18th Jan 2021 10:00 AM
UPDATE: 8.30AM: Tropical cyclone Kimi could develop into a Category 2 and hit between Innisfail and Ingham, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says, as Queensland s Disaster Management Committee prepares to meet. Preparations are underway across the state, with warnings of destructive winds of more than 150km/h heavy rain and flash flooding expected across the region from Lucinda to Ayr. The state s southeast, however, is also on alert for severe thunderstorms later today, which could bring hail to the region. In light of the rain that s expected to occur, Queenslanders have been urged to remember - if it s flooded forget it.
The Bureau said the slow southward movement had delayed the expected crossing time. The system may intensify further over the next 24 hours and is likely to reach at least category 2 before landfall, the Bureau said. At 1am the system was 75km east southeast of Cooktown and 140km northeast of Cairns, moving south southeast at 7km/h. Â Cairns Central will be closed on Monday, January 18. Picture: Peter Carruthers Cairns Central shopping centre has already announced it will be closed on Monday as the storm approaches. Cairns Central centre management will continue to monitor the situation closely, and will act according to the advice of emergency services, the shopping centre advised on Sunday night.
Patrols are conducted regularly, including joint enforcement operations with partner agencies including Queensland Police, Maritime Safety Queensland and other organisations.
Local officers conducted 115 inspections of fishers and their vessels in Fraser Coast waters from December 21 to January 3.
Over the two-week period, while most fishers followed regulations, 11 fisheries infringement notices totalling $3995 were issued, with a further 12 caution notices.
A spokesman said the offences ranged from possession of undersized fish and crabs, using more crab pots than is permitted, using unmarked crab pots, unauthorised possession of a commercial fishing net and using a cast net in closed waters.
He said some of the offences were detected following a call to the 24-hour Fishwatch hotline.
Senior Cape York police are expected to meet to discuss the impacts on the region. The Bureau has not listed any tropical cyclone warnings yet but listed a tropical low located near Groote Eylandt on the NT side of the Gulf of Carpentaria as a potential cyclone. The tropical low is expected to move south-eastwards across the southern Gulf of Carpentaria during the weekend, then become slow moving near the southeastern Gulf of Carpentaria early next week, the Tropical Cyclone Outlook stated. The chance of a tropical cyclone forming in the Gulf of Carpentaria increases next week. The northern region has a very low chance of experiencing a cyclone today, a low chance on Sunday, growing to a moderate chance on Monday.
Queensland Police issue Christmas water safety warning
Queensland Police has released video of boaties behaving badly as they issue a safety warning ahead of Christmas.
Extra officers will be out on the water this summer due to an increase in boat sales and a number of recent dangerous incidents.
Body camera video shows police fining a man for not wearing a lifejacket on a jet ski at Hervey Bay.
Another video shows a woman at Southport driving a boat while under the influence of alcohol.
A man on a jet ski is caught without a lifejacket. (Queensland Police)
Sergeant Daniel Moyle told 9News officers will be cracking down on these type of incidents across the state.