Cyclone Alfred: Sandbag sites, recovery centres reopen

Callous thieves have stolen sandbags and tarps from council depots as temporary sandbag sites have reopened in Brisbane and Moreton Bay, following a slowdown of Tropical Cyclone Alfred. SEE LIST

Thieves have stolen sand and tarpaulins from a Moreton Bay council depot and others have attempted to on-sell free sandbags to vulnerable Queenslanders for profit.

It comes as Brisbane and Moreton Bay sandbag sites and resource recovery centres have temporarily reopened, after a slow-moving Tropical Cyclone Alfred offered a slight breather from intense weather conditions.

Queensland Police chief Superintendent Adam Guild said it was “absolutely disgusting” behaviour after thieves broke in to a council depot overnight Wednesday to steal equipment and sandbags.

A sign reading 'No more sand bags' is hung outside a closed sandbag depot in the suburb of Zillmere on Thursday. Photo: Asanka Ratnayake.

“We have received reports in relation to that theft and I can tell you that investigations are currently underway in relation to identifying persons of interest,” he said.

City of Moreton mayor Peter Flannery said people were targeting facilities where sandbags were stored.

“We’ve had one of our depot depots broken into and some equipment and sandbags stolen,” he said.

“We’re hearing that around SES depots, a similar thing is happening.

“Usually, disasters bring up the best of people. “Unfortunately, in this case, we’re seeing some the worst of people.”

The mayor also revealed people were attempting to on-sell sandbags they’d received for free.

“We’ve seen our sandbags, which are branded, being offered for sale on Facebook for $20 each,” he said.

Volunteers help load sandbags into residents' cars. Photo: Albert Perez.

“We’ve reported that to the police to take action. Our community is about coming together, supporting each other.

“It’s not about taking advantage of those vulnerable situations and the vulnerable times out there.

“We want to make sure that those sandbags and that critical pieces of support go to the people who need it and not to people who want to abuse the system.”

The Brisbane City Council announced on Thursday morning, seven temporary sandbag sites and four resource recovery centres would reopen across Brisbane while permanent sandbag depot sites remain closed.

The temporary sandbag sites would be reopened from 10:30am to help continue residents’ preparations and would remain open until further notice.

Resource recovery centres would reopen from 10am to aid residents doing last-minute clean ups.

Volunteers help load sandbags into residents' cars at a Morningside sandbag depot. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

The Brisbane City Council advised residents to bring their own shovels and cable ties to the site.

It comes after more than 400,000 sandbags were collected or filled from the five depots and seven temporary sandbag facilities since Friday, more than double the number of sandbags taken during the 2022 flood event.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner thanked the council staff for their efforts to aid Brisbane residents.

“I want to thank our hardworking Council staff who have gone to extraordinary efforts to continue to supply residents with sandbags and reopen today,” he said.

“It is a demonstration of our Council’s commitment to helping residents.”

While from 11am City of Moreton Bay Council said it would be replenishing sandbag stations at Margate, Caboolture and Bribie. Other sandbag stations will be progressively replenished today.

“We are currently sourcing more sandbags so urge people to bring their own bags and also a shovel,” a statement read.

“City of Moreton Bay has implemented a rapid response plan to prioritise evacuations from key areas of Bribie Island today.

“Overnight, the team at the Moreton Bay Disaster Management Centre conducted an urgent call out campaign to residential properties on Bribie that have been identified as vulnerable in a worst-case storm tide scenario.”

Low-lying areas of Bribie Island are also being warned to consider evacuating, with new worst-case storm tide modelling revealing hundreds of properties are under threat. More than 170 properties in Bellara, Bongaree and Banksia Beach areas have been identified as most vulnerable to a possible major storm surge from cyclone conditions and high tides.

Cr Flannery said thieves who broke into the Caboolture State Emergency Services yard at Machinery Parade cut a fence, stole the tarp that was covering the sandpits and the remaining sandbags.

Preparations are underway in the Wynnum for the possible arrival of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, pictured are locals collecting sandbags from the Lota sandbagging location. Picture: David Clark

“There have been reports that some people have cut through the fencing between, there’s a Caboolture works depot and also a SES depot next to each other,” he said.

“They’ve cut in through the fence and taken some tarps that were covering some sand and some sandbags, they’ve stolen some sandbags as well.

“It’s pretty horrific, we are checking if there’s any CCTV footage.

“It’s not on in the city of Moreton Bay and I’m sure all of South East Queensland.”

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said police were investigating various reports of stolen sandbags overnight and on Wednesday.

Police allege about 3pm multiple people in a van stole sandbags from a roadworks site at the intersection of Blewers Road and Hauton Road at Morayfield.

The sandbags were in place for storm water control.

“Police are also aware that some businesses in the district have had sandbags stolen from their premises,” she said.

“Stealing sandbags is not only deplorable behaviour, but also illegal and police will investigate and hold those to account.

“Investigations are ongoing and anyone with information or relevant vision is urged to contact police.”

Cr Flannery said nasty emails were also being sent to council staff.

“Often disasters bring out the best in people, but also the worst in some people. We are getting abuse from people saying “where are our sandbags” and we are asking people to take responsibility for themselves,” he said.

“We’re getting as much sand there as quickly as we can – there’s a limited number of sandbags in our systems.

“We are getting supply from the federal government as well. “

Logan Mayor Jon Raven said the council had reopened sandbagging stations at five locations across the city on Thursday.

Mr Raven said the stations were able to reopen as the cyclone had slowed its trajectory across the coastline.

Loose sand and bags are available at Beenleigh Showgrounds, Milne Street (entrance closest to Kent Street), Logan Metro Sports Centre, 357 Browns Plains Road, Crestmead, Jimboomba Park, South Street, Logan East SES Depot, 26-36 Winnetts Road, Daisy Hill, Logan Village SES, 1464 Waterford-Tamborine Road, Logan Village.

“Council sites are not staffed, people will need to fill bags up themselves. Shovels are available,” Cr Raven said.

Originally published as Cyclone Alfred: Sandbag sites, recovery centres reopen