Redland City Council is inviting Southern Moreton Bay Islands’ (SMBI) residents to have their say on how Council, emergency services, residents and businesses can be better prepared to respond to severe weather and emergency events on the islands.
Two face-to-face SMBI Emergency Planning and Resilience Community Forums will be held on Thursday 14 March on Macleay Island (from 12:30pm until 3:30pm) and on Russell Island (from 5:30pm until 8:30pm).
Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said Council recognised these island communities faced unique challenges during emergencies.
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“The Ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald storm event our City experienced over the Australia Day long weekend has highlighted the need for us to work more closely with our SMBI communities on emergency preparedness,” Cr Williams said.
“We know that residents, businesses and community groups on Macleay, Russell, Lamb and Karragarra Islands faced hardship during the storm event – and for some days after.
“In some instances this meant island residents were cut off from the mainland, lost power for an extended period or had no access to fuel or fresh food supplies.
“While we can’t control the weather, we can work together with our island communities to plan for future severe weather and emergency events to help make them more resilient.”
Division 5 Councillor Mark Edwards said the community forums were a direct response to requests from island residents for Council and the emergency services to come to Macleay and Russell Islands to meet with them first-hand to hear the concerns and ideas of residents from all islands.
“We’re listening to our Southern Moreton Bay Islands’ communities and they are telling us that more needs to be done by Council and the emergency services to support them in an emergency situation.
“But this exercise isn’t about us listening then doing nothing. We will be providing tailored emergency plans across the individual Southern Moreton Bay Islands before the next storm and fire seasons.
“Council is pleased to host these forums in partnership with members of the Local Disaster Management Group. These include Queensland Police, Queensland Fire and Rescue, Queensland Ambulance, Department of Transport and Main Roads, Emergency Management Queensland, Department of Communities, Red Cross, Energex and Telstra.”
Cr Williams said the forums would also provide residents with an opportunity to speak with local government and state government services; learn about household emergency plans; and participate in island mapping activities.
“I encourage all Southern Moreton Bay Island residents and businesses to come along to a forum
and have their say.
“If you can’t make it to a community forum I encourage you to complete an online survey on
Council’s website or call 3829 8874 and ask for a copy of the survey to
be mailed to you between now and 1 April 2013.”
SMBI Emergency Planning and Resilience Community Forums details
The forums will be held on Thursday 14 March at:
Macleay Island
12:30pm – 3:30 pm
Macleay Island Community Centre Hall
Corner of Southsea Terrace and High Central Road, Macleay Island
and
Russell Island
5:30pm – 8:30pm
Russell Island Recreation Hall
1 Alison Crescent, Russell Island Residents are not required to RSVP for the community forums but are encouraged to arrive no later than 30 minutes before the end of a forum to ensure they have time to contribute.
