Australia Weather News

School holiday travel plans have been thrown into turmoil after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred left a trail of destruction along the east coast, prompting pleas from tourism operators for holiday-makers not to cancel their Easter getaways.

Tourism experts estimate the storm has already cost the industry tens of millions of dollars, with flights grounded and hotel bookings cancelled.

Some of the country's most iconic beaches have been severely eroded, raising concerns that visitor numbers and holiday spending could take a further hit in the months ahead.

Millions of cubic metres of sand were stripped from shorelines from Queensland's Sunshine Coast to Coffs Harbour in New South Wales, leaving six-metre-high escarpments where sand once lay on some of the Gold Coast's most iconic beaches.

Queensland Tourism Minister Andrew Powell urged visitors not to cancel their plans.

"Queensland is open for business. We are a huge state with plenty of tourism opportunities. Please, make your bookings now," he said.

"We have machines on the beaches as we speak, and that recovery will continue."

Marion Simon, a hotel manager in the Gold Coast suburb of Broadbeach, admitted the dramatic changes to the coastline could be discouraging for some guests. But she said they shouldn't think there's nothing to see.

"We still had a beach. It might not have been as wide and beautiful, but it's still a gorgeous beach," Ms Simon said.

She said there had been cancellations prior to Cyclone Alfred crossing the coast, and that Easter bookings were already lower than last year.

"There's also the financial implications for those poor people affected by the floods in Brisbane, who we do normally get a lot of business from," she said.

Byron Bay and Gold Coast working to restore beaches by Easter

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said emergency beach restoration efforts were already underway.

"We will be ready for Easter," he said. 

"We need people to come back and support local businesses."

Peregian Beach, south of Noosa on the Sunshine Coast, has lost about 30 metres of width.

A spokesperson for the Sunshine Coast Council said other impacted beaches included Maroochydore, Kings Beach, Kawana and Yaroomba. The council said there were no planned coastline remediation works and was advising visitors to stay clear of the dunes due to the risk of collapse.

Heavy rain and wild seas have also stripped sand from several of Byron Bay's iconic beaches, exposing a shipwreck at Ballina and leaving shorelines battered just weeks before the Easter holiday rush.

Suffolk Park and South Golden Beach were among the worst hit, with erosion carving into dunes and washing away large sections of sand.

Byron Shire Mayor Sarah Ndiaye said council crews were still assessing the damage but reassured visitors the beaches would be open for Easter.

"The immediate priority was clearing roads and restoring power," Cr Ndiaye said.

"We'll be working closely with the State government to ensure the beaches are safe and accessible."

Several shipwrecks have also been exposed at Ballina, drawing curious onlookers.

Experts say nature will eventually send the sand back to the coastline.

Sharon Raguse, CEO of Tourism Noosa, said the organisation would run marketing campaigns to put visitors' minds at ease.

Beaches are big business in Australia

The economic stakes are high.

Tourism Research Australia (TRA) figures show the country's beaches play a pivotal role in attracting international visitors, with 70 per cent of tourists engaging in coastal activities during their stay.

Australians make about 31 million daytrips to the beach each year and spend more than $3 billion doing so, according to TRA.

And it's especially important for the Gold Coast. Tourism accounts for 4.4 per cent of the Gold Coast's economy, generating $1.62 billion and supporting more than 20,000 jobs, according to the Gold Coast City Council.

Gabby Walters, an associate professor in tourism at the University of Queensland, said the biggest challenge now was changing perceptions.

"The Gold Coast is one of Australia's premier tourism destinations, so anytime there's a significant event like this, it does have an impact on image and reputation," Dr Walters said.

She agreed marketing campaigns were needed to stem the flow.

Sydney tourist Mary Damaso and her family said they were enjoying their holiday on the Gold Coast, despite the changed landscape.

The family left their apartment before the storm hit and returned several days later.

"Some of the beaches are looking a bit sad, but Queensland is our favourite place," she said.

"It's still beautiful, and we feel so lucky we've been able to enjoy the rest of our holiday."