Whether it's sunny or stormy today, there's no better time to prepare.
A bushfire survival kit gives you easy access to the things you'll need if you must evacuate due to a fire or other emergencies
What to pack in your bushfire survival kit β‘οΈ https://ab.co/BushfireSurvivalKit
What to pack in your cyclone survival kit β‘οΈ https://ab.co/CycloneSurvivalKit
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A Gympie man has been charged with 25 offences related to allegedly stealing copper wire across south-east Queensland.
The Jones Hill man was arrested earlier this month after police searched a Pie Creek property, allegedly finding about 30kg of copper wire, damaged insulation and items for drug use.
Police from the Gympie Criminal Investigation Branch investigated multiple reports of theft or damage to copper cabling in Gympie, Sunshine Coast, Indooroopilly and surrounding areas since June.
The 46-year-old is facing 12 counts of wilful damage, nine counts of stealing and one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle.
He's also charged with evasion offence at night, possess utensils or pipes that had been used, fail to take reasonable care and precautions in respect of syringe or needle.
He has been remanded in custody and is due to reappear in Gympie Magistrates Court on December 9.
Wide Bay Burnett district Detective Acting Inspector Melonie Geck said the investigation began with more than 18 reports of copper theft.
βDespite creative attempts to steal property, detectives continue to identify, locate and deal with offenders," he said.
π° Get more news from ABC Sunshine Coast: https://www.abc.net.au/news/sunshine/
Sunshine Coast suburbs have been lashed with hail, rain and wind as a severe thunderstorm swept over pockets of the region this afternoon.
A severe thunderstorm warning remains in place for south-east Queensland.
The storms may deliver damaging winds, large hailstones, and heavy rainfall to Conondale and the area north of Woodford before 5pm.
An earlier storm brought down powerlines and trees, blocking roads in Palmwoods and paralysing the rail network between Caboolture and Nambour on Thursday.
Palmwoods resident Libby Derham said the town was hit by heavy rain followed by pea-sized hail.
"What is normally a dry wraparound verandah is now completely soaked," she said.
"Lots of wet and soggy items to go through tomorrow."
More than 1300 properties lost power early in the afternoon, particularly with Mapleton, Hunchy and Palmwoods significantly affected, although power was restored soon after.
πΈSupplied, Libby Derham, of Palmwoods.
Storm on Buderim
β‘οΈβοΈThe thunder storm is passing over Buderim now. β‘οΈβοΈ
Whatβs it like at your place?
Let us know where you are posting pics and video from.
Hope that everyone and their animals are safe.
The power of nature is amazing but our rural reporterβs dogs are finding the lightning very frightening. π³πΆ
π΄ββοΈπ΄ββοΈπ΄ On your bike! (or scooter) π΄ββοΈπ΄ββοΈπ΄
More than 10 e-motorcycles, e-scooters and e-bicycles have been seized from the Coolum area as part of a police crackdown.
The blitz, led by local officers, ran over the weekend.
Drones were used to track riders as part of the operation, which was aimed at improving road safety for all residents.
Sergeant Joel Bryant said it was disappointing to see a high number of young people riding dangerously, not wearing helmets and ignoring road rules.
βRiders are risking serious, life-changing injuries or worse,β Sgt Bryant said.
βMany of the e-motorcycle, e-scooter and e-bicycle fatalities in Queensland have occurred when the riders have been travelling less than 20 kilometres per hour.β
Under Queensland law, users between 12 and 16 years of age must ride with adult supervision, while it is illegal for under-12 to ride the devices on Queensland roads.
Police are planning more operations in the future, along with a community education day.
π° Get more news from ABC Sunshine Coast: https://www.abc.net.au/news/sunshine/
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#WATCH: Queenslanders have a new government after the LNP snuck home with a narrow majority.
The LNP finished the night with 48 seats, one more than the 47 needed to secure a majority. It is projected to win 51.
Choose your news on the ABC NEWS app and stay in the know: https://ab.co/abcnewsapp
Chris Perry is heading home π
A Sunshine Coast man who suffered a severe spinal injury in a bike accident earlier this year has defied the odds and learned to walk again.
Chris Perry had been riding through a caravan park in June when his push bike struck a chain, catapulting him over the handlebars.
The 39-year-old father-of-two broke his neck in two places and damaged his spinal cord.
Doctors told him he'd be a quadriplegic, but through determination and the help of the team at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital's rehabilitation ward, the former competitive AFL player is back on his feet.
Specialists lined the hallway to celebrate as he headed home yesterday.
βItβs quite emotional, I really canβt thank the team enough here,β Mr Perry said.
βDown to the cleaners, the wardies, the nurses, the physios, OTs [occupational therapists] β¦ they take the time to get to know you and buy into what you are doing.β
You can read more about Mr Perryβs story here;
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-31/man-fights-to-walk-again-amid-bed-shortages-qld/104133452
ABC Sunshine Coast hosted the incredibly talented Fin Zerner Music at our Open House. The Year 10 student is forging a strong music career with vocal and guitar skills.
Who you goanna call?
Hear it hiss!
When a large lace monitor set up home beside her pool, a Sippy Downs resident called in Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers, Heather and Carl, to carefully relocate it.
Lace monitors can grow over two metres long and are one of the largest lizards in Australia.
Common on the coast they have very sharp claws and teeth, which is why this one was packed in a pipe for transport, rather than a bag.
Having a bit of a hissy fit about being moved on, the lizard was happy to be safely released.
A humpback whale has freed itself after becoming trapped in shark nets off Noosa this morning.
Hunter Vercoe was filming a surf video in the water nearby when he noticed the animal.
His footage shows the whale struggling with the net wrapped around its head and body.
Mr Vercoe said the whale was able to free itself after about 10 minutes, but it was a distressing scene.
"How many more whales need to get tangled up before we get rid of them?" Mr Vercoe said.
Independent Noosa MP Sandy Bolton recently surveyed residents and found 75 per cent of respondents wanted shark nets removed from Noosa Main Beach.
The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries advises anyone who sees a tangled animal to call the Shark Control Program hotline on 1800 806 891.
Police have arrested three suspected members of an outlaw motorcycle gang after a vehicle was allegedly rammed and the driver assaulted on the Sunshine Coast.
Police say a Mercedes was chased at speed by two four-wheel drives through Palmview on the 18th of September, before the car was allegedly rammed and the driver assaulted.
He was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police have arrested three men and charged them with endangering the safety of a person in a vehicle and grievous bodily harm under serious organised crime legislation.
They have been remanded in custody to reappear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on the 6th of December.