Cyclone Dylan aftermath swamps north Queensland towns

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/31/cyclone-dylan-aftermath

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Storm surges battered north Queensland towns and parts of an island resort were swept away in the aftermath of cyclone Dylan.

Great Keppel Island Hideaway co-owner Sean Appleton said staff were frantically trying to save three houses at the resort, off Rockhampton.

The resort had already lost three decks since category 2 cyclone Dylan crossed the coast early Friday near Hideaway Bay, between Bowen and Airlie Beach.

"We've got 250 beds here but losing them rapidly," he said. "[The swell] was no greater than we anticipated, but it was greater than we could stop. We had no hope."

Storm surges around the time of a king tide on Friday morning caused minor flooding in low-lying areas along the north Queensland coast and beaches at Mackay were eroded. Both the Whitsunday and Mackay councils warned residents to avoid venturing to beaches where heavy swells smashed on to the shoreline.

Moored boats were damaged during storm surges at Bowen and Airlie Beach.

Flights were disrupted out of Mackay airport and a number of roads were cut off in the area.

Tourists in the Whitsundays were stranded on the resort islands while the Airlie Beach Port remained closed.

Central Queensland graziers welcomed the much-needed rain, but said they were not expecting it to make much of a difference to drought-stricken areas.

"One rainfall event won't make a difference. There needs to be prolonged rain," Northern Gulf Graziers Group chairman Barry Hughes said.

North Queensland communities appear to have escaped any significant damage from the cyclone, with emergency services reporting only minor damage.

The storm, downgraded to a tropical low on Friday morning, was weakening as it tracked inland. An emergency alert was still in place for residents in low-lying parts of Mackay. A severe weather warning remained in place for coastal and island communities from Cooktown to Gladstone.