sent to areas without power.

Flooded roads at Mudgeeraba. Picture: Adam Head

Energex crews working to restore the last 10 per cent of residents affected by the Christmas storm wave were stood down on Monday morning as State Development and Ms Grace revealed some Jimboomba and Mount Tamborine residents could remain without power until January 5.

About 14,000 households and businesses remain without power.

“We’ve got every available crew on deck ... but obviously weather like today and the severe weather warning is causing a bit of havoc with that,” Ms Grace said.

“We know there is more to go and it’s going to take a few more days before we can get full power installed in some of those areas that have been very hard hit.”

Evacuation centres have opened in Nerang, Coomera and Tamborine Mountain, and sandbag stations remain open.

A severe weather warning for life-threatening flash flooding was in place for all coastal residents along a 350km stretch between Rainbow Beach and Coolangatta on Monday night.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Deputy Commissioner Kevin Walsh pleaded with residents to stay at home and off the roads and boaties out of the waters.

“If there is no compelling reason to be out on the road, can I suggest, over the next 12 hours at least, people stay in their homes,” he said.

“I can’t express the importance enough (for) people staying home ...”