Redland City Council is reminding Redlands Coast residents that winter is an ideal time to get as prepared as possible for this year’s late spring/summer bushfire and storm season.
Redland City Mayor and Local Disaster Management Group Chair Jos Mitchell said it was important to be proactive at this time of the year.
“You can take advantage of the cooler weather to check the condition of your roof and gutters, and other drainage on your property,” she said.
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“It is also a good time to trim or clear trees or bushes that could pose a fire threat or damage property if felled during wild weather.
“We know severe weather events can strike at any time – the recent severe wind conditions in New South Wales are a clear example – but we also know the summer months ahead traditionally can bring devastating weather events.
“Tropical Cyclone Alfred certainly challenged our city’s resilience this year. The upside is that it gave many of us a direct lesson on what we need to do to best protect our properties.”
Some simple steps to take to prepare for summer threats:
- Clear debris from roofs and gutters
- Trim branches that overhang dwellings
- Remove overgrown vegetation
- Prepare an emergency kit
- Make a bushfire management plan for your household
For advice on reducing fire hazards on your property, go online to Council’s bushfire preparedness page or visit the Queensland Fire Department website at fire.qld.gov.au.
Council maintains a dedicated Redland City Disaster Management website that provided practical information on preparing for, responding to and recovering from disaster.
Residents can also subscribe to Council’s free emergency notification messaging service, Redlands Coast Alerts, via the Redlands Coast Disaster Dashboard at disaster.redland.qld.gov.au.
During a disaster, the dashboard is continually updated with vital information on road closures, emergency contacts, Energex power outages, active evacuation centres and weather warnings.
The Mayor said Council also had a significant role to play in preparing for the bushfire and storm season.
“Council’s Fire Management team reduced bushfire risks across the city by slashing Council-owned land adjoining houses, and creating firebreaks, as well as carrying out controlled burns to reduce fuel loads,” she said.
This year’s first controlled hazard reduction burn of the season was within the Scribbly Gums Conservation Area, Alexandra Hills, in mid-June. Information about Council’s planned burn program is available at redland.qld.gov.au/PlannedBurns
