Sunshine Coast Local Disaster Coordinator Tom Jamieson has echoed the Queensland Government in praising emergency services, council staff and the community for their united response to the September 2019 fire at Peregian Springs.
Queensland’s Inspector-General Emergency Management recently released results from the independent review of the September 2019 fires at Stanthorpe, Sarabah and Peregian Springs.
The review found Queensland’s preparedness and response was highly effective in saving property and reducing the severity of fires, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk describing efforts as a “phenomenal response to extraordinary conditions”.
Mr Jamieson said Sunshine Coast Council and the Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) stood ready to assist the community in any disaster or emergency.
“We will never forget the courage of our Queensland Fire and Emergency Services personnel during the Peregian fire ember storm,” he said.
“Supporting those firefighters on the frontline were the police, ambulance and other community service providers and our own council staff who worked around the clock in our Disaster Coordination Centre, at the evacuation centre or helping others in the affected communities.
“The findings from the 2019 Queensland Bushfires Review confirm our commitment to disaster preparedness paid off when our community needed it most.
“According to the review, more than two-thirds of the survey respondents confirmed they had partially or fully prepared a household emergency plan, an emergency kit, an evacuation plan and an evacuation kit to prepare their family and property for a disaster event.
“More than 80 per cent of those surveyed in Peregian responded that they would know during a disaster event, where to get reliable information about whether to shelter in place or access an evacuation centre.
“Confidence ratings, for being prepared and knowing how to respond and recover from a disaster event, and understanding local risks, were more than 90 per cent in Peregian.
“This shows our constant, coast-wide campaign to ensure our community is prepared for disaster, along with efforts from our partner organisations, is having a real impact.”
Mr Jamieson said the report also highlighted future recommendations which council will be looking to implement in our own region.
Sunshine Coast Council Disaster Coordinator Cathy Buck said the preparedness activities undertaken by the LDMG, including a simulated disaster in August, helped ensure a swift and collaborative response.
“As highlighted in the review, our pre-season exercises are essential in familiarising agencies with response coordination, communication and information arrangements,” Ms Buck said.
“We take these exercises just as seriously as we would an actual disaster and the skills learned are vital in helping ensure we are prepared for when the worst happens.
“Last year we were also recognised as national leaders in disaster preparedness, winning the Local Government Award at the 20th Resilient Australia Awards for our Get Ready Schools Program, which empowers young people and assists their learning, awareness and preparation for disasters.”
Residents can visit council’s Disaster Hub https://disaster.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au for all the information they need to prepare their homes and businesses, and stay up to date with important information such as road closures, evacuation centres and weather warnings.
The Sunshine Coast LDMG membership includes Mayor Mark Jamieson as the chairperson, and representatives from the Sunshine Coast Council, emergency services, key non-government departments, local education institutes, energy and water service providers and tourism organisations.
The LDMG is the coordinating body for managing the response and recovery from a local disaster event and is responsible for developing and implementing the Sunshine Coast Local Disaster Management Plan.
In 2019 the Sunshine Coast LDMG responded to eight natural disaster events and in 2020 have already responded to one severe rain event.
The Queensland Bushfires Review 2019-20 can be downloaded by visiting www.igem.qld.gov.au.
