SMBI Neighborhood Watch

18/03/2025

The Qld Community Recovery Team will be at the Macleay Island Community Hall this week from 9am - 3pm. If you are looking for assistance, advice or counseling regarding TC Alfred, please drop in.

Please be sure to have your:
Photo ID
Bank BSB & Account
Pension Card/Number
Services Australia CRN
Phone with photos of any damage
Bottle of water

14/03/2025

Tropical Cyclone Alfred March 2025
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred is affecting communities in South East Queensland. Community Recovery is working hard to provide support as quickly as possible to impacted Queenslanders, and thank you for your patience.

Personal hardship assistance is now available for some Local Government Areas. https://www.qld.gov.au/community/disasters-emergencies/disasters/money-finance/eligibility-apply/tc-alfred-march-2025

For information or to apply for personal hardship assistance for this event, visit https://www.qld.gov.au/community/disasters-emergencies/disasters/money-finance/eligibility-apply/tc-alfred-march-2025.

Emotional support

If you’ve been impacted by the severe weather and are experiencing emotional stress, the dedicated Community Recovery Lifeline Hotline is available. Confidentially speak to a qualified disaster counsellor on 1800 116 671 for help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Other support and assistance

* Housing assistance is available for residents affected by this event.

-https://www.qld.gov.au/housing/emergency-temporary-housing/housing-help-after-disaster

* If you require other support contact your local emergency relief provider or counselling service or call the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 for help.

-https://www.qld.gov.au/community/disasters-emergencies/disasters/resources-translations/regional-support-brochures

How to access support
If you’re experiencing emotional stress and need support, contact:

phone Lifeline's crisis hotline on 13 11 14
phone Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
phone Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349
or if you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person call 13 YARN.
Housing assistance may also be available to residents affected by disaster events.

There are many support contacts available on the https://SMBI.community website.

Financial grants and support services are available for people affected by Tropical Cyclone Alfred in March 2025.

14/03/2025

The Qld Community Recovery Team is at the Russell Island Rec Hall this weekend from 9am - 3pm. If you are looking for assistance, advice or counseling regarding TC Alfred, please drop in.

The Qld Community Recovery Team will be at the Macleay Island Community Hall next week from 9am - 3pm. If you are looking for assistance, advice or counseling regarding TC Alfred, please drop in.

14/03/2025

Redland City Council - Info to manage additional waste due to Cyclone Alfred, Click link to see post-event waste plan; kerbside green waste collection, waste drop-off sites, disposing sandbags & more:

Redland City Council has taken multiple actions to support the community to manage additional waste generated as a result of the impacts of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Continue reading to find out more about: Kerbside green waste collection Green waste – support requests Surplus food waste drop-of...

13/03/2025

The Qld Community Recovery Team is at the Russell Island Rec Hall today from 9am - 3pm. If you are looking for assistance, advice or counseling regarding TC Alfred, please drop in - they will be there until Sunday.

12/03/2025

SES is asking if we can prioritise the following:

Access to homes
Trees on roofs
Leaking roofs

Call 13 2500 and they have crews available

11/03/2025

G'day all,

I hope you're all doing ok and holding in there as much as you can. It's been a tough ride and we still have a lot of the journey to go...

We will be over on Russell Island on Wednesday for our monthly Community Hub.

We will have food, clothes, bedding and of course our amazing community services will be there.

We will be at the same location Rec Hall and co-locating the amazing recovery Teams organised by Council.

Hub will be 930am to 1230pm.

See you all there

07/03/2025

UPDATE: This Emergency Alert has been cancelled.

An EMERGENCY ALERT has been issued at 2.42pm on Friday, March 7 by Redland City Council.

Redland City Council CYCLONE EMERGENCY WARNING for Redland City area.

TAKE SHELTER NOW in the strongest part of the building you are in. Impacts from TC Alfred expected this afternoon and overnight.
Listen to ABC 612, BAYFM 100.3 or visit disaster.redland.qld.gov.au for the latest information.

Stay up to date with the latest warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology via bom.gov.au/.
For flood assistance, contact the SES on 132 500.
In a life-threatening emergency, dial Triple-Zero (000).
https://mypolice.page.link/W7Q8

07/03/2025

Evacuation Centres will be open as soon as practical after 6AM Saturday 8th March.

Stay safe everyone - our thoughts and best wishes are with you all...

06/03/2025

The Macleay Island Community Hall is open as a refuge area (NOT as an Evacuation Centre) until after TC Alfred passes

QPS have asked that if you do take advantage of this space, can you please register using the QR Code (preferably) or the other methods so they are aware when people are using this resource.

Please note that this building is not rated as a cyclone shelter due to the large amounts of glass in windows and doors.

04/03/2025

🚨 IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨

Due to the impacts of Cyclone Alfred, the Southern Moreton Bay Islands passenger ferry service will cease operations from midday tomorrow, Wednesday 5 March, until further notice. Depending on weather, this could happen sooner.

Please plan your travel accordingly. The safety of our passengers, crew, and community remains our top priority.

We will provide an update on vehicle ferry services very soon. Stay up to date at our website: https://www.sealink.com.au/bay-islands/ferry-status/

03/03/2025

**UPDATE** This Watch & Act Alert has been cancelled.
Check disaster.redland.qld.gov.au for latest information.

PREPARE NOW - Redland City Council area - CYCLONE - Issued at 4.00 PM, 3 March 2025

Redland City Council advises people in Redland City to PREPARE NOW for Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which is expected to impact the south-east Queensland coast.

Residents who feel unsafe in their homes are urged to leave now and take shelter with friends or family. This particularly applies to island residents as ferry services will be impacted from tomorrow.

Those who decide to stay should prepare now.

For emergency help in floods and storms, call the QLD SES on 132 500 or download the SES Assistance QLD App. In life threatening situations, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a Cyclone Watch that includes Redland City. The Bureau advises Tropical Cyclone Alfred will continue moving towards the southeast today, slightly away from the Queensland coast before slowing down and turning westward, towards the Queensland coast on Tuesday. TC Alfred is currently a category 1 cyclone but is expected to intensify to a category 2 cyclone tonight. It is likely to maintain a category 2 intensity as it approaches the south-east Queensland coast late on Thursday.

Conditions will worsen as the weather system approaches the coast.

You could expect:
• Very strong winds that could knock down trees, powerlines, and blow roofs off.
• Power, phone, internet, and water might stop working.
• Heavy rain and storm surge may cause flooding in some places.

Check or make an emergency kit:
• Find out how to get ready for a tropical cyclone and pack an emergency kit at: https://www.getready.qld.gov.au/get-prepared

Prepare your property:
• Fill your car with fuel or charge it. Park it undercover. Do not park under a tree.
• Put away or tie down outside items like furniture, gas bottles, and play equipment.
• If your home is not safe, plan to stay with family or friends.
• If you are near the beach or a coastal waterway, storm surge could cause flooding. This is dangerous. Decide now where you will evacuate to.
• Close cyclone shutters if you have them, or cover windows with plywood, mattress, or heavy blanket.
• Find out how to safely turn off power, solar, water, and gas to your house. Be ready to turn it off if told to.
• Check your family, friends and neighbours know what to do. Help them if you can.

If you find it hard to move quickly or have special or medical needs:
• Use your Person-Centred Emergency Plan (P-CEP) now if you have one.
• Make sure you have enough medicine for at least one week. If anyone in your house uses powered medical equipment, like a dialysis machine or ventilator, decide now where you will go in case you lose power.
• Call your support person or service to organise transport if you need to leave.
• Leaving early is safer than waiting.

Water Transport:
• Council has been advised that all passenger ferries and vehicle ferries to and from North Stradbroke Island, Coochiemudlo Island and the Southern Moreton Bay Islands will be impacted from tomorrow. Residents and visitors should check with their ferry operator for changes. Operators have cyclone plans in place.
o SeaLink North Stradbroke Island: www.sealink.com.au/north-stradbroke-island/
o SeaLink SMBI: www.sealink.com.au/bay-islands/
o Stradbroke Flyer Gold Cats: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083397488253
o Amity Trader: (07) 38206557.

If you are a tourist, visitor, camper or caravanner:
• Campers and caravanners should start packing up now.
• If you do not need to be in the warning area, leave now. Check road conditions and plan your route before you leave.
• If you stay, ask accommodation staff where to shelter if the cyclone comes.

Sandbagging stations:
• Residents who wish to prepare their properties for wet weather are reminded that Council has several sandbag stations available on the mainland and islands. See Council’s disaster dashboard for details https://disaster.redland.qld.gov.au
• Please note, enclosed shoes must be worn at all Council’s sandbag stations. Maximum of 10 bags per vehicle.
• For more information about sandbags, including storage, disposal and how to use, visit the disaster plan website: https://www.redlandsdisasterplan.com.au/before/sandbags-and-sandbagging-stations

Stay informed:
• Follow our local council disaster dashboard here https://disaster.redland.qld.gov.au
• Listen to your local radio 612 ABC AM and Bay FM 100.3.
• For power outage information go to www.energex.com.au
• Check the latest weather, warnings, rainfall, and river heights at the Bureau of Meteorology Queensland website.
• Check road closures at the QLD Traffic website https://qldtraffic.qld.gov.au or for phone service call 13 19 40.
• Check disruptions to public transport at the Translink website https://translink.com.au

03/03/2025

This morning, the Redland City Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) was stood up to coordinate the response to Severe Tropical Cyclone Alfred.



Redland City Council have asked organisations/services to;

· Identify any red flags such as service disruptions, client vulnerabilities, or emerging welfare concerns.

· Check on capacity and business continuity plans, particularly regarding essential services and outreach to the Bay Islands.

· Share any concerns or risks so they can escalate support where needed.



Given the pending cyclone on its way towards the coast, there maybe some vulnerable consumers/carers who have questions on where to find practical supports in the community.



Emergency Alerts & Disaster Dashboards



Please see information regarding the Redland City Disaster Dashboard for road closures and updates.



Register here: Brisbane Severe Weather Alerts
Brisbane Emergency Dashboard – Live updates on weather, warnings, and road closures.
Access here: Brisbane Emergency Dashboard
Local Government Disaster Dashboards – Covers all Queensland disaster updates, including Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
Check here: Queensland Disaster Dashboard


School & Transport Updates

Queensland State School Closures: Check here
Traffic Alerts & Road Closures: QLD Traffic Updates
Public Transport Changes: Translink Updates


Housing & Financial Assistance

Emergency Housing Assistance: Queensland Housing Help
Disaster Recovery Funding Programs: Funding programs | Queensland Reconstruction Authority


Sandbags

The following 24-hour self-service sandbag stations are open for our vulnerable island communities



📍Council Depot, Dunwich – 11-37 Mitchell Crescent, Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island). Sand and bags supplied. Please take your own shovel.

📍Council Depot, Russell Island – 6 Cambridge Road, Russell Island. Sand and bags supplied. Please take your own shovel.

📍Council Depot, Macleay Island – 22-24 Scarborough Road, Macleay Island. Sand and bags supplied. Please take your own shovel.

📍Council Shed, Lamb Island (next to Rural Fire Station) – 12 Lucas Drive, Lamb Island. Prefilled sandbags available.

📍Coochiemudlo Island Fire Station – 45 Elizabeth Street, Coochiemudlo Island. Sand and bags supplied. Please take your own shovel.

Residents are asked to take only 10 bags per vehicle to ensure fair distribution.

02/03/2025

Update from Bureau of Meteorology about Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Most residents of South East Queensland have never experienced a cyclone before.

The Bureau of Meteorology has indicated that TC Alfred MAY head towards SE QLD this week.

It’s always best to be PREPARED for the worst - just in case.

So if you live in Southern Queensland, take today to get prepared.

A handy guide is available here: https://www.getready.qld.gov.au/getting-ready/protect-your-home

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is forecast to move southwards, roughly parallel to the Queensland coast during Sunday and weaken a little further, before moving more to the south-east during Monday. Alfred is then expected to slow down and is likely to turn westward from Tuesday, moving back towards the southern Queensland coast.

Strong to gale-force winds may occur about K'gari (Fraser Island) today.

Severe coastal hazards are likely for southern Queensland and north-east New South Wales. A large and powerful to potentially damaging easterly swell as well as abnormally high tides are forecast about exposed southern Queensland beaches, possibly extending to northern New South Wales from Monday.

Residents and communities living on the Queensland coast and the northern New South Wales coast are encouraged to stay up to date with the latest tropical cyclone information and forecast tracks in the coming days.

For the latest tropical cyclone warnings and the Tropical cyclone 7 day forecast, visit www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/

01/03/2025

⚠ Hazardous Surf Warning for Capricornia Coast, K'gari Coast, Sunshine Coast Waters and Gold Coast Waters.

Surf and swell conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, boating, and swimming.

Safety Advice
Surf Life Saving Queensland advise that:
- People should consider staying out of the water and avoid walking near
surf-exposed areas.
- Rock fishers should avoid coastal rock platforms exposed to the ocean and seek a safe location that is sheltered from the surf.
- Boaters planning to cross shallow water and ocean bars should consider changing or delaying their voyage.
- Boaters already on the water should carry the appropriate safety equipment and wear a lifejacket.
- Boaters should remember to log on with their local radio base and consider their safety management plan.

Check the Coastal Waters Forecast for information on wind, wave and weather conditions for these areas at 👉 http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/

28/02/2025

Coastal communities from Central Queensland south to the NSW border are being warned to expect some dangerous coastal conditions and possible flooding from Severe Tropical Cyclone Alfred, as the Category Three system moves closer to the mainland.

https://mypolice.page.link/2hJo