Editorial: TC Alfred to give southeast a taste of life in the north

It seems that the southeast will get a taste of what they go through in the north of the state, writes the editor.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred’s position on Sunday afternoon. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology

In September 1940, at the height of the Battle of Britain, a German aircraft dropped five high-explosive bombs on Buckingham Palace, causing significant damage and thoroughly terrifying King George and Queen Elizabeth, later known as the Queen Mother.

The two senior royals, having sent their two daughters away, had spent much of their time in the previous days visiting with the victims of the bombing around London’s East End, near the strategically important dockyards.

Following the attack on Buckingham Palace and amid much community concern, the Queen Mother issued a statement.

“I am glad we have been bombed,” she wrote.

“It makes me feel I can look the East End in the face.”

The words resonate as Brisbane and South East Queensland was yesterday warned that Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which has been following a similar path off our coast to a certain Chinese flotilla, could take a right turn and threaten a coastline thoroughly unused to such events.

If it does cross the coast, it would be an incredible rare event – the first since Cyclone Nancy which reached as far south as Byron Bay in 1974.

Several times this summer, and dozens of times in recent memory, we have marvelled at the strength and resilience of North Queenslanders as they stare down cyclone threats, then hunker down for the storm, only to emerge to instantly move into rescue or recovery mode.

Today it seems that those of us in the southeast will get – at the very least – a taste of what they go through as part of the admission charged for living in paradise.

Already we are feeling that trepidation that comes with watching the predicted path of a cyclone, knowing that any deviation could put your home directly in the line of fire.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Matt Collopy said Cyclone Alfred was expected to turn west towards South East Queensland today, with the most impact felt from late Wednesday through to the weekend.

He said the cyclone could be a category two when it hits the coast.

Category-two cyclones have destructive winds with a mean speed of 89km/h to 117km/h, with gusts of up to 164km/h.

They can be expected to cause minor damage to houses but significant damage to crops, trees and caravans.

With the path of Alfred still uncertain, Mr Collopy said everyone from Bundaberg to the Gold Coast needed to be aware that they may see significant winds, coastal inundation, intense rainfall and flooding.

People who live in coastal zones are also looking at tide charts, knowing that if Alfred hits the coast at high tide it could cause a storm surge that would inundate low-lying areas and cause erosion that could damage property and infrastructure. Again, this is something our northern cousins are used to.

There are things you can do today to secure your property, such as parking vehicles undercover, charging phones and fuelling cars, cleaning gutters and raising fridges and freezers in downstairs areas that may be prone to flooding.

This is a major weather event, but it can’t be compared to some of the storms that have battered the state’s north in the past.

In 2011, Cyclone Yasi crossed the coast near Mission Beach as a category-five cyclone, with gusts reaching 285km/h.

It decimated the sugarcane industry, forced 10,000 people from their homes and caused more than $4bn damage.

Alfred won’t be anything like that, but it looks like it might give people in South East Queensland a taste of what a tropical storm is really like. And like the Queen Mother in 1940, it might just mean that those of us in the southeast can look North Queenslanders in the face.

VEGAS MISSED ONE THING

The NRL’s second foray to Las Vegas was a resounding success on most measures – but, if we are to be honest, it lacked one thing: a team from one of the two league states.

Yesterday’s games – Raiders v Warriors and Panthers v Sharks – were entertaining for the 45,000 fans at Allegiant Stadium and those who live in NSW. But for all those Maroons watching back in Australia we felt like we didn’t have someone to cheer for.

Queenslanders love their sport, but we need a healthy dose of our trademark parochialism before we feel part of the game.

It shouldn’t be a problem really. With the Broncos the headline act at the inaugural Vegas excursion last year, the Cowboys should go next year before the Titans in 2027, and finally the Dolphins in 2028 – possibly to take on the NRL’s new boys from PNG. Imagine!

That aside, ARLC chair Peter V’landys and his team who have put this extravaganza together should be congratulated.

And it was another masterstroke to put women’s footy on the big stage. It’s just a pity the England Lionesses were so outclassed in their match against our Jillaroos.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here

Originally published as Editorial: TC Alfred to give southeast a taste of life in the north