Gold Coast flooding: the day ex-tropical cyclone Debbie came to town

THE big wet arrived like so many unwanted houseguests do. Senior writer Dwayne Grant relives the day ex-tropical cyclone Debbie came to town.

THE day of the big wet arrived like so many unwanted houseguests do — early, abruptly and with the most miserable face you ever did see.

One minute parents across the Gold Coast were making school lunches. The next they were trying to stave off the headache that comes from being told holidays had come two days early.

It initially took some believing. We all knew a heavy dump was on the way but no one switched off their bedside light on Wednesday expecting to wake to school closures or, even more frighteningly, another day of wall-to-wall coverage of TV reporters getting rained on.

Rain it did though. And on. And on. And on.

Nathan Godfrey from Maudsland wonders how he will get to work as he surveys a flooded Birds Rd. Photo: Glenn Hampson

“Do not underestimate the power of this rainfall,” said Police Commissioner Ian Stewart.

“The situation will get worse before it gets better,” said Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Katarina Carroll.

“Stay off the roads unless it is essential,” said Mayor Tom Tate before showing he may not know the meaning of essential. “Go to the library if you want to. My choice is Harry Potter.”

Tallebudgera residents will soon be cut off. Photo: Nic McElroy

The Mayor’s unique sense of humour aside, only four libraries were still open at 11am and they were now being promoted as “safe spaces”.

“These are not evacuation centres but people can visit these should they need a safe haven,” City of Gold Coast said on its Facebook page, a reminder that not everyone has a comfy couch to curl up on when the heavens burst.

Flooding at Robina Hospital.

As the minutes ticked by, the list of businesses and services closing their doors lengthened. Bond University. Griffith University. The theme parks. The Animal Welfare League shelter. Major shopping centres.

Gold Coast Health sent out an alert saying it had postponed all elective surgeries and outpatient appointments at the city’s two public hospitals. An update followed 90 minutes later — Friday’s schedule was now a write-off too.

At North Kirra, thousands of bronzed Aussies — and not-so-bronzed — had received word early in the day that the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships was postponed until further notice.

“If we can’t see you, we can’t save you,” was the message for those athletes who thought the organisation was being soft by not letting them do their thing.

The Hinze Dam spills over. Photo: Mike Batterham

By early afternoon it was obvious the right call had been made because the only people who wanted to be in the surf were clinging to massive kites and, along with other thrillseekers, gawkers and ignorant buggers, causing headaches for authorities.

“We need people to stay off the roads. Please stay indoors,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk pleaded yet again as she announced schools would remain closed for a second day.

“The safest place for families to be over the next 24 hours is in their homes.”

Or maybe with a stranger called Diana.

“I live 100 metres off Exit 77 on the M1,” Diana Mary Dureau wrote on the Gold Coast Bulletin’s Facebook page after learning the M1 was closed at Mudgeeraba due to flash flooding.

“If anyone needs shelter or are stuck, especially with babies and children, and can get to Bowmore Court, you are welcome to shelter here.”

Swift water rescue experts with Steve Guthrie who was trapped in car. Photo: Mike Batterham

No word if anyone took Diana up on the offer but judging by the emoticons sent her way — love hearts, smiley faces, even a ‘hang loose’ sign — her kind gesture was popular with the masses.

Diana’s foray into social media stardom was nothing compared with the biggest viral story of the day though — the plight of the Gooding Drive cows.

Arguably the city’s most famous residents, the cattle found themselves amid rising waters in their

Carrara paddock and, as tends to happen these days, more online tears were shed for them than families trapped in the Hinterland or the 2000 Tweed residents being ordered to evacuate their homes.

Footage of stranded cows on the Bulletin’s Facebook page attracted more than 100,000 views and 1500 comments, including this gem from Sarah: “Don’t bloody film them. Get help … they don’t have hands to grab things or voices to yell help.”

Cows search for higher ground. Photo: Mike Batterham

Fortunately the cows’ lack of hands and voices didn’t prove fatal, with the Gooding Drive herd swimming to safety and being moved to higher ground at Carrara Markets.

At least they won’t have to worry too much longer about living on such flood-prone land as council recently approved a 1550-home development for the block.

Some question the wisdom of that decision, even more so in light of yesterday’s flooding, but apparently everything will be AOK because council has insisted the developer includes lifeboats and canned food to be stored on-site.

What’s that saying about the truth being stranger than fiction?

As darkness descended on the city, so too did a foreboding of what lay ahead for its residents.

Tweed Valley Way at Murwillumbah. Photo: John Gass

The Mayor warned of Tallebudgera Valley locals needing to brace themselves for a period of isolation. The State Emergency Service was calling for more volunteers to bolster its troops for a night of potential rescues. Three evacuation centres had opened for those poor souls with nowhere else to turn.

More than 70 roads were already closed, the SES had already handled 184 jobs, Hinze Dam was already spilling over — and the worst of the weather was still to come.

It was hard to believe that just 24 hours earlier the city had gone to sleep with a smile on its face. A heavy dump was coming but we’d had heavy dumps before.

Then an ex-cyclone called Debbie actually showed up and it fast became clear why our northern cousins were so glad to see the back of her.

Clagiraba Causeway flooded. Photo: Tara Moorsel