TC Alfred continues to slowly track towards the southeast Queensland coast and is forecast to remain a category 2 tropical cyclone until it begins to interact with the coast or islands.
At this stage, the system is expected to cross the coast around 12pm, most likely between Noosa and Coolangatta.
Residents are advised to finalise any last minute preparations around their homes, stay off the roads and stay up to date via the Bureau of Meteorology and Council’s disaster dashboard.
HEAVY RAINFALL & DAMAGING WINDS
Gales with damaging wind gusts to 120 kilometres per hour may be expected as early as late Friday night into Saturday morning as TC Alfred approaches the coast. Wind speed is dependent upon the exact crossing location.
Heavy rainfall is forecast across Noosa including the hinterland, following the likely crossing of TC Alfred onto landfall. Rainfall totals of 100mm-200mm are possible across Saturday and Sunday.
While this forecast rainfall does not raise significant flooding concerns, it does pose the potential for localised flooding. Council will be closely monitoring known flash flooding sites throughout the shire including Lakes Entrance Boulevard, Noosaville, Golf Links Drive (Daintree), Tewantin, Rifle Street, Pomona and Kin Kin Creek.
Stay tuned for updates and remember, don’t drive through floodwaters – if it’s flooded, forget it!
WAVES IMPACTING DUNES ON EASTERN BEACHES
It’s important to stay off all coastal dunes, seawalls and cliff faces. With gales and damaging wind gusts set to intensify along southeast Queensland during Friday and Saturday, shifting sands and loose rocks pose a serious risk of collapse.
Erosion from TC Alfred has weakened dunes, creating steep drop-offs. These dunes may look stable but can collapse suddenly, putting people at risk.
A change in wind direction round to the north / northeast is likely to change swell direction and wave height at Main Beach on Saturday or Sunday, as well and Noosa’s open beaches. These changing conditions at Main Beach, Laguna Bay in regard to swell and currents may catch users off guard and it is very important for people adhere to the beach closures and do not go swimming due to the dangerous conditions.
CONTACTING COUNCIL
Council’s Customer Service Call Centre continues to operate and is taking calls on 5329 6500.
PLACE OF REFUGE REMAINS OPEN
There are currently nine people at the Noosa Leisure Centre. It will remain open 24 hours a day as a place of refuge for residents and visitors who have no other place to go during Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Pets are welcome but leads or cages are required to keep them contained. The Leisure Centre is at 9 Wallace Drive Noosaville and will operate 24/7 until no longer required.
SAND BAGGING
More than 500 tonnes of sand has been delivered over the past week and stocks are still available at Noosa District Sports Complex and SES Shed (Goodwin St), Tewantin and the Noosaville boat ramp, Gympie Terrace.
SES Noosa local controller Warren Kuskopf praised the response from Noosa residents who came to fill more than 25,000 sand bags to prevent flooding at homes and businesses and the local SES volunteers who had stood up to offer assistance.
We’ve done about 120 jobs sandbagging houses for vulnerable people and had a couple of roof jobs as the wind has come up, he said.
“Nearly 30 volunteers helped on Friday before the event has happened,” Mr Kuskopf said.
“We’ve had members from Rural Fire Service, particularly from Black Mountain and from Fire and Emergency Rescue.”
We’ve got nearly 50 SES members sitting, waiting, ready to help, he said.
Mr Kuskopf said all emergency services workers were in communication with each other and on standby.
He said Noosa had a strong boat presence in emergency rescue which included Maritime Safety Queensland, Queensland Water Police, Marine Rescue Queensland which included the Coast Guard, Queensland Fire and Emergency Service’s swift water rescue team and Surf Life Savers, including their Emergency Rescue Group.
He said SES volunteers would stand down during the cyclone event then activate when safe to do so.
Mr Kuskopf urged people to hold on to their sandbags after the cyclone event, saying they would keep for a year if stored under cover.
For emergency situations call 000.
