Shire Council wins community safety award

A CD outlining disaster management plans has taken one of the top awards at the 2008 Queensland Safer Communities Awards today.

The Burdekin Shire Council was jointly awarded the Local Government prize for their Disaster Management CD’, a project undertaken by Mayor Councillor Lyn McLaughlin and the Burdekin Shire Council Local Disaster Management Group.

The CD is aimed at reducing community vulnerability, improving resilience and sustainability during an emergency situation.

It is also used as a recruitment mechanism for the SES and has been distributed to every household in the shire.

The Council, with the active support of local branches of the State Emergency Service (SES), federal and state authorities and the community, considers disaster prevention and mitigation measures are long-term investments which enhance immediate and extended health, economic, social and environmental benefits for the whole community.

The Minister said that he was increasingly aware of the importance of new technologies, such as CDs, in keeping Queensland towns and cities safe in the face of threats and disasters.

“As Minister for Emergency Services in Queensland, I am aware of the challenges faced by our professional and volunteer emergency service personnel and the consequent need for a community-wide approach to safety,” Mr Roberts said.

“Building safer communities through organisational and community initiatives is a vital link in the chain of effective emergency management.

“Taking advantage of technological advances and a changing mode of communication between groups and individuals is central to devising successful community safety strategies.”

The Queensland Safer Communities Awards, sponsored by Emergency Management Australia, recognise best practice and innovation across the state’s emergency management sector, as well as business, government and community organisations.

In presenting the awards today, Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said the standard of the 17 entries in this year’s awards was especially high.

“We have had a record number of entries from across local and state government, as well as not-for-profit and educational institutions this year,” said Mr Roberts.

“These awards are about building safer communities through partnerships between organisations, individuals and government,” he said.

Five Queensland award-winners become finalists and will be judged in the national awards, which will be presented in Canberra at the Australian Safer Communities Awards Ceremony held in November.

Three entries in the Cross-Jurisdictional/National Significance category will also be judged for the National Awards.

The Queensland award winners are:

In the State Government category the winner was:

Emergency Management Queensland, Department of Emergency Services and Local Government Association of Queensland with ‘Disaster Education Resources for Young People and Children Project’.

In the Local Government category the joint winners were:

Burdekin Shire Council with the ‘Burdekin Shire's Disaster Management CD’.

South East Queensland Disaster Management Advisory Group – ‘Regional Standard Operating Procedures for Event Coordination Centres’.

In the Education, Training and Research Category:

Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland – with the “Under the Limit” Drink Driving Prevention and Rehabilitation Program.

In the Not-for-Profit category the winner was:

Red Cross (Lead), Department of Communities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Partnership Unit, Yumadi HACC, Mackay Aboriginal and Islander Community Health Service for their ‘Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and South Sea Islander Disaster Recovery Model’.

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Contact:

Emergency Services Media – 3247 8186

Jessica Lawrence ( Minister’s office) – 3247 8992