FEDERAL Member for Bowman Henry Pike has warned that significant changes are needed to ensure the area is better prepared for future disasters.
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred exposed a series of weaknesses in infrastructure, housing, and communication systems.
Mr Pike outlined five key lessons that policymakers must address to improve resilience in the long-term.
While disaster recovery funds have been made available, he stressed that more is needed to ensure long-term sustainability.
He explained that island communities, which were among the hardest hit, must receive ongoing support for stronger infrastructure and disaster mitigation efforts.
“With growing populations, stronger infrastructure and disaster mitigation are critical,” he said.
Mr Pike is pushing for the establishment of a Redlands Community Recovery Fund to support resilience-building projects aimed at safeguarding island areas most at risk.
Another critical issue that emerged during the cyclone was the failure of mobile phone networks.
Mr Pike emphasised that mobile coverage was not just a luxury, but a lifeline.
He called for upgrades to ensure the network could withstand future emergencies.
Mr Pike also pointed out the significant failure of the National Messaging System, which was meant to go live in 2024 but is now delayed until at least 2027.
The delay meant local councils had to issue emergency warnings prematurely, causing confusion.
“This failure is unacceptable and must be fixed well before 2027 to ensure communities get timely emergency alerts,” Mr Pike said.
Cyclone Alfred also shed light on the dangers of makeshift housing, particularly on North Stradbroke Island, where many homes are uninsurable, poorly built, and located in flood-prone areas.
“We cannot allow people to live in uninsurable, unsafe dwellings on public land in flood-prone areas, like we have seen on North Stradbroke Island,” Mr Pike said.
Finally, he expressed concern over the potential for insurance companies to hike premiums after the cyclone.
Given that cyclone risk has been a known factor for years, many property owners in the area were already struggling with high insurance costs.
Mr Pike is asking the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority to prevent unjustifiable price hikes.
“Many island property owners were already struggling with skyrocketing premiums due to cyclone risk assessments,” he said.
“Redlanders showed incredible fortitude, determination and community spirit, but we must act now to fix these issues to ensure long-term resilience for our growing city.”
