Cyclone Ita has been upgraded to a category five storm and is expected to hit the Queensland coast shortly.
FAR North Queensland has been warned to expect a massive tidal lashing with low-lying areas set to be inundated with flooding.
While Ita has been downgraded to a category 4 system, the cyclone still poses am major threat to towns along the coastline with windspeeds at the core up to 275km/h.
4.45pm: Winds have hit 111km/h at Cape Flattery, just off hurricane force.
At 4pm Cyclone Ita, category 5, was 120km north northeast of Cooktown and 280km north of Cairns moving south southwest at 14 kilometres per hour.
But the Cairns region waits in limbo as to whether the system will continue to head inland and lose puff once it reaches the coast, or if it paths offshore, keeping the system strong.
Cairns now has cyclone shelters open for areas expected to be hit by flooding.
Residents living in Cairns' red and orange storm tide inundation zone have been told to evacuate now and preferably stay with family and friend if possible.
Those who have no alternate accommodationhave been advised to travel to Edmonton Leisure Centre
Destructive winds to 300km/h are near the core and gales are extending out to 185km from the centre.
Authorities are preparing for a storm surge and major flooding, with storm force winds already recorded at the Lizard Island weather station.
Police, Fire and Emergency Services Minister Jack Dempsey warned Cyclone Ita was "an extreme event''.
"It has the possibilities to take lives and the potential to damage severely property in the north Queensland area," he said.
"We are also planning for the worst-case scenario of a tidal surge of between 1.5 and 2 metres.
Cyclone Ita is now stronger than Cyclone Yasi which tore apart Mission Beach and Cardwell in 2011.
Weather Bureau chief Rob Webb said Yasi was at the lower end of a category 5 scale, while Ita was smaller but packed more punch and was powerful.
"While the strongest winds are focussed near the centre, the warning area for tropical cyclones of this intensity is quite broad with destructive winds, heavy rainfall possibly leading to flash flooding, and coastal inundation due to storm surge all posing a threat,'' he said.
Cooktown prepares for its first major cyclone in 65 years.
"Residents in the coastal warning zone are warned of a dangerous storm tide as the cyclone crosses the coast. Tides will be significantly higher than normal, with flooding of low lying areas likely.''
3.10pm: Cyclone Ita is starting to make her presence felt, with winds at Cape Flattery touching on 100km/hr.
2.25pm: Douglas Shire Council mayor Julia Leu said hundreds of houses were expected to go under when the storm tide surge from Cyclone Ita hits the town.
She said the Douglas Local Disaster Management Group met today to discuss the potential impact of the Category 5 cyclone.
"I suppose the worst case scenario for us is the storm surge that would possibly affect hundreds of properties in our low-lying areas, particularly around Port Douglas," she said.
"But it all depends on when the cyclone crosses, where it crosses and at what time it crosses in terms of the tides.
"We are probably expecting perhaps around 200 properties that would experience some sort of flooding.''
The town is also expected to receive 600mm of rain over the next 48 hours.
Ms Leu said people should seek shelter with friends and family or, as a last resort, at the Port Douglas Storm Tide Cyclone Shelter.
Once people are there and once the winds really kick up, the doors will be closed and they won't be opened again until the next morning.
Port Douglas residents were also urged to look out for their neighbours - particularly the sick or elderly.
2.15pm: North Queenslanders have been warned to prepare for a worst-case scenario that could see storm surges hit more populated areas like Cairns.
The warning came as weather bureau projections indicated the category five storm was expected to make landfall near Cooktown, north of the Daintree, on Friday night.
But Queensland Premier Campbell Newman says dangerous storm surges could hit more densely populated areas, adding the effects of Ita could even head south and hit Cairns.
"If the track changes, then we could see more significant impacts along the coast from Cooktown all the way through to Cairns and also probably further south,'' Mr Newman told reporters in Cairns.
Residents of far north Queensland prepare as Cyclone Ita approaches the land. Courtesy: Channel 10
"People should be concerned if the track changes down the coast for a storm surge."
Mr Newman said the surge could be about 1.5-2 metres higher than normal high tides.
Cairns Regional Council had since advised residents in low lying areas to self-evacuate, even though no public shelters were yet open.
The premier said residents in Cooktown and Hope Vale - both in Ita's sights - should have already evacuated to cyclone shelters if they were in houses built before 1985.
2pm: Cooktown Hospital spokeswoman Rebecca Buldo said they wanted to stress to the public they were unable to accept more patients unless it was an emergency.
"We have normal staff rosters for today, but we've sent a lot of local patients back to their homes," Ms Buldo said.
"We still have a couple of in-house patients and a small number of staff will be staying on overnight.
"The geographical location of their homes has meant that it is too dangerous to travel and they will be offering support to the hospital while they are here."
Ms Buldo said there were no plans to evacuate patients and at this late stage it was too risky, anyway.
1.50pm: Cairns residents have been told to fend for themselves on the hunt for shelter from tidal storm surges with no public shelter open.
The Cairns Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) advises that people living in the red and orange storm tide inundation zones should self-evacuate.
Advice is for residents living in these areas to stay with friends or family in higher areas, if at all possible.
University of Melbourne Associate Professor Kevin Walsh, a past president of the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society, said it had to be emphasised that the main potential for damage in severe tropical cyclones was coastal flooding from the storm tide.
Cyclone Ita has been upgraded to a category 5 system and is due to cross the north Qld coast tomorrow.
"The influx of sea water, driven by strong winds and accompanied by high waves, is something that the bureau is specifically warning coastal residents to be prepared for, and to evacuate if advised to do so," he said.
Cyclone warnings are current from Lockhart River to Innisfail, including Cooktown, Port Douglas and Cairns.
And the monster cyclone is pushing a wall of water with "phenomenal" seas in front of its 80km-wide core.
Cooktown mayor Peter Scott told a disaster briefing the town faced being wiped out.
"Cooktown tomorrow as we know it today will not be the same tomorrow," he said.
The local disaster group unanimously supported the application for a disaster declaration.
The town will be locked down at midday .
The region's 9000 residents have been told flying debris will be a deadly risk as winds start to hit 100km/h.
At 11am Ita was around190 km north northeast of Cooktown and 345km north of Cairns moving south southwest at 8km/h.
12pm: Cooktown's Sovereign Resort rooms are filling with locals abandoning their homes en masse.
Homes built before 1985 are not made to withstand Ita's category 5 conditions.
"We're getting a whole bunch of locals booking in at the moment because it's not safe in their houses, "administration officer Gail Cowe said.
"At the moment a lot of people are looking at it and thinking there's not much activity at all.
"But the problem is, I know it's going to get a lot worse.
"And if we get the eye of the cyclone over us, I think it'll wipe us right off the map."
Campbell Newman explains his concerns and what the community should expect from Cyclone Ita. Courtesy: Channel 10
Cooktown Fisherman's Wharf owner Anne Williams said they were anxiously waiting for the cyclone to hit, but they were prepared for the worst.
"We actually need to stay with our business because there are things we have to keep an eye on," the 30-year local said.
"There's a lot of glass here, so we need to open and close different doors to stop it smashing as the cyclone bears down on us."
Mrs Williams said she worried about wind coming from the north.
"It effects the wave action badly and knocks the pontoons around a lot.
"If that happens, we can expect our place will flood."
Hopevale's cyclone centre is only built to withstand category 3 and Mayor Greg McLean says his community faces a complete rebuild if they bear the brunt of Ita.
About 500 residents in the community, about 46km northwest of Cooktown, are already in the Multi Purpose Centre, as police try to direct about another 600 people from their homes into the town's safest structure.
Mr McLean, who is driving around the community also trying to bring residents in, said he was not confident homes would withstand a Category 5 cyclone.
He said the Multi Purpose Centre – the strongest structure in town - was built to withstand a Category 3.
"We will be looking at a whole new Hopevale after this," Mr Mclean said.
"If this is a Category 5 then we are going to cop it.
"It's coming straight for us, we know that.
He said Hopevale residents needed all the prayers and thoughts they could possibly get.
GOVERNMENT SANDBAGS: Queensland Premier Campbell Newman with David Crisafulli filling sandbags at the SES building in Manunda, Cairns. Source: News Corp Australia
11.25am: Staff members at PK's Jungle Village in Cape Tribulation are preparing to ride out Severe Tropical Cyclone Ita. Assistant resort manager Michelle Dupreez said tour buses to the hostel had been cancelled and all guests had been evacuated, along with many employees.
A handful of staff are securing the property and will remain there overnight.
10.45am A run on supplies has forced Woolworths to activate emergency measures keep stock on the shelves.
Weekend deliveries have been brought forward and emergency containers have been accessed.
All Cairns Woolworths stores and the store in Mossmane will close at 5pm.
These stores will not open tomorrow.
9.30am
Cooktown Police Acting Superintendent Rhys Newton was in Innisfail during Cyclone Larry.
"Things we assume we can do today will not be possible tomorrow," he said.
"Priority is life."
At 7am: Cooktown residents were making an early morning dash to their service station as the town braces for its first major cyclone in 65 years.
Winds up to 125km/h are expected to batter the far north Queensland coast by late morning.
At 6am, Ita was about 235 kilometre a north northeast of Cooktown, moving southwest at 11km/h.
And the severe storm is expected to maintain intensity as it smashes the Queensland coast between Cape Melville and Cooktown later today.
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PREPARING: Charlie Madgwick, Mossman resident and owner of The Junction CafŽ sandbagging around her business in Mossman. Source: News Corp Australia
A cyclone warning is current for coastal areas from Lockhart River to Innisfail and inland to Kalinga, Palmerville, Mareeba and Chillagoe.
A cyclone watch is current for coastal areas from Innisfail to Cardwell and inland.
The system near the core is churning winds around 300km/h with gales extending out to 200km from the centre.
GALLERY: CYCLONE ITA
Destructive winds with wind gusts in excess of 125km/h could develop between Cape Melville and Cooktown from late morning extending south to Cape Tribulation and possibly Port Douglas later in the day.
Dangerous storm tides, damaging waves, rising sea levels and strong currents are expected between Cape Melville and Cape Tribulation including Cooktown.
Sea level is likely to rise well above normal tides with flooding of low-lying areas extending some way inland.
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Tinaroo Dam is currently at 73 per cent capacity and expected to rise as a result of the forecast rain, according to SunWater chief executive Peter Boettcher.
He said staff were closely monitoring the weather system and were prepared for heavy rainfall in catchments across North Queensland.
"Tinaroo Falls Dam is purpose-built to store water to full capacity, and then safely manage any further excess inflows by diverting them through purpose built spillway overflows," he said.
"SunWater also completed a $21 million dam safety upgrade in 2011 to further strengthen the dam for severe natural and weather events."
IN THE BAG: Luke Simons maintenance manager at the Silky Oaks Lodge in Mossman filling sandbags at Mossman Council building. Source: News Corp Australia
Specialist emergency services and resources continued to be deployed into Cooktown and other smaller communities around the likely affected area yesterday.
These included:
• 17 fire crews and SES volunteers from Cairns;
• Nine swift water rescue and Rapid Damage Assessment trained firefighters from Brisbane
• Two Air Base Managers from the Rural Fire Service Queensland
• Eight high capacity generator units from Ergon deploying to Cooktown
Cooktown's cyclone shelter was officially activated yesterday.
Property owners and residents of the identified low lying areas of Cooktown, Marton, Ayton, Bloomfield or Wujal Wujal have been advised to check flooding maps on the Cook Shire Council's website. National parks, including the area around Cape Melville, have been closed for safety reasons.
FAR NORTH BRACES FOR CATEGORY 5 CYCLONE ITA
TURTLE EMERGENCY: Cairns Turtle rehab centre volunteers move a turtle from the centre at portsmith Source: News Corp Australia
Bureau of Meteorology Acting Chief Supt Schafferius said flooding could be expected.
"There will be a lot of rain associated with it in the hundreds of millimetres.
"Clearly as the system dumps the rain there will be localised flooding," he said.
Energy and Water Supply Minister Mark McArdle said at least 390 Ergon field staff were available across the possible impact zones.
He said that a further 180 specialist substation operations staff could also be sent from Cairns and Townsville locations.
He said the disaster response teams had access to at least five helicopters and a fixed-wing aircraft to get staff into remote areas as soon as possible, particularly if remote community networks were damaged and road access was a problem.
JCU Cyclone Testing Station's Dr David Henderson is part of a team which set up deployable anemometers throughout Cooktown yesterday in a prototype study to measure the wind speeds close to ground level as they hit the town.
"The goal with this is to try and get an idea of wind speeds affecting our communities," he said.
"We hope it will transmit data back to use every hour or so and we'll collect and examine the data afterwards."
Forecast track map for Tropical Cyclone Ita from the Pacific Disaster Center website Source: Supplied
THURSDAY
• HOSPITALS SHUT DOWN SERVICES
• CYCLONE ITA NOW CATEGORY 4 BUT COULD UPGRADE TO CATEGORY 5
• WINDS AT CENTRE NOW 260KM/H
• ALERTS ON HARBOURS
• SANDBAGGING STARTS
• COOKTOWN FACES WATER RESTRICTIONS
• TWENTY-THREE ALREADY DEAD IN SOLOMON ISLANDS
• COOKTOWN HOSPITAL CLEARS OUT PATIENTS
• TOURISM OPERATORS SHUT SHOP
At 4pm Severe Tropical Cyclone Ita, Category 5, was around 375km north northeast of Cooktown and 325km northeast of Cape Melville, moving west southwest at 18km/p
Destructive winds currently extend 80 kilometres out from the centre and may develop between Cape Sidmouth and Cooktown from as early as Friday morning before extending inland to Laura and further south to Cape Tribulation later in the day.
Gales currently extend 190km out from the centre and may develop between Cape Grenville and Cape Tribulation late tonight or early on Friday. Wind gusts near the eye are currently around 260km/hr.
SET SAIL: Boats big and small have deserted the Port Douglas Marina ahead of Cyclone Ita. Picture: Shane Nichols, Port Douglas and Mossman Gazzette. Source: News Corp Australia
A cyclone warning is current for coastal areas from Lockhart River to Cairns and extending inland to areas including Kalinga, Laura, Palmerville and Mareeba.
A cyclone watch is current for coastal areas from Cairns to Cardwell, and
extending inland to areas including Chillagoe.
Coastal residents between Cape Sidmouth and Cape Tribulation are specifically warned of the dangerous storm tide as the cyclone crosses the coast late Friday with damaging waves, strong currents and flooding of low lying areas.
Areas from the Peninsula to the North Tropical Coast and the Tableland can expect heavy rain and flooding late today and through the weekend.
The Cooktown Cyclone Shelter has been officially activated. The location is the PCYC Cooktown Events Centre at 3 May St, Cooktown.
The Centre will be open from 7am Friday morning and close once wind speeds reach 100km/h (potentially 11.00am).
LOCAL SERVICE CLOSURES AND CANCELLATIONS HERE
Cairns hospital has announced it will cease many services ahead of Cyclone Ita's onslaught.
outpatient clinics, endoscopy and elective surgery have been cancelled.
Inpatients who can safely return to their homes will be discharged as part of the hospitals disaster plan which also includes Atherton, Mareeba Innisfail and Mossman hospitals.
Emergency services will continue as normal.
Community health centres north of Babinda in the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and
Health Service region – including diabetes, breast-screen and alcohol and drug services –
will be closed.
RUNNING DRY: Water supplies at Port Douglas Coles are down to sparkling as residents stock up on supplies ahead of Cyclone Ita. Source: News Corp Australia
With Port Douglas and all areas north in the Douglas Shire now in a cyclone warning zone, the Douglas Local Disaster Management Group has also kicked into gear.
Douglas Mayor Julia Leu said as a precaution some evacuations were planned.
"The DLGMG decided to prepare to evacuate the 70-odd residents of the Port Douglas Ozcare nursing home to Malanda as they are very susceptible in the storm tide surge area," she said.
Cyclone Ita is intensifying and forecasters say they cannot rule out that it will become a category 5 - the strongest possible - just before hitting land.
Regional harbour master Captain Michael Barnett said from 5am on Friday he would issue a yellow alert for the Port of Cairns.
A yellow alert is the first of three and is issued when destructive winds are forecast within 24 hours. Blue alert is destructive winds within 12 hours and a red alert is when the port is closed and destructive winds are due within six hours.
"Vessel operators should take all necessary precautions and follow the extreme weather plans for this port,'' he said.
The plan is available via the Maritime Safety Queensland website: www.msq.qld.gov.au
ALL TIED UP: Organizers are confident the Smithfield bike track will hold up in a cyclone, but will need help clearing debris once it passes. Cairns Mountain Bike Club members Amanda Scanlan, Craig Nissen and Daniel Campbell securing safety nets on the World cup down hill course. Source: News Corp Australia
Mossman business owners and residents have ramped up cyclone preparations, boarding up windows and collecting sandbags to protect property.
Mossman SES local controller Bob Taylor said his crew of 18 were on standby and ready for the worst.
About 400 sandbags have been taken to the Mossman SES sheds on Front St, another 400 to Port Douglas, with an extra 2500 in reserve.
Mr Taylor urged residents to supply their own sandbags where possible.
The storm could also cause major outages to water supplies with Cooktown residents facing possible water restrictions as the council considers cutting supply to the main reservoir to ensure the town doesn't lose water if the pipe is damaged.
Cairns could be hit by winds of up to 250km/h tomorrow night depending on which meteorological prediction for approaching Cyclone Ita is the most accurate.
Earlier it was reported that Cyclone Ita already caused massive destruction as it crossed over the Solomon Islands.
Heavy rains led to flooding on Guadalcanal Island, killing 23 people when the Mataniko river broke its banks.
Nine specialist rescue firefighters will fly into Cairns from Brisbane today to bolster emergency services.
The officers are specially trained in swift water rescue and Rapid Damage Assessment and will arrive in the Far North this morning.
Two Air Base Managers from the Rural Fire Service Queensland (RFSQ) South Eastern and North Coast Regions will also deploy from Brisbane today, to assist with air operations.
SWELL TIME: Surfers on catching some waves north of Ellis Beach. Source: News Corp Australia
LOCAL CLOSURES
A Cairns Airport spokeswoman said the airport was operating as normal and expected this to remain the case as Cyclone Ita moves closer to Cape York.
Airport management will continue to monitor advice from the Bureau of Meteorology and will advise if the situation changes.
Saturday's race meeting at the Cairns Jockey Club has been cancelled due to impending weather as well as Cairns Markets.
Walking tracks around Cairns will be closed, North Queensland national parks and reserves have been closed and Douglas Shire has also made changes to waste collection.
Course delegates are confident a cyclone won't destroy the trails at Smithfield ahead of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup on April 25-27.
For more information on local closures click here:
Yesterday the Bureau of Meteorology said it would cross at Cape Melville tomorrow night before downgrading and beginning to take a southern track past Laura.
However, the US Navy-operated Joint Typhoon Warning Centre has the system taking a southern path far earlier while still out to sea and maintaining cyclone status as it heads down hugging the coast.
Remaining staff at Lizard Island, which lies in the direct path of the system, will leave this morning after 31 guests and some staff were evacuated yesterday.
CAIRNS ON WATCH FOR ITA'S ONSLAUGHT
The District Disaster Management Group, which includes emergency services, local councils and stakeholders, met yesterday with Cape communities dialling in to coordinate the response.
They will meet again today.
Additional emergency service resources are being sent to the region including:
• Two extra police each to Hopevale, Cooktown, Laura and Lockhart River.
• Four swift-water rescue personnel to Cooktown.
• Twelve SES volunteers to Cooktown.
• One flood-boat team to Cooktown.
CHECKING THE WEATHER: Cooya Beach resident Charles Mallard, 86, and his dog Wally Cooya Beach front. Source: News Corp Australia
DOUGLAS AND CAIRNS SHIRES ON ALERT FOR ITA
• A chainsaw and tarping team to Cooktown.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Regional Director Wayne Coutts said additional resources would be on standby.
"Obviously if there's any major impacts in any of these smaller communities or even further down south, we're ready to send in more resources straight after the event," he said.
"It's not something we usually do before the event."
Storm surges of up to four metres are predicted for where Ita crosses, although as this is likely to be a remote area, it is unlikely to impact residents.
Higher than normal tides will be expected along the entire coastline in the cyclone watch area.
Mr Coutts said they had spoken with residents in the major storm surge areas "almost personally" because of the small populations. He said they were prepared.
"Obviously we implore people who are in the watch area to pay attention because if you're in the watch area it means that the cyclone can affect your location in the next 48 hours," he said.
Cape York stores are all reporting to be fully stocked should they be cut off, while resources on some cattle stations are running slightly low, but not at dire levels.
The bureau has said very heavy rain, which may lead to flash flooding, is expected to develop across the Peninsula and northern parts of the Far North coast and Tableland today and continue tomorrow.
Energy and Water Supply Minister Mark McArdle said the electricity grid ended at Hope Vale north of Cooktown, but Ergon also operated eight isolated generation-based networks on the Cape York Peninsula.
"Pre-cyclone season preparations have ensured these areas have sufficient fuel and back up," he said.
"Ergon has a number of options ready to go in terms of deployment of generators and mobile high-voltage sub-stations, known as Pegasus units.
"It also has extra generation on-call and at least four helicopters from aviation contractors on standby ready to assist if and when required."
Far North police Acting Chief Supt Brett Schafferius said he had full faith the Cape York communities were prepared. "We know it's going to happen, there's going to be a lot of wind, there's going to be a lot of rain," he said.
"It is the Far North, these events have come and gone in the past. The communities up here are highly resilient and that is an extremely good thing for the communities involved and also to assist in our disaster response."
LEAVING: Green and Fitzroy Islands were evacuated as severe Tropical Cyclone Ita, category 5, heads toward the east coast. Brett Whipp and Sarah Moon of Sydney return to the Marlin Marina in Cairns. Source: News Corp Australia
COOKTOWN HOSPITAL CLEARS OUT PATIENTS
All but six patients at Cooktown Hospital have been discharged ahead of Cyclone Ita's expected landfall tomorrow.
Another 11 aged-care residents will remain at the Cooktown Multi-Purpose Health Service, hospital acting chief executive Jill Newland said.
"We also have nine patients who come in to use the Cooktown dialysis unit,'' Dr Newland said.
"We have arranged for them to be dialysed (on Thursday) as the unit will be closed on Friday."
Emergency management plans have been activated for all Eastern Cape health facilities, including Cooktown, Coen, Laura, Hopevale, Lockhart River and Wujal Wujal.
It is unlikely patients will be evacuated to Cairns.
"During this phase, the situation and potential threat of the cyclone will continue to be monitored," she said.
"Emergency generators at all our health facilities are fully operational and have stocks of fuel for several days.
"Our facilities, especially on the eastern Cape, are also well stocked with several days' worth of food and medical supplies.
"All in all, all our health facilities on Cape York are as prepared as they possibly can be for this cyclone.''
Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service disaster co-ordinator Ben Ryan said that the service had moved into a "heightened level of awareness" as cyclone Ita moved towards the coast yesterday.
EMPTY:. Port Douglas Marina. Source: News Corp Australia
ON THE WATER
Boat owners from Cape Flattery to Cairns are battening down as Cyclone Ita whips up fierce winds.
The weather bureau issued a marine wind warning late yesterday, predicting hurricane force winds for the Peninsula and Cooktown coasts and gales for the Torres Strait and Cairns today.
Vessel owners in Cairns, Cape Flattery and Cooktown were put on extreme weather event watch by the regional harbour master at 5.30pm.
They have been advised to review safety plans.
Yesterday, Cooktown was in the firing line, with Coast Guard commander Andrew Mirtschin saying people were preparing to anchor boats in creeks if required.
Douglas and Cairns councils have mobilised staff to mitigate flooding risks as cyclone Ita looms off the Far North Queensland coast.
Water reservoirs are being filled from nearby dams which are at capacity and councils are on alert as they assess direct weather feeds from the weather bureau.
The Douglas Local Disaster Management Group is expected to meet again today after being pinpointed in yesterday's Cyclone Watch.
GETTING READY: Sue Ralston, co-owner of Port Douglas Boat Hire taking the tarps off her boats at the Port Douglas Marina. Source: News Corp Australia
ANIMAL SHELTERS PREPARE
Far Northern rescue shelters are poised to evacuate dozens of animals as they prepare for the worst.
RSPCA Cairns shelter manager Alice Currey said a disaster management plan was in place.
The shelter's 35 dogs, 40 cats, birds and guinea pigs could be moved to its most secure area, ferried down to Townsville or placed into local homes as early as today.
"We're getting a list of all our foster care contacts and lining up the worst case scenario, which is that the shelter will be hit with heavy rain and strong winds and we'll be forced to evacuate," Ms Currey said.
GOT IT LICKED: RSPCA centre manager Alice Currey with Toffee who is looking for foster homes during cyclone Ita . Picture Anna Rogers Source: News Corp Australia
TOURISM: SAFETY FIRST
Many Far North tourism operators are taking no chances when it comes to the safety of their customers, cancelling services and rescheduling trips in the face of upcoming cyclone Ita.
Various operators have made individual decisions whether or not to cancel their operations, with Quicksilver cancelling most of today's trips according to managing director Tony Baker.
"We are packing up our operations and have cancelled most of them for Friday, especially those in Port Douglas," he said.
"At this stage we are still looking at Green Island ... we will make a call on those operations as we track the cyclone. A lot depends on where it crosses, but it's always safety first."
Reef operators Reef Magic cancelled all boats for today and tomorrow, according to a spokeswoman.
"We have just had the decision from management that we won't be making any bookings for those days, and we have re-booked anyone already scheduled in," she said.
Skyrail are yet to cancel services, according to a spokeswoman, but are monitoring conditions.
"People can still book for the weekend, but we will make announcements via our website ... if we have to cancel," she said.
Travellers are encouraged to call their tourism operator to check for cancellations.
LEAVING: Green and Fitzroy Islands were evacuated ahead of Cyclone Ita. Melbourne families flee Fitzroy Island, Sue Keys, Lucy Keys, Emma Wilson, Maree Wilson, Sally Keys and Matt Wilson return to the Marlin Marina in Cairns. Source: News Corp Australia
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