First cyclone in half a century to hit Brisbane region as residents scramble to prepare

Residents are stacking sandbags to protect low-lying properties as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approaches the Australian east coast near Brisbane, forecast to be the first cyclone to hit the region in 51 years.

The Bureau of Meteorology expects the cyclone to make landfall between Queensland’s capital Brisbane and Gold Coast late Thursday or early Friday.

Alfred was located 400 kilometres east of Brisbane on Wednesday, moving westward with sustained winds of 95 kph and gusts up to 130 kph.

“That is destructive winds,” Bureau of Meteorology manager Matt Collopy said.

The system is expected to maintain its strength until reaching land.

“Large swells and powerful waves have been observed along the Queensland coast for several days now with severe coastal erosion and inundation happening,” Collopy told reporters in Brisbane.

“This will continue and likely get worse as the system approaches and makes landfall.”

Heavy rain and life-threatening flooding are expected in the coming days.

“The wave, wind, rainfall and particularly the storm surge present significant risks,” Collopy added.

Cyclones commonly affect Queensland’s tropical north but rarely impact the state’s temperate and densely populated southeast corner that borders New South Wales.

The last cyclone to hit the region was Cyclone Zoe, which crossed the coast at the southern end of Gold Coast in March 1974, causing extensive flooding.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government was providing the Queensland government with 250,000 sandbags in addition to 80,000 already delivered by the military.

“This is a rare event, to have a tropical cyclone in an area that is not classified as part of the tropics, here in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales,” Albanese told reporters in Brisbane.

“That is why this preparatory work is so important,” he added.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner warned that modelling showed up to 20,000 homes in the city of more than 3 million people could experience some level of flooding.

A cyclone refuge centre will be established at Brisbane’s show grounds for people without shelter during the storm, with additional evacuation centres opening for longer-term stays.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli announced that boats moored in the region would not be allowed to move without permission from the Brisbane harbour master from Wednesday afternoon due to the cyclone danger.

Schools will close from Thursday, hospitals will suspend non-urgent surgeries, and public transport will not run in the affected area.

Crisafulli urged residents to prepare their homes and plan evacuation routes, noting that 68 people had already been evacuated from South Stradbroke Island on Tuesday night, with evacuations continuing on Wednesday.

“This is a very rare event for southeast Queensland, I acknowledge that, but I’m asking Queenslanders to take it seriously and I want you to know that we are taking it seriously,” Crisafulli said.