Christmas Day storm: Coomera residents cleaning up more than a week after devastating damage

It’s not easy being a Northern Gold Coaster right now. Take Bernie Hardiman who spends his day fixing up his home and his night wondering where to sleep. Read his story

Northern Gold Coast residents were not waiting for the army to arrive and recovery was in full swing across the devastated area on Wednesday afternoon.

Decimated by the Christmas evening storms and flooded in the New Year’s downpour, Coomera scaffolder Bernie Hardiman’s house was roofless and the floor was covered in water.

Bernie Hardiman inside his home at Coomera. Picture: Adam Head

He could be found on Wednesday, with his young son BJ, 6, doing what he could inside, where flood waters and storms had damaged most of his possessions beyond saving. 50 Australian Defence Force crew are not expected on the Gold Coast until Thursday so they boxed on.

“I’m just cleaning out the inside the house. So what my mission today was to clean up all the gunk and get it outside,” Mr Hardiman said.

“To see my boy walk in on Boxing Day and see all his presents all over the place was heartbreaking.”

Bernie Hardiman and his son BJ, 6: “To see my boy walk in on Boxing Day and see all his presents all over the place was heartbreaking.” Picture: Adam Head

Mr Hardiman and his son are now staying in temporary accommodation but were doing it rough for a couple of nights.

“I’ve been staying in my car since Boxing Day and I don’t mind but my son even had to spend a couple of nights in there and that’s what I didn’t like,” Mr Hardiman said.

“I’m just very grateful that the lady from Queensland housing has organised the temporary accommodation,” he said.

Mr Hardiman said the house owner’s maintenance worker thinks it will be ready to move back into in a matter of months.

“The maintenance man said if it’s all smooth running, he’s given us six to eight weeks … I think he’s dreaming,” Mr Hardiman said.

“I just don’t know what to do or where to go.” he said.