Tropical Cyclone Alfred: What Moreton Bay should expect

Moreton Bay City Council Mayor Peter Flannery says regardless of where Tropical Cyclone Alfred crosses, the city can expect high winds not seen for 50 years, plenty of rain and storm surges which could threaten low-lying areas.

He spoke to Moreton Daily late today ahead of another cyclone briefing tonight.

It comes as Tropical Cyclone Alfred makes its way towards the southern Queensland coast, with Moreton Bay still in the firing line.

Alfred is expected to cross the coast early Friday morning, most likely between Maroochydore and Coolangatta.

Mayor Flannery said, during this morning's briefing from the Premier, he was told the cyclone could move further south than first expected.

“But who knows? It’s moving around a lot, so we’ll wait and see. We’ll get more of an update later on tonight,” he said.

“Either way, I think we’re going to cop an enormous amount of wind … high winds that we haven’t seen for many, many, many decades. People may not have seen them for over 50 years. (There will be) lots of rain.

“We’re concerned about the storm surges on top of a high tide which is predicted between Thursday night and Friday morning, when the cyclone is supposed to come over. It could be a double-whammy there.

“We’re trying to inform those low-lying communities – Bribie Island, Meldale, Toorbul, Donnybrook, Beachmere, a bit of Redcliffe at the northern end and the southern end as well. They could be in for a lot of rain, a lot of wind, and also an increase in sea levels through there.”

Mayor Flannery was not worried about residents becoming complacent, if forecasts predict Alfred will pass to the city’s south.

“A lot of the preparation work’s been done now. We’ve done over 3000 tonnes of sand, we’ve delivered 300,000 sandbags … so all the prep work for flooding has been done,” he said.

“I think people are probably now praying it’s going to go further south and that things won’t be as bad.

“It’s now just a matter of waiting and seeing the impacts when it comes.”

Mayor Flannery said dangerous and destructive winds would be a big factor.

“They (residents) need to secure their outdoor furniture, trampolines and make sure anything that can become a missile is tied down or put away in a shed or inside the house,” he said.

“Also animals … you need to look after your animals and how they’re going as well.”

What’s the biggest risk to Moreton Bay?

“Probably the storm surge and seeing how that’s going to play out on that high tide and what level it’s going to be. We’ve been told it could be anywhere from nothing to 0.5m to 0.8m,” Mayor Flannery said.

“We’ve put that on our public disaster dashboard modelling, so people can zoom into their properties and see the impact on their property.

“Hopefully that will inform them to make a decision to stay or move – go to family or friends or if need-be a refuge centre.

“The rain … we’re used to floods, to a degree, in the City of Moreton Bay. Hopefully the community will be resilient as ever. The amount of rain (to expect), we’re not sure. It’s changing as well.

“Also, the high wind impacts to our hinterland area, our mountains and how it impacts properties up there and people up there.”

Mayor Flannery said council had done as much sandbagging as possible to protect foreshore areas from erosion.

Crews have also cleared stormwater drains in a bid to prevent blockages.

He has been in regular meetings with the Queensland Premier each day since Sunday night to share information and prepare a co-ordinated response.

“Other councils in Queensland are offering support – their SES teams, their disaster teams, their workers as well are on standby to assist with the recovery,” Mayor Flannery said.

He said he was not aware of plans to close key bridges in the city, including the Bribie Bridge and the connection to the Redcliffe Peninsula, at this stage.

They are Transport and Main Roads assets and will be closed if they are struck by objects or become inundated by water.

Key message to residents

Mayor Peter Flannery had this message for residents: “Look out for each other, be prepared, check on your elderly neighbours. If they’re there, make sure they’re secure and have enough food and equipment … they could be without power for a period of time … that they’re prepared for that”.

He said if people were concerned about the safety of their location, they needed to move early to a friend or family (member’s) place.

He said once the winds intensified, it would become dangerous to be on the roads.

Council waste services have been suspended, so residents have been asked to secure their bins so they don’t move around in the wind.

“Stay off the roads because the next two days are going to be interesting,” he said.