Where it could strike and silver lining for Reef

REEF tour operators believe heat-stressed coral is set for an immediate reprieve as a tropical low intensifies off the Far North coast.

Association of Marine Park Tour Operators chief Col McKenzie was confident the weather event would prove the Reef’s “lifeline” in the wake of the second mass bleaching event in two years.

“Moving across as a tropical low would be the best possible situation – the winds wouldn’t be as high and you wouldn’t get the mechanical damage to coral,” he said.

“If it does come over as a category two or three cyclone, there might be a little bit of (coral) damage from the wind, but it will be insignificant compared to how well it will cool down the Reef.

“We do not want to see a high-intensity cyclone do massive property damage.

“But if it is (high intensity) then so be it; the cyclone will take a lot of heat out of the Reef that has been accumulating over the past 18 months.”