QUEENSLAND SOLDIERS ON AS FLOODS AND CYCLONE ALFRED PUMMEL THE STATE

For the first few days of March, the southeast of Queensland was on high alert as Cyclone Alfred, a Category 2 storm, hovered menacingly off the coast.

 

More than 4 million people made preparations for Alfred making landfall sometime around March 6 and, for a few days, the heavily populated region that includes Brisbane and Gold Coast, held its collective breath.

 

By the time Cyclone Alfred reached the mainland on March 8, its impact was already being felt. Powerful winds with gusts over 100km/h struck everywhere from northern NSW to the Sunshine Coast which, together with substantial rainfall, led to widespread damage and disruption.

 

More than 300,000 properties in the region experienced power outages, buildings were damaged, trees were felled, people were evacuated from homes, and rivers across the region swelled to bursting causing flooding.

 

Beaches on the Gold Coast were washed away, Brisbane streets were submerged and, tragically, a man lost his life after being swept away by floodwaters in northern NSW. Additionally, as resources were moved in for rescue and recovery duties, two military trucks involved in emergency response efforts collided, resulting in injuries to 13 Australian Defence Force personnel.

 

It was an anxious time even if, all things considered, Alfred was not as destructive as first feared. However, Alfred was, as was noted by many, the first cyclone to make landfall in the region since 1974. For those who have never experienced the anxiety of waiting for a cyclone to hit or had a taste of even a less powerful one such as Alfred turned out to be, the experience gave an interesting perspective on what it must be like for fellow Queenslanders in the north who live with this type of event seemingly every year. It’s uncomfortable, to put it mildly.

 

At the time of writing, Cyclone Alfred had weakened to a Tropical Low, but it was still loitering in the region and was still dumping vast amounts of rain. The dangers of flooding still loom large.  Quite what damage Alfred has inflicted, and how severe and widespread that damage is, will be determined in the coming days and weeks but both the Queensland and Australian Governments have stepped up to initiate assistance and support. For information on what is available, click on the links at the end of this article.   

 

 

In early February, North Queensland experienced a catastrophic natural disaster with prolonged heavy rainfall leading to floods there were unprecedented. The deluge, which began in late January and extended into February saw areas such as Ingham receiving almost 1.5 metres of rain fall in just three days. The Herbert River rose to 14.89 meters, approaching the record level of 15.2 meters set during Cyclone Dinah in 1967. The flooding inundated other towns including Ingham, Townsville, and Cardwell, causing devastation to homes, infrastructure, and businesses.

 

Many people were injured and, in dreadful news, two people were killed in the floods. Reports of outbreaks of diseases called Melioidosis and Leptospirosis have been a worrying update.

 

The transportation network suffered severe disruptions. The North Coast railway line, critical as a connection between Brisbane to Cairns, was badly damaged, with many sites along its route affected by washouts, scouring, culvert damages, and bridge damage. It was only on March 1 that Queensland Rail was able to report the North Coast was fully reopen to freight and passenger trains.

 

Roads and highways were also compromised, isolating communities and hindering emergency response efforts. The Bruce Highway – a critical artery spanning Queensland’s coastline – was put under severe stress. Notably, the collapse of the Ollera Creek Bridge, situated between Townsville and Ingham, severed a vital link, disrupting the flow of goods and emergency services. Other sections of the highway were damaged, submerged or washed away.

 

For the entire region – and the communities, individuals, families and businesses that call it home – it has been a tough start to the year. For the many automotive businesses across the region, which are integral to local economies, the challenges have been significant.

 

Besides the obvious impacts of drowned workshops and destroyed assets and equipment, the damaged road infrastructure delayed the delivery of parts, supplies, inventory, foods and cleaning supplies. Suppliers were put under additional pressure to deliver services with plumbers, electricians and builders in high demand. On the ground in the region is MTA Institute trainer Jason McCann. It became obvious very quickly that the impact of the weather event was going to be severe.

 

“On the first day of the intense rain and flooding in Townsville, it was apparent that this was turning into a serious event,” said Jason. “Many workplaces started closing and collection of kids from school was made paramount as the roads in Townsville were quickly rising with flood water. I had to change vehicles from the work Camry to my personal Toyota Hilux, just to be able to pick up my daughter from her school.

 

“Many low-level vehicles were becoming waterlogged and locking and as the rainfall continued, people in low-lying areas were forced to evacuate to higher ground and emergency shelters. This was all occurring in a short timeframe.”

 

Many MTA Queensland members were affected by the flooding with some, said Jason, seeing a metre of water in their workshops and offices. And even for those that made it through the flooding unscathed, the closure of major highways impeded the supply of parts and other business necessities. As always seems to be the case, however, the determination to get communities back on their feet saw people pull together.

 

“On the upside any weather event such as this one, is that it brings out the North Queensland spirt and strength,” said Jason. “From volunteers filling sandbags and dropping them off to the elderly and people in need, to people volunteering rooms and space for families that had to evacuate, to those making food and fuel donations for families that were cut off. There’s always a general banding together to get the job done.” 

 

As we approach the middle of March, and with the flood waters receding and roads and rail lines reopening, the recovery across the region is now underway. There is, as there aways is in the wake of such reversal, still much to be done and MTA Queensland will continue to play its part in supporting automotive businesses affected by the floods and be available with resources and guidance for affected businesses. 

 

For some MTA Queensland members, a bit of luck and planning helped them survive the deluge in decent shape. For Ingham-based Guido’s Panel and Paint, being owned and run by a family with a long history in the region was a great benefit. The late Guido Gilberto grew up in Ingham and founded the business in 1992. When the record-breaking flood of 1967 left him stranded in the upper story of his family home, the memory imprinted deeply on his psyche and when it came to build the workshop for his panel and paint business on the block of land next to his family home, Guido insisted that the facility be built a full metre above that 1967 flood level.

 

In 2025, three years after Guido’s passing, the family truly appreciated this foresight – they were one of the few businesses in town which did not get washed away. In the last week of January this year, the reports of incoming rain prompted Guido’s wife Maria and their son David to mobilise the team, lifting everything they could to the workshop and high ground.

 

By the first weekend in February, the town was in trouble. The six-foot-high fence in front of the workshop was completely submerged. The power was cut off and access was only via boat. With customers’ cars safely high and dry, the business turned its attention to caring for its staff and it was all hands on deck as the team pitched in to help each other move their belongings to dry ground.

 

Maria fell on day one of the flooding, hurting her leg badly. Some staff became homeless as their houses were inundated and management helped them to find alternative accommodation. Almost everyone lost access to electricity in the region, and David was on hand to provide generators so staff could keep the power on.  Power returned by February 10, and business resumed the next day. On that first day of resumed trading, David saw 79 local vehicles written off.

 

“We specialise in flood insurance claims,” he said. “Apart from assessing damaged vehicles, we spent that first week training our staff and refreshing their skills in detailing cars after a flood and how to be safe with flood-affected vehicles. One employee nearly had a nasty accident with an air bag that exploded unexpectedly.”  

 

Having managed the business through 10 other floods, Maria strapped her damaged foot up in a moonboot and leapt into action. “We rang MTA Queensland for HR support to make sure we were doing everything we could to look after our team,” she said. “We hired a mature-aged apprentice to handle the additional workload. We reached out to our loyal, long-standing customers to make sure they were okay and to look after their fleets of vehicles.”

 

With countless floods and cyclones under her belt, Maria Gilberto had three tips to remain resilient in business during a disaster.

 

“Do your research before you open the doors. Find out where previous floods have reached and what you can do to disaster-proof your business,” said Maria. “Have some money stashed away to cover a rainy day. Being out of business for more than a week during the floods cost us more than $15,000 in wages and lost revenue. Try to have enough saved to survive the tough times and get the most comprehensive insurance you can.

“And stay connected with your team,” she added. “We stay in frequent and personal communication with our staff and our customers, so we know what they need professionally and personally.”

 

Like Guido’s Panel and Paint, many MTA Queensland members have reached out for support and the Association has assisted in many ways, from HR support and advice to assisting members in accessing the more than $100 million in Government-provided grants designed to assist small businesses as they rebuild. MTA Queensland continues to be ready to ensure that members have the support and information needed to navigate through these challenging times.

 

MTA Queensland’s Workplace Relations team is here to help with any workplace matters during this challenging period.

Visit the MTA Queensland Member Portal HERE or contact the MTA Queensland Workplace Relations Advisors on (07) 3237 8777.

 

Assistance under the Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme will provide severely impacted residents with immediate payments of $180 per person, up to $900 for a family of five or more to cover the essentials of food, clothing and medicine.

 

Additional financial support includes:

 

To check eligibility and to apply visit www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp or phone the Queensland Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.

 

Disaster Assistance Loans, Essential Working Capital Loans and Exceptional Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants have been activated for businesses in a number of north Queensland council regions. These loans are designed to support small and family businesses to re-establish operations relating to:

 

Eligible small and family businesses can apply for:

To find out about regional eligibility and how to apply, visit the QRIDA website HERE or call 1800 623 946.

 

We understand that these events may be emotionally overwhelming. If you or your staff members are experiencing stress or need emotional support, please reach out to the following helplines:

 

If you need further assistance or have questions, please contact MTA Queensland’s Member Services team at (07) 3237 8777.

This information is general advice only. Please contact MTA Queensland’s Workplace Relations Advisors for more specific advice and assistance.

 

In the wake of Cyclone Alfred, both the Queensland and Australian governments have rolled out various support measures for individuals and businesses in Southeast Queensland. These include:

 

You can find out more about assistance and eligibility requirements at the following links:

 

Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (March 2025)

March 14 2025