The Rockhampton Region is building bushfire resilience ahead of the high risk weather season thanks to funding provided under the Australian Government' Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program.
This grant funding has enabled Rockhampton Regional Council to appoint experienced fire response manager Colin May as a Bushfire Resilience Officer in late 2022.
Rockhampton Regional Council Mayor Tony Williams said the role was only made possible through $250,000 in grant funding provided under the Australian Government's Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program, which is administered by the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA).
"This grant program plays a crucial role in building our resilience against bushfire threats," Mayor Williams said.
"We have a solid foundation enabling us to work collaboratively with various agencies, ensuring a united approach to address high-risk bushfire areas.
"By having a dedicated Bushfire Resilience Officer, we are strengthening our preparedness and response capabilities to safeguard our people and the natural beauty of the Rockhampton Region.
"The grant program, aimed at assisting communities affected by the devastating 2019-2020 bushfire season, is a testament to the Australian Government's commitment to building robust fire preparedness strategies."
Council Bushfire Resilience Officer Mr Colin May said the role has strategically placed a dedicated employee from Rockhampton Regional Council into numerous fire management and community groups, with a particular focus on bushfire mitigation and response.
"It's been shown that mitigation and preparation can reduce the costs of disasters, compared to just responding to calls for help - that's where this Bushfire Resilience role comes in, you're able to tap into local communities but also other agencies," Mr May said.
"We are working collaboratively with Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Queensland National Parks, the Department of Resources, as well as rural and urban fire brigades, to address high-risk bushfire areas such as Ridgelands.
"By working with various agencies, we aim to strengthen Rockhampton's capacity to face future bushfire challenges."
Mr May said thanks to additional funding through the Black Summer Bushfire grants program, Council has recently completed various projects that will make responding to a disaster more efficient.
"Recently Council completed upgrades to the Gracemere SES car park, enhancing the SES's capacity to respond in an emergency," Mr May said.
"The car park will be utilised by all emergency services as a staging area in times of disaster and other events.
"To better protect our animals at the zoo, we also delivered improvements including path upgrades for better access, acquired electric trolleys to transport animal crates and installed a fire mitigation system.
"A key project I have been driving, thanks to the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery grants program, is the installation of quick access water pumps in rural areas and increasing water access for rural firefighters.
"The additional pumps and equipment were installed in a number of communities, including Ridgelands, Mount Morgan, Gogango and Stanwell, to provide the local fire service with quick access to water during very dry seasons.
"Ensuring there is access to water in rural communities is vital in the event of a natural disaster. Increased access means more homes, families and properties can be protected.
"I am proud to be managing these projects and implementing strategies to improve community resilience.
"I want to thank Council and NEMA for their continued support and I look forward to continuing to build a safer and more resilient future."
