Donna Gates unpacks Gold Coast cyclone preparations

"We must not get a false sense of security from this sunny day."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning.

Speaker 2 (00:01):
Look, you're going to be super busy over the next
few days, so thank you for making the time to
chat to us. But there's a lot to unpack. My
first question for you is we've had some calls through
people wondering about collection, garbage collection over the cyclone period.
What are the plans there? I know in Brisbane they're
actually trying to get everything done before Thursday and Friday.

(00:22):
As the council you're considering.

Speaker 1 (00:23):
That, well, do you know? That's one thing that we
haven't discussed. But we've got a meeting today where we'll
resolve at and we'll get some public notification out. It
just depends. I mean, at the moment, it looks like
being the most significant system since nineteen fifty four. And
we were warned yesterday that today would be a nice

(00:43):
sunny day and that people might get lulled into a
false sense of security and we mustn't do that.

Speaker 3 (00:49):
Okay, Well, it literally is the calm before the storm, Donna, Yes, literally.

Speaker 2 (00:55):
Okay, so that's something. What else we know? The sandbagging
is going a bit nutty. Have we got enough sand
once again? In Brisbane they've run out? And in Brisbane
they're trying to find more, but they've had to let
people know that some collection points are out.

Speaker 1 (01:11):
Okay, well, we've extended our bagging. We've also opened self
serve operations at both Carrara and Tugen, So Carrara at
the Sports Precinct and Tugen Village Community Center and there'll
be sand there and bags available and just go fill
your own bag and take it home. So that's in

(01:31):
addition to the three that are open at Timper, Marblinga,
and Burley.

Speaker 2 (01:35):
Okay, great, all.

Speaker 3 (01:36):
Right, that's good news. Was there one at all open
at Varsity at one stage?

Speaker 1 (01:42):
Not that I'm aware of, Kayly.

Speaker 2 (01:44):
All right, all right. So then also we need to
get prepared and have emergency kits and all that kind
of stuff. And you've got a lot of online places
people can go to work out what to pack.

Speaker 1 (01:54):
Well, we've got that get Ready website, so people should
actually google that today get Ready and go through the
list and make your own judgment, but every detail is
in that. They should also google the City of Gold
host dashboard because that's where all the most up to
date information will be and the correct information. We had

(02:17):
some problems yesterday with community groups and even real estate
agents trying to help their residents, but not providing the
right information. So go to the dashboard. That's the one
source of valid information.

Speaker 3 (02:30):
What have you done yourself there, Donna? Have you had
time to do any prep yet?

Speaker 1 (02:35):
You know what? I started at twenty to four yesterday morning.
The premiere was up because he sent me a text
message at twenty to four yesterday morning. And as you know,
I was at the Titans launch till nine o'clock last night.
So it was a huge day and I ran. It
was the busiest day I've ever had. To be honest,
I didn't eat until I got to the Titans. I

(02:56):
grabbed a bowl of rice and chickimy.

Speaker 3 (03:00):
What about the Arrantini bulls?

Speaker 1 (03:02):
Oh? I didn't get one of those. But I did
come home and bring in all of the outdoor furniture.
And we'd urge people to do that. Anything that you
have in your backyard that might become a missile, bring
it inside. The high rises are of concern, so people
should take anything that's on their balcony off their balcony

(03:23):
and take that inside. Obviously, the low lying area, the
best advice is be prepared and get an evacuation plan
in place. If it might become necessary. We've got the
barges going over to Stradbroat South Stradbroat today from three
o'clock and the staff will be door knocking residents of

(03:44):
South Stratti and encourage them, encouraging them to voluntarily evacuate.

Speaker 2 (03:51):
Yes, have you got somewhere for people to go if
they don't have anywhere to go?

Speaker 1 (03:55):
That will be resolved today. Yesterday we were still waiting
to see where the highest impact might be. But there
will be at least three centers opened in the coming
day so that people can go to an evacuation center
if necessary. We're urging people if they have friends or
family who are not under threat, go to them first,
because it's likely that if this hits in the way

(04:18):
that is suggested, that the evacuation centers will be pretty busy.

Speaker 3 (04:24):
We'll try and touch base with you around the same
time tomorrow too, Donna.

Speaker 1 (04:28):
Okay, no problem at all date, Fingers cross, Fingers cross.
But above all, if it's flooded, forget it. Stay off
the roads. That's that's a big concern you.

Speaker 2 (04:43):
You will keep checking