Queensland resilience leaders recognised at state awards

Published Thursday, 19 September, 2019 at 08:30 PM

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Cameron Dick

Eight resilience projects that have helped Queensland communities better prepare for natural disasters and emergencies have been recognised at the 2019 Get Ready Queensland Resilient Australia Awards.

Minister for State Development Cameron Dick said it was important to acknowledge the crucial resilience work being carried out around the state, and to thank those involved for improving community safety.

“I would like to commend every applicant, finalist and winner for their efforts, often in the face of adversity, towards increasing Queenslanders’ resilience to extreme weather,” Mr Dick said.

“These innovative projects are safeguarding and strengthening our towns and cities, and they highlight Queensland’s globally-recognised ingenuity when it comes to disaster resilience.”

The Queensland winners were standouts in a highly competitive field, with a record 34 entries across six categories.

“Substation33 collected the Community Award for their work on Logan’s Flooded Roads Smart Warning System, developed in partnership with Logan City Council and Griffith University, which improves public safety through the use of low-cost automatic flood warning signs made with recycled e-waste,” Mr Dick said.

“Swayneville State School near Sarina collected the School Award for its Connecting the Divide mural, which was developed after Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie and has come to symbolise recovery and resilience in the region.

“Energy Queensland won the Business Award for its Building Resilient Queensland Communities project, which uses innovative technology and prioritised community partnerships to improve disaster response and minimise community impacts.

“And the People’s Choice Photography Award was won by Sarah Ebsworth from Queensland Fire and Emergency Services for her amazing ‘Grit and courage’ image, taken of a volunteer face to face with a blaze during the Deepwater bushfires of 2018 and capturing the brave heart of disaster resilience in Queensland.”

In the Local Government Award category, Redland City Council and Sunshine Coast Regional Council were both recognised for their own resilience programs.

“Redland City Council’s Community Champions Program connects community members with disaster management agencies to assist with planning, preparation, response and recovery,” Mr Dick said.

“Sunshine Coast Regional Council’s Schools Program was also recognised for empowering young people to make a difference by helping build resilience in their communities.”

Meanwhile, the Government Award category incorporates state and federal agencies, and was another category to feature multiple winners.

“The Brisbane River Strategic Floodplain Management Plan was recognised as an outstanding example of how locally-led, regionally-focused and state-supported resilience can achieve improvements for all parts of the community,” Mr Dick said.

“The Department of Housing and Public Works also received the Government Award for its Household Resilience Program, which helps homeowners in coastal parts of Queensland improve their resilience of their homes against cyclones.”

Each award-winning Queensland project will now be reviewed by the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience, with selected projects to be nominated for a National Resilient Australia Award on 31 October 2019.

People's Choice Photography Award attached.

ENDS

Media contact: Lesley Major 0419 288 284

2019 Get Ready Queensland Resilient Australia Awards Full list of winners and highly commended projects

Community Award winner: YFS/Substation33 (Flooded Road Smart Warning System) Highly commended: Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (2018 Minjerribah bushfires)

School Award winner: Swayneville State School (Connecting the Divide mural) Highly commended: Kirwan State High School (LIVIN Strong Program)

Business Award winner: Energy Queensland (Building Resilient Queensland Communities project)

People’s Choice Photography Award winner: Sarah Ebsworth, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (‘Grit and courage’)

Local Government Award winners: Redland City Council (Community Champions); Sunshine Coast Regional Council (Get Ready Schools Program) Highly commended: Townsville City Council (Townsville Aged Care Partnership Group); Southern Downs Regional Council (Resilience sub plan); Cairns Regional Council and Animal Care for Seniors at Home (But what about fluffy? project)

Government Award winners: Department of Housing and Public Works (Household Resilience Program); Brisbane City Council, Ipswich City Council, Somerset Regional Council, Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Queensland Government, Seqwater (Brisbane River Strategic Floodplain Management Plan) Highly commended: Department of Transport and Main Roads (Beames Brook Bridge replacement); Queensland Health (Building Resilience in Transcultural Australians Futures Program)