05/03/2025
🌪️Cyclone Update‼️ 11:30am Wednesday 5 March
Long Important Update
The Bureau of Meteorology has advised that TC Alfred is now moving west towards the southeast Queensland coast as a Category 2 cyclone and is expected to maintain its intensity. It is currently located 390km east of the Gold Coast and is expected to cross the coast just north of Brisbane on Friday morning.
This means the Gold Coast is expected to be one of the worst impacted places, with the southern part of the cyclone likely to have the strongest winds and rainfall. Weather Models are all aligned now and it is highly likely that Tropical Cyclone Alfred will have significant impacts on the Gold Coast in the coming days with intense rainfall, strong wind gusts of around 90-130km/h, and worst case potential storm surge of over 1 metre.
We are urging all Gold Coasters and visitors to take steps now to get ready, if you haven’t already done so. You should immediately commence or continue preparations, especially securing boats and property. An Emergency Alert will be issued later today for coastal areas. We need people to take shelter at home or in a safer place by 6pm. Now is the time to plan for power outages over the course of several days – by tonight it will be too late to prepare.
🗺️ Mapping
The City released mapping showing the potential worst-case scenario of areas that may be impacted by floods. The mapping is available on the City’s disaster dashboard dashboard.cityofgoldcoast.com.au. We urge all residents and visitors to check this now.
We estimate that up to 6000 properties could have some form of impact from rain and storm surge. The current map is the most up-to-date data. We urge those in impact areas to ensure they have a plan and take steps now to ensure their property is prepared. Leaving early is your safest option. Sheltering with family or friends is always the best option if you can.
🏝️South Stradbroke Island
The City and emergency services supported voluntary evacuation at 3pm yesterday (Tuesday 4 March). South Stradbroke Island could be significantly impacted by storm surge, and it will get harder to reach the mainland. We’re encouraging people to leave South Stradbroke for the mainland - leaving early is your safest option. Sheltering with family or friends is always the best option if you can. If it’s safe to do so, leave the island in your own boat.
🏃♂️Get ready
Be prepared to shelter in place for some time – ensure power banks and devices are fully charged. Now is the time to make sure you and your home is prepared:
⚪️ Clear out your gutters and any debris from your property.
⚫️ Make sure any outdoor furniture is moved indoors or safely secured.
⚪️ Check your insurance.
⚫️ Get cash out.
⚪️ If you live in a high-rise, it is important to remove or secure anything on your balcony.
⚫️ Have your emergency and evacuation plan ready.
⚪️ Park somewhere safe and have a plan to leave early.
More information about how you can prepare for a cyclone can be found on the Get Ready website - https://www.getready.qld.gov.au/news/tropical-cyclone-alfred-march-2025. We urge any Gold Coasters in low lying and flood prone areas to prepare for likely flooding. Please monitor all weather updates and warnings.
💼 Sandbag Stations
There has been high demand and long lines at our sandbag stations, and we ask everyone to have patience. All three City sandbag stations are open from 7am to midday today (Wednesday 5 March) at the following locations:
⭐️ 196 Old Pacific Highway, Pimpama (next to the City of Gold Coast Coomera Depot)
⭐️ 42-44 Boyd Street, Bilinga (next to the City of Gold Coast Tugun Depot)
⭐️ 61 Hutchinson Street, Burleigh Heads (at the Reedy Creek Waste and Recycling Centre)
Self-service sandbag stations are open from 7am to midday today (Wednesday 5 March) located at:
⭐️ Carrara Sports Precinct Parking, via Alabaster Drive, Carrara
⭐️ Tugun Village Community Centre, 414 Coolangatta Road, Tugun
Our self-service sandbag stations will also be open from 7am to midday tomorrow. Bags and sand will be provided. Residents need to bring a shovel and make their own sandbags. Sandbags can also be purchased from hardware stores or made at home using sand/soil and garbage bags.
🚛♻️ Waste and Recycle Centres + Landfills
Waste and Recycling Centres and landfills will be closed from 5pm today (Wednesday 5 March). The sandbagging station at Reedy Creek WRC will operate as normal.
🗑️ Waste Collection
Waste collection will be suspended City wide on Thursday and Friday. Residents are now asked to refrain from putting their bins out for collections until next week. TC Alfred’s winds are expected to be strong enough to blow bins away and create debris. We will return on your next scheduled collection date.
Please stow your bins safely where they cannot be blown away or spill. Excess waste can be taken on one of the City’s Waste and Recycling Centres. Bin collections that are routinely performed on Saturdays will proceed to schedule this Saturday if safe to do so. We will be locating skip bins in areas that missed their Thursday or Friday collections on Sunday as an option for excess waste.
FlexiSKIP is working through collecting approximately 350 bags that are currently presented for collection, however this will cease today at 5pm. If your flexiskip has not been collected by COB Wednesday 5 March 2025, please secure the contents wherever possible and collections will recommence on Monday 10 March. If your FlexiSKIP is filled but not booked in – do not book it in and start to secure your contents immediately. Customers with empty flexiskips – if you have not filled your flexiskip please do not fill or present the bags kerbside before 10 March 2025.
🌊 Beaches
Currently the city is experiencing hazardous surf conditions, with abnormally high tides expected in the coming days. All beaches are closed at the moment. We are urging everyone – including swimmers, board riders, boaties and fishers – to stay off the beach completely as the conditions are hazardous at the moment. It is also important to stay off any break walls. We will continue to provide updates on the Gold Coast Disaster Dashboard and you can also stay informed by signing up to Gold Coast Alerts at dashboard.cityofgoldcoast.com.au.
🏠 Evacuation Centres
OPEN NOW:
📍Runaway Bay Indoor Stadium, Sports Drive, Runaway Bay.
Open from 5pm on Wednesday 5 March:
📍Burleigh Waters Community Centre, 111 Christine Ave, Burleigh Waters.
📍Nerang Bicentennial Community Centre, 833 Southport Nerang Rd, Nerang.
Evacuation Centres please note:
Sheltering with family or friends is always the best option if you can.
You can bring pets with you, but they will be kept in a separate location.
🤝 Social Support
Support services are available if you need to talk to someone about the social impacts of natural disasters, on 13 11 14 or visit Support services for natural disasters
🛏️ Homeless Support
City officers and QPS have been making sure people experiencing homelessness are well informed about the expected impacts of Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Several facilities have been opened across the city to ensure homeless people have a safe place to stay.
🛠️ Services and Facility Closures
The following City facilities will be closed from 5pm Wednesday 5 March:
🏟️ Sporting venues not being used as evacuation centres.
🏊♂️ All aquatic centres
📚 All libraries.
🏫 Community centres that are not being used for evacuation centres.
🏢 All customer service centres.
♻️ Waste and Recycling Centres and landfills (the sandbagging station at Reedy Creek WRC will operate as normal)
