QLD:Flood inquiry recommendations cost $76m

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2011
QLD:Flood inquiry recommendations cost $76m

By Kym Agius

BRISBANE, Aug 23 AAP - Campaigns to stop people driving in floodwaters and encourage
them to better stock their pantries are included in the Queensland government's $76 million
campaign to prepare for natural disasters.

Premier Anna Bligh on Tuesday announced the government's response to the floods commission
of inquiry's interim report, which was released earlier this month.

It made 104 recommendations for the state government, all of which it has promised to implement.

Ms Bligh said $14 million would be spent this year to implement the recommendations,
and a total of $76 million over the next five years.

Before the next wet season, an advertising and awareness campaigns called Get Ready
Queensland will be launched.

It will focus on stopping people from driving into floodwaters and make sure households
have enough food to last for three days after a disaster.

There will also be a raft of extra training and resources for emergency workers before
the next wet season.

A minimum of 18 new disaster training courses will be established and delivered 400 times.

A further 200 State Emergency Service volunteers as well as 253 swift water rescue
technicians will be funded.

The government also wants to train 2000 people in disaster management arrangements by November 1.

An extra 19 flood boats will be bought and a further 37 by the end of next year.

A review of the Wivenhoe and Somerset dams' safety manuals is also well underway.

One of the major recommendations of the inquiry was to reduce the Wivenhoe dam to 75
per cent capacity should flood conditions be forecast for summer.

Ms Bligh said legislative changes would be made by the end of the year to clarify the
roles of the water entities and simplify the regulator framework.

"This will make it easier to make a reduction in the full supply level," Ms Bligh told
parliament.

The dams' emergency action plans would also be updated to better inform the community
about water releases.

Meanwhile, Ms Bligh said a dedicated unit has been established within her department
to ensure each agency implements all of the interim report's recommendations.

"Throughout our history of this state we have had to endure what mother nature had
to throw at us and we've always built back stronger than before," she said.

"That is exactly what we are doing now."

More than 78 per cent of Queensland was declared a disaster zone during the floods
in December and January, affecting more than 2.5 million people.

The estimated cost of the disaster is in excess of $5 billion.

The floods commission of inquiry's final findings will be released in February.

AAP ka/gd/dep

KEYWORD: FLOODS INQUIRY UPDATE

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