More than just a storm - Cyclone Larry

17 Dec 2008

It's hard to believe that tropical cyclone Larry tore across Queensland nearly three years ago. The devastating winds that wreaked havoc and destruction across the state tested Broadcast Australia's disaster plans to the extreme when some 23 transmission sites were impacted in some form or another by "Larry's" wrath.

While the impact felt by most Australians outside Queensland was through the rising price of bananas, the Field Services team responsible for the Mt Bellenden-Ker site swung into action.

As Cyclone Larry left its trail of destruction, the North Queensland District Office in Townsville began to coordinate one of their biggest tasks ever - to bring communications back to Northern Queensland communities.

When Larry hit just before daybreak, two field services staff who live in the vicinity, knew that their day was already cut out for them. Knowing that communications were down, the two men set out to try to bring transmission life back to Mt Bellenden-Ker. Their first hurdle was to get to site.

With trees across the roads and the weather still treacherous, they arrived at the cable car at the bottom of the mountain only to be greeted by more downed trees.

It soon became apparent that the damage caused by the cyclone meant that the journey by cable car to access the mountain-top site wasn't going to be an easy one. Despite the thorough precautions taken in preparation for the cyclone, the team found that the thick and heavy cables had been twisted by the wind and had to be untangled as the cable car progressed up the hill.

Needless to say, it was a long and slow task for our field staff. Tired and wet after several hours of heavy labour, they reached the transmission site still facing the task of getting the broadcasts back to air.

Damage to the site included: blown off wall panels (by 300+Km winds), water in the building and potential water damage to equipment. This meant that it was essential to get the emergency generator started, the feeder cable dehydrator working and the transmitter air blowers in place to ensure a completely dry environment before starting the equipment.

With the 6pm news looming and the aim to have broadcast transmission re-established for devastated townships by this time, transmission was re-established, initially at low power to minimize the potential for damage, before finally being turned up to full power. The 6pm news went to air in the surrounding and outlying communities. It was more than 3 weeks before mains power was re-supplied to the site.

The two men conquered their Everest! But as they say in the classics "it's all in a day's work".

  Picture caption:
  Cyclone Larry wreaked havoc across Queensland