Whitsunday region warned to prepare for isolation as Cyclone Kirrily nears Queensland

Residents across the Whitsundays were out and about making preparations ahead of cyclone Kirrily, from filling up on enough milk for the kids’ breakfast for a week to helping out elderly people fill up sandbags. Find out what has closed down so far.

Residents across the Whitsundays were out and about in the middle of pre-cyclone preparation, filling bags of sand to secure their homes or help those lacking the strength.

State Emergency Service centres across the state were the meeting place of many people armed with their shovels, who emptied sand available at centres at an “unprecedented” rate.

Proserpine resident Luke Paroz went to the town’s SES site with his son Jackson and filled up a couple of bags ahead of the predicted torrential rain that is forecasted to hit the region.

Mr Paroz said they were new to the area and that it would be their first cyclone, but that all the preparation had now been done, having secured a generator, enough food for three days and stacked up on the kids’ breakfast milk.

“We’re not expecting serious flooding,” he said adding that he was not too worried about the impact.

Proserpine residents in Marathon St Janet Morris and Mary Eglinton came to pick up sand at about the same time as Mr Paroz on Wednesday.

“I don’t have the strength to pick up these heavy sand bags,” Ms Eglinton said.

Mr Paroz offered to fill up sandbags for them and deliver the bags to their door.

“It’s always the local people who help with everything,” Ms Eglinton concluded.

Luke and Jackson Paroz, Janet Morris and Mary Eglington in front of the SES station in Proserpine filling up bags of sand ahead of cyclone Kirrily. Picture: Estelle Sanchez

In Bowen, the State and Emergency Service had run out of sandbags to give people at the beginning of the day, but managed to source more.

SES Whitsundays spokesman Mark Connors said services had an “unprecedented” amount of people pick up sandbags, and are currently waiting for more to arrive from further south.

“There are alternatives, you can fill up garbage bags or you can use potting mixes bags and stuff like that,” Mr Connors said.

“Primarily SES would go out and put sandbags on doorways that were definitely at risk.

“A lot of people are new to town, so they’re not too sure whether they have to place bags or not, but the main thing is for people to make sure they’re looking at the council’s disaster page.

“Don’t panic.

“If you’re new, talk to your neighbours, see if they’ve been there a while and what might have occured historically,”

Austin and Ethan Smith have helped their mum Lisa fill up bags of sand to prevent water from entering their business Kevla Espresso and Health Food Bar in Queens Beach in Bowen, which is located in a red zone for flooding. Picture: Estelle Sanchez

Whitsunday residents have been warned to prepare for isolation from 5pm Wednesday in advance of Tropical Cyclone Kirrily.

Very strong winds and heavy rain from Tropical Low 05U is expected to cause significant damage and heavy rainfall around Cardwell to Airlie Beach, the Whitsundays Local Disaster Management group has warned.

“This could cut off transport routes in and out for several days”, they added.

“Help may not be able to reach you quickly when air and sea transport routes are cut.”

Expected to make a landing late tomorrow between Cardwell and Airlie Beach as a Category 2, with the latest warning announcing winds as strong as 120km/h, most of the Whitsundays businesses are preparing and protecting their property.

Members of community group chats have offered their services to elderly people for delivering groceries or sandbags.

Where can you find sandbags?

Proserpine - 45 Hinschen Street (always open - no closure time)

Cannonvale - 22 Schnapper Street (always open - no closure time)

Bowen – 181 Richmond Road (open daily from 6.30am – 7pm)

What is closed down so far

- IGA Bowen have announced they would close down at 2pm on thursday and is expected to reopen on Friday.

- LiveLife Pharmacy Bowen closed down for the rest of Thursday and expected to reopen Friday.

- Bowen Woolworths closed down at 12pm on Thursday.

- Public transport cancelled on Shute Harbour Rd.

From 11.38, route services will only be operating between Centro and Airlie Cove.

Schools across the Whitsundays have announced that they would close from Thursday and likely reopen on Monday depending on weather conditions. Here’s the list of Whitsunday schools that have announced their closure:

- Proserpine State High School

- Proserpine State School

- Bowen State School

- Bowen State High School

- Whitsunday Christian College

- Cannonvale State School

- Cannonvale State High School

- St Mary’s Catholic school

- St Catherine’s Catholic College

- St John Bosco Catholic School

- Collinsville State high School

You can check out the full list of closures here.

Cape Gloucester Resort has announced they would close down the doors from 5pm on Wednesday. The Australia Day festivities will be cancelled.

- Le Sorelle Coffee House in Bowen is closing down from 12pm Wednesday.

- Proserpine Swimmin Pool and Water Park has been closed until further notice.

-Bowen Swimming Pool

-Bowen Water Park

- Airlie Beach lagoon

- Proserpine Museum closed down on 25 and 26 January.

- Kerbside collection is cancelled on January 25 and 26 across the region.

-the Australia Day event planned for the Bowen Foreshore on January 26 has been moved to the Bowen State High School’s McKenna Hall.

The following parks have been temporarily closed from 23 to 29 of January:

Whitsunday Islands National Park

Molle Islands National Park

Holbourne Island National Park

Gloucester Islands National Park

Lindeman Islands National Park

Cape Upstart National Park

Dryander National Park

Conway National Park

Conway circuit

Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour has announced visiting aircraft won’t be able to land or park at the airport between Wednesday 24th and Saturday 27th.

“The airport will remain open during our normal operating hours for emergency personnel crews,” a spokesman said.

“Both Avgas and Jet A1 will be available with emergency crews given priority. There will be a temporary disruption to fuel availability during any severe weather.”