19 March 2019 / Weather Alert

Tropical Cyclone Trevor Warning

Severe Tropical Cyclone Trevor continues to move west-southwest towards the eastern Cape York Peninsula coast. It is expected to cross the coast just south of Lockhart River late this afternoon or early evening. The cyclone will most likely cross as a high end category 3 system, but further intensification to category 4 cannot be ruled out.

The cyclone will weaken as it crosses the northern Peninsula tonight and Wednesday, but is expected to remain a category 1 cyclone until it enters the Gulf of Carpentaria later on Wednesday. It is expected to reintensify rapidly once it enters the Gulf of Carpentaria and track towards the Northern Territory.

Consider all site housekeeping and remove loose waste and material from roofs, scaffold, balconies and open areas (hardstands / laydown) and ensure site fences are well supported with the minimum bracing (every second panel for scrim & every panel for hoarded).

General advice in storms

  • Move cars under cover or away from trees. 
  • Secure loose outdoor items. 
  • Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees. 
  • Avoid using the telephone during a thunderstorm.
  • Beware of fallen trees and powerlines. 
  • For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.

People between Orford Ness and Cape Melville and adjacent inland areas (including Lockhart River and Coen), should complete preparations quickly and be prepared to shelter in a safe place.

People in western Cape York Peninsula between Mapoon and Pormpuraaw (including Weipa and Aurukun) should immediately commence or continue preparations, especially securing boats and property, using available daylight hours.

Hazards

The VERY DESTRUCTIVE CORE of the cyclone, with extreme gusts up to 220 km/h, will make landfall near Lockhart River later this afternoon.

DESTRUCTIVE WINDS, with gusts in excess of 125 km/h are expected between Cape Grenville and Coen. These DESTRUCTIVE WINDS will move some way inland with the cyclone tonight.

GALES, with gusts in excess of 90 km/h, are expected in coastal areas between Orford Ness and Cape Melville today and tonight. These GALES are expected to extend inland over the Peninsula overnight and on Wednesday as the cyclone moves inland to include areas between Mapoon and Pormppuraaw during Wednesday. Gales are possible later Wednesday further north between Cape York and Mapoon if the cyclone takes a more northerly track than forecast.

As the cyclone crosses the coast, a STORM TIDE is expected between Lockhart River and Cape Melville, including Princess Charlotte Bay. During Wednesday, a STORM TIDE is also expected between Cape Keerweer and Mapoon on the western Peninsula Coast. LARGE WAVES may produce minor flooding along the foreshore. People living in these areas are likely to be affected by flooding and should take measures to protect their property as much as possible and be prepared to help their neighbours.

ABNORMALLY HIGH TIDES are also expected around the Wednesday morning high tide for the far northeast Queensland coast, north of Port Douglas.

HEAVY RAINFALL, which may lead to flash flooding, is forecast across far north Queensland today and continuing over the next few days. A Flood Warning is current for the Daintree and Mossman rivers as well as a broader Flood Watch for catchments north of Innisfail to Kowanyama.

Wind & Rain Radar

This is a live 24 hour forecast radar that updates hourly using modelled data from BOM. 

Other Recent Activities

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30 October / Quality Alert

Engineered stone ban effective 1 July 2024

ALL engineered stone regardless of the silica content percentage will be banned


Alternative products must be considered and implemented on all projects.

The industry is shifting away from engineered stone due to the risks of respirable crystalline silica, which can cause silicosis and other silica-related diseases. Although the consultations are under way and there has been no official announcement by Federal or State Governments on the issue, the health and safety risks along with the uncertainty around this issue warrants a decision to ban all engineered products entering job sites nationally. The ban will take effect on 1 July 2024 and will extend to ALL engineered stone regardless of the silica content percentage. 

An update to this alert will be provided before the end of the year when the Federal and State Governments are expected to issue a formal decision on the ban. In the meantime, to mitigate the impact of potential delays and variations, the best approach is to inform the clients of the pending ban and to propose and seek approval for an alternative product. Similarly, ensure all future estimates have the stone specification qualified and priced accordingly.

Product alternatives going forward include:

Compact Laminates

  • Under 1% silica content
  • Extremely competitive pricing
  • Only comes in 12mm thickness
  • Heat resistance is an issue
  • Product not suitable for high end applications

Porcelain Surfaces

  • Under 10% silica content
  • Price dependant of product and supplier
  • Large variety of colours and thicknesses (4, 8, 12, 20 and 30mm)
  • Great resistance to staining, scratches, UV and heat
  • Good warranty terms

Acrylic Solid Surfaces

  • 0% silica content
  • More expensive alternative
  • Limited thickness availability
  • UV stable and heat resistant but direct heat exposure not advised
  • Minimising wastage through flexibility in sheet sizing
  • Seamless joints

Natural Stone*

  • Various silica content percentages
  • Variety of products at different price points available
  • Ongoing maintenance may be an issue
  • Unlikely to satisfy specific warranty requirements

*Although this alert does not directly impact natural stone, some types have high silica content so risk of using these on projects should be considered carefully.

For an up-to-date list of available products and their usability, click here.


More information

If you need additional support, please contact the Quality Team:

Phone 1300 HUTCHIES
Email QualityTeam@hutchinsonbuilders.com.au

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10 October / Update

Make sure bin chute systems are installed correctly, following the tested systems and the manufacturers’ instructions.

Check the detailed drawings from Elephant’s Foot and Wastech for different wall types (plasterboard, shaft-liner, speed panel, concrete, Hebel, and masonry).

Any changes to the tested systems must be approved by your project certifier, signed off by the fire engineer in the fire engineering report (FER), and accepted by the relevant state / territory fire service.

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