REDLAND City Council is urgently seeking funding from the Federal Government to improve disaster resilience and enhance community safety in the face of increasing natural disasters.
The Council has put forward a proposal that includes a $10 million request for a purpose-built disaster coordination centre, $2 million for flood warning infrastructure, and additional funding for wind resistance upgrades to Council-owned buildings.
Queensland, the most disaster-prone state in Australia, has faced over 100 natural disasters in the past 15 years, including floods, fires, cyclones and storms.
With the frequency and severity of such events increasing due to climate change, Redland City is calling for vital investments to ensure the community is prepared for future emergencies.
Currently, Redland City’s disaster coordination efforts operate out of an outdated demountable building that is not cyclone-rated and lacks essential facilities.
Federal Member for Bowman Henry Pike said that if re-elected, he would be eager to engage with Council further on the proposal for a purpose-built disaster coordination centre.
“It was clear that with a dedicated facility, we could greatly enhance our community’s resilience in the face of future disasters,” Mr Pike said.
He highlighted the pressing need for stronger local disaster resilience in the wake of recent extreme weather events.
“TC Alfred revealed significant vulnerabilities in our city’s local disaster resilience, particularly within telecommunications networks,” Mr Pike said.
“Feedback from thousands of locals who completed my online survey, as well as meetings with telcos in Canberra last week, highlighted the need to strengthen infrastructure, enhance remote power backup capabilities and ensure Redland projects are prioritised.”
Greens candidate for Bowman Kristie Lockhart said the Greens would create a Climate Response Service to put thousands of people on the ground and help prepare for fires, floods, and cyclones, as well as assist with the extensive cleanup after they strike.
“The ‘climate army’ would be funded by increasing taxes on big coal and gas corporations, who are responsible for supercharging our climate crisis,” she said.
Independent candidate for Bowman Shaun Holloway emphasised the importance of strengthening disaster resilience in regions like the SMBI, particularly following the recent Cyclone Alfred event.
He highlighted the need for the Council to assess its response to such events and improve moving forward.
If elected, he plans to collaborate with the Mayor, Council, and State Government to review disaster assessments and secure additional funding for key projects, such as a disaster coordination centre and flood warning infrastructure.
In addition to the coordination centre, the Council is seeking $2 million for flood warning infrastructure, including rainfall and creek gauge networks.
These systems would provide real-time data and early warnings to residents and emergency services, helping to minimise the impact of floods.
The funding request also includes assessments and upgrades to improve the wind resistance of Council-
owned buildings, which are vital during storms and cyclones.
Meanwhile, Wynnum Manly Ward Councillor Alex Givney said Brisbane City Council would continue advocating to all levels of government for the projects that make living, working and relaxing on the Bayside even better.
“Federally supported rail and road projects like the Lindum open level crossing should be prioritised to keep Brisbane moving and get people home sooner and safer,” she said.
“We know how important this project is for the safety of our local community, and we are eager to see the federal funding finalised so works can get started.”
Darcy Brown (ALP), Karen Cloherty (Family First) and Matthew Knight (One Nation) were also approached for comment .
