General News
5 March, 2025
Stay in your home, forget flooded roads
Local authorities are warning residents not to drive through flood zones, as the State Government closes the Toowoomba Region's schools.
Toowoomba Region Mayor and Chair of the Toowoomba Local Disaster Management Group Geoff McDonald has urged residents to take precautions with Tropical Cyclone Alfred now on track to make landfall in South-East Queensland in coming days.
Mayor McDonald said Council was continuing to monitor the situation and the Toowoomba Local Disaster Management Group would meet today (Wednesday March 5) to continue preparations.
“The safest place for almost all residents of the Toowoomba Region on Friday and across the weekend will be in their own homes," he said.
“We are not expected to have the same severe impacts from TC Alfred as Brisbane and coastal areas however we are making preparations and ask residents to do the same.
“Residents should take precautions such as driving to conditions on our roads, preparing your home for storm-type impacts and having an emergency plan if you live in a location across our region which floods or becomes isolated from flooding should that potentially occur later this week and across the weekend
The Mayor says today is the day to clear loose items and debris from your yard, clean out your gutters, fill your car with fuel, collect sandbags (if needed), have an emergency kit, charge your mobile phone and other devices and think about battery supplies.
“We are asking residents to steer clear of our parks in coming days due to the risk of flying debris and falling tree limbs, sporting fields are also likely to close.
“Council teams are on standby to deal with this weather event however, for their personal safety is always our priority.
“Residents should check on friends and family who may live in flood-prone areas, look out for neighbours and the more vulnerable members of our community as well as securing their pets and animals and keeping them safe during this event,” he said.
“Given our level of risk is lower than Brisbane and coastal areas, these locations are self-filling with residents asked to bring their own sandbags and shovel. If you require assistance with sandbags you can call the SES on 132500. Local hardware stores have stock of sandbags.
“For the safety of our contractors, we will suspend kerbside waste collection across the Region this Friday and close our waste management facilities, also from Friday. If your wheelie bin normally gets collected, you can take it to one of our waste management facilities today (Wednesday) or tomorrow (Thursday) and empty it for free.”
Sergeant James Leahy from Oakey Police Station says residents need to have an emergency plan in place.
"Oakey Police will be out on the roads ensuring the community is safe, and responding to all emergencies irrespective of weather conditions," he said.
"I ask that the community ensure they have taken all relevant precautions and have a safety plan in place.
"Please call 000 for any emergency, stay away from fallen power lines and please drive to the conditions.
Schools
The Queensland Premier has announced all schools in the Toowoomba Region will be closed tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday. For a full list of these closures visit https://closures.qld.edu.au/
Health precautions
Ensure prescriptions for essential medications are up-to-date.
Prepare an emergency kit with all medical and health supplies required to last at least seven days. This may include first-aid items, essential medication, prescriptions, hand sanitiser, infant supplies, sanitary products, thermometer, batteries and chargers for medical devices, and face masks.
Plan for potential power outages by ensuring medical devices are charged, and batteries are available to maintain power.
If medication requires refrigeration, identify alternative storage methods are available such as cold bags.
“Our hospitals and health facilities, including emergency departments, continue to operate as normal and there are no changes to planned care at this time.”
Sand stockpiles
Sand is currently available at the following locations:
Toowoomba Showgrounds: Glenvale Road, Glenvale.
Jondaryan: Duke Street, near the steam train.
Goombungee: In front of SES, 33-35 Cooke Street.
Pittsworth: Railway St, in front of SES (at Pittsworth Showgrounds).
Crows Nest: Timber Street, Crows Nest (next to SES).
Wyreema: Newman Road, Wyreema (on road reserve between Newman Road and Toowoomba Karara Road).
Cambooya: Lucy Street Park (next to the tennis courts)
At this time, sand it not available at Oakey due to the ongoing Queensland Fire Ant declaration.
Residents should bring their own shovels and sandbags to these locations.
General preparedness and warnings
In case of a life-threatening emergency call 000.
The Queensland State Government has a disaster web site with useful resources at https://www.disaster.qld.gov.au/
For SES help and assistance with sandbagging and preparing your home call 132 500 or visit https://www.ses.qld.gov.au/diy-using-sandbags
Resources on preparing for Tropical Cyclone Alfred can be found at https://www.getready.qld.gov.au/news/tropical-cyclone-alfred-march-2025
For the latest updates on weather warnings across Queensland visit http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/warnings/
Council’s Disaster Dashboard is also available as an important resource for road closures and weather warnings across the region here - https://disaster.tr.qld.gov.au/
Preparations Toowoomba Regional Council has made for TC Alfred:
- Water reservoirs have been filled
- Generators are being fuelled and prepared for deployment
- Partnering with emergency services preparedness including sandbag operations
- Participating in Queensland Disaster Management Committee Meetings since last weekend
