Foul photo of overflowing bin reveals worst of cyclone selfishness

For so many people, natural disasters are a time to look out for each other. And then there are those responsible for making life tougher on everyone, writes Keith Woods.

Hi Alfred, bye Alfred, it was nice knowing you.

The cyclone that, mercifully, turned out to be more huff than puff, still left us with some interesting lessons.

These are just some of the nuggets delivered on the winds.

An overflowing bin on Discovery Dr in Helensvale in the wake of bin collections being suspended during Cyclone Alfred. Picture: Keith Woods.

THE ULTIMATE SELFISHNESS

Forget the illicitly taken photos of people with full trolleys in supermarkets. As this column noted last week, supposed ‘panic buying’ was greatly over-hyped – somewhat like the cyclone itself.

The ultimate depiction of cyclone selfishness is in this image from the side of a Gold Coast road on Tuesday.

Taken on Discovery Drive in Helensvale, not far from your columnist’s humble abode, it shows a public bin overflowing with rubbish.

As with the supermarket trolleys (does anyone ever stop to think that some people have large families to care for?), context is important.

The overflowing public bin is in an area that had its rubbish collections suspended last week.

Some moron, rather than hold on to their own bags of waste, had clearly decided to avail themselves of council bins on the street, there to help everyone keep the area clean.

With the bin lid propped open, wildlife did the rest, ensuring an ugly mess strewn over the path.

Reports on social media suggest it was not an isolated incident, with public bins also stuffed with household refuse in many other areas.

Council may not have quite the level of clean-up work to do as feared, but workers are still likely to be flat out in days in weeks ahead.

They do not need to be cleaning up messes like this.

Teeing it up because you can’t wait for rubbish collection to resume? Now that’s real selfishness.

UPDATE: Not long after publication, the mess was cleaned up by council staff. Just as they have done at a number of locations across the Gold Coast. Many thanks to them for their hard work.

Residents who missed out on bin collections because of the cyclone are also reminded that council has organised a number of free waste disposal options. Click here for details.

Acting Mayor Donna Gates addressing the media at the Disaster Emergency Centre on Cyclone Alfred.

DONNA DELIGHTS

Acting Mayor Donna Gates was a revelation for many people as she marshalled the city through the crisis while Tom Tate was making his way back from Vegas.

A revelation to many, but not all.

Council-watchers have been well aware of Ms Gates’s formidable qualities for many years now.

Perhaps in part because she represents Division 3, which is centred on the growth suburb of Coomera, she has a firmer grip than almost anyone on the bread-and-butter issues that affect most people.

However, she is also very highly respected by business leaders across the city.

She is a clear communicator and most especially a rock of common sense – two assets highly prized in senior politicians.

No wonder the public responded so positively to her cyclone briefings.

Also, no wonder people are questioning why she would step down as Deputy Mayor.

In fairness, the person due to take over those Deputy Mayor reins, Cr Mark Hammel, is also a capable operator.

Having met him on a couple of occasions, this column is confident he would also do very well.

But Ms Gates is a class apart.

The next council elections are not due for three years. A long time yet.

Mayor Tate has already indicated he is considering again.

But if he finally retires, how good would it be if Ms Gates were to raise her hand?

A gum tree which crashed into a home in Currumbin during Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

A TALE OF TWO CITIES

If we’ve learnt one thing about major weather events, it’s the way in which they have a habit of creating worlds of haves and have nots.

As in have power, or have not. Have a roof, or have not.

We saw that clearly in 2023, when the Christmas night tornado obliterated parts of the northern Gold Coast, while southern areas were untouched.

It meant while people in some areas were dealing with horrific conditions, Pacific Fair was packed with Boxing Day shoppers almost blissfully unaware of the devastation 20 minutes north.

Both realities existed alongside each other simultaneously.

The same has happened this time, to a large extent in reverse.

While most of the city is breathing a sigh of relief and getting back to normal, there are many people who have not been so lucky.

People who – despite the outstanding efforts of Energex crews to get most of us back online – are entering their sixth day without power.

People who have had trees into their homes.

Small businesses who, already struggling with ever-rising costs, have been forced to throw out valuable stock.

Yes, the feared apocalypse did not eventuate. The city is not underwater.

But that should not obscure the fact that there are still a significant amount of people who suffered some serious losses.

They need our every solidarity and support.

Follow @keithjwoods