By Elly Bradfield and staff, ABC
Australia's Bureau of Meteorology says large and powerful seas are expected for several days. Photo: ABC Capricornia / Aaron Kelly
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is lashing the Queensland coast with damaging winds and causing significant coastal erosion.
But forecasters are warning it will move slowly south on Sunday and is now likely to move back towards south-east Queensland on Tuesday.
Early on Sunday morning, the cyclone was 510 kilometres east of Rockhampton and 400km northeast of Bundaberg.
"It's still expected to maintain at least a category two intensity," senior meteorologist Felim Hanniffy said.
The watch point today is for localised damaging wind gusts, particularly around K'gari.
"Gusts up to 90 or in excess of 90 kilometres an hour, particularly [at] K'gari and around Double Island Point as well, but that risk is lessening as we go through the rest of Sunday," Hanniffy said.
Large and powerful seas
The weather bureau said there was the potential for large and powerful seas from Seventeen Seventy down to the exposed south-east coast for several days.
A hazardous surf warning is in place for the Capricornia Coast, K'gari coast, Sunshine Coast waters and Gold Coast waters.
"A protracted period of really powerful swells and that may result in some quite significant coastal erosion to those exposed beaches," Hanniffy said.
Woodgate Beach, south of Bundaberg, has been battered by rough seas causing significant erosion.
Local resident Pauline Greer, also president of the Woodgate District Resident's Association, said it was "devastating" to see.
Pauline Greer says it is disappointing to see all the work done to the beach washed away. Photo: ABC Wide Bay / Johanna Marie
"With the threat of the cyclone still coming, it's quite shattering," she said.
The Bundaberg Regional Council recently spent millions on a sand replenishment project, including the construction of a 240-metre seawall and a 20m-wide sand buffer.
"To see all this sand, and the vines and all the work that's been done and all the money that's been spent [affected, is devastating]," Ms Greer said.
"You can't fight Mother Nature."
She said the only silver lining was that the work might have prevented the sea from inundating homes.
Locals say they're devastated to see the erosion at Woodgate. Photo: ABC Wide Bay / Johanna Marie
Flooding concerns
Further down the coast, the powerful swell and a 2-metre high tide has cut through Pumicestone Passage on the northern tip of Bribie Island.
The natural barrier protects Caloundra and Golden Beach from the open ocean.
Water is already lapping at low-lying properties and locals, including Jen Kettleton-Butler from the Pumicestone Passage Catchment Management Board, fear widespread inundation if Alfred comes close.
"I fear it's too late for our island," she said.
"I'm worried sick that our community at Golden Beach do not know the nature of the danger that is around the corner."
Queensland Police Acting Superintendent Chris Toohey urged the coastal communities to remain vigilant as authorities prepare for localised and flash flooding.
"We don't know when the surges are going to come, we've tried to plan for it, but if we end up with localised flooding we really need to be respectful of the conditions we have and make sure we are looking after ourselves, our families and the other community members," he said.
Acting Superintendent Toohey said authorities were holding daily meetings and patrolling beaches to look for any erosion that could result in localised flooding.
"Planning has gone into where we are going to have sandbagging, where we can put measures in now that will safely mitigate any further damage that may come with this weather event," he said.
Authorities have made contact with Lithuanian national Aurimas Mockus who is aboard a seagoing rowing boat, travelling from San Diego to Brisbane.
On Friday night the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) received an emergency beacon alert from the vessel, located about 740km east of Mackay.
AMSA has now established contact and communications with the occupant of the rowing boat and the Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Choules was en route from Brisbane to the Coral Sea to assist.
Conditions in the area remain severe with heavy seas.
'Unusual' cyclone
Hanniffy said it was unusual for a cyclone to linger off the coast for such a long time, likely sustained by warm sea temperatures.
"Sea temps at the moment are above 27C so that's more than enough to sustain a tropical cyclone," he said.
Hanniffy said possible rainfall predictions depended on the cyclone's path.
"In terms of the potential rainfall risk, [it is] very much determined [by] how that system evolves or whether it does take a more coastal approach late next week," he said.
Gold Coast surf
A hazardous surf warning is in place for the Capricornia Coast, K'gari Coast, Sunshine Coast waters and Gold Coast waters.
Surfer Julia Wardell said the Gold Coast surf was "deceptively challenging" and advised caution.
"It was actually kind of scary," she said.
"I don't think I'll be out there [in the coming days], I think I'll leave that to the professionals.
"The waves are pretty dumpy, so definitely beware."
Stephen Claffy from Marine Rescue Queensland's Point Danger branch said bigger waves with hazardous surf were expected for the next few days.
"If you're a learner [surfer] you should probably stay on the shore," he said.
"The surf championships that are going to happen on the coast this week should be great but those that aren't experienced, better to watch."
There is a similar message for boaties.
"Unless you're an experienced bar crosser, I definitely wouldn't be going out over the next couple of days," he said.
"Fish the river, be careful on the rocks if you're going to go rock fishing."
Debris washed up at Keppel Sands, on the Capricorn coast. Photo: ABC Capricornia / Aaron Kelly
Meanwhile, a light earthquake has shaken Townsville in north Queensland.
Geosciences Australia says it had a magnitude of 4.4 and happened about 9:30pm on Saturday.
The tremor lasted for a few seconds and rattled homes.
There've been no reports of injuries or significant damage.
- ABC
