Funding sought to upgrade State Emergency Services facilities

Council is hoping to secure funding to upgrade State Emergency Services (SES) facilities at Holloways Beach and Babinda, as well as improve sandbagging at six locations.

Under the State Government’s SES Support Grant program, there is financial support available for Councils to dedicate resources to SES groups to assist them to effectively respond to emergencies and improve community resilience.

Having successfully acquired SES Support Grants last financial year for upgrades and improvements to SES facilities at Trinity Beach, Machans Beach, Holloways Beach and Edmonton, Council is confident of again securing funding this year.

An application for $90,500 has been submitted for further upgrades to the Holloways Beach vehicle shed.

Upgrades to the facility were initiated with last year’s grant, but due additional costs associated with realigning sewage lines, additional funding was required to complete the project.

Council has applied for $56,400 for the installation of a generator to adequately supply power to the Babinda SES facility.

Funding of $123,600 is also being sought to improve sand bagging facilities at SES sites in Babinda, Edmonton, Machans Beach, Buchan Point, Gordonvale and Holloways Beach.

Timely and suitable access to sand and sandbags is critical in disaster management and improvements are required to provide better access and protection of sand bagging facilities.

The proposed structures will be a 6m x 6m concrete base surrounded on three sides by 80cm-high concrete block walls, covered by a fitted vinyl water shedding cover.