The Bundaberg Region is likely to experience severe coastal hazards today and into the weekend resulting from Tropical Cyclone Alfred with the Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) moving to Lean Forward.
While the Bureau of Meteorology’s latest Tropical Cyclone Information Bulletin, issued 10.50 am on 28 February, advises there is increasing confidence that Alfred will stay offshore, severe coastal hazards remain likely for the Bundaberg Region.
At 4 pm on Friday 28 February 2025 the Bundaberg Region LDMG moved to Lean Forward.
This is an operational state prior to ‘stand up’ during which the LDMG will maintain a heightened level of situational awareness and operational readiness.
Residents, particularly those in coastal localities between Baffle Creek and the mouth of the Burrum River, are warned to prepare now.
The currently expected impacts are:
- Abnormally strong wind gusts.
- Abnormal high tides with water levels exceeding highest tide of the year from today and into the weekend.
- Increased wave energy and hazardous surf which may lead to severe coastal erosion.
As a precaution we ask that residents do not access boat ramps or beaches from 28 February until the cyclone threat passes.
Some parks assets like water taps and barbecues which are very close to the coastline have been temporarily turned off.
Local Disaster Management Group Chair Mayor Helen Blackburn said the region’s current concern was larger than normal wave activity, higher than normal tides and strong winds.
“We’ve met this morning with the state disaster management group and we’ve all been briefed on what’s happening and what the possible scenarios are,” Mayor Blackburn said.
“Certainly it’s serious, but we don’t expect the cyclone to cross the coast [at this stage].
“We are expecting high winds, some rain and certainly some larger than normal wave activity.
“That’s our biggest threat at this stage is the coastal erosion, so we ask people to stay away from the beaches and stay away from boat ramps.
“Now is the time to clear your backyards.
“Make sure that anything that is loose is put into sheds or put away so that you don’t have potential projectiles in your backyards.
“It’s important to try to make sure that you’ve got your disaster preparedness for your family.
“We will keep people updated.”
For the full cyclone advice update click on emergency news on the disaster dashboard: https://disaster.bundaberg.qld.gov.au/
For all current warnings go to: http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/warnings/index.shtml?ref=hdr
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