Devastating photo shows horror impact of floods on Aussie gem

An upsetting photo of a normally pristine coastline has revealed the ongoing disastrous effect of the east coast’s recent horror flooding.

Distressing photos from what is usually one of Australia’s most pristine locations have served as a stark reminder of the ongoing devastation caused by recent flooding.

Raging floodwaters which destroyed homes and businesses, and claimed the life of 22 people, left an enormous mess in flood-affected areas, but also swept massive volumes of debris out to sea.

Upsetting photos have surfaced this week from Queensland’s scenic Fraser Island, also known as K’gari, which has absorbed tonnes of soggy debris from flooding in Brisbane.

The local community has pleaded with the rest of the country for help as it desperately works to clean up the “absolutely heartbreaking” mess.

Thousands of washed up items were shown in a photo shared to Facebook by clean-up group Ocean Crusaders on Wednesday, leaving thousands shocked.

The photo showed what looked like hundreds of broken pieces of furniture, likely from inside the homes and businesses of people on the mainland.

“K’gari is getting hammered by Brisbane’s debris. If you can volunteer some days and can get to Inskip Point, Hana from K’gari Fraser Island Adventures is co-ordinating the community clean up efforts,” the group’s post read.

“This is happening now. We’d be there already but dealing with the source still here in SE Queensland. If you can’t help in person, consider chipping into our fundraiser so we can support those up there making a difference.”

One of Australia’s most pristine locations has been obliterated by flooding debris. Picture: Facebook

According to one respondent, a large group of volunteers took to the same beach over the weekend a cleared it of “eight million pieces of rubbish”.

They described the scene “absolutely heartbreaking”.

Hundreds who saw the photo commented expressing their desire to help get on top of the crisis, which the group said was worst between Dili Village and Poyungan Rocks.

Following the huge response, an Ocean Crusaders representative said buses were in the process of being organised to bring people over from the mainland for the weekend.

People based on Bribie Island, about 300km south, reported similar scenes on their beaches.

“There’s whole pontoons and other big stuff. The volume of the rubbish was unbelievable here on Bribie. I’d imagine that they have the same,” one person wrote.

Brisbane residents were encouraged to conduct their own local clean-ups along rivers and shores of beaches as far north as they could.

Swathes of Brisbane, Ipswich, Gympie, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast face billions of dollars worth of damage after months worth of rain battered southeast Queensland, destroying homes and livelihoods.

Major General Ellwood has been appointed as the state’s flood recovery co-ordinator to help in the clean up effort.