Gold Coast weather: Tropical Cyclone Oma fears of beach erosion

THE Gold Coast’s chief lifeguard has warned locals and tourists against walking along the beach as the city prepares to be hit by a ‘perfect storm’ of treacherous conditions and winds of up to 55km/h

THE Gold Coast’s chief lifeguard has warned locals and tourists against walking along the beach as the city prepares to be hit by a ‘perfect storm’ of treacherous conditions.

Tropical Cyclone Oma is bearing down on the Coast, with swells as high as five metres set to batter beaches from tomorrow morning and peaking on Thursday or Friday.

The power swell, paired with a king tide, will make beaches so dangerous that acting chief lifeguard Chris Maynard has urged people against walking on the beach.

Get ready for some big swell. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

“Yeah it is (a perfect storm) and the timing is unfortunate but it is very dangerous out there when we get that king tide and the big swells hitting the Coast,” he said.

“From 8am onward those times are going to be quite dangerous and there is not much beach area with the swell so we would advise people not stand on the sand or get close to the waters edge

“If you are going to take a look, stay on the footpath or dunal areas.”

Oma was last night sitting around 1600km northeast of southeast Queensland.

Chris Maynard, acting chief lifeguard for City of Gold Coast. Picture Glenn Hampson

While only a category two storm, Oma’s effects are far-reaching, with swells rising to between two and five metres.

The highest tides of the year are expected to hit over the weekend.

City leaders say the Coast’s beaches are in good condition to withstand the pounding waves, with dredging works have added an extra three million cubic metres to the shoreline.

However they are not taking any chances and yesterday announced steps to minimise long-term damage.

Work continues on the boulder wall at Surfers Paradise in preparation for the giant swell expected from the cyclone off the coast. Picture Glenn Hampson

Work to shore up the vulnerable stretch of beach at Narrowneck will be fast-tracked to protect it from the largest swells, expected to peak on Thursday or Friday.

Mayor Tom Tate said he was concerned but would accelerate the works to create the best possible protection.

Cartoon: Craig Mann

“We will place some sand at the ocean side of these to keep the swells away,” Cr Tate said.

“The construction sites are being prepared now to combat any swell. There is no concern regarding the integrity of the seawall.

“We expect the ocean sweep to peak around Thursday or Friday.”

Heavy plant and beach maintenance crews will be put on standby at the council’s depots and a stockpile of sand at The Spit will be used to shore up the beaches if needed.

Council plans to deal with minor erosion on a daily basis as needed.

“I believe we are well prepared as this swell comes in,” Cr Tate said.

“I looked at the radar this morning and if it keeps moving towards us it will be bullseye.

“To swimmers out there please check with lifeguards where the rips are and if the beach is closed, please don’t swim there.”

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Wild winds to hit Coast

WINDS of up to 55km/h are set to buffet the Coast this week but don’t expect much rain.

That’s the message from meteorologists who say the Tropical Cyclone Oma will deliver a wallop to the city’s beaches but little in the way of serious downpour.

Less than five millimetres is expected to fall on Thursday or Friday with up to 10mm on Saturday and Sunday.

It’s top surf conditions Photograph: Jason O'Brien

But boaties have been warned to expect offshore gale-force winds of around 34 knots.

Weather bureau meteorologist Lachlan Stoney said conditions would be ‘hazardous’.

“In terms of rainfall we are not expecting too much for the Gold Coast and once we get the weekend the amount which will fall is going to depend on the movement of Oma,” he said.

“But we are forecasting high tides for the region and the swell will come in over the top of the high tides creating increasingly hazards conditions from Wednesday onward.

“It will be pretty dangerous down the beach and we would advise against anyone heading out on the water because winds will be southerly and we are forecasting gales.

Conditions are becoming more treacherous. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

Preparations will continue through today and tomorrow, as the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries removes all shark nets from the city’s waters.

Fisheries Queensland Shark Control Program Manager Jeff Krause said temporarily removing the nets was normal practice when rough weather was predicted.

“Forecast strong winds and rough seas from TC Oma are expected to affect the Gold and Sunshine coasts from the middle of this week,” Mr Krause said.

“The situation will be monitored closely and teams are prepared to reinstall the gear as soon as the weather conditions allow.”