With the storm and bushfire season well and truly upon us, an independent assessment of Sunshine Coast Council’s Local Disaster Management Plan has shown that our community is in good hands for disaster preparedness and response.
The Inspector-General Emergency Management rated both the plan and the Sunshine Coast Local Disaster Management Group as “strong”, the same score received in 2017.
The scoring coincides with over a week of devastating bushfires across Queensland and specific bushfire threats on the Sunshine Coast.
In recent days council’s Disaster Management team, coordinating the LDMG, has been at ‘stand up’ activation status (moving back to ‘alert’ yesterday afternoon) and working around the clock with Queensland Fire and Emergency Services to minimise the threat to the region and ensure evacuation preparations are in place.
Local Disaster Management Group Chair Mayor Mark Jamieson said the report reflected the dedication and commitment of council’s disaster management team and the agencies which council works with in these circumstances.
“While we must never take anything for granted when it comes to disaster preparedness, this rating shows that as we enter the summer storm and bushfire season, we are well equipped to assist and support our community if and when disaster strikes,” Mayor Jamieson said.
The report assessed hazard identification and risk assessment, hazard mitigation and risk reduction, preparedness and planning, emergency communications, response, and relief and recovery.
On Thursday, council will consider the Local Disaster Management Plan 2019-22 which has a primary focus on ensuring the safety of the Sunshine Coast community.
