Monster cyclone creeps down Queensland coast

Forecasters expect Hamish to bring very destructive winds, rising seas and large waves. Photo / Japanese Meteorological Association

BRISBANE - Emergency services staff from all around Queensland are being deployed to deal with Category 5 tropical cyclone Hamish as it creeps towards the Whitsunday Islands.

Last night it was just 145km northeast of the islands.

Forecasters expect Hamish to bring very destructive winds, rising sea levels and large waves.

Two of the north Queensland islands - South Molle and Long - have already been evacuated, but most visitors are staying on other islands with cyclone-proof resorts, such as Hamilton Island.

Up to 1000 campers had been evacuated from Fraser Island.

An emergency services spokeswoman said almost 90 emergency services staff had been deployed to areas around Mackay to help when the storm hits.

"[There's been] no reports of damage as yet," she said.

"We're playing the waiting game at the moment."

Bureau of Meteorology cyclone warning centre forecaster Tony Auden said: "The threat for now is we've got a warning for Bowen to Bundaberg with damaging winds up to 100km/h, large seas and high tides south of the system as it moves.

"The one saving grace is that the cyclone is moving parallel to the coast and is expected to do so for the next one to two days."

Auden said that although Hamish was expected to die down around Wednesday, Tewantin in the Hervey Bay region was the next town in the firing line.

"It's moving closer. We're keeping a very close eye on things. It will take around two to three days to reach that area."

Whitsundays Disaster Management Group co-ordinator Senior Sergeant Steve O'Connell said preparations were well under way on the coast. "We've done as much preparation as we can in the event the cyclone does come towards us."

Damaging wind gusts are expected to hit communities between Townsville and Yeppoon overnight.

Areas around Mackay have been deluged with 180mm of rain since 9am on Saturday, with some suburbs evacuated because of flooding and authorities warning of road closures.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said Hamish could bring devastation similar to that of Cyclone Larry, a category 5 cyclone which wreaked havoc on Innisfail in 2006, if it crossed the coast.

- AAP