A region wide working group comprised of Sunshine Coast Council and relevant state agencies involved in local bushfire response and recovery operations will develop a program of works for the $1M bushfire recovery grant which council has received from the Commonwealth Government.
The program of works will be developed for consideration by council at its March Ordinary meeting in time for its submission to the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) by 27 March 2020.
Mayor Mark Jamieson said recent unprecedented bushfires both locally and interstate had reinforced the need for our region to continue with its efforts to adapt and be resilient to the impacts of a changing climate.
"Our council recognises climate change as one of four drivers of our Environment and Liveability Strategy, given its potential to impact on the health of our environment, the lifestyles we lead, and the resilience of our community," Mayor Jamieson said.
"Last year's bushfires were unlike anything we have seen on the Sunshine Coast and this funding will assist with both the recovery and long term planning to boost the resilience of our community to future events like this.
"This funding will be used to take direct action through projects that identify risks, and to provide information and advice to the community to help prepare for events such as bushfires.
"Areas within our community are still recovering from last year's fires but we're also looking forward to building the resilience of the natural landscapes and biodiversity which we all value.
"An important part of our natural environment is the almost 7000ha in our conservation estate, parts of which were very close to fires, and the areas participating in our Land for Wildlife program.
"Much of this land backs on to national parks and requires careful and sensitive management to reduce hazards.
"People are rightfully anxious about these very dry seasons and the impacts of climate change.
"Compared to some regions, we have been fortunate this season but let's not leave that to chance.
"Council is continuing to work to provide information and education to our community on how to prepare for the impacts of a changing climate, with information and advice on preparing for disaster events a key part of this process."
Recent council projects which are part of council's comprehensive climate change adaptation and resilience planning under our Environment and Liveability Strategy include:
• the development of the Sunshine Coast Solar Farm (which has offset 109 per cent of council's electricity use)
• work underway to develop a Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy (Our Resilient Coast. Our Future)
• the Blue Heart Sunshine Coast project which is a tripartite commitment between Council, the Queensland Government and Unitywater to support a more sustainable blue carbon future for more than 5,000 hectares of the Maroochy River flood plain
• council's continuing advocacy to enhance protection and preservation of the Regional Inter-urban Break.
"Council is appreciative of the Federal Government's support and a process that enables council and local experts to determine how it is best deployed in the most effective manner to projects that are in the best interests of the future resilience of our region.
"In the short term, it's important to remember that the Sunshine Coast's disaster season has not ended; the region is drought-declared, fire events are still a threat and storm season is now with us."
Residents should visit council's Disaster Hub
