Whitsunday community to benefit from disaster resilience funding

The projects include $36,780 for the development of a new Whitsunday Disaster Manual for the community, $40,000 for a new Business Continuity Improvement Program and $39,800 for a Whitsunday Climate Change Innovation Hub research project to improve our response to disaster events in the future.

Mayor Andrew Willcox thanked the government for their support, adding the three projects would have major long-term benefits for residents and businesses in the Whitsundays.

“This funding is an investment into our region’s future and our capacity as a community to both prepare for and respond to disasters,” he said.

“My Council is determined to lead our community through recovery with the best knowledge available and these projects will assist via new tools and information.”

“The Whitsunday region has had its fair share of disaster in recent years and we will learn from our setbacks so we are a more resilient community moving forward.”

The Whitsunday Climate Innovation Hub will partner with James Cook University on a research project to better prepare the community and businesses in the lead up to a severe weather event, by assessing what preparation activities are most effective during the days before a severe cyclone or storm.

The new Whitsunday Disaster Manual will provide the latest, up-to-date information regarding severe weather and other natural disasters, and will be made available to all residents.

The Business Continuity Improvement Program will look at reviewing existing Business Continuity Plans in the region and identify areas of improvement, based on international best-practice.

The projects have been funded under the Flexible Funding Grants; a joint initiative funded under the Commonwealth/State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

For further information, please contact Council on 1300 972 753 or email at [email protected]