MINUTE WITH THE MAYOR

The greatest concern I have that may follow a disaster event is the inability to communicate with our community. As you are aware, this situation may arise following a cyclone when transmission towers and associated infrastructure are damaged.
Unfortunately as a society, we are becoming more and more reliant on social mediums and digital platforms to receive our news and to communicate with each other. Digital communication is almost totally reliant on towers for transmission.
To address these concerns, the Hinchinbrook Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) has adopted a communications plan which essentially sets out the various types of communication methods that can and will be deployed before, during and after an event so as to maintain communications and delivery of information to the public as necessary.
Obviously, the primary source of communication at present as indicated earlier is phone and internet service due to the speed at which information can be delivered. However, other means available and which are utilised include radio broadcast services and television. Fortunately, the television and radio broadcast services are facilitated from transmitters located well away from our district which lengthens the odds of being damaged when our district experiences a disaster.
Another option and a very important component of our supplementary means of communication is the humble CB radio. As you may or may not be aware, we are very fortunate in Hinchinbrook to have the services of many dedicated people who volunteer as our Local Area Wardens. The function of a Local Area Warden is to assist the HLDMG with situational awareness of circumstances in their particular areas and to assist members of the community with information both to and from the HLDMG, particularly when other primary sources of information are not working.
In situations when primary sources are down, The HLDMG will converse with Wardens utilising Channel 9 (Mt Mercer), Channel 16 (Wallaman) and Channel 5 (Ingham). Rural Fire Service personnel can utilise Local Area Warden channels from their Rural Fire Service Queensland vehicles. The Halifax LDMG subgroup operates under normal CB radio (Channel 3).
So if you have a CB radio in your vehicle or know a neighbour or friend that has one in a car or tractor, you may be able to utilise this medium to receive information or to send information to and from the Hinchinbrook LDMG.
Other forms of supplementary communication that may be used, depending on circumstances include: door knocking, loud hailer fitted to vehicle, roadside messaging boards and pamphlet distribution.
Hopefully we do not find ourselves in that situation, but it is important for you to know how to get information when needed. Further information on communication strategies can be found on Council’s disaster management pages at https://www.hinchinbrook.qld.gov.au/community-environment/disaster-and-emergency-information.
As Christmas is almost here, I would like to take the opportunity to wish our community the best for the festive season. I hope you get the time to relax and enjoy Christmas with family and friends. I would like to also thank everyone who donated to the Mayor’s Christmas Appeal. The response was phenomenal, and I have no doubt that your donations will make someone very happy on Christmas Day. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone.