Wild weather doesn't dampen first day of SCIBS

by Jeni Bone on 22 May 2009 Waters are muddied around Sanctuary Cove and the Gold Coast, following record levels of rainfall. Its world famous beaches are closed thanks to record high tides. But at SCIBS today, skies were blue and the mood was buoyant.

Overflow from the Hinze dam and high swells with waves of up to 6m have been battering the coast from the NSW border to Noosa, carving deep cliffs into previously level and sandy beaches.

Houseboats on the Broadwater which were pushed up on to rocks on Wednesday night are still visible at angles, shark nets have been ripped from their moorings and roads along Main Beach and Surfers Paradise are covered in sand. Every suburb on the Gold Coast has been hit, including black-outs, branches and debris littering the footpaths and signs posts bent or blown down.

One man lost his life in Surfers Paradise, a victim of broken glass when the window blew in at his office and Premier, Anna Bligh has said the damages bill could be one of the highest the state had seen.

While the talk at SCIBS was about the return of storm conditions, traffic was solid and in bursts, intense. It was a strange way to start a show, but exhibitors were optimistic a fear of missing out on this year’s spectacular would bring the crowds on Saturday.

Most were philosophical and accepted that numbers would be down, but were confident the buyers would be there.

Under the pavilions, the sweltering conditions and dank, musty carpet reminded visitors of the carnage of Wednesday night. Some exhibitors, including Glow Boat, Deckhardware, Raymarine, Aqualuma and Navico told of gushing water leaking through the roof and damaging displays.

'Luckily we’re in the marine business, so our products are made for the worst nature can turn on,' said the stoic Grant Amor from Aqualuma. 'Our lights are waterproof, as are most people’s products.'

Posters, brochures and devices like AV and big screen TVs will all be covered overnight, just in case.

Day 2 begins 9am Saturday 23 May.