‘We’re struggling’: Cyclones and floods mean no-one is buying into Cardwell’s charms, Chamber of Commerce says

A cyclone sucker punch is the latest blow in a horror wet season for a Cassowary Coast tourism town bunkering down ahead of yet another natural disaster, a community leader says.

Bureau of Meteorology satellite map showing the low pressure system which was expected to form into Tropical Cyclone Kirrily on Tuesday evening.

A cyclone sucker punch is the latest blow in a horror wet season for a Cassowary Coast tourism town bunkering down ahead of yet another natural disaster, a community leader says.

Cardwell Chamber of Commerce has reported a major slump in day-to-day trade following Tropical Cyclone Jasper with one retailer’s sales plummeting by almost 50 per cent over Christmas.

The coastal hamlet held high hopes of a bump in profits this Australia Day, the Chamber’s president Robyn Smith said.

But with Tropical Cyclone Kirrily expected to hit the coast late on Thursday between Cardwell and Airlie Beach, shop shutters are likely to be lowered again this long weekend.

Hailed as one of the best fishing destinations in Queensland, Cardwell businesses have endured an unusually quiet wet season so far, the community’s Chamber of Commerce says. Picture: Supplied

“We’re struggling,” Ms Smith said.

“A lot of things are working against us at the moment.”

“It’s funny because we’ve had a beautiful wet season in some ways.

“It’s so green and the waterfalls and mountain streams are at their best right now.”

Cardwell Chamber of Commerce president Robyn Smith is hoping the town can bounce back once Tropical Cyclone Kirrily crosses the coast later this week. Picture: Lillian Altman

Ms Smith said the disaster-prone town was taking the looming cyclone threat seriously, with residents no strangers to tropical storms.

“We went through Yasi and when you see that this one could be fairly big — possibly a category three — that’s when it gets scary,” the boutique store owner said.

“I started preparing last week in the garden, at home, and the shop.

“You just get ready for the final step of battening down but I don’t wish it on anyone.”

Queensland Premier Steven Miles provides an update on the weather situations following a Disaster Management Committee meeting. Tropical Cyclone Kirrily is expected to hit the state's coast on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Dan Peled

Premier Steven Miles said residents could expect another huge downpour from TC Kirrily this week with destructive winds of up to 150km/h between Cardwell and Bowen.

“We are expecting this cyclone will have very heavy rain,” Mr Miles said.

“That rain could continue for days as that cyclone weakens into a tropical low and moves down the state.

“The predictions anticipate rainfall of more than a metre, possibly up to 1.2m on already saturated catchments.

“We’re working to pre-deploy emergency services personnel to make sure they’re ready to assist residents. But we’re also encouraging residents to be prepared.

“So we’re effectively planning for two disasters almost affecting the length of the state.”

Ms Smith said she was ready for whatever Mother Nature throws her way.

“We’re down to just doing the absolute necessary things,” she said.

“In the meantime, we’re just waiting.”

Authorities are urging residents seeking information on how to best prepare for a cyclone to visit their website www.getready.qld.gov.au.

Originally published as ‘We’re struggling’: Cyclones and floods mean no-one is buying into Cardwell’s charms, Chamber of Commerce says