Eighty per cent of the tourist strip's famous beaches have been carved away by Tropical Cyclone Alfred but the mayor says they will be back to their best for the Easter holidays.

Cyclone Alfred - which has been downgraded from a cyclone to a tropical low - has caused flooding, damage to buildings and left thousands without power across the eastern coast of Australia. Millions of people across Queensland and north New South Wales have been affected.

For about 50 years, the Gold Coast has been building a seawall to protect coastal infrastructure from erosion. Some experts say it could protect the region from the worst of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.