By Grace Nakamura, Shari Hams and Queensland reporters, ABC news
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is looking likely to make landfall north of Brisbane. Photo: Supplied / Earth Nullschool
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to meet with disaster crisis coordination teams as Tropical Cyclone Alfred tracks closer towards the Queensland and New South Wales coast.
The category 2 cyclone is expected to make landfall between the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast tomorrow, with damaging wind gusts, storms, and heavy rainfall expected to impact a large warning zone spanning both states.
The current warning zone extends from Double Island Point in Queensland to Grafton in New South Wales, including Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay and Ballina.
The ABC understands Anthony Albanese travelled to Brisbane on Tuesday evening, as the Australian Government Disaster Response Plan was activated.
An emergency meeting will be held with industry stakeholders, which includes supermarkets, banking and freight companies.
The federal government has pre-positioned heavy-lifting helicopters from the National Aerial Firefighting Fleet to support the NSW and Queensland governments.
The Sikorsky S-61 is set to be deployed to Coffs Harbour and a UH-60 Black Hawk will be stationed in Bundaberg, the ABC understands.
Cyclone mapping taken from Windy.com detailing conditions as of 2pm on Tuesday. Photo: Supplied/Windy.com
A nervous wait for vulnerable families
Mapping from the Gold Coast City Council shows 6000 properties could be impacted by heavy rainfall and storm surges associated with the system in the worst-case scenario.
Tammie Fogarty said the cyclone news was "quite triggering" after her Gold Coast hinterland home was destroyed by a tornado on Christmas Day in 2023.
"We're waiting for the house to be rebuilt, insurance has put us up in a rental in Guanaba," she said.
She will prepare to evacuate with her 91-year-old father who has Alzheimer's disease.
"Unfortunately, we're at a dead-end road on a very low-lying area, so we really get impacted by heavy rain," she said.
"We've got three causeways that we have to cross to get in and out of the property, which go under if we have a decent amount of rain."
About 20,000 homes in Brisbane are also at risk of storm surge and flooding impacts, according to the latest modelling by Brisbane City Council.
Areas most at risk include Brighton, Windsor, Ashgrove, Morningside, Rocklea, Coopers Plains, Carina, Sandgate, Hemmant, Lota, Tingalpa, Indooroopilly, Albion, Bardon and Wynnum West.
The council said residents should consider evacuating.
Authorities say cyclone damage depends on landfall
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said the severity of the cyclone and its impact would change depending on when it makes landfall.
"If it crosses at high tide, it's a far more challenging prospect," he said.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said some isolated areas could see three-day rainfall totals exceeding 700 millimetres.
A flood watch remains in place from the Mary River all the way down to the NSW border.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is the first system to make landfall in south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales since 1974.
Moves are being made to allow businesses like supermarkets to restock their shelves around the clock. Photo: ABC News
State and federal government assistance
The Queensland government has made an emergency planning declaration to allow essential businesses like supermarkets and warehouses to restock their supplies around the clock.
Deputy premier Jarrod Bleijie said it was the first time the declaration had been made in Queensland before a natural disaster.
"Our primary goal is to supercharge the food and essential supply chains that are set to be affected by Cyclone Alfred," he said.
"It will enable supermarkets to have more supply hit the shelves faster and empower supermarkets to continue to do all they can to meet the demand."
-ABC
