Goondiwindi Regional Council, Queensland, has finished $83,000 worth of upgrades to the flood evacuation assembly point in Inglewood to better prepare for future flooding events.
The upgrades include installation of a designated helicopter-landing pad, a new 5000 gallon poly water tank and new undercover area.
The project also included the purchase of a mobile generator, toilets, and catering trailer to prepare the area for use as a temporary refuge during a flood.
Chair of the Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG), Councillor Rick Kearney said Council would hold a community information day in Inglewood to familiarise the community with the Evacuation Assembly Point set-up and facilities.
“COVID-19 restrictions permitting, we are looking to host an information session later in the year so the community knows what to expect, how they can prepare, and how they should respond to a future flooding scenario.
“The Cemetery Road assembly point now has the infrastructure and equipment ready to operate effectively during a flooding scenario, for a period of up to 48 hours. While we all hope to be able to avoid the need to evacuate due to a flooding event, it should certainly be a reassurance that this site is equipped and ready should the worst happen.”
The project was jointly funded by Council and the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments under the Natural Disaster Resilience Program (NDRP).
Mayor, the Honourable Lawrence Springborg AM said Council would continue to investigate external funding opportunities for disaster management.
“Community infrastructure is a priority for this Council, and ensuring our community has the facilities it needs in times of emergency is especially important.
Flood records for Inglewood are available from as far back as 1956. The largest recorded floods to date occurred in 1956 and 1976, when the river height reached 12.50m and 11.73m respectively on the Inglewood Bridge flood gauge.
