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The impending arrival of Tropical Cyclone Alfred has prompted local governments in South East Queensland and Northern NSW to close their aquatic and recreation centres along with sporting facilities and sports grounds.

However, while closed for their usual use, other facilities are being repurposed as emergency relief centres.

With millions of Queensland and New South Wales residents at risk with the storm warnings stretching along more than 500 kilometres of coastland and inland areas, Gold Coast City Council closed all aquatic centres, libraries, community and sport centres, advising that they “will not reopen until at least Monday”.

City of Gold Coast Chief Executive, Tim Baker said the reopening dates had been pushed out with the change in the forecast, commenting “safety is our number one priority and with all efforts focused on disaster response activity and the changed forecast it was prudent to make decisions now.

“By closing these facilities for the whole weekend it gives clarity to the community.”

“It also allows us to continue to prioritise critical services like water and focus on cyclone response activities.”

In northern NSW, the Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre in Murwillumbah and the Clarence Regional Aquatic Centre have also been closed.

By contrast, a number of community and sport centres are being used as evacuation and emergency relief centres for impacted residents.

This includes the City of Gold Coast’s Runaway Bay Indoor Stadium and Pimpama Sports Hub and Noosa Council keeping the Noosa Leisure Centre open for those who have no other place to go during Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Cyclone Alfred has also led to this weekend's 2025 Brisbane Senior Metro Championships - due to have commenced today at the Brisbane/Sleeman Aquatic Centre - to be cancelled.

While event organiser Swimming Brisbane is understood to have explored options to reschedule the event, its cancellation is as a result of no alternative weekend is available.

Relief Programs
The NSW and Queensland Governments have each announced Community Recovery Support Fund - each currently worth $15 million - and jointly funded by the Federal Government, available to NSW councils and their communities following the impacts of the Cyclone Alfred weather event.

Image: Shutterstock - used for illustrative purposes only.

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