UPDATE 8pm
ENERGEX is working to restore power to nearly 8000 houses across the Redlands.
Wellington Point has 1884 homes without power, while Thornlands has outages at 1836 properties.
In Redland Bay, 1219 houses were affected, 905 in Thorneside and 837 on Russell Island.
Other suburbs affected, according to Energex, were Capalaba (633 houses), Sheldon (527), Birkdale (63), Alexandra Hills (50) and Cleveland, Mount Cotton and Victoria Point (two each).
The outages were all due to damage caused by the severe weather or trees on powerlines.
UPDATE 4.30pm
NEARLY 500 houses in the Redlands are without power, with services expected to be restored at many only on Friday.
A total of 88 properties on Coochiemudlo Island are affected due to damage caused by the severe weather.
Energex expects to restore services to the island homes by midday tomorrow (Friday).
A total of 105 houses at Redland Bay and 13 at Mount Cotton are also experiencing outages.
Energex has indicated power would be restored there by 7pm today (Thursday).
Outages experienced at 206 houses at Capalaba are expected to be resolved by 11.30am on Friday, 64 Ormiston homes by 11am on Friday and 20 houses at Sheldon by midday on Friday.
UPDATE 3.30pm
A TOTAL of 290 houses are without power in Capalaba, Ormiston and Sheldon.
According to information from Energex, trees on powerlines has caused the outage at 206 properties at Capalaba and 20 at Sheldon.
Emergency repairs are under way in Ormiston where 64 houses are without power.
The repairs in Capalaba are expected to be completed by 5pm, Ormiston by 7pm and Sheldon by 8pm.
UPDATE 3.00pm
WOOLWORTHS stores in the Redlands will close at 5pm today (Thursday) due to the extreme weather across south-east Queensland.
The Capalaba store was closed earlier.
A Woolworths spokesperson said all Woolworths stores between Gladstone and Ballina and Casino would cease trading at 5pm.
“This is to ensure our team members can travel home safely,” the spokesperson said.
“We will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation closely. At this stage we expect to re-open all stores tomorrow (Friday, March 31).
UPDATE 2.30pm
REDLANDS is expected to be hardest hit by the storm between 6pm and 9pm.
Mayor Karen Williams said destructive winds and heavy rainfall was on a direct path to Redlands.
Winds were expected to continue until early Friday (tomorrow) morning.
Cr Williams said there was an increased risk to North Stradbroke Island, the Southern Moreton Bay Islands and Coochiemudlo Island as the storm moved across the coastline in the evening.
“These islands may become isolated and suffer power outages as the storm intensifies as it crosses the coast,” she said.
Coochiemudlo and Southern Moreton Bay Island residents who could not return home from the mainland due to limited ferry services could go to the Redland Bay community hall in Weinam Street.
North Stradbroke Island residents could go to the Redland Performing Arts Centre in Middle Street, Cleveland.
“The message for all residents is not to be complacent and be prepared by securing loose items, looking out for each other, avoiding driving, reducing speed and never going through flooded roads,” Cr Williams said.
Rainfalls of 200mm and winds of more than 100km/h are expected in south-east Queensland over the next 24 hours.
Roads that are flooded in the Redlands are:
- Avalon Road, Sheldon
- Moores Road, Redland Bay
- Pitt Road, Birkdale
- Rickertt Road, Thorneside
There is also limited access on Korawal Street in Capalaba due to a large tree down.
UPDATE 2.15pm
SCHOOLS that are closed today (Thursday) will also be closed on Friday.
See more here.
UPDATE 1.30pm
THREE roads in Redlands have been closed.
They are Pitt Road in Birkdale, Avalon Road in Sheldon and Moores Road, Redland Bay.
The waste transfer stations at Birkdale and Redland Bay closed as of 1pm due to the weather.
UPDATE 1.00pm
STRADBROKE Ferries has confirmed vehicle ferry services from Cleveland and Dunwich have been cancelled.
The water taxi service was currently operating to timetable at 1pm.
The last vehicle ferry service from Redland Bay to the Southern Moreton Bay Islands would leave at 3.30pm.
The last service from Russell Island would depart at 4.45pm.
A spokesperson for Stradbroke Ferries said limited spaces were available.
“We recommend that you change your travel plans if travel is not essential,” the spokesperson said.
UPDATE 12.20pm
MAYOR Karen Williams has warned heavy rains and winds are expected to intensify about 6pm.
“We don’t know how long it will last,” she said.
Cr Williams said island residents, in particular, needed to prepare for the severe weather.
“Travel and transport is going to be difficult as the winds increase,” she said.
She said Energex, council and SES crews were on the islands, but that residents should anticipate they might be without power.
The last vehicle ferry to North Stradbroke Island was at midday, and the last service back to Cleveland at 1pm.
The water taxi was operating to timetable, but further updates were expected.
Very limited vehicle ferry services were being provided to the Southern Moreton Bay Islands and passengers services were continuing to operate to timetable.
UPDATE 9.50am
THE Alexandra Hills TAFE campus is closed.
UPDATE 9.35am
STRADBROKE Ferries has announced the last vehicle ferry from Cleveland to North Stradbroke Island will be at midday.
The last vehicle ferry from Straddie to Cleveland will be at 1pm.
The Stradbroke water taxi is operating as normal.
The Southern Moreton Bay Islands vehicle ferry service will operate on a reduced timetable.
EARLIER
ABOUT 200mm, possibly up to 400mm, could fall in parts of south-east Queensland over 24 hours.
A severe weather warning has been issued for the region as the rain and wind is expected to increase during the day.
Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said people should take precautions and encouraged employers to let non-essential staff members go home.
“We’ve got to be conscious this system is a very large system and it’s starting to move very quickly,” he said.
“We are seeing unprecedented rain and flash flooding.”
In Redlands, the libraries and Recycleworld at Redland Bay are closed.
The council will be closed for general services from midday.
Government has also announced that public transport will be free from 10am today.
mergency operations in Redlands are being managed by the Local Disaster Management Group.
A spokesperson for council has warned of the potential for flash flooding on Redlands roads and reminded motorists to drive carefully and heed warnings.
“Don’t risk your life to cross flooded areas on foot or in a vehicle irrespective of its size and remind children to stay away from floodwaters,” he said.
Residents should be prepared for possible power outages.
Self-service sandbag stations
Self-service sandbagging stations will be open from 7am until 6pm.
They are located at:
Cleveland
- Cleveland Showgrounds (Norm Price Park), Long Street
North Stradbroke Island
- Outside the depot compound on Mitchell Road, Dunwich
Macleay Island
- Outside the depot compound on High Central Road
Russell Island
- Davidson Road Gravel Pit
Enclosed shoes must be worn at all sandbag stations.
Closures: Thursday, March 30 and Friday, March 31
Updated 3pm
Woolworths stores: Capalaba closed earlier on Thursday. Other stores will close at 5pm on Thursday.
Cleveland Magistrates Court is closed on Thursday.
The Alexandra Hills TAFE campus is closed on Thursday and Friday.
All schools are closed on Thursday and Friday.
Redland City Council will close down for general services from noon on Thursday.
Redland City Council libraries will be closed on Thursday.
Recycleworld at Redland Bay will be closed on Thursday.
The water transfer stations at Redland Bay and Birkdale are closed on Thursday.
In an emergency, call 000.
For SES, call 132 500.