Destructive cyclone risk a real threat for our city

ASPECIAL Report today reveals the alarming scenario the risk of more higher category tropical cyclones presents for our city. Scientists are usually measured in their language, but not in this report. They selected the Gold Coast as a case study because of their concerns.

Researchers in the Commonwealth report wrote: “While the probability of a Category 5 impact on the Gold Coast – or anywhere in South East Queensland – is low, the consequences would be catastrophic, comparable to the impact of Hurricane Andrew on Miami, Florida where 63,000 houses were completely destroyed.”

City leaders met behind closed doors to discuss the Severe Wind Hazard Assessment report.

The city was smashed by the 1954 “Great Gold Coast Cyclone” and the 1967 cyclone season – this report concludes there is a “significant likelihood of direct and indirect impacts from future TC events”.

The warnings included:

■ In Category 3 and Category 5 scenarios, the older suburbs along the coastline suffer significant damage – all pre-1980s houses face extensive or complete damage.

■ more than 135,000 houses would suffer this fate, impacting on emergency management with large numbers of people being evacuated, seeking temporary accommodation.

■ highest winds of around 220km/h are experienced along the coastal strip – this compares to maximum wind gusts in the 1954 Gold Coast cyclone of around 170km/h.

■ further inland, maximum wind speeds over the hinterland exceed 300km/h as the cyclone picks up speed due to the terrain, reaching as far as Springbrook and Beaudesert.

The Gold Coast and Tweed area had about 36,000 residents in 1954. We are now home to 732,000.

The winds from a cyclone would be much stronger, almost double. Much of the housing stock is old and not able to withstand that force.

Our old SES headquarters at Owen Park at Southport is not cyclone proof.

The council has addressed this. A new $22m disaster and emergency management centre is about to open with back-up generators and accommodation for staffers.

The next step will be cyclone-proofing us. All levels of government are embarking on this huge challenge.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Murray Watt, who is based at Southport, told the Bulletin: “We can’t keep building homes on flood plains. I look forward to seeing where those discussions lead.”

He is correct. Future housing development approvals by council must take into account future disaster risk. We need to be cautious about development. The risk involves many lives.