North Queensland's ability to respond to whatever Mother Nature throws its way has been bolstered, with Townsville City Council securing funds through the Queensland Government's SES Support Grant Program to provide the local SES with a brand new Toyota Hilux.
The new dual cab ute, fitted with all the bells and whistles needed to navigate the rugged terrain of the disaster-prone region, has been formally handed over to the Townsville SES Local Controller Mark Tyrrell by new Mayor, Nick Dametto.
Councillor Dametto said the specialised vehicle, which cost $64,000, would serve as a crucial asset for supporting SES volunteers in responding to emergencies and natural disasters in and around the Townsville area.
"This year alone, Townsville and the broader North has weathered the realities of extreme weather during the monsoonal flooding event that took place from January through to March," Cr Dametto said.
"Disaster preparedness and ensuring that as a community we have the right people lined up, equipped with the necessary training and equipment, is imperative.
"The timing of the handover of this trusty Toyota Hilux to the good people of the Townsville SES couldn't be better, as we are now all turning our attention to the coming months of high-risk weather."
SES Local Controller Mark Tyrrell said the Townsville SES was ready and waiting to respond to the community should the need to arise in the coming months.
He said the new ute would greatly enhance the capabilities of the SES during its response to emergencies and natural hazard events.
"The addition of this vehicle, designed to be versatile and to stand up well in diverse natural environments, to our SES fleet will significantly enhance our ability to respond swiftly and effectively to a range of emergencies," he said.
"Its capabilities will allow our teams to access hard-to-reach areas, provide better capability to assist the community, as well as to conduct search and rescue operations with greater efficiency."
The SES Support Grant program provides resource-focused funding to assist local governments in delivering high-quality emergency and disaster management services.
