Disaster preparedness goes mobile in Townsville

A Townsville-based online and print disaster management directory has been given a facelift for better mobile phone functionality to make accessing important information even easier for local residents.

Minister for Communities Coralee O’Rourke said FNQ & NQ Monsoon Trough Flexible Funding Grants were made available last year through jointly-funded Commonwealth/State-Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

“The Community Information Centre Townsville has used its grant to improve the way local residents can access existing disaster management information,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“A project officer was hired to design new interfaces and merge current listings, and I’m pleased that the new website was launched this week.

“The new website is easier to view and navigate on mobile devices, making it more accessible than ever.”

The project officer will also support the Townsville City Council with strategic disaster response plans, and identify other opportunities for digital engagement that could assist similar organisations that are still recovering.

“These Flexible Funding Grants are all about helping the Far North and North Queensland communities get back on their feet following the monsoon trough that struck in 2019,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“The first round of Flexible Funding Grants provided more than $4.46 million for a range of projects.

“The Community Information Centre Townsville was one of 68 successful grant applicants in the first round of these Flexible Funding Grants, receiving $136,500 for the implementation of its project.”

Townsville City Council Community and Cultural Development committee chair, Cr Ann-Maree Greaney, said the Community Information Centre’s directory had more than 2000 listings.

“During the unprecedented monsoon event in 2019, it was identified that the CIC’s directory did not allow for immediate updates to venues that could be used during a disaster or organisations that were displaced,” Cr Greaney said.

“The funding has allowed the new website to be built with a new directory platform where community organisations can list and manage their own listing.

“In the future, as soon as there is a change, the update can be made instantly by the organisation.

“Giving the organisations the power to manage this information builds resilience and independence in future disaster events.”

Mrs O’Rourke said the successful applications proposed initiatives that would assist the community with improving existing community facilities for any future disasters; purchase equipment for disaster mitigation, monitoring or recovery; and deliver recovery and resilience workshops and forums.

“We encouraged Queensland-based community groups, local councils, non-government organisations, research bodies and for-profit organisations in monsoon-affected local government areas to apply for these grants,” she said.

“We know that many communities were hard-hit by the monsoon trough, and our Community Recovery efforts are focused on long-term recovery.

“We are committed to assisting these communities as they get back on their feet and become more resilient in the face of future natural disasters and severe weather events.”

For more information visit: www.townsville.qld.gov.au/community-support/community-information-centre

ENDS

Media Contact: Benjamin Mulcahy (Minister O’Rourke’s office) 0419 562 389