Residents refer to Moreton Island as a haven.
Encircled by pristine waters along the south-eastern coastline of Queensland, this sandy island lacks asphalted roads and its inhabitants primarily reside without being connected to public utilities.
Aaron Conis has been coming to the Island since he was 16 years old and now considers Moreton as his home.
"There hasn't been much change in the last 40 years," he stated.
Just the ideal retreat from society, which is precisely why we’re all gathered here.
More than just a peaceful retreat located 58 kilometers away from Brisbane, Moreton Island and the adjacent bay islands of Queensland hold significant importance for the area.
They safeguard Brisbane and other mainland regions against intense storm surges and ocean swells, serving as natural defenses.
And they were instrumental in protecting millions from the brunt of Cyclone Alfred.
Mr Conis stated that it was accurate that the islands effectively shielded Brisbane.
However, when it comes to playing rescuers, the level of sacrifice could have been much greater.
He remarked, 'It’s akin to receiving a Purple Heart for merely swatting a mosquito.'
Islands serve as natural obstacles
The Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner stated that the city "avoided a major issue."
Moreton, North Stradbroke, and Bribie Islands served as buffers, bearing the initial impact of Cyclone Alfred before it weakened into a tropical low.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) stated that Alfred initially made landfall on Queensland's offshore islands as a Category One tropical cyclone.
"When engaging with the islands, the system slowed down and started to weaken," according to the BOM explanation.
The wind gusts subsided, causing the system to fall below cyclone strength.
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Steve Turton, an associate professor of environmental geography at Central Queensland University, has spent three decades researching tropical storms.
He indicated that it was reasonable to state the islands effectively shielded Brisbane from a far more damaging storm.
“If those islands weren’t out there, it likely would have continued advancing inward and might have stayed at category two intensity,” he explained to the ABC.
He mentioned that regions on the mainland, away from the island group, faced greater exposure, which explains why the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast experienced much stronger impacts.
He stated that there is no offshore protection.
Not only are they vulnerable to events like this, but also to East Coast Lows.
The people who live on Moreton Island feel fortunate.
Even though the Bay Islands experienced the brunt of the storm, residents report that they ended up with less damage than anticipated.
When compared to certain regions on the mainland, they consider themselves fortunate.
Initially, Moreton Island experienced gusts of up to 100 km/h.
However, Mr Conis, who assists at a store in the northwestern township of Bulwer, mentioned that the effect "wasn't really severe."
He mentioned that several trees had fallen, debris was scattered everywhere, and there was significant soil erosion.
The shop received a few tree branches through the roof and lost power, but things are finally beginning to fall into place now.
Moreton Island operates independently of any energy supplier.
A majority of the locals and enterprises rely on solar energy, battery systems, and generators, which means they were quite equipped to handle a natural calamity.
Bulwer local Colleen Gaffney mentioned that "everything continued as usual."
The individual, who is 64 years old, oversees 40 properties on the island, with just two of them experiencing water damage.
She mentioned it wasn’t something serious.
"No-one was scared."
The north side of Stradbroke encountered the heart of the storm.
On North Stradbroke Island, the cleanup efforts have been quite extensive; however, residents were still taken aback by how quickly things bounced back.
The center of the cyclone grazed North Stradbroke, passing over the island as a Category One storm.
Marco Kelsand ventured to the headland with a companion to observe the eye of the storm passing through on Saturday.
He observed the skies grow darker and the winds become increasingly strong prior to turning "dull".
He believed the island had mostly escaped unscathed until the weather made another severe change.
"The next evening turned out to be the one when everything fell apart," Mr Kelsall stated.
The winds intensified once more and howled through... at certain moments, you genuinely felt uneasy.
The individual mentioned that at age 27, the island experienced extensive power failures and significant flooding, with several buildings completely submerged in water.
Separated from the rest of the land, local volunteers stepped forward to clear the roads and visit elderly residents.
However, within roughly three days, emergency vessels started to arrive, initiating efforts to rebuild the power supply and communications infrastructure.
"The majority of it, they’ve really dived into, which is excellent," Mr Kelsall stated.
Although some spots are still experiencing minor flooding, it’s incredible how effectively the water has receded, considering we’re on an island.
Islands set to recover
Julian O'Grady, a senior coastal researcher at the CSIRO, stated that the sand islands like Stradbroke, Moreton, and K'gari to the north have developed inherent toughness over time.
They had a "vital part" in protecting the mainland from ocean waves, yet they were strategically positioned to bounce back from severe meteorological conditions.
He mentioned that winds over millennia have sculpted massive, steep, and high sand dunes on the barrier islands, allowing for quick draining through the permeable sands.
Conversely, the flat areas of mainland Brisbane hold onto water for extended periods due to their reliance on sluggish draining through both natural and man-made systems.
It was anticipated that the beaches would also recover through natural means.
Professor Turton mentioned that although it might take some time, the sand will ultimately find its way back, and the beaches will revert to their previous condition.
Locals struggle to leave
Even though the natural setting might be adept at handling extreme weather conditions, there remained a possibility that residents could find themselves cut off for several days.
Natalie Lutter, a volunteer with the Bay Islands Kindness Team, mentioned that the effects of Alfred led to numerous vulnerable individuals requiring assistance.
The organization assists communities on Bay Islands including Macleay, Russell, Lamb, and Karragarra.
In the last seven days, they have assisted numerous locals with property cleanups and supplied them with meals, grocery items, and necessities.
Ms Lutter mentioned that several residents attempted to depart from the islands prior to the storm; however, not everyone managed to reach the mainland before ferry services ceased operations.
"The bay can be perilous because of strong currents, consistent winds, and floating debris in our waters," she stated.
This may lead to transportation being interrupted until conditions become safe, which in turn impacts medical services, food supply, employment, and education.
Several residents have had their power disconnected for over 120 hours, however, Energex has been working to restore these essential services, as mentioned by her.
Isles will keep safeguarding Brisbane
Professor Turton stated that the islands will remain significant in the future, particularly when dealing with intensified cyclones.
He mentioned that if they pass those islands, these would continue to offer protection, yet there’s still room for a more intense storm.
The intensity of Alfred was reduced due to its more leisurely tempo.
Doctor O'Grady from the CSIRO mentioned that there was additional time for friction to occur over land, which helped dissipate the storm's energy.
"As they cross land, there isn’t the warming effect of the ocean beneath them, causing them to dissipate," he explained.
They lack the moisture needed to fuel and invigorate the tropical cyclone.
However, if quicker cyclones were to come closer in the days ahead, the islands would have limited options for action.
"To be frank, [this time] they escaped with relatively minor consequences given how bad things could have turned out," Professor Turton stated.
Should cyclones move swiftly, the islands might fail to provide complete protection for the mainland.
For residents of the islands such as Mr Conis, the prospect of being in the storm buffer zone didn’t faze him if the weather were to become more intense in years to come.
He was more concerned that others might discover their picture-perfect way of living.
He stated, 'I don’t believe the weather is anybody’s business.'
The reality is that we lack both traffic signals and paved roads… our biggest concern is that an influx of visitors might discover this place.
