“The worst is yet to come for the Sunshine Coast and so we need to stay vigilant.”
That is the message from Sunshine Coast mayor Rosanna Natoli, as the region awaits the impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
Cr Natoli, who is also chair of the Sunshine Coast Council Local Disaster Management Group, said potentially severe rain was forecast for Saturday night.
“That is intense rainfall upwards of 100-200mm in just a short period of time,” she said. “There are isolated forecasts of up to 300mm.
“While we have missed out on the storm surge that we were so worried about, the potential of flash flooding this evening is still very real.”
Related story: Alfred downgraded to ex-cyclone as it crosses coast
Cr Natoli fronted the media on Saturday afternoon alongside Noosa mayor Frank Wilkie and Queensland Police Service Superintendent Craig Hawkins, who also stressed the potential for damaging conditions to come.
“We are not quite through what ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred has to deliver,” Supt Hawkins said.
“Over the next 24 to 48 hours, we are expecting to see that significant rain. What I do say to people is keep their preparations in place.
“If you remember, it was only a matter of two days ago where we were extremely concerned about the welfare of at least 1600 residents and homes across the Sunshine Coast.
“Ultimately, we didn’t get to the situation where we saw the catastrophic events that we are now seeing in our southern neighbours, but we on the Sunshine Coast could have just as easily been in that situation right now.
“It is it is with great gratitude that I look to the Sunshine Coast residents for heeding those warnings and making those preparations, but we do have at least 24 hours to go with this weather yet to come, with the rain and likely some destructive winds.”
Cr Wilkie also praised the efforts of all those involved in bracing for the arrival of ex-TC Alfred.
“I thank the community for remaining informed and well prepared,” he said.
“The rainfall forecast for Noosa is predicted to be a lot less than what we’ve just heard (for the Sunshine Coast), of 30-100mm.”
Cr Natoli said on Saturday that winds could also pick up, bringing the potential for power outages.
“There is a forecast change in wind direction, which could hit us this evening,” she said.
“That could lead to damaging wind gusts, which could see us having damage to our trees, potentially to some buildings. If our trees come down and our power lines come down, then we could see homes without power.”
Supt Hawkins stressed the potential for dangers along the coastline.
“We have seen in the past that the unstable dunes can collapse, and we have seen people buried underneath that sand,” he said.
Cr Natoli also noted the potential dangers from erosion on beaches.
“Erosion from the large swells is very evident along our coastline,” she said.
“Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred has created cliff drops up to three metres along some dunes including Kawana and Mudjimba.”
The trio also reminded people to stay out of swollen waterways.
“Do not go near those floodwaters because we don’t want to see anyone hurt in this potentially serious situation that could emerge this evening,” Cr Natoli said.
“Tomorrow is still looking like the wettest day. We know that here on the Sunshine Coast, the forecast is still for very wet weather ahead.”
About 300 homes on the Sunshine Coast were without power on Saturday afternoon.
Cr Natoli advised people to keep sandbags in place for now.
“In preparation for Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the Sunshine Coast community made use of 190,000 sandbags across the Sunshine Coast region,” Cr Natoli said.
“Council is requesting that with rain still to come, residents and businesses keep sandbags in place until this threat has passed.
“When the time comes to dispose of sandbags, please use the sand in your gardens, or to top dress your lawn. Place the bag in your general waste bin or keep it handy for future use. The bags may last up to 12 months.”
Residential bin collection services were expected to resume on Monday for Sunshine Coast residents.
“Due to continuing rainfall and safety issues around access, all of council’s Resource Recovery Centres remain closed. We will re-assess the situation tomorrow and decide if it is safe to open sites on Monday,” Cr Natoli said on Saturday.
When centres do re-open, Sunshine Coast Council’s rubbish tips will be free for storm-damaged household general waste and green waste disposal until next Sunday.
