Cyclone Oma: Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate urges residents to plan, not panic as cyclone heads towards city

Tropical Cyclone OMA is moving towards the Gold Coast as city leaders race against time to prepare for its impact. Forecasters say there is a chance it could make landfall as far south as Tweed Heads, bringing up to 500mm rain in a day.

TROPICAL Cyclone OMA is moving towards the Gold Coast as city leaders race against time to prepare for its impact.

The path of the cyclone is unpredictable as it sits off the east coast, with at least 20 different possible tracks it could take over the next 24 to 48 hours.

Mayor Tom Tate, speaking from the council’s disaster management unit, said preparations were well underway.

The 6.45am Bureau of Meteorology update showing the predicted path of Cyclone Oma.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE GOLD COAST BULLETIN — JUST $1 FOR THE FIRST 28 DAYS

Cr Tate said he did not expect OMA to be as bad as the devastating impact of 2013’s ex-tropical cyclone Oswald.

“As of 10am this morning disaster Management unit has moved to an alert status which means we have doubled the number of staff involved,” he said.

“We are tracking Oma and there are 20 different scenarios of where it could go.

“Let’s see what mother nature has to hand out but we are in a good position.

“I would say to everyone this is not the time to panic, this is the time to plan.”

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said preparations are ‘well underway’ for Tropical Cyclone Oma. Picture: Jerad Williams

OUCH: OMA FLATTENS SURFERS ON ROCKS

Hinze Dam sits at 93 per cent capacity and there are currently no concerns about its storage capacity or plans to release water.

Council staff are working rapidly to complete work on the rockwall at Narrowneck before the worst of the weather hits on Friday.

Cr Tate urged locals against walking on the seawall at The Spit or on the groins with waves expected to reach as high as 6m.

“For those who are wanting a bit of adventure, stay off the rockwalls and the groins,” he said.

“As the swell increases it could get up to 6m high and take you off the wall.

“It is not just your life in danger but you are endangering the rescues who have to come and fish you out.”

Erosion

‘We’re moving anything not bolted down’

Tropical #CycloneOma 🌀 is currently southwest of New Calendonia and expected to approach the southern #Queensland coast over the weekend. A coastal crossing cannot be ruled out and the first Cyclone Watch may be issued later today: https://t.co/kL5As5Ml5e pic.twitter.com/rF2ChAqtXa

— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) February 19, 2019

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services advises that people should:

* If near the coastline, stay well away from the water’s edge.

* Never drive, walk or ride through flood waters. If it’s flooded, forget it.

* Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.

* For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.