Goldsborough enduring third day of blackout with fuel and food running low

A Small community to the south of Cairns is enduring its third day without power and telephone communications and is now completely isolated with flooding and road closures leaving the town running low on fuel for generators and concerns rising for the communities most vulnerable.

A small community to the south of Cairns is enduring its third day without power and telephone communications, and is now completely isolated by flooding and road closures.

Around 1000 people live in the town of Goldsborough near Gordonvale and as Cyclone Jasper moves across The Cape its wet tail end has left the town running low on fuel for generators and with concerns rising for the communities most vulnerable.

Resident Kate Rasmussen said while the situation wasn’t critical residents were beginning to become concerned about the elderly and vulnerable as supplies dwindle and communication remains cut off.

“It terms of a disaster it’s not as bad as it could have been, but the fact is supplies are starting to get low for some people there are also some who have medical concerns and there is no way for emergency services to get in here other than by helicopter at the moment,” Ms Rasmussen said.

“We have one man who had a dialysis appointment today but because the phone communications are down they couldn’t even ring anyone to seek medical advice about what to do if he couldn’t make it.

“We are having things like that beginning to crop up and people are running out of fuel for their generators which they are using to keep our phones charged to be able to call 000 to contact emergency services.

“Many people also don’t have phone reception and many do not have generators at all to keep power to their wi-fi.

“Without phone service and wi-fi these people cannot call for assistance when required which could become life threatening.”

The bridge is at 2.7m over and rising and Gillies Range Rd also blocked in both directions meaning people are blocked in.

A 4wd drives through flooded water near Goldsborough. Photo: Dylan Thomas

“I had about 60 litres of fuel and we are at the last little bit of it and not everyone has a generator,” Ms Rasmussen.

“We need fuel to keep running generators and no one can get it through to us, it is not critical but its an issue that is beginning to unfold.”

”We have contacted emergency services about our situation.

“The river levels and crossing the flood waters remain a concern and for any emergency service workers who may need to access the area.”

The community is banding together and they are holding community meetings to get an understanding of what the community needs but as Ms Rasmussen said things are becoming increasingly worrisome the longer they are isolated.

Originally published as Goldsborough enduring third day of blackout with fuel and food running low