TRAINS have been suspended at Landsborough on the Sunshine Coast after a car crashed into boom-gates at the Caloundra Rd level crossing.
Translink said customers should expect delays of approximately 20 minutes until police arrive to divert traffic at the scene.
Queensland Rail repair crews are also on scene.
THE body of a man has been discovered at an industrial business on the Gold Coast this afternoon.
Queensland Police confirmed they were called to a business on Hinde Street, Ashmore about 3.40pm after the body of a male was found.
Police said they could not confirm whether the death was suspicious.
Police were still at the scene.
There were reports the man ran into a cement factory on Hinde Street, covered in blood and asking for help.
A Queensland Ambulance spokesperson confirmed an ambulance was called to the scene but the man was dead by the time it arrived.
More soon
View Larger MapGAME ON: The Gold Coast Commonweatlh Games 2018 logo. Source: Supplied
THIS is the logo that will take the Gold Coast Commonwealth 2018 Games to the world, a multi-coloured design unveiled this morning.
The emblem's design - based on 'months of research and development' - incorporates athletes including a swimmer, a gymnast and a hurdler against what appears to be windmill.
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Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey said the emblem was inspired by the Gold Coast's "stunning beach side location, its iconic skyline".
She said the colours were "representative of the coast, the hinterland and the celebratory atmosphere which is synonymous with the region".
"Centred upon fluid representations of a gymnast, a hurdler and a swimmer, the emblem reflects the Games' deep heritage and humanity.
"Today's unveiling shows the world the Gold Coast can't wait to share this moment in history."
Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation Chair Nigel Chamier OAM said the emblem was a result of months of research and development.
"Market research was undertaken to unpack the deeper emotional factors which define the Gold Coast as a place, and those that define the Commonwealth Games specifically," Mr Chamier said.
"Local focus group workshops were held and we then defined the Games core proposition before engaging brand and design company WiteKite to develop the artwork.
"It has been a very exciting and thorough process and GOLDOC believes the emblem is an outstanding reflection of community sentiment and broader perception of the Gold Coast and its role as host city for the Commonwealth Games."
Department of Education, Training and Employment's new Director General Dr Jim Watterston. Source: Supplied
THE man who challenged Canberra schools to stop coasting on the back of smart kids from rich families is set to head Queensland's education system.
Dr Jim Watterston, who was behind an ambitious school reform agenda in the Australian Capital Territory, will head Queensland's Department of Education, Training and Employment from next month.
He was praised in the ACT Legislative Assembly last year for leaving their school system "in a better position than when he started", after accusing schools three years before of "coasting" on the results of "already smart kids from high socio-economic families".
Under Dr Watterston a three-year plan was introduced to increase collaboration with non-Government schools and raise the performance of disadvantaged students.
The current Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development deputy secretary courted controversy this year when he signed a department memo, amid an industrial dispute, stating hours spent at school camps outside the allocated 38 hours were free time rather than working time.
Queensland's national search for a new DETE Director-General (DG) comes after former DG Julie Grantham quit suddenly last year.
In a message sent out by acting DETE DG Annette Whitehead it states: "It is with great pleasure I announce that after a nationwide recruitment process Dr Jim Watterston has accepted the position of Director-General of the Department of Education, Training and Employment".
"He will join our department on Monday 15 April 2013."
Like former DG Julie Grantham, Dr Watterston was a teacher and then principal before rising through the ranks to take on DG roles.
He is also the current Australian Council of Educational Leaders national president.
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.
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.
"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.
