Cassowary Coast LDMG stands down; minimal impacts from tropical low

Published on 13 January 2026

The Cassowary Coast Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) was officially stood down last Sunday following the recent tropical low and cyclone watch, with the region experiencing minimal impacts.

Conditions across the Cassowary Coast have stabilised, and there have been no reports of significant damage or major incidents directly linked to Tropical Low 12U or ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji.

Council continues to work with residents impacted by the heavy rainfall and flooding experienced during the December 2025 weather event, with recovery and repair activities ongoing in affected areas including landslips on Alexander Drive, Bingil Bay.

Residents are reminded to take care on local roads, particularly in areas where saturated ground conditions may have caused soft shoulders, potholes or surface damage. Motorists are urged to drive to conditions and report any hazards.

The Cassowary Coast LDMG will continue to monitor conditions throughout the wet season and respond as needed.

For the latest local warnings and updates, visit the Cassowary Coast Disaster Dashboard: disaster.cassowarycoast.qld.gov.au

What to do with your sandbags:

With the severe weather threat having passed for now, Council encourages the community to keep sandbags on stand-by.

Sandbags should be stored in a dry place out of the sun to prepare for future weather events. Wet or damp sandbags can rot.

A sandbags made of plastic or polypropylene can be stored for many years longer than a hessian sandbag.

If you have non-hessian sandbags that haven’t been in contact with contaminates, Council encourages you to wash them down and let them dry before storing.

Unused and uncontaminated hessian sandbags can also be stored undercover to keep them dry for future use. If they start to show signs of wear or have been contaminated by floodwater, it’s time to dispose of them.

For hessian sandbags that have been contaminated, you can dispose of them at home or at your local waste transfer station.

To dispose of your sandbags at home:

• Use the sand as topsoil on your lawn or garden.
• Emptied plastic bags can be placed into your general waste bin.
• Emptied hessian bags can be placed either into your compost or general waste bin.
• Do not place full sandbags in any kerbside bin. They are too heavy and can damage bins and the collection vehicles.

To find out your local waste transfer station opening hours please visit: cassowarycoast.qld.gov.au/transfer-stations. 

Reporting issues

Residents are encouraged to report road damage, drainage issues, fallen trees or other concerns to the Cassowary Coast Regional Council.

You can 'Report an issue' online at www.cassowarycoast.qld.gov.au, call 1300 763 903, email enquiries@cassowarycoast.qld.gov.au or visit a customer service centre.

Quotes attributable to Mayor Teresa Millwood:

“The Cassowary Coast LDMG has moved to Stand Down, which means the immediate threat has passed and emergency coordination arrangements are no longer required, however agencies will continue to monitor conditions and respond to any emerging issues.”

“I want to thank our community for being so prepared. Every time we face severe weather, we see just how resilient the Cassowary Coast really is.”

“Our crews and contractors have been working extremely hard on the Alexander Drive landslip, with close to 1,000 tonnes of spoil already removed in just a few days, and multiple trucks operating each day to keep the clean-up moving. It’s a significant job, with total material expected to be around 10,000 tonnes, and safety remains our top priority, particularly as conditions change.”