A Redland City Council team’s collaborative response to Tropical Cyclone Alfred has been recognised with an award at the Local Government Managers Australia (LGMA) Queensland Awards for Excellence.
The Geographic Information System (GIS) Team’s response to the March cyclone won the Excellence in Collaboration category at an awards ceremony in Brisbane on Thursday 22 May 2025.
Council’s Local Disaster Coordination Centre response to Tropical Cyclone Alfred was a finalist in the Excellence in Teamwork category.
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Redland City Mayor and Local Disaster Management Group chair Jos Mitchell said this recognition by the LGMA was an endorsement of the excellent work by Council employees in response to the cyclone.
“Redland City was faced with unique challenges due to Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which crossed the coast on 7 March, with isolated island communities who were the first to bear the full brunt of the weather system.
“The collaborative work of the GIS Team ensured a coordinated and efficient response and played a critical role in enhancing the community’s preparedness and resilience for this event.”
The Mayor said that, in the lead-up to the cyclone, the GIS Team, which is part of Council’s Information Management Group, updated flood mapping and modelling, which was crucial in identifying areas at risk and planning an appropriate response.
The team also developed a door knocking app for the Queensland Police Service, which was used to identify properties at risk.
Deputy Mayor and Local Disaster Recovery Group chair Julie Talty said that, during the cyclone event, the GIS Team played a pivotal role in supporting the Australian Defence Force by creating detailed maps to respond to damage on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands.
“This collaboration was essential in coordinating effective response efforts and ensuring an efficient allocation of resources,” Cr Talty said.
“After the event, the GIS Team supported recovery efforts by mobilising the green waste army through the use of systems that allowed for the management of public requests and volunteer responses.
“This ensured resources were directed where they were needed most.
“The team also created dashboards for work monitoring and task allocation, allowing for real-time tracking of progress and identification of issues that needed addressing.”
