JUNGLE DRUM: Happy Birthday Landslide... we hope you have no more

LAWRENCE MASON COLUMN

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The Noah Range Landslide first "birthday" party. Picture: Lawrence Mason.
The Landslide Birthday Cake. Picture: Lawrence Mason

On Tuesday, December 17, the north of the river community came together to 'celebrate' the first birthday of the Noah Range Landslide.

It was a sombre occasion, and we were joined by DSC engineers and HEH workers and Jackie from Cape Trib Camping made an amazing 'Landslide Cake'. We spent an hour enjoying the amazing views then headed off for socialising and pizza at the campground.

I would like to thank FNQ Traffic Control, HEH, and the Council Staff for allowing us to gather; and it was great to see everyone respecting safety at the site.

Also, the awesome businesses and people, Daintree Siesta, Heritage Lodge, Mason's Store, Paula Robinson and Cape Trib Camping for supporting us with drinks, cake and 2 for 1 Pizza.

I note also that two of those businesses are SOUTH of the slide, and it was gratifying to see their empathy for us.

In a short speech at the site, I expressed the view that we were not there to demonise engineers or road workers, but to simply mark time; to say that one year is too long to get roads fixed after disasters. There are simply too many hoops for Council staff to jump through to get the job started, let alone done.

Everybody deals with crises in a different way and I have always been a fixer. What makes me feel better is planning so that whatever has happened can be dealt with better next time. That's why I am so very frustrated that we have not even tried to analyse our recovery efforts.

I believe DSC did apply for funding some time ago to do so, but it was rejected. If that is true it is appalling and something out new government would be well advised to rectify.

Any analysis is going to be confronting. Our CEO was away dealing with a personal matter when Jasper went down and the interim CEO had to deal with an unprecedented emerging crisis. Unfortunately, when the CEO returned, there was confusion about what the best way forward was, and many weeks of fine weather were lost while the whole ship was turned around.

The failure to appoint a Disaster Coordinator from outside the existing bureaucratic structure was a major failure from the Miles government. Even though former Premier Beatty was lambasted for his tardiness in appointing General Sir Peter Cosgrove to the role after Cyclone Larry, it was a masterstroke even so. Likewise, Cyclone Yasi had Major General Mick Slater.

The QRA was established in 2011 out of the ruins of Yasi, and so now we get a bureaucrat from within the system to head up Disaster Response. I fear an independent analysis of this move would reveal that it is less effective, especially for remote communities.

For future disasters we need an outsider to cut through the bullshit and 'do a Cosgrove'. People I know from the Larry and Yasi strike zone were telling us that we would get chainsaw teams to help us clear tracks to water supplies etc, based on their experience. In reality there was no understanding of what we needed, and what came was poorly planned.

The company that has had most money from DSC sent us milk unrefrigerated and the management of aerial and sea fuel deliveries was non-existent. It was a constant battle to get mail, which often contained people’s medication. The medical staff who came held appointments in public. I could go on.

A detailed analysis of the last year of disaster response is long overdue. It also needs to look at why we still have landslides sitting on the road and why we are still forced to use a broken bridge a year later. I know it sounds like a whinge, but how can we do better next time if we don't navel gaze just a bit?

Merry Christmas all and Happy Birthday Landslide. I hope you don't turn two

*Lawrence Mason has lived at Cape Tribulation all his life, and has been involved in farming, timber and tourism. He is a former board member of Tourism Port Douglas Daintree, founding Chair of Daintree Marketing Co-operative, and has been a member of both Alexandra Bay and Mossman State High School P&C. He is also a member of the Douglas Chamber of Commerce and has a keen interest in local issues.

  • The opinions and views in this column are those of the author and author only and do not reflect the Newsport editor or staff.