Kerry crossed the coast near Proserpine. In Mackay one house suffered extensive damage and 26 houses lost parts of their roofs. A large section of roof was torn off a warehouse and caravans were damaged. Power lines were blown down. At Seaforth 16 m trees were uprooted.

The Mackay Met Office recorded a maximum wind gust of 76 knots while the highest 10 minute mean wind was 50 knots. Huge seas caused 1 million 1979 dollars damage to boats in the harbour. On Brampton Is. the staff?s quarters were unroofed and many trees were blown down and a storm surge there brought the sea one metre above the highest recorded tide level. Hayman Is also reported a one metre storm surge.

The Mackay Eungella road was cut by fallen trees and landslides and floods cut the Bruce Highway. The Mackay wave recording station measured significant wave heights to 4.02 metres maximum height 5.91metres and peak energy period 9.19 seconds

Rockhampton Regional Council in partnership with the Queensland a…