Cyclone Alfred: Brisbane grinds to a standstill with schools closed, buses and trains cancelled

Brisbane has ground to a standstill, with schools closed, public transport cancelled and residents urged to stay home for at least two days.

Here’s what you need to know.

Schools and childcare

• More than 600 state schools are closed on Thursday and Friday across south-east Queensland, in addition to Catholic and independent schools.
• Daycare services will continue to receive the childcare subsidy, but fees can be waived for families when centres close, and children will be allowed unlimited absences during the emergency.

Public transport

• Buses, including school buses, are cancelled in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Ipswich, Kilcoy, the Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, Redlands, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba from Thursday “until further notice”.
• Brisbane River ferries and Southern Moreton Bay Island ferries will not run from Thursday.
• Queensland Rail trains in south-east Queensland will continue running until last service Wednesday.

Roads

• All major roads and bridges, including the Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges, will be closed when winds reach 90km/h.
• Roads and bridges are expected to be affected by flooding and high winds.
• The Story Bridge footpaths were closed from 5.30pm on Wednesday until further notice.
• Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner urged people to stay inside their homes on Thursday and Friday and not drive during the cyclone.

Maritime

• A red alert to seek/take shelter, issued by the Brisbane Regional Harbour Master, took effect at 2pm on Wednesday, meaning no vessels were permitted on the water until further notice.

Hospitals

• Elective surgeries are cancelled on Thursday and Friday, but emergency care in hospitals will continue, with generators in place and health staff sleeping on site.

Brisbane Airport

• Flights in and out of Brisbane Airport are expected to stop about 4pm (AEST) on Thursday as coastal conditions worsen.
• Airtrain services are suspended until further notice.

Supermarkets

• Coles stores in Petrie Terrace, Loganholme, Runaway Bay, Benowa Village, Arundel, Pacific Fair, The Pines and Robina are closed on Thursday.
• In northern NSW, the Coles stores closed on Thursday are Ballina, Tweed City, Casuarina, Tweed Heads, Murwillumbah, Goonellabah, Banora Point, and Ocean Shores.
• Woolworths stores in Brisbane including in West End, Toowong, Ashgrove, Calamvale and Cannon Hill are among the stores listed online as being open until 2pm Thursday, and closed on Friday.
• Woolworths at the Skygate shopping centre at the Brisbane Airport will open until 4pm on Thursday and Friday between 7am and noon, subject to weather conditions and staff availability.

Council services

• Kerbside collection has been suspended.
• Rubbish bins will not be collected from Thursday.
• Council libraries, community halls, golf courses and pools are closed from Thursday.