Protests meet Queensland Plan Summit

Premier Campbell Newman talks to journalists at the Queensland Plan Summit in Mackay. Picture: Ric Frearson Source: The Courier-Mail

DELEGATES arriving at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre ahead of today's Queensland Plan summit have been met by protestors.

A small but noisy group of about 30 unionists and environmentalists, angry about job cuts, potential asset sales and unregulated development began chanting and waving banners as the first of about 400 invitees began arriving for the day-long conference in Mackay.

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30-year Queensland Plan: Sitting down to shape state's future

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The cause of their irritation, Premier Campbell Newman, managed to avoid their attentions he was driven to the door of the venue in a shuttle bus, with Moggill MP Bruce Flegg.

However, delegates queuing to register were subjected to repeated chants.

Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said it was inevitable there would be a "divergence of opinions" in a democracy as he arrived.

Union protesters shouting out their message at the Queensland Plan Summit in Mackay. Picture: Ric Frearson

The summit of state MPs, local government representatives, and specially invited constituents has been convened as the Newman Government sets about asking Queenslanders to have their say in the plan which will shape the state over the next 30 years.

The day is aimed at determining a series of questions to which all Queenslanders will be invited to respond to thought their local MPs until a second summit in Brisbane.

Both government and opposition MPs have voiced views that politics should be left out of the process.

The Mackay summit is due to begin shortly after 10am.

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Queensland, the racially 'inclusive' state

ANY refugee who respects Queensland's way of life is welcome, the Liberal National Party state government says.

Multicultural Affairs Minister Glen Elmes says Queensland is an inclusive state.

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"Refugees from Afghanistan, Bhutan, Congo, Iran, Iraq, Myanmar, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka and Sudan have settled in Queensland," he said in a statement, ahead of a speech at the annual Brisbane Lord Mayor's Refugee Welcome Ceremony on Thursday.

"Many have fled persecution and in the worst circumstances the threat of being killed."

Mr Elmes says the government offers families and individuals access to a range of programs, networks and services to help them integrate with the community.

"Queensland is a welcoming and inclusive state for everyone who wants to live here, share their culture and respect our way of life."

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Tim threatens to soak Queensland coast

TROPICAL Cyclone Tim remains a Category 2 system, bringing an increase in rain and gusty winds to the Queensland coast.

But Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Tony Auden said Tim was likely to drop "below cyclone strength over the weekend".

The resulting tropical low is likely to approach the coast early next week bringing wind and rain.

The central and northern stretches of the Queensland coast should expect an increase in showers by the middle of next week although they're expected to be short lived.

"We're unlikely to see days of rain on end in any one spot," Mr Auden said.

Innisfail and Tully may see slightly increased rainfalls.

At 4am, Cyclone Tim was located 710km east northeast of Cairns and was moving east south east at 22km/h.

WILD WAVES: Surfers at Kirra Point make the most of the swell caused by the passing Cyclone Sandra. Pic: Scott Fletcher

 

Earlier it was reported, Cyclone Tim has formed and was last night tracking east-southeast off the north Queensland coast. It is expected to turn west this weekend before crossing the coast as a tropical low next week.

It is too early to predict exactly where and when the coastal crossing might occur but it is expected to be between Cairns and Rockhampton, early to mid-next week.

It will have the potential to deliver 200mm to 300mm of rain in a day but will be moving quickly and is expected to soon slip inland.

Weather Bureau forecaster Tony Auden said he expected Cyclone Tim to become a low by early Sunday morning.

Mr Auden said he did not agree with a US Joint Typhoon Warning Centre projection of a stronger cyclone.

"It's very unlikely that it will be a cyclone by the time it gets to the coast," he said.

"Its main impact will be a general increase in rain over the coastal stretch. There'll be gusty winds but they're not considered a threat."

The storm is predicted to be about 800km east-northeast of Cairns this morning.

It was expected to hit Category 2 last night and was travelling at 26km/h, with winds of 112km/h.

Meantime, Lord Howe Island's 350 residents have battened down as Cyclone Sandra gets set to roll past the island, 600km off the coast of central NSW. Gusts of up to 150km/h were expected last night as rain teemed down.

The major storm, which started northeast of Townsville a week ago, has entered the north Tasman Sea and was expected to pass about 130km east of the island. It is forecast to weaken this morning.

Its effects were still being felt along our coastline too, with powerful surf forecast for the Gold and Sunshine coasts this weekend.

"There should be plenty of waves and surf around," Mr Auden said.

The strong surf will ease late Sunday.

Brisbane and most of the southeast will have fine and sunny weather today and tomorrow, with the chance of a shower on Sunday.

Queensland's coastal strip has been drenched with heavy rain since late January. After a perishingly dry start to summer, January's Cyclone Oswald lasted just a few hours before degrading into a low that travelled down the eastern seaboard. Floods also returned in February and earlier this month.

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Huge seas pounding Queensland coast

Tidal surge engulfs an MG convertible in the Currumbin Surf Club carpark. Source: Supplied

HUGE seas and a high tide are pounding already badly-eroded Gold Coast beaches.

The early morning tidal surge almost swept an MG convertible out of the Currumbin Surf Club carpark.

The car, left overnight, was spun around in the carpark, but an industrial rubbish bin was washed into the surf.

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A lifeguard tower at Nobby Beach has toppled into the ocean.

Gold Coast chief lifeguard Warren Young said all beaches had been closed due to the dangerous conditions.

An industrial rubbish bin is swept from the Currumbin Surf Club carpark.

Murray Turnbull, operations manager of the Currumbin Vikings Surf Life Saving Club, said 2m to 3m waves were washing into his carpark every five minutes.

"It's rainy and windy. Horrible weather for a surf, but good weather to come in and have breakfast," he said

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning each day for the past three days as a low pressure system offshore pushes waves up to 8m towards the Gold Coast.

The waves are predicted to continue pounding the coast tomorrow, with the swell slightly easing.

Despite the dangers, some surfers are making use of the big waves, towing into booming breakers at Currumbin Alley.

Beaches around Palm Beach and Nobby Beach have been hard hit by erosion.

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