Tropical Cyclone Alfred Update

Published 06 March 2025

Attributed to Mayor Peter Flannery

Sandbag Update:

We have already gone through 300,000 sandbags and 3,000 tonnes of sand so far. In our biggest previous weather event across the whole event we have gone through 1,000 tonnes - so three times the amount.

From 11am, Council will be replenishing sandbag stations at Margate, Caboolture and Bribie. Other sandbag stations will be progressively replenished today. Keep an eye on our Disaster Dashboard. We are currently sourcing more sandbags so urge people to bring their own bags and also a shovel.

Update:

City of Moreton Bay has implemented a rapid response plan to prioritise evacuations from key areas of Bribie Island today.

Overnight, the team at the Moreton Bay Disaster Management Centre conducted an urgent call out campaign to residential properties on Bribie that have been identified as vulnerable in a worst-case storm tide scenario.

More than 170 properties in Bellara, Bongaree and Banksia Beach areas have been identified as most vulnerable to a possible major storm surge from cyclone conditions and high tides. 104 residents were successfully called to assess their needs for assisted evacuation, with the remainder being contacted this morning to assess their need for an assisted evacuation to a place of refuge.

Under the urgent operation, Council, SES and QPS will initially evacuate these designated people who have made themselves known to Council’s place of refuge at Caboolture. These people will then be encouraged to take shelter with family or friends. If that is not possible, they will be housed at the evacuation centre until TC Alfred has passed.

The current forecast has the TC Alfred wind speed loop situated over Bribie Island which saw the need to urgently implement the Bribie evacuation plan. Tropical Cyclone Alfred is now predicted to make landfall early Friday night.

Earlier in the week, with the support of Queensland Police and SES, 1900 properties across City of Moreton Bay in low lying areas were doorknocked. Extra police and emergency services have been deployed to key areas across the City.

City of Moreton Bay recognises that others across the City are also at risk of higher than forecast storm tide in a range of low lying areas but right now we need to address the specific vulnerabilities on Bribie Island, that is at very real danger of being isolated.

For people on the mainland in low lying areas that will be impacted by storm surge, they need to consider if they need to act now move where it is safer or if they can shelter in place. These people can lodge a request to be assisted in evacuation through Council or SES, or Triple zero if it is an emergency and their life is immediate danger, but we encourage people to use own transport, stay with family or friends and move now before it is too late. We can only deliver support if we can link resident need with the resources that we have available, and they are limited.

This is an evolving situation but very soon, with the current forecast, it will be unsafe to move. Our first priority is the safety of our community and staff. The forecasts will continue to evolve today.

I understand many residents might be feeling a bit anxious, but rest assured our teams are watching the situation closely and are already operating around the clock with other key agencies to manage this situation if it escalates.

TC Alfred will bring heavy rains, damaging and destructive winds, severe erosion and flooding. Residents are being urged to take the warnings seriously and prepare for a cyclone or flood event.

Wind gusts of up to 130km/hr are predicted so it is important to prioritise safety, stay indoors and keep your emergency kit close.

Places of refuge are for emergency stay only and so people should immediately consider all options and be appropriately prepared. Council urges people to move now if needed before it is too dangerous to travel on roads. Places of refuge are expected to be under heavy strain and will be uncomfortable, we ask residents to be patient and help each other in these difficult times.

A cyclone brings gale force winds making it dangerous for people to move around the City. The time may come when Council, SES or Emergency Services cannot assist residents as it is unsafe.

Stay alert with the City of Moreton Bay’s Disaster Dashboard:
https://disaster.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/.

Warning messages from City of Moreton Bay will be through Moreton Alert and Emergency Alert Messaging as required.

If people need urgent support, they can call the 24/7 City of Moreton Bay call centre on 07 3205 0555

Call Queensland State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500 for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on buildings or roof damage.

If your life is in immediate danger call Triple 000.

People should save the national emergency alert number +61 444 444 444

Services will resume only when it is safe to do so.

This is a dangerous and evolving weather event. It is difficult to know what will happen. We are working with the best and latest information to hand and will keep the community informed as things come to hand. Now is the time to wait it out.

While it is uncommon for a cyclone to reach landfall this far south, we have experienced disasters and flooding before and have always come together to work through them. 

I am proud and humbled by the community response this week, especially the incredible work of Council teams, emergency services and volunteers.

We are a resilient community and have proven time and time again that we can make it through challenging times when we work together.

Let’s stand together, support one another, and get through this severe weather event.

Thank you to everyone for staying prepared, being patient and helping to safeguard our community.