The Village Grocer halts business after Gold Coast flood wreaks ‘thousands of dollars’ in damages

A beloved Guanaba grocer could do nothing but watch as rapid floodwaters devastated his farm and produce. Now he’s calling for urgent help. Read the full story

A beloved Guanaba grocer has been left devastated after flash flooding ripped through their farm, causing thousands of dollars in damages.

The Village Grocer co-owner Will Feenstra said Guanaba Creek rose rapidly with the rain – leaving him, his wife, and their 18-month-old grandchild stranded despite early council warnings.

“It was just unbelievable,” Mr Feenstra said. “I’ve never seen in all the years I’ve been here, water like that.”

“I could see the water coming up. There was nothing anybody could do. All I could do was try save the donkey, our chickens and ourselves.”

Will Feenstra for We Are Gold Coast, Gold Coast Eye.

Flash flooding has inundated Will Feensrta's Guanaba farm. Picture: Supplied

“Yesterday we ran out of fuel, so we couldn’t get the generators going and because of the floodwaters we were completely cut off from everyone.

“We had one lady here who was stuck in her home for over 36 hours before SES could get her out.”

Flash flooding has inundated Will Feenstra's Guanaba farm on the bank of Guanaba Creek, destroying stock for The Village Grocer. Picture: Supplied

Guanaba Rural Fire Brigade station, located only 260 metres away from Mr Feenstra’s farm was also ravaged in the floods, with the remains of equipment and station items visible on the surrounding streets he said.

“We can see their equipment and all of their stuff strewn across the street.”

Mr Feenstra said Guanaba has been without power since the freak Christmas Day storm.

However he said little to no clean up efforts had been organised for the area which was now exacerbating the consequences of the floods.

Roads in Guanaba have been left like a "war zone" after a Christmas storm ripped through with flash-flooding ravaging the suburb a week later. Picture: Supplied

“We’re lucky because we at least have a roof over our head,” he said. “But there are so many people here with their houses in pieces, or their roof has blown off.

“There’s a road here – Kriedeman Rd – it looks like a war zone, it’s absolutely ruined and powerlines are all over the ground.

“But where is everyone? There’s no one helping, Where’s the army? Where’s council? Why haven’t these trees been cut away?”

“We need workers door knocking here because there are people without water, without food, without generators or stuck in their homes.”

Originally published as The Village Grocer halts business after Gold Coast flood wreaks ‘thousands of dollars’ in damages