Storms lash Gold Coast

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33452, 6 February 1974, Page 1

Storms lash Gold Coast

(.V Z. Press Auoeialton —Copyright) BRISBANE. February 5. The backlash from Cyclone Pain todax battered the southern Queensland coast, tearing huge bights out of (iold Coast beaches.

A satellite picture today showed Pam, one of the largest cyclones plotted in the Queensland area, centred 437 miles east of Sandy ('ape and 50(1 miles north-east of Brisbane. Cyclone Pam developed during the week-end near Fiji, and began moving south-south-west at 12 knots.. The regional director of the Weather Bureau in Bns bane (Mr A. J. Shields, said the cyclone was being; tracked by radar and weather satellite, and appeared to be maintaining intensity. The cyclone backlash — high winds, rain, and exaggerated tides — affected the I whole coastline of the state.l Mr Shields said communi cation had been lost with New Caledonia since the eye-; lone passed over the islands.! The first clouds of the eye- | lone began swirling over Brisbane today as the city was still reeling from the i floods last week which killed ■ 15 persons. FEDERAL AID i The Australian Treasurer I (Mr Frank Crean) estimated; •i today that flood damage in Queensland would probably exceed ssom in value. Speaking after discussing flood relief with the Queensland Premier (Mr .Johannes Bjelke-Petersen), Mr Crean said the flood In Brisbanel iwas probably' the greatest disaster in Australian his- ; ton'.

He said that the Australian j land Queensland Governments' 'had agreed to grants of up to $15,000 for replacing or repairing homes, with further lloans where necessary of up |to $lO,OOO. DOLLAR! OR-DOI LAR The Australian Govern-. ;ment would share the first) s4m of flood-relief costs with : the Queensland Government lon a dollar-for-dollar basis, and carry any additional cost, said Mr Crean. “It is certain to have an adverse effect on the national I economy," he said. In the flooded north-west',| jof the state, the Mount Na mine, which produces twothirds of Australian copper, .t cut production by half today;! to conserve dwindling coalj. I stocks. The township is cutoff by road and rail.