Natural Hazards
To view Natural Hazard mapping layers for bushfire, flood and storm tides, or landslides visit the Redlands Coast Disaster Dashboard.
Bushfire
Cleveland has pockets of medium to high bushfire hazard areas scattered throughout the suburb. All of these areas are bordered by heavily populated residential developments and some back onto key infrastructure such as the Redland Hospital, the commercial precinct of Enterprise Street and the Cleveland Wastewater Treatment Plant (which is accessed from Weippin Street, Cleveland through the high bush fire hazard area).
Properties adjacent bushland areas may be at risk of ember attack should there be a bushfire in the vicinity. During a wildfire, embers can travel up to 3km in front of a fire line which means residents need to be vigilant and be prepared. For more information about bushfire preparedness and what to do during a bushfire, visit the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services website to create your Bushfire Survival Plan.
Redland City Council employs a range of fire mitigation strategies to reduce the risk of bushfire on Council owned land and impact to surrounding areas. These strategies include hazard reduction burning (back burns), fire breaks and weed management. Redland City Council works with its Local Disaster Management Group partners to undertake fire mitigation activities around the city.
Flood Prone, Storm Tide
The Cleveland area has potential to experience flooding as a consequence of either tidal inundation or flash flooding resulting from heavy rainfall events. Cleveland has two main waterways, Hilliards Creek and Ross Creek, both of which empty into Moreton Bay. Potential impacts for Cleveland of Hilliards Creek experiencing flash flooding are limited to the bushland areas that surround the creek on the border with Alexandra Hills. Ross Creek however cuts a path through central Cleveland via a combination of reserve land and culverts which skirt heavily developed residential areas, until it runs under Shore Street West and into the Ross Canal, which is part of the Raby Bay Canal Estate.
Ross Creek starts at the South Street Conservation area and another branch, north of the Redland hospital. The upper branches join the main channel of Ross Creek that is a highly modified concrete lined drain flowing parallel to Bloomfield Street, then east and north out into central Moreton Bay through Raby Bay canals. During dry weather conditions there is almost no flow in the channel. The main role of the creek is to convey storm/flood water during rainfall events. Smaller drainage lines and channels drain the eastern part of Cleveland through foreshore areas and directly into Moreton Bay. Major features of this catchment include Black Swamp Wetlands next to Shore Street West, Raby Bay canal estate and Toondah Harbour ferry terminal.
Current mapping also indicates that low lying areas of Cleveland may experience tidal inundation as a result of a storm tide event. Areas of greatest impact appear to be along the Cleveland peninsula to Cleveland Point, around the vicinity of Little Shore Street at Raby Bay, Toondah Harbour and the Priority Development Area precinct at the end of Middle Street, and the sports fields at Henry Ziegenfusz Park. If tidal inundation were to impact the sports fields at the Henry Ziegenfusz Park, it is likely that the southern end of both Beach Street and South Street would be cut also.
Landslide
Landslide Hazard mapping indicates that Cleveland has minimal areas of either low to medium landslide risk. The areas of medium landslide hazard are generally confined to parks and reserves along the shoreline areas and to west of the suburb near Wellington Street.
There is some residential development in these areas that would need to comply with the requirements of the Redland City Plan which, through the Landslide Hazard Overlay attempts to mitigate the impacts of the landslide hazard by requiring more robust engineering for developments built within the identified landslide hazard areas. It is important for engineers and geologists to evaluate slope stability and any landslide threat during development assessments so that effective and timely remedial measures can be implemented.
Critical Infrastructure
Critical infrastructure at the time of a disaster event includes utilities such as power, water, sewerage, telecommunications, gas and road and rail networks. Impacts of a disaster on these services may have far- reaching long-term effects for mainland communities.
Sewage
The sewer network services the entire suburb of Cleveland and connects into the Cleveland Wastewater Treatment Plant located to the east of Hanover Drive. Current hazard mapping indicates that the treatment plant is surrounded by bushland identified as being a high to very high bushfire hazard.
Many of the RCC sewage pumping stations have fixed generators onsite to provide backup power in the event of a power failure. Those that do not have fixed generators have the facilities to plug in a portable generator; several are available that can be taken to any site that requires it.
Water
Cleveland receives its water supply from the Alexandra Hills Reservoir located at Alexandra Circuit. This reservoir services the Redland City’s northern suburbs via a pipeline network that is both gravity-fed and pressurised. The reservoir holds a mix of water from the Leslie Harrison Dam and the Herring Lagoon bore field on North Stradbroke Island, which is possible because the Alexandra Hills Reservoir connects to both the Leslie Harrison Dam and the Mount Cotton Reservoir at Tallow Wood Court.
The Mount Cotton Reservoir is in turn connected to the Heinemann Road Reservoir at Mount Cotton which connects to both the SEQ Water Grid and North Stradbroke Island. Redland City is connected to the grid via a pump station on Gramzow Road in Mount Cotton which allows water to be pumped to and from the city via the Heinemann Road Reservoir. This network of reservoirs, pump stations and pipelines ensures that water can be moved around the network and that multiple water supplies are available to residents living in all areas Redland City.
Electricity
Redland City’s primary power infrastructure is fed via an 110kV overhead powerline that enters the City at Capalaba, travels through Alexandra Hills and terminates at the substation on the corner of South and Wellington Streets. This network utilises steel towers within a maintained corridor to mitigate the risks posed by natural disasters such as fire and flood. From the substation, power is distributed to Cleveland, Thornlands, and to the southern suburbs.
Cleveland has a mix of both overhead and underground powerline networks servicing the suburb. The Raby Bay Canal Estate is primarily where the underground powerline network is located, whilst the remainder of Cleveland, which was established prior to the canal estate, is supplied by the overhead powerline network.
The overhead powerlines are more susceptible to damage during severe weather, which can result in power outages and fallen powerlines. Fallen powerlines can cause significant dangers to the community, so be aware that any object in contact with powerlines could be live. The area surrounding fallen powerlines is more dangerous in wet conditions as sea and tap water an excellent conductor of electricity.
Energex offer a notification service for Emergency and Planned outages, and other alerts such as upcoming meter read if dogs are onsite or for certain customer service work requests. Click here to go to the Energex Notifications page to Register for this notification service.
Remember: any metallic objects, including fences, will be electrified if they touch or are even close to a live fallen powerline. Even a tree branch can be a potential conductor of electricity if it is in contact with a live wire. Stay away from fallen powerlines and alert others of the danger – contact 000 or Energex on 13 19 62.
Gas
Cleveland has a pressurised gas main that enters the suburb through bushland east of the Cleveland Cemetery. From the cemetery, the gas main runs both north and south along Wellington Street. Heading south from the Cemetery, the gas main continues along Wellington Street to Weippin Street where it services a number of industrial estates and the Redlands Hospital. The gas main continues along Wellington Street, past Weippin Street to Enterprise Street where it services another industrial area, were the gas main terminates its southern arm.
Heading north from the cemetery, the gas main continues along Wellington Street to Shore Street West, servicing the Cleveland Aquatic Centre along the way. At Shore Street West, the gas main travels west servicing the industrial area as well as travelling east into Cleveland town centre along Middle Street.
An arm of the gas main extends south from Middle Street, along Doig and Waterloo Streets to service an industrial estate behind Ross Court. The trunk of the gas main continues along Middle Street servicing a number of commercial centres before terminating at Toondah Harbour. A second arm of the gas main extends from Toondah Harbour along Shore Street East to service the Grand View Hotel, where it terminates.
There is no domestic reticulated gas service within Redland City; however there are homes within the area that use gas bottles to service hot water systems and cooking appliances. Residents are reminded to be diligent with the appropriate storage and maintenance of any gas bottles that they have located on their property.
Telecommunications
Cleveland is connected via landlines to the telecommunications and data networks. There is good mobile network coverage in Cleveland with limited to no mobile reception black spots in the area. Telstra is the major supplier of telecommunications to the region; other suppliers include Optus and Vodafone.
Connection to the National Broadband Network (NBN) is now available across the majority of Australia, with various connection types for both wired (copper, fibre optic, and hybrid fibre-coaxial) and radio (satellite and fixed wireless). It is important to know the type of connection you have; fibre to the building (FTTB), fibre to the curb (FTTC), fibre to the node (FTTN), fibre to the premises (FTTP), or hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC), there is also satellite or fixed wireless. The majority of connections are FTTN and FTTP, closely followed by HFC.
It is important to note that any equipment connected via the NBN will not work during a power outage, including VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phones. For more information about what happens in a power blackout for the type of connection at your residence, please go to https://www.nbnco.com.au/learn/what-happens-in-a-power-blackout. Certain connection types can request battery back-up solutions through their internet service provider; battery back-up is required for all Priority Assistance customers who suffer from a diagnosed life-threatening illness.
If you have a medical alarm, emergency call button, autodialler, security alarm, monitored fire alarm or lift emergency phones at your premises, please contact your equipment provider to confirm whether your equipment will work via the network in the event of a power outage. Further information is also available on the NBN website and how to register these devices; this assists the NBN in identifying premises where support maybe be required to minimise service outages https://www.nbnco.com.au/learn/device-compatibility.
Harbours and Marinas
Cleveland contains some of the city’s more critical marine infrastructure, namely Toondah Harbour and the Raby Bay marina and canal estate. Toondah Harbour is viewed by many as the gateway to North Stradbroke Island, being the primary launch site for barge and ferry services to the island. Currently operating out of Toondah Harbour are two passenger ferry services and one vehicle barge service.
Raby Bay is a relatively large canal estate with two deep water access points and a marina development. The marina development is a multi-use precinct which includes a mix of businesses, cafes and restaurants, and medium density unit complexes. The marina has refuelling capabilities and docking facilities for visiting vessels, therefore increasing vessel traffic beyond that of the residential vessels only. Charter companies also operate out of the marina. Whilst current mapping indicates limited impacts from storm surge to the marina and canal estate areas, residents and business owners should be prepared for the possibility of their homes and businesses experiencing tidal inundation during an extreme storm tide event.
There are also a number of small boat moorings dotted along the Cleveland coast line. These moorings and vessels are at risk of structural damage should a storm tide event impact the area.
Road Network
REMEMBER: If it’s flooded, forget it – BACK IT UP!
Summer months bring rain, cyclones and unstable weather conditions to Queensland. More than half of flood related deaths in Queensland are the result of people driving through floodwater. It can happen anywhere – roads, creeks, dams, parks or backyards. Residents should be aware of the dangers connected to floodwater or swift flowing water such as: slippery surfaces; uneven ground; strong currents; sharp objects; electrical current; fences; vehicles; rocks; long grass; tree branches; sewerage; and chemicals.
If you get trapped in floodwater, you not only put your life and the lives of the people with you at risk, but you also put the lives of the rescuers at risk too.
Localised flooding may temporarily restrict access and cut roads in some areas of Redland City. Please consider this when planning to drive during periods of heavy rain. See a list of the areas that may be impacted by localised flooding.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Plan ahead and keep yourself, family and friends safe. Check out the Floodwater Safety information available here https://www.qfes.qld.gov.au/prepare/flooding
Rail Network
The rail network enters Redland City via Thorneside, crossing Tingalpa Creek to the north of the Thorneside Wastewater Treatment Plant and continues on to the Thorneside Station. From Thorneside Station the rail network continues east to Birkdale Station and Wellington Point Station where the line turns south-east to Ormiston Station and Cleveland Station where it terminates.
Current Flood Prone, Storm Tide mapping indicates the possibility of the rail network being cut by flood water on the Redland City side of Tingalpa Creek, north of the Thorneside Station. If this were to occur, rail transport in and out of Redland City would be cut along with rail access to Brisbane City. This would prevent any evacuations via rail to the RNA Showgrounds which is the primary evacuation centre for Brisbane and an alternate evacuation centre for Redland City residents should the city’s infrastructure be significantly compromised by a disaster event.
Priority Development Area
The Queensland State Government has granted Priority Development Area (PDA) status to Toondah Harbour in Cleveland, with the view to developing a contemporary multi-use precinct in the current harbour location. This precinct will incorporate residential, retail and tourist facilities and will be the gateway to North Stradbroke Island and the Southern Moreton Bay Islands. For further details and updates on this PDA please visit the Council’s website.