Debbie data felt globally

COASTAL experts say they can now pinpoint almost to the centimetre where the worst of a storm surge will hit the Gold Coast.

Research by the Griffith University Centre for Coastal Management in the aftermath of tropical Cyclone Debbie will soon provide authorities world-wide with definitive data to determine where surges will hit, and which areas need to be evacuated.

The Gold Coast’s northern suburbs were this week identified as most at risk from future storm surges combined with rising seas created by climate change, according to Dr David Rissik, from the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility.

Other at risk areas included Carrara floodplain, the Tallebudgera and Currumbin Valleys and Kingscliff to Murwillumbah south of the Queensland border.

Griffith researchers Dr Serena Lee and Gaelle Faivre measured Debbie’s storm surge after it hit Mackay and the Whitsunday Coast in March.

They also found while storm modelling was pinpoint accurate in places like Laguna Quays other areas had slight discrepancies which needed to be ironed out.

Dr Lee said they were working on striking a balance be- tween taking time to make extremely accurate forecasts and producing them quickly so areas can be evacuated.

Dr Lee said the work done in partnership with the Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation was vital for the Gold Coast because of massive developments and homes perched on shifting sand dunes and flood plains.

“There aren’t too many places as well developed in such a low-lying area (as the Gold Coast),” Dr Lee said. “The Gold Coast is essentially like a barrier island like Fraser or Straddie.”

It meant the coastline would continually erode, so preparing for potential changes caused by climate change was important, she said.

“The natural progression of a barrier island is to move landward. This needs to be managed.

“We don’t know if that is going to happen more in the future due to global warming.

“Now we’re building up a database so we can improve that numerical data.”

Dr Lee thanked storm-ravaged residents for helping researchers.

“They helped us when they probably needed a few Army tanks to clean up.”

A lecture night detailing the impacts of tropical Cyclone Debbie will be held at Griffith University’s Gold Coast Campus on June 30 at 6pm.