City leaders are urging residents of the Gold Coast to “get prepared” as Tropical Cyclone Alfred nears the Queensland coastline, possibly bringing as much as half a metre of rain to the city.
The Local Disaster Management Group has now been activated and Disaster Coordinator Mark Ryan is urging locals to stay up to date with what is a rapidly unfolding and somewhat uncertain situation over the coming days.
At this stage, it is looking likely Tropical Cyclone Alfred will make landfall somewhere near the Sunshine Coast either Thursday night or Friday morning.
“The scenario where the cyclone is likely to cross north of the city is the more concerning scenario for the city,” Mr Ryan said on Monday morning.
“We know that the worst weather that comes from a cyclone is on the southerly side of the cyclone.
“Under the current model where it crosses we could see 300-400mm of rain on one model, we could even see three day totals exceeding over 600mm of rain which is of significant concern to the Gold Coast.”
Mr Ryan said the city was getting prepared for all possibilities.
“At Category 2, the advice we have is that there might be minor damage to structures across the city,” he said.
“What we’re quite concerned about is the amount of rainfall. We know that there is a fair bit soil moisture at the moment and trees will come down easily.”
Acting Mayor Donna Gates said it was important residents started preparing their homes now.
“For residents of the Gold Coast, now is the time to get prepared,” The Acting Mayor said.
“It’s really important that you secure outdoor furniture, that you clear your gutters.
“If you live in a high rise in particular make sure that any of your furniture on your outdoor balcony is moved inside.
“It’s not just rainfall, it’s creep from the wind strength of the cyclone as well. So, there’ll be slow flooding across our low lying areas as well as flash flooding form the heavy rainfall that’s anticipated if it crosses the coast where it is anticipated right now.
“This is the first time a cyclone has crossed our shores in many years so just be prepared.”
Sandbagging stations are already open in Pimpama, Bilinga and Burleigh Heads. There have been reports of lengthy lines already and residents are being warned to expect delays.
An evacuation centre will be activated on Thursday, however it’s exact location is yet to be confirmed and will depend on more up to date modelling.
“Depending on what happens between now and then there are more likely to be more centres activated,” Ms Gates said.
The Acting Mayor said while she hoped the cyclone would change path and head back out to sea, at this stage that’s not looking likely and residents should plan for the worst.
“We never want to be the boy that cried wolf but quite clearly this is an extraordinary event,” she said.
“We had such a beautiful sunny weekend that it was probably hard for people to anticipate what’s about to hit us if all the modelling comes to be. So yes, we need to take it seriously.”
The Bureau of Meteorology has now issued a Tropical Cyclone Advice Warning for much of southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales, extending from Sandy Cape to Grafton including Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Byron Bay.
At 12.00pm on Monday, Cyclone Alfred was at Category 1 strength around 465 kilometres east northeast of Brisbane and 430 kilometres east northeast of Maroochydore.
“Tropical Cyclone Alfred will continue moving towards the southeast today, slightly away from the Queensland coast before slowing down and turning westward, towards the Queensland coast on Tuesday,” the BOM advice states.
“Alfred is currently a category 1 cyclone but is expected to intensify to a category 2 cyclone tonight. It is likely to maintain a category 2 intensity as it approaches the southeast Queensland coast late on Thursday.
“Severe coastal hazards, including abnormally high tides and hazardous surf are expected to continue over southern Queensland and northeastern New South Wales coasts, deteriorating further as Alfred begins to move towards the coast from Tuesday onwards. A large and powerful to potentially damaging easterly swell is occurring about exposed southern Queensland beaches, and is forecast to extend to northern New South Wales coast today.
“Gales with damaging wind gusts to 120 kilometres per hour are expected to develop along the southeast Queensland and northeastern New South Wales coastal and island communities between Tewantin and Grafton during Wednesday. Gales may extend north to Sandy Cape from late Wednesday onwards.
Heavy rainfall is forecast for southeast Queensland and northeastern New South Wales from Wednesday as Alfred approaches the coast. Heavy to locally intense rainfall which may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding near and south of the system centre as Alfred approaches and crosses the coast late on Thursday. Flood Watches have been issued for these areas.”
SAND BAGGING STATIONS:
- 196 Old Pacific Highway, Pimpama (next to the City of Gold Coast Coomera Depot)
- 42-44 Boyd Street, Bilinga (next to the City of Gold Coast Tugun Depot)
- 61 Hutchinson Street, Burleigh Heads (at the Reedy Creek Waste and Recycling Centre)
