No food, raw sewage and trapped in isolation, the reality facing devastated community

Resident of a community ravaged by the Christmas storm are reaching breaking point - with Mount Tamborine residents still without power, regular supplies and little hope. See why

Residents in Mount Tamborine are at breaking point and say they’ve been left to fend for themselves in the wake of the devastating cyclonic Christmas storm.

Members of the community say they have been without power for eight days and fear it will be months before the electricity grid will be repaired.

Energex has brought in a generator to power essential services at the local shopping village but it’s nowhere near enough, according to FoodWorks supermarket owner Brenda Ashley.

“We can’t get delivery trucks up here to restock the bread and milk or even bottled water because it’s too dangerous for them with the fallen power lines. So we’re driving stuff in for the community from town,” Mrs Ashley said.

“We started trying to fill the fridges the other day and the Energex generator failed and was out for 12 hours. We can’t buy stock if we lose power again. We’ve already lost $40,000.”

Damage from the storms that brought tornados and flooding rains to Mt Tamborine. Foodworks store owners Brenda and Michael Ashley who not willing to risk restock after generator failures. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Mrs Ashley runs the family business with her husband Michael, the pair haven’t had a day off since the storm ripped through their small town. They claim the situation is dire with septic tanks overflowing and spilling raw sewage in homes and neighbouring properties.

Elderly residents have been dropped off at the supermarket by police to get water and food after being found trapped in their storm-damaged homes. They’d been there for several days.

“Everyone is just getting down now. This is third-world conditions. We’re living day-by-day and just having to try and survive,” Mrs Ashley said.

“There’s just no help, that's what everyone saying, they need help.”

Damage from the storms that brought tornados and flooding rains to Mt Tamborine. A damaged home on Macdonnell Rd. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Damage from the storms that brought tornados and flooding rains to Mt Tamborine. Local butcher Stuart and Chelsea Bray cooking up free food for the locals to keep their spirits up. . Picture: Glenn Hampson

Residents have told the Bulletin many of the local roads have only been reopened because residents have removed debris. SES volunteers have been out in the community but the sheer size and scale of the disaster in front of them is enormous.

Local butcher Stuart Kenny and wife Chelsea have been putting on daily barbecues for free to feed the growing number of elderly and vulnerable who have no electricity to cook and can’t get food.

“They’re all pretty depressed. We’ve seen it’s just boosted everyone’s morale and that’s why we’ve kept doing it,” Mr Kenny said.

“A lot of people have been isolated and alone for days and this is just getting them out and they sit here have food, have a chat and tell stories.

“Just doing this is what’s getting us through.”

Damage from the storms that brought tornados and flooding rains to Mt Tamborine. Service crews briefed before a big day. Picture Glenn Hampson

There is some glimmer of hope, after an army of Energex crews arrived at Eagle Heights on Wednesday to start the mammoth effort to rebuild the power grid. Army personal have also been committed to assist with the clean-up effort, with 50 troops to hit the ground by the end of the week. Although residents don’t believe they’re enough, they are thankful for the extra help.