Cairns residents brace for Tropical Cyclone Jasper as holiday-makers warned to stay away

As Tropical Cyclone Jasper approaches the Queensland coast, residents have been warned to prepare and holiday-makers told to avoid travelling to the region.

As Tropical Cyclone Jasper approaches the Queensland coast, Far North residents have been warned to prepare and holiday-makers told to avoid travelling to the region.

Jasper continued creeping towards the coast throughout Monday, and at 5pm was 425km off the Cairns coast and 365km from Townsville.

It remained a Category 1 cyclone but is expected to be a Category 2 by the time it makes landfall, with the chance it could be a Category 3.

Cairns District Disaster Co-ordinator Acting Chief Superintendent Sonia Smith asked holidaying people to reconsider travelling north and for those driving, to keep up to date with road closures and flash flooding in coming days.

Waste Transfer Stations across town will close on Tuesday as people such as restaurant workers Andi Barama and Dipendia Karki line up onto the street to collect supplies in preparation for Tropical Cyclone Jasper. Picture: Kate Stephenson

Addressing the media on Monday, Superintendent Smith said police were engaging with critical infrastructure providers and supply-chain operators to ensure enough sandbags were made available for the community.

Boats were on Monday being evacuated from the Cairns Marina ahead of Jasper’s arrival, with the last vessel expected to leave by late Monday.

Only a handful of boats remain in the marina, where owners are busy preparing to move to nearby creek systems to shelter from the coming weather.

Reef Runner Charters owner Dan Kelly, who runs fishing, diving and snorkelling tours, said all commercial activity had now ceased until after the cyclone had passed.

Boats began leaving the marina on Friday and the few remaining have been ordered to leave by this afternoon, otherwise they will be towed out.

Bob and Liz Adams sandbag their home with granddaughters Zoe, 13, and Kyra, 15, Lashmore at Machans Beach. Picture: Liam Kidston

“We don’t have too much preparation to do; we’re taking off the fabric and anything that can fly away,” Mr Kelly said.

“Once we’re there (in the creek), we tie up as best we can and lock the doors and hope everything is OK.”

Monday is a hot and sunny 34C day in Cairns, with the esplanade still packed with holiday-makers enjoying the weather.

Mr Kelly said it was now a waiting game to see what Jasper would do.

“It’s forecast to drop off pretty quickly once it hits the coast, but we’ll wait and see,” he said.

“Hopefully we’ll be back at work Saturday or Sunday.”

Also preparing to leave the marina were Sue and Greg Smith and their three-year-old Maltese shih tzu named Taz.

The couple live on their 40-foot Bayliner in the marina and said it wasn’t the first time they’d had to evacuate for a cyclone.

Waste Transfer Stations across town will close on Tuesday as people line up on to the street to collect supplies in preparation for Tropical Cyclone Jasper. Picture: Kate Stephenson

“We’ve been here 13 years, we came to visit for four weeks and never left,” Ms Smith said.

“We had to move out for Yasi and Ita and Debbie too.

“We’ve had to move out a few times and they’ve all fizzled out so we’ll see what happens this time.”

Ms Smith said the boat was “stocked up with grog” and they were ready to wait out the weather sheltered in a nearby creek.

“We’ve had the eight-hour warning from the harbour master that everyone has to leave so now we’re just doing the final prep and will get out of here this afternoon,” she said.

“Other boats have been moving out since Friday.”

At Machans Beach in northern Cairns, Bob and Liz Adams were busy preparing their property for the expected storm surge with the help of their granddaughters, Zoe, 13, and Kyra, 15, Lashmore.

Cairns resident Bianca Jeffree will weather Tropical Cyclone Jasper at the local homeless shelter while her friend Peter Nottle hunkers down at a local caravan park. Picture: Catherine Duffy

Mr Adams said the couple had lived at the beachfront property for about five years and that Jasper was their first cyclone that could make landfall near the home.

“We’re taping up all the windows and putting down sandbags and securing anything that could fly away,” Mr Adams said.

“Who knows, it might all go away now that we’ve prepared for it.”

The couple plan to stay with relatives at Trinity Beach as Jasper makes landfall, likely on Wednesday on the current forecast.

Down the street, Fin Patterson was busy boarding up the windows and securing loose items.

“I grew up here so I’ve been through a few (cyclones) before,” he said.

“I’m just strapping things down and tidying up.

“I noticed that there seems to be a lot of really relaxed attitudes about it, but I think it’s better (to be prepared) just in case.”

The Machans Beach SES was busy delivering sandbags to residents along the foreshore on Monday as they prepared for the expected tidal surge in the beachfront community.

In Cairns, supplies of essentials including water and canned goods were dwindling but still available.

Residents located in the storm tide danger zone between Cooktown and Townsville have been urged to protect their property from flooding and “be prepared to help their neighbours”.

Huge rainfall totals have been forecast for northern Queensland, with up to 150mm expected within a six-hour period and isolated falls reaching 250mm along the coast.

Some areas could see isolated falls up to 350mm within a 24-hour period.

Towns within the warning zone between Cooktown and Townsville and inland to Palmerville and Chillagoe have been asked to immediately prepare for Cyclone Jasper’s arrival, by securing their property and boats.

Cairns District Disaster Coordinator Acting Chief Superintendent Sonia Smith has asked holidayers to reconsider travelling north and for those driving, to keep up to date with road closures and flash flooding in coming days.