Brisbane and south-east Queensland will go into an effective lockdown with more than 600 schools shut, public transport stopped, and people are urged to stay inside their homes.
Brisbane and south-east Queensland will go into an effective lockdown with more than 600 schools shut, public transport stopped, and people are urged to stay inside their homes.
By Felicity Caldwell
March 5, 2025 — 10.51am
Brisbane will grind to a standstill on Wednesday night, with residents urged to stay at home for days, schools closed and public transport cancelled.
More than 600 state schools will be closed on Thursday and Friday in the areas expected to be hit by Cyclone Alfred in south-east Queensland.
Brisbane buses and trains will stop running from the last service on Wednesday night, and will not run on Thursday or Friday, while CityCat and ferry services were suspended from Monday night.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said all major roads and bridges would be closed when winds reached 90km/h, including the Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges.
The Story Bridge footpaths will be closed from 5.30pm on Wednesday until further notice.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner urged people to stay at home for the next two days, and not to drive during the cyclone.
“If you are driving on the road during gale-force winds, anything can happen, it can be an incredibly dangerous situation,” he said.
“There can be items that have become projectiles that can crash into you, there can be fallen power lines as a result of fallen trees that can electrocute you.
“So people should not be out tomorrow and the next day, at the very least.
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“It is a personal safety matter and [we’re] certainly encouraging everyone in the community tomorrow, Friday, please stay indoors.”
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Elective surgeries will be cancelled on Thursday and Friday, but emergency care in hospitals will continue, with generators in place and health staff sleeping on site.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said daycare services would continue to receive the childcare subsidy, but fees could be waived for families, and children would be allowed unlimited absences during the emergency.
“This means that families won’t be out of pocket for the event that is occurring,” he said.
Brisbane businesses are closing their doors after Wednesday, including Indooroopilly General Practice, which advised patients it would reopen on Monday, March 10, while some CBD office building managers advised towers would be closed after Wednesday.
Council has cancelled kerbside collection, and rubbish bins will not be collected from Thursday, while council libraries, community halls, golf courses and pools will be closed from Thursday.
An Airservices Australia spokeswoman said decisions about whether to cancel flights were a “matter for airlines” and passengers with travel plans over coming days were advised to check the status of their flight with their airline.
More to come.
Felicity Caldwell is a journalist at Brisbane Times.Connect via Twitter, Facebook or email.
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