Massive swell hits 4m today as shark nets removed for beachgoers safety
GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate has told locals and visitors to head for the hills as a massive cyclone swell pounds the Gold Coast.
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GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate has told locals and visitors to head for the hills as a massive cyclone swell pounds the Gold Coast.
As city lifeguards shut all Coast beaches for the weekend, Cr Tate called a media conference to warn of the dangers of even setting foot on the sand this weekend.
With 3-4m swells hitting the Coast, and king tide surges knocking beachgoers off their feet, the mayor urged people to visit the “green behind the gold” of the hinterland instead.
“The safety of our residents and visitors is paramount,” he said.
“The beaches will be closed this weekend and it’s a wonderful time to explore the hinterland, I say.
“So if you’re driving from Brisbane, turn right (instead) and drive up there to our wonderful green behind the gold.”
RAINBOW BAY SURF CAM
Acting chief lifeguard Chris Maynard said surf conditions were “extremely dangerous”, suitable only for professional and experienced surfers.
He said a woman was injured after being washed off rocks at Burleigh Heads this morning, and a surfer had to be rescued off Snapper Rocks after being swept out to sea.
Mr Maynard said beaches were expected to remain closed all weekend, with the huge swell whipped up by ex-Cyclone Winston expected to drop by Monday.
A severe weather warning for abnormally high tides and dangerous surf has been issued for people in parts of the Wide Bay, Burnett and Southeast Coast forecast districts.
Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Jess Carey said four-metre surf was expected at exposed beaches, almost four times higher than average.
A Surf Life Saving Queensland spokeswoman said all beaches on the Gold Coast would be closed on Friday, as well as Twin Waters and Buddina beaches on the Sunshine Coast.
Mr Carey said the surf in combination with abnormally high tide also meant there was a chance of localised flooding at beach car parks.
Warm weather is expected across most of the state with both the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast expected to reach temperatures in the mid-30s on Saturday and Sunday.
“It will be frustrating because it will be hot over the weekend and the beach will look inviting,” Mr Carey said.
“The pool is the safest place to swim this weekend.”
Massive swell hits 4m today as shark nets removed for beachgoers safety
GOLD Coast beaches will be open to prowling sharks this weekend as big seas force authorities to remove nets that normally keep the predators at bay.
Shark Control Program bosses say massive swells which are due to hit today could tear the nets loose, making them a danger to swimmers and surfers.
Fisheries Queensland acting manager shark control program Chris Watts said 25 nets would be removed across the state, with 11 to be taken from Gold Coast beaches.
“There are predictions of large swells this weekend and as a precaution, we are removing the nets before they become a potential hazard,” Mr Watts said.
“Gear that is loose in the water can be a danger to swimmers and that’s why we are removing the apparatuses for a short period.”
Today nets at Miami, Bilinga, Kirra, Kurrawa, Currumbin and Mermaid Beach will be removed.
Nets were taken from Main Beach, Surfers Paradise, Burleigh, Tallebudgera, and Coolangatta yesterday.
“In rough weather conditions, we remind people to take advice from the lifesaving service as to whether it is suitable to be swimming at all,” Mr Watts said.
“The nets will be returned to the water when conditions improve.”
In February last year, young boardriders were filmed surfing around nets and drum lines washed in by a big swell from Tropical Cyclone Marcia.
Loose equipment killed 9-year-old surfer Paul Rogers at Nobby Beach in 1992. The boy drowned after his leg rope became wrapped around a shark drum line with a later inquest told acid levels in his blood showed he had put up an enormous fight to free himself.
The swell dropped off a bit yesterday after several days of near-perfect conditions but lifeguards warned it was the calm before the storm with the forecast for swells of more than 4m by tomorrow and southerly winds up to 30 knots.
COURAGE TO GET BACK ON BOARD
THREE-time world surfing champion Mick Fanning admits he has been running on empty after a tumultuous year and needs a break.
The 34-year-old Gold Coaster, who has been on the professional circuit for 14 years, yesterday announced he was taking a year off to recharge his batteries — but also confessed he still wants to confront his demons at South Africa’s J-Bay where he fought off a great white shark attack.
Fanning battled through a year of almost herculean challenges in 2015, beginning with the shark attack in July and finishing with his brother Peter’s unexpected death, hours before battling for a world title at the Pipeline Masters in Hawaii in December.
He also revealed he dealt with the challenges while keeping news of a marriage breakup private until earlier this month.
“Last year was definitely intense — what happened at J-Bay, being in a title race and the unfortunate passing of my brother,” he said.
“I got to a point at the end of the year where I felt empty — I didn’t feel like I had much to give back.
“There was so much build-up with everything happening.”
Fanning said he would continue to surf and was planning on rejoining the championship tour next year.
“It’s definitely not a retirement,” he said.
“This is my 15th year on tour now and I’ve been doing the same thing.
“I just want to go search some different options and see if they take my fancy, or maybe I’ll just miss everyone on tour and come back and just keep surfing for another 15 years.”
The World Surfing League has given him permission to pick and choose events this year as he pleases.
Fanning, who has been in title contention for the past four years has so far locked in pet events at long, pumping right-handed breaks at his local Snapper Rocks and his “second home” of Bells Beach in Victoria and hinted he may fight his fears at J-Bay in South Africa, where he was attacked.
“I want to go back to J-Bay,” Fanning said.
“I feel like there’s something there that I want to go and face.
“I want to make sure that I scratch that off the list.
“I think it’s more about jumping in and surfing once or twice and then I’ll be fine.
“It’s the same thing as when I came back and surfed Snapper for the first time.
“(Snapper and Bells) are two events that I love and I’d go crazy if I were sitting at home and couldn’t go surf Snapper.
“Bells is like a second home as well.
“From then on, I feel like I have to take some time away from the tour to get out of that sort of zone to see where my head is at — just to regroup and restoke the fire.”