An emergency declaration that evacuated several Gold Coast streets on Christmas Day could remain in place for several days.
A “concentrated area of destruction” led to a partial crane collapse during a storm that hit Southport on Thursday, prompting Queensland Police to issue a notice under the Public Safety Preservation Act.
Gold Coast Acting Inspector Peter Venz said the exclusion zone impacted residents in surrounding streets, as well as about 80 guests of a neighbouring caravan park. Â
“At the moment we’ve got a 30-tonne crane that received significant damage from the weather event … the boom is pretty much bent in half,” he said.
“There is a risk that crane could come down over the caravan park, according to reports from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and onsite engineers.”
Experts are working on a plan to secure the area, including using two other cranes to disassemble the damaged crane.
Crane collapses on the Gold Coast on Christmas Day afternoon
“We need to ensure the surface is compacted and safe, we need to bring a large amount of sand on site, but it’s all weather and wind dependent,” Acting Inspector Venz said.
“We’re working as fast as we can … the weather conditions for Friday and Saturday are not favourable … the plan is to have the cranes on site and if we get a break in the wind, we’ll begin that work.
Campsites were damaged by the weather event on the afternoon of Christmas Day. (Supplied)
“It is possible it could take several days.”
The caravan park has seen some destruction, with gazebos and awnings strewn around the park. Meanwhile, some boats have been torn from moorings on the Broadwater, Mr Venz said.
“People in the park have reported what they thought looked like a mini tornado, the way the wind was circling with such ferocity,” he said.
Forecast weather may delay the time it takes to safely disassemble the crane. (ABC Gold Coast: Gemma Sapwell)
Queensland Ambulance Service provided treatment for some minor injuries on the day.
The storm delivered wind gusts of 45 knots or more than 80 km/h at the nearby Gold Coast Seaway, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Recounting the wild weather
Alternative accommodation has already been organised for those impacted by the exclusion zone, but some residents were forced to evacuate dressed in swimming togs and without essential medical items, Acting Inspector Venz said.
While boats in the Broadwater were torn from moorings, one from pulled from it’s trailer in the caravan park by the weather. (Supplied)
Wendy from Southport told ABC Radio she and her family were finishing their Christmas lunch when the “wildest” storm hit.
“We looked out the front and saw the skies darkening so closed a few windows, then the wind came,” she said.
“The rain was horrific, hitting the back and front windows from [all directions], it was scary … it was over in about 10 minutes.”
Sarah said the storm hit quickly. (ABC Gold Coast: Gemma Sapwell)
Meanwhile, resident Sarah said she had been jetskiing when the storm hit.
“People’s stuff was flying everywhere, there was a boat in the air … it happened within minutes … it was bigger than a storm,” she said.
“We had to run, our daughter was inside of our pop-top camper … I had to hold the awning closed, it was shaking.”