Close to 200,000 sandbags were collected by residents from SES locations across the Sunshine Coast in preparation for Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
Sunshine Coast Council are now urging residents to put their unused SES sandbags to good use at home by topdressing your lawns, giving them to a neighbour, family or friends who can do the same, or if that’s not possible, taking them to a sandbag disposal location where they will be used around the region.
Sunshine Coast Local Disaster Management Group Chair and Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli commended the community for proactively preparing for Cyclone Alfred.
“Today we feel incredibly fortunate to be through the worst of the severe weather,” Mayor Natoli said.
“We know that many people have unused SES sandbags and we are calling on our community to put them to work.
“When the time comes to dispose of sandbags, please use the sand to top dress your lawn then place the bag in your general waste bin or keep it handy for future use. The bags may last up to 12 months.
“From 7am to 3pm each day until Friday March 14 residents can take their SES sandbags to a number of Council-staffed locations between Caloundra, Nambour and Coolum so we can reuse the sand where it’s needed most.
“Some sites, which do not have weekend sporting activities, will also open Saturday and/or Sunday.”
Sandbag disposal locations are at:
- Meridan Fields Sports Complex – Entry via Western gate off Meridan Way (until 3pm Friday – no weekend access)
- Eudlo Rural Fire Brigade (until 3pm Friday – no weekend access)
- Caloundra Indoor Stadium – Southern side of the end carpark (until 3pm Friday and on Sunday only – no Saturday access)
- Parklakes Sports Complex, Bli Bli (until 3pm Friday and on Sunday only – no Saturday access)
- Nambour Showgrounds – Enter via main entrance off Coronation Avenue (including Saturday and Sunday)
- Palmview Estate – Flintwood Crescent Park (Including Saturday and Sunday)
- Coolum Sports Complex (including Saturday and Sunday).
Please ensure you bring appropriate tools to safely open your sandbags.
These locations are unable to take sandbags collected from outlets other than SES as the contents cannot be verified as safe to use across the fields.
Mayor Natoli also encouraged the community to keep an eye on community social media pages as there were many residents and businesses advising they would collect sandbags as well.
