Cairns on cyclone alert, township evacuated

The weather bureau's prediction for tracking of Cyclone Ita. Source: Supplied

CYCLONE Ita is barrelling towards the Queensland coast with Cairns on cyclone watch and an entire Cape York township has been evacuated.

By the time it hits the coast tomorrow night, Cyclone Ita is forecast to be category 4, producing gales along almost 500km of the far north coast from Cairns to the tip of Cape York Peninsula.

The Weather Bureau is warning people in shoreline areas they should prepare to evacuate with 50 mine workers already abandoning the Cape Flattery Silica Mine township, north of Cooktown

PREMIER CUTS SHORT TRIP TO MEET CYCLONE THREAT

Packing winds packing winds of up to 280km/h - Ita is tracking to hit the coast right near the mine the site, north of Cooktown.

Forecasters rate it as a significant threat, with the potential for flood rains and a storm surge. Cooktown will have a high tide of 2.4m at 7.26pm.

Last night Ita was 770km east, northeast of Cooktown and had picked up speed to 15km/hr and is forecast to hit in a remote area between Cape Melville and Cooktown.

Satellite image of severe tropical Cyclone Ita as it heads toward the east coast of Far North Queensland. Picture: www.goes.noaa.gov

Energy Minister Mark McArdle said Ita was potentially the most powerful storm to threaten Queensland since Cyclone Yasi and people should be prepared to face power outages for a month or longer, depending on where it came ashore.

Premier Campbell Newman will return from a trade mission to Asia with Prime Minister Tony Abbott to oversee cyclone preparations.

Ita will likely ease to a low after crossing the coast but the bureau has upgraded its alert for the western side of the cape, warning that Ita now has up to a 50 per cent chance of moving into the Gulf of Carpentaria as early as Saturday.

It's likely track is turning into a moving feast, with some international cyclone models having the storm veering further south towards more built up areas but Weather Bureau forecasters are sticking with a consensus of all models.

Forecaster Andrew Cameron said this might change as the storm neared the coast.

Winds to 280km/hr are expected near the eye of the cyclone, with places like Cairns to get a lesser buffeting.

With tourists on the road due to school and Easter holidays, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service has closed all camping areas from the Daintree north.

QPWS executive director operations Jason Jacobi said conditions could still be dangerous once Ita passed, with areas expected to be affected by flooding, fallen trees and landslides.

Chief forecaster Bill O'Connor at the Cairns weather station preparing for Cyclone Ita.

Dangerous estuarine crocodiles and snakes also would be displaced and on the move.

Glen and Susan Shephard of 30,000ha Lillyvale Station on Cape York near the storm's likely centre expect to be flooded in, possibly for months.

Their homestead and outbuildings were flooded by Cyclone Monica in 2006 and Mr Shephard said he was preparing for similar conditions.

``During Monica you couldn't see land from the house. I've got a good boat now so we can get to higher ground,'' Mr Shephard said. ``Our neighbours recorded 870mm in two days with Monica so we know what we're in for.''

Meantime, concerns have been raised about two elderly men who drove their 4WDs into Princess Charlotte Bay despite locals warning them of the approaching cyclone.

A world record 14.6m storm surge occurred in the same area in 1899 when Cyclone Mahina came ashore. About 500 pearling sailors and Murris were drowned.

Ann Louise Mulley of Coen's Exchange Hotel said the town was battening down although fuel was short due to water damage to the Cape York Developmental Rd.

``You do what you can and then you've just got to sit back and cop it,'' she said.

Dramatic firsthand footage shows what it's like being in the different categories of cyclones. Produced by Christine Nestel.

Gales are expected to extend up to 240km out from Ita's centre and may develop between Cape Grenville and Port Douglas today. Showers are expected as far south as central Queensland and Brisbane and the southeast face showers and storms on Saturday and Sunday.

Mr McArdle said fuel was on hand for generators and Ergon crews and four helicopters were on standby to handle issues with the electricity grid.

Priority in restoring electricity would be given to hospitals, nursing homes and evacuation centres.

Cairns Disaster Group Chair Cr Steve Brain said they were taking the threat seriously but warned public shelters were a "place of last resort''.

"This is a strong system that is expected to intensify further prior to making landfall,'' he said.

Cape Flattery Silica Mine general manager Gary Bartholdt said the mine site was in the direct path of the cyclone.

"We've got everyone out,'' said general manager Gary Bartholdt.

"It seems like we have a bullseye on us, in the path of a direct hit.

"We just can't take the risk with the lives of any of our employees.''

Cape Flattery staff spent yesterday battening down, tying down conveyor belts, moving machinery and equipment, and bolting storm shutters onto buildings.

Most buildings are waterfront including two workshops, six two-storey barracks buildings and manager's houses only two metres above the high tide mark.

"It is a very picturesque spot, unless you've got a cyclone bearing down on you,'' Mr Bartholdt said.

"If there is a big storm surge, it is possible this place will go underwater.''

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