Gold Coast hit with widespread damage from Alfred

The Gold Coast has begun recovering from widespread damage after a beating from the power flank of ex-tropical cyclone Alfred overnight.

The Gold Coast has begun slowly recovering from widespread damage after getting a beating from the power flank of ex-tropical cyclone Alfred overnight.

Trees were downed, electrical lines severed, and boats washed ashore after the category 2 system bore down on the southern coast of Queensland on Friday, bringing with it howling winds of more than 100kph and almost 200mm of rain to some areas.

The wild weather eased around midnight when Alfred was downgraded to a category 1 storm and sat off the coast as a tropical low over Bribie Island.

Spectators looking at the situation on the Gold Coast. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

On Saturday, disaster tourists braved the ever-present rain to head out to the beaches and boardwalks through the city to see the effects of ex-tropical Cyclone Alfred for themselves.

Some vessels didn’t survive the wind and rain. Just the mast tip could be seen of a yacht currently sitting at the bottom of the Broadwater, several boats were washed up along the sands at Paradise Point.

The Esplanade roadway running parallel to the water at Paradise Point was cleared of two fallen trees early on Saturday morning, however, the deep root system has pulled up parts of the footpaths.

A yacht is submerged with only its mast visible at Broadwater on the Gold Coast. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Minimal damage to homes has been reported throughout the region. Overnight, the rood was ripped off of an apartment block at Labrador, forcing the night-time evacuation of 21 people to a refuge centre. Two homes suffered significant damage inflicted by falling trees, luckily missing the occupants.

Downed powerlines have contributed to outages that have left more than 132,000 homes without power. One road surrounding Labrador State School after two whole lengths of lines were severed by trees.

One of a number of boats washed ashore at Paradise Point, on the Gold Coast. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

One resident told The Australian his power went out at 9pm as he stood and watched Queensland State Emergency Service volunteers clean up.

“I didn’t realise so many power lines had come down,” he said.

Energy provider Energex has warned residents to be without service from five days up to as much as several weeks as emergency crews head into to repair damage across the grid. Access to the Gold Coast Hinterland is a concern due to the number of road closures due to storm damage and flooding.

A submerged boat at a jetty at Broadwater on the Gold Coast. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

The area has received some of the highest rainfall totals on the Queensland side of the border since the former cyclone began approaching the coast. In the past 24 hours alone, Coolangatta received 138mm, while Springbrook and Tallebudgera were each drenched with rain in excess of 200mm.

One motorist heading towards the Gold Coast received a shock on Saturday morning when they drove directly into one of several trees that had toppled and cut off the left-most lane of the M1 motorway between the Brisbane and the coast, north of Coomera.

The occupant was safe and drove off minutes later.

Motorists try to clear past trees which were blocking part of the M1 motorway just north of Coomera. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Gold Coast council has asked residents to be vigilant on the roads, with more heavy rainfall expected in the coming days.

“The City has received hundreds of reports of fallen trees blocking roads and minor flooding has occurred resulting in road closures across the city,” a spokesman said.

“Keep an eye out for hazards and drive to conditions over the weekend.”

Sea foam still floated through the air as they stepped close to the edge of the meters high sand cliffs, created by the severe beach erosion trough the region. Authorities have confirmed Main Beach at Surfers Paradise has been completely eroded away, while 4m to 6m escarpments have been cut into neighbouring beaches.

Palms trees in strong winds on the Gold Coast. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian