What you need to know: Road closures, power outages, supermarkets
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The flooding isn’t over, but life is starting to return to normal in Brisbane and South East Queensland.
Brisbane Times has collated the latest information on everything you need to know to get you through this extreme weather event.
For emergency information, including how to find an evacuation centre near you, visit Brisbane City Council’s emergency dashboard here.
You can also visit the Queensland government’s disaster management website here.
A fallen power pole in Ballina, northern NSW.Credit: Facebook
Power outages
Power may not be restored to tens of thousands of homes and businesses across south-east Queensland for days, with Energex spokesman Danny Donald saying power is unlikely to be restored for most residents until Monday or Tuesday.
As of 6am on Tuesday, these are the number of households without power:
- Brisbane City: 15,494
- Gold Coast City: 44,102
- Moreton Bay: 15,766
- Lockyer Valley: 3192
- Logan City: 12,861
- Redland City: 20,352
- Scenic Rim: 5834
- Ipswich City: 464
- Somerset: 254
You can find more information about your suburb, and search your address, here, or go to the Energex website here to see local power outage maps.
How can I report fallen powerlines?
The Energex Emergency line for fallen powerlines is 13 19 62. Be very wary of fallen powerlines as they may be live.
Public transport
- Check Translink for the latest updates.
- Trains have recommenced Tuesday, running to a reduced Sunday timetable, but the Cleveland and Doomben Lines are not operating and replacement rail buses are in operation.
- Council bus services in Brisbane are returning, operating to a Sunday timetable. School services are operating.
- On the Gold Coast, limited bus services are running.
- Ipswich (Logan Coaches) buses are running to a Saturday timetable, and Ipswich (Westside) are running as normal with some diversions.
- Lockyer Valley buses remain suspended.
- Bus services have resumed in Logan, the Redlands, Toowoomba and on the Sunshine Coast, but on a reduced timetable, with customers advised to check for updates.
- Brisbane River ferries remain suspended because of debris.
- Southern Moreton Bay Island ferries are operating today (Tuesday) during daylight hours.
- Gold Coast trams run between Helensvale and Gold Coast University Hospital stations every 15 minutes. Services remain suspended between Gold Coast University Hospital and Broadbeach South stations.
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Road closures
You can find a list of road closures on the Queensland Traffic website, and you can filter the list by area, as well as “event type”, including hazards and flooding.
- RACQ is progressively resuming roadside assistance services in areas across South East Queensland where it is safe to do so. They may not be able to reach you due to dangerous road conditions including fallen powerlines and trees and flash flooding. Stay off the roads if possible and call 000 in a life-threatening situation on the road.
A woman waits for a Translink bus in Belmont on Brisbane’s Eastside. Delays are expected on the transport network as a result of heavy rains. Credit: Dan Peled
Supermarkets
- Shoppers may face slim pickings, but supermarkets are restocking.
- The majority of Coles stores have reopened, but stock levels vary. Check for closures here.
- Woolworths is reopening on a store-by-store basis. Check the website.
- ALDI stores in Brisbane were open on Tuesday except Kelvin Grove and The Gap. The Nerang store on the Gold Coast, and Clontarf and Deception Bay stores (Moreton Bay) remain closed. Check social media for more information.
Service stations
- Service stations are reopening on a case-by-case basis.
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Schools and childcare
- 415 schools will remain closed on Tuesday. Check the Queensland government emergency education facility closures website to view closures.
- Daycare services will continue to receive the childcare subsidy, but fees can be waived for families when centres are closed, and children will be allowed unlimited absences during the emergency.
Evacuation, cyclone refuge centres
Residents who need to leave their homes are advised to first seek shelter with family or friends. If that is not an option, here are the details of south-east Queensland evacuation centres.
Three refuge shelters are open:
- The Chandler Arena at Sleeman Sports Complex: 757 Tilley Road, Chandler. You can bring pets with you, but they must be crated, leashed and securely transported as they will be kept in a separate location. Pet owners must pack their dog or cat’s food and litter tray as well.
- Kedron Wavell Services Club: 21 Kittyhawk Drive, Chermside (no pets).
- Riverlife Community Centre, 47 Jennifer Street, Seventeen Mile Rocks (community-run). You can bring pets with you, but they must be crated, leashed and securely transported as they will be kept in a separate location. Pet owners must pack their dog or cat’s food and litter tray as well.
The shelters include only basic amenities and do not have beds, meals or cooking facilities. People are advised to bring their own food.
As you evacuate you should:
- Take your evacuation kit with you. This should include: mobile phone and charger, spare clothing, toiletries, a towel, important documents such as prescriptions, insurance papers, passports and birth certificates, a back-up copy of computer files, any necessary medication and prescriptions, or needs for infants such as formula or nappies.
- It’s also recommended to bring bedding with you such as pillows and blankets.
- Inform your neighbours are aware of any evacuation advice.
- Turn off the electricity and/or gas and lock your home.
More information is available here. In the event of significant flooding, more evacuation centres will be opened.
A couple with their young baby seek shelter at an evacuation centre at Runaway Bay.Credit: Dan Peled
Gold Coast relief centres:
- Runaway Bay Indoor Stadium: Sports Drive, Runaway Bay.
- Pimpama Sports Hub: 139 Rifle Range Road, Pimpama.
- Nerang Bicentennial Community Centre: 833 Southport Nerang Road, Nerang.
- Burleigh Waters Community Centre: 111 Christine Avenue, Burleigh Waters.
Sunshine Coast evacuation centres:
- Nambour Showgrounds: Crossover via Coronation Avenue, Nambour. (Animals are accepted here but must be kept in crates supplied by their owner. Livestock will be housed in onsite stables.)
- Landsborough Sportsground: 15 Tunnel Ridge Road, Landsborough. (No animals accepted.)
- Caloundra Indoor Stadium: North Street, Caloundra. (No animals accepted.)
Hospitals
- Hospitals are business as usual for elective surgeries, unless you are advised otherwise. Check websites.
- Specialist clinicians are running its Virtual Emergency Care Service 24 hours a day to provide care to those unable to access an emergency department – 13 HEALTH.
Brisbane’s Airtrain services have resumed.
Brisbane Airport
- Brisbane Airport is open and flights have resumed. Travellers are being asked to “pack their patience”.
- Passengers have been asked not to come to the airport unless they have a confirmed booking on a scheduled service. Check for road hazards before travelling to the airport.
- Airtrain services have resumed. Banyo, Buranda and Salisbury stations remain closed.
Maritime
- The Port of Brisbane has reopened.
Council services
- Regular collections of all bins, including yellow and green bins, has resumed, with some localised disruptions.
- Kerbside collection has been suspended.
Financial assistance
- The first wave of personal hardship payments of $180 per person and $900 per family is available for Gold Coast, Redlands and Logan. Other regions will have access to payments and will be announced. Residents can check eligibility and apply via www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp, or by phoning the 24/7 Queensland Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.
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