Gold Coast Flooding: Disaster recovery assistance funded after extreme weather across southeast Queensland

Disaster assistance funding has been activated on the Gold Coast after extreme weather smashed through the region earlier this month - weather which has now been likened to a "Category 1 cyclone". 

DISASTER assistance funding has been activated on the Gold Coast after extreme weather smashed through the region earlier this month.  

Businesses and homes across the city were left flooded after hundreds of millilitres fell for several days from December 10.

Recovery funds are now being funnelled to the city via jointly-funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Fire and Emergency Services Minister Mark Ryan said the assistance would go to general clean up and repairing roads, including on Tamborine Mountain where severe rock falls closed a major thoroughfare.

“This heavy rain reminds us of the unpredictable nature of severe weather in Queensland that can strike anywhere at any time and we need to be prepared,” he said .

“More than 750mm of rain was recorded in some areas of southeast Queensland over a 48-hour period.

“The impacts of this wild weather are similar to a Category 1 cyclone and has seen a number of landslides and fallen trees in affected areas.

“The activation of the DRFA will ensure all impacted communities

Meanwhile meteorologist Matt Marshall warned there may be more to come, revealing there was a chance of severe thunderstorms on the Gold Coast on Tuesday.

Mr Marshall said the storm was set to hit after high temperatures with a top of 31 degrees.

Following a wet Tuesday, the Gold Coast was then tipped for a drop in temperatures in the lead up to Christmas day.

“The general trend is that we will see cooler temperatures,” Mr Marshall said.

“It is dry on Wednesday, and later on Thursday and Christmas day we will see a chance of showers,” Mr Marshall said.

LAST WEEK:

MOSQUITO numbers are expected to explode across the Gold Coast after bucketloads of rain saturated the city, providing ideal breeding conditions.

Gold Coast City Council has increased scheduled treatments to combat the disease-carrying insects and avoid plague-like proportions reported at the beginning of the year.

Asked if an influx of mosquitoes was expected after the big wet, and what would be done to drive down numbers, a council spokesperson said: “The recent rain has provided ideal conditions for mosquito breeding, with an increase in mosquito numbers expected.”

The Gold Coast has thousands of hectares of ideal mosquito breeding habitat.

MOSQUITOES: HIGH NUMBER OF PESTS PROMPTS WARNING

“The City has scheduled upcoming treatments in addition to its regular mosquito maintenance program,” they said.

“Residents can help reduce mosquito numbers by emptying all containers that can hold water following rain.

Gold Coast City Council is ramping up its fight against mosquitoes after recent heavy rain.

“Some of the less obvious places to look include in the water reservoir of self-watering pots, in bromeliad plants and on top of rainwater tanks.”

The council will undertake mosquito larviciding aerial treatments from Wednesday-Friday.

BUG EYED AT INSECT INSIGHT

Areas targeted include: Arundel, Coombabah, Coomera Waters, Pimpama, Jacobs Well, Rocky Point, Helensvale, Hope Island, Oyster Cove, Coombabah Lake & The Bay Islands.

The saltmarsh mosquito, Aedes vigilax, is the most prolific on the Coast.

The council reports its breeding area in the northern region of the Gold Coast covers 2000 hectares.

Mosquitos can transmit illnesses including Ross River fever, dengue and Barmah Forest virus.