Disaster warning systems given a welcome boost

Federal funding

Shaun Hollis

Journalist

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Douglas Shire Council is one of three councils looking into ways to reduce flooding risks in the Bloomfield River region.

More than $4.5m of Federal Government money is set to be spent in Douglas Shire to help strengthen the region for times when severe weather hits.

The cash, pledged in the lead-up to the federal election to be held before mid May, is for a range of projects including: Developing a flood plan for Douglas Shire including “nature-based solutions”; Upgrading early warning systems; Employing a “disaster support officer”; Establishing a “special operations team” and “disaster planning and incident management team”; Completing a study of the Bloomfield River region, and; Buying a new sandbagging machine.

Mossman’s designated refuge centre, the Administration Building, will also undergo an upgrade, as will the Shire’s Disaster Coordination Centre.

Other works include improving access to Cape Tribulation via Kulki, extending the flood level bank at Marrs Creek, and building a resilience meeting hub at Degarra.

Federal Labor Senator Nita Green welcomed the promised investments.

“This funding comes at a crucial time for North Queensland, which has been hit hard by natural disasters,” Senator Green said.

“Disaster resilience comes in many forms. It can be upgraded roads, airstrips and foreshores, improved drainage capacity or wastewater services, or forward-focus initiatives like flood studies and risk reduction plans.”

Douglas Shire Council has been working on a Bloomfield River flood study since June last year to help find out more about the flood risks in Degarra, Wujal Wujal and Ayton, with that report due to be released soon.

The North Queensland Recovery and Resilience Package helps local communities recover from, and prepare for, future floods. 

It supports those affected by the 2019 Monsoon Trough and the 2023 monsoon and flooding events.

For more on the program, including all the successful projects, visit the National Emergency Management Agency’s website.

 

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