Village Roadshow has become one of the first local businesses to shut up shop ahead of the impending arrival of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
The cyclone has intensified back into a Category Two system overnight as it continues to barrel towards South East Queensland.
As of 4.50am Tuesday, Alfred remained 560 kilometres east of Brisbane and 560 kilometres east of Maroochydore.
“Tropical Cyclone Alfred is currently moving southeast, but it is expected to slow and turn west towards the Queensland coast later today,” The Bureau of Meteorology said.
“Alfred’s intensity may fluctuate between category 1 and 2 over the next few days, but it is forecast to cross the southeast Queensland coast at category 2 strength late on Thursday or early Friday morning”.
Gales with damaging wind gusts to 120 kilometres per hour are expected to develop along the southeast Queensland and northeastern New South Wales coastal fringes on Wednesday, along with heavy rainfall, flooding and abnormally high tides.
As a result, Village Roadshow has announced all of its attractions and theme parks will close for three days from Wednesday in preparation for the severe weather event.
“Following advice from the City of Gold Coast’s Disaster Management Team, Movie World, Sea World, Wet’n’Wild, Paradise Country, Australian Outback Spectacular, and Topgolf will be closed from Wednesday, 5th March, to Friday, 7th March, inclusive,” they company said.
“The decision has been made to prioritise the safety of visitors, staff, and animals”.
Meantime, Council officers are conducting door-knocks on South Stradbroke Island today amid concerns it will be smashed by Alfred.
Residents are being urged to evacuate now before conditions begin to deteriorate.
“It’s very widespread, but South Stradbroke is a concern” Acting Mayor Donna Gates said.
“Council will go over with a barge and will be trying to encourage voluntary evacuations”.
Sandbagging stations remain open for residents after being inundated with locals yesterday.
- 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)
