ECQ bends rules during fierce storms, giant hail in Logan, Redlands

Volunteers at booths in Macalister have been given a reprieve and were allowed to shelter inside polling booths from hail and wind.

A storm sent volunteers in Macalister inside and those from both sides of politics sheltered from the rain under a tent.

After-polling parties across the southeast were disrupted after heavy hail storms yesterday afternoon knocked out power across the region.

Labor members on the Gold Coast were forced to find a new venue after power was knocked out at Burleigh.

ALP party manager Andrew McKinnon said the party had to be held in Currumbin after all of Burleigh was in darkness.

“It was the big election night and we had a big election party planned at Club Burleigh but unfortunately, all the power is out,” he said.

LOGAN VOTES: PHOTOS FROM THE HUSTINGS

SIGN WARS IN OODGEROO

More than 15,000 homes in Logan were without power after 197,000 lightning strikes and hailstones of more than 14cm pelting down at Forestdale in Logan.

Energex workers raced to patch up services after more than 79 power lines were felled following the massive storm cell which hammered the area from 2pm.

Cleveland and Beenleigh trains were suspended for more than four hours after heavy rains and tree branches were caught in train power lines, disrupting services.

Volunteers at Crestmead, Kingston, Marsden and Burrowes polling booths told voters to go elsewhere after booths lost power following the storm.

Returning officer for Macalister David Gardner gave volunteers at Beenleigh a reprieve from the storm relaxing the 6m exclusion zone.

Under the easing, volunteers were allowed to enter the voting building while it was raining and as massive hail stones, the size of golf balls pelted down.

Once inside, the volunteers were barred from handing out how-to-vote cards, and had to cover their campaign shirts and not talk politics.

Mr Gardner said as soon as the storm passed, they were sent outside again.

Voters in Waterford try to avoid the rain.

Macalister candidate Judi van Manen welcomed the move and said the safety of volunteers was of utmost importance.

Originally published as ECQ bends rules during fierce storms, giant hail in Logan, Redlands