NSW Residents Allowed to Return Home, Caution Advised

Parts of Queensland continue to be under watch, with major flood warnings in place for the Bremer River, Warrill Creek, and the Logan River south of Brisbane.

Residents walk in a flooded street in the suburb of Nundah in Brisbane, Australia, on March 09, 2025. Albert Perez/Getty Images

The worst of the cyclone has passed, and evacuation warnings have been lifted in the Northern Rivers region, allowing residents to return home.

However, authorities have warned of lingering dangers, including floodwater contaminants, snakes, vermin, debris, and electrical hazards.

“That’s good news. There’s been no new notices of evacuations in the last 12 hours, and the SES will remove evacuation notices or prepare to remove evacuation notices as soon as possible,” New South Wales (NSW) Premier Chris Minns said on March 11.

However, he urged communities to return with caution.

“It means exactly as you'd expect—if you’re going to go back to your property, do it thinking about exposed power lines, thinking about what it means for your house, whether it’s safe to return,” he said.

NSW SES Deputy Commissioner Damien Johnston confirmed that there were no emergency warnings currently in place across the state but stressed that the flooding risk had not fully subsided.

“We do have 126 general warnings. So, care still needs to be taken,” he said.

“But overnight, the remainder of the emergency warnings have been lifted, and our focus is on returning safely to homes and premises once they’re deemed safe and we issue those notifications.”

Flood Warnings Persist in Queensland

Meanwhile, parts of Queensland remain under watch, with major flood warnings in place for the Bremer River, Warrill Creek, and the Logan River south of Brisbane.

While rainfall severity from ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred was expected to ease on March 11, flood risks persist due to the potential for isolated heavy rain.

The storm also caused significant power outages.]

By midday on March 10, more than half of the affected homes and businesses had been reconnected. Nearly 100,000 properties were restored overnight on March 9.

Energex, the poles-and-wires company for southeast Queensland, aims to restore power to 75 percent of impacted properties by March 12.

The target for 95 percent restoration is expected to be completed by the end of the week. However, the hardest-hit areas are expected to have power back by March 17.

The company released a statement confirming the power restorations will not be an “easy” fix.

“Damage assessment is a painstaking process—we need to inspect every feeder line, from the substation out, and record all faults so we know how many crews and vehicles, and what equipment is needed for repairs,” a statement read.

Governments Unveil Series of Relief Packages

Both federal and state governments have announced a series of relief packages, with the latest unveiled today by the Albanese and Minns governments.

An emergency financial assistance grant of $180 for individuals or up to $900 per family will help cover essential costs, including food, clothing, medicines, and emergency accommodation.

To be eligible for the grant, individuals must reside in one of the declared affected local government areas, which include Armidale, Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Dungog, Glen Innes Severn, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lismore, Lord Howe Island, MidCoast, Nambucca Valley, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Richmond Valley, Tenterfield, and Tweed.

Additionally, individuals must have been subject to evacuation orders (Category Red emergency warning) or experienced power outages lasting more than 48 hours.

Applications for the assistance will open on March 12 and remain available until April 8.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasised the urgency of the support.

“We are working with the Minns Government to get this money out the door as quickly as possible,” he said.

The announcement follows the Albanese government’s activation of the Disaster Recovery Allowance, which provides 13 weeks of income support for eligible workers and sole traders, depending on their personal circumstances.

“My message to those affected is my government has got your back,” Albanese added.

In addition to direct financial assistance, the Albanese and Minns governments have established a $15 million Community Recovery Support Fund.

This initiative offers up to $1 million per NSW council to aid in immediate recovery efforts, including clean-up operations and the restoration of essential infrastructure.

The Queensland government has also activated its Personal Hardship Assistance grants for residents in three affected council areas.

Emergency Hardship Assistance Grants also provide the same $180 per individual and up to $900 per family of five or more.

Additional aid includes grants of up to $1,765 for individuals and $5,300 for families to replace essential household items.

Support is also available for uninsured low-income earners, with Structural Assistance Grants of up to $80,000 for home repairs and up to $5,000 for the reconnection of essential utilities such as power, gas, water, and sewerage.

The government continues to assess damage and provide necessary support to affected communities.

Meanwhile, policyholders have lodged more than 9,000 insurance claims linked to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in south-east Queensland and NSW, the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) reported today.

The majority of claims have come from Queensland. While it is too early to estimate the total cost of damages, insurers expect thousands more claims to be filed in the coming days and weeks.