Torres and Cape Disaster Resilience Forum

    The Torres Cape Indigenous Council Alliance (TCICA) hosted its second Indigenous Local Government Disaster Resilience Forum in Cairns on the 7th October. Facilitated by Professor Allan Dale, the forum was attended by nearly 80 Mayors, Councillors, Chief Executives, council staff, and representatives of key government agencies, critical service providers, and non-government organisations from across North Queensland.  

    Despite the challenges of COVID-19, local governments across the region have progressed a range of infrastructure improvements. A total of 19 new flood cameras, river high monitors and rain gauges will be installed across the Cape and Torres region, with work expected to be completed by mid-2022.  These will be connected directly to Bureau of Meteorology monitoring systems, with the data and camera images publicly available. 

    Forum participants heard from, Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council, Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council and Weipa Town Authority on steps councils have taken to build more resilient townships.  The Cairns Institute’s Hurriyet Babacan and Jen McHugh gave a presentation on the TCICA Region Telecommunications and Digital Connectivity study.  The research highlights a range of key challenges such as infrastructure gaps and service quality issues, and importantly, the reliance on telecommunications during times of disaster. Hurriyet Babacan said that the research was important as ‘With digital connectivity being crucial to the many aspects of how we live, having a clear understanding of the connectivity issues across the region is essential.’

    The Queensland Reconstruction Authority presented on the progress of the TCICA Regional Resilience Strategy. The Strategy takes a multi-hazard approach to improving resilience. Participants were briefed on the development of a Remote Food Security Action Plan. Improving food security in remote townships is vital if better long-term health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are to be achieved and if Closing the Gap targets are to be met. TCICA’s Regional Resilience Coordinator Pip Schroor, updated participants on the development of a regional disaster dashboard for the region.  Lieutenant Colonel Clare O’Neill, Commanding Officer of the 51st Battalion, FNQ Regiment presented on the role of the Australian Defence Force in disaster planning and recovery, and especially the role played by members of the 51FNQR in the north.

    people seated facing presenter

    Man standing and presenting to audience

    People seated and listening to presenter

    people seated facing presenter

    Other presentations included an update from the Bureau of Meteorology on the upcoming disaster season and the possibility of a higher than average number of cyclones, a presentation on blue card process and from Ergon Energy on their disaster preparedness and planning. Solution based approaches were also showcased such as AirBridge, and new technology that generates sustainable, high quality drinking water using the power of the sun to extract water from the air and an update from NBN.

    Although COVID-19 was not a focus of this forum, participants acknowledged the significant learnings arising from managing the impacts of the pandemic over the past 18 months.  While Cape York and the Torres Strait region have not yet seen a case of COVID, the threat of COVID remains and it is likely that it will reach communities in the future.  Ensuring as many local residents as possible are fully vaccinated remains critical, as does the need for well-tested COVID management planning.  Communities will continue to be challenged by the lack of available housing and other appropriate accommodation if quarantining and isolation of large numbers of people becomes necessary.

    The level of engagement and participation in the forum was a clear demonstration of the need for practical and focussed discussion on disaster preparation, planning and resilience. Further, the senior level representation by agencies such as the National Recovery and Resilience Agency, the Australian Defence Force, the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, the Queensland Police Service, and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services highlighted the value of the forum to key government strategists, advisers and decision-makers. 

    TCICA gratefully acknowledges the support of the Australian and Queensland governments under the 2019-20 Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Fund for this forum. 

    Back to List


    More News


    Sandpit to Seed

    Sandpit to Seed

    The TNQ Drought Hub is excited to be working with James Cook University researchers to help them move their research ideas that could improve agricultural adaption, sustainability and resilience towar...

    Read More

    The National Soils Advocate visit

    The National Soils Advocate visit

    The TNQ Drought Hub recently hosted the National Soils Advocate, the Honourable Penelope Wensley AC for a whirlwind 2-day field trip visiting numerous soils restoration and rehabilitation sites to lea...

    Read More

    Decolonizing HDR Network

    Decolonizing HDR Network

    On 1 August, The Cairns Institute hosted a small, informal symposium for HDR students working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Far North Queensland. It brought together Indigenous...

    Read More

    JCU RED's Public Lectures

    JCU RED's Public Lectures

    The Cairns Institute Fellow Dr Kearrin Sims coordinates the JCU Research Ethical Development Symposium, now in its second year. It will be held 27-29 September at The Cairns Institute. This year will ...

    Read More

    DNA Conference 2023

    DNA Conference 2023

    The Developing Northern Australia Conference returned to Darwin this year in 2023. In 2021, the conference converted to an online event an hour before the program was due to begin due to a sudden NT C...

    Read More

    HDR Student Symposium on Decolonial Research Practices

    HDR Student Symposium on Decolonial Research Practices

    The Cairns Institute will host an informal symposium for HDR students working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Far North Queensland. This symposium will explore if and how post-gr...

    Read More

    Science to Practice Forum

    Science to Practice Forum

    TNQ Drought Hub’s Professor Allan Dale, Doctor Jane Oorschot and Ms Kara Worth were invited to speak at the Science to Practice Forum and share their experience on innovative tools and practices...

    Read More

    TNQ Drought Hub Scholarships

    TNQ Drought Hub Scholarships

    Congratulations to the TNQ Drought Hub drought resilience scholarship recipients. The hub recently offered scholarship opportunities to JCU students who were interested in undertaking an Honours or Ma...

    Read More

    Top

    © 2023 The Cairns Institute | Site Map | Site by OracleStudio | Design by LeoSchoepflin