Julius Grafton’s proposal to change how disasters are managed

An event manager says music festival organisers have the skills and equipment to create temporary homes for evacuees made homeless by floods. See his vision.

An event manager says his industry has the ability to improve responses to major disasters by reimagining festivals for those left homeless by flood or fire.

Julius Grafton, 65, said his experience in the festival industry since 1973 as a sound engineer, event manager and writer had given him insight into how “the biggest festivals are run”.

He suggested building “base infrastructure” at sporting fields which were elevated and had been assessed by fire teams for risk prevention.

Mr Grafton plan involves creating a “festival” like site instead of evacuation centres.

Mr Grafton said State Emergency Service personnel should be paid to manage and maintain the hubs.

He said by building concrete slabs near fields, the area could be fitted with conduit cabling, water tanks, solar and batteries permanently.

“You would need a big hurricane proof roof structure that is permanently used by community in different ways, such as fairs,” he said.

He said in a matter of hours it could turn into an evacuation centre that could power the site up quickly.

He said this infrastructure would add value to communities, while also benefiting the government, saving millions spent on flood repair damage and displacements.

Julius Grafton has almost 50 years of experience in the events industry. Picture: Facebook

He said local rural fire services could have a shed built there with emergency supplies.

Mr Grafton said festival crew workers could build a tent city and hoped a “progressive government” could pull it off.

He said people entering would be triaged as “routine” at festivals.

“Security and site crew understand dynamics of mixing groups up, they understand the psychology of crowds,” he said.

He intends to create a site designed to promote “mental well-being”.

Mr Grafton said he wanted to create a site that promoted mental well-being.

“I don't know what's going to happen in Lismore, I don't think anybody knows,” Mr Grafton said.

“No one is counting homeless people and making solutions. “

He said the centres would include everything a major festival had.

He also suggested paved roads with multiple access routes, a 4G tower off the grid and a provisions shed with supplies, camp beds and linen.

He also suggested an outdoor learning area for children, with paid teachers and nurses on site.

He said this was “easy” for events planners to arrange and maintain.

A tent city was set up at on the Wollongbar TAFE grounds to house the hundreds of fire service personnel who will be arriving to help with the massive clean up. Picture: Toby Zerna

“We could stage several relief sites at one time, and have base facilities around the country ready for disasters,” he said.

“On forecast of calamity, standing orders for generators, mobile toilets, showers, extra tents, trucking and supplies are placed with prearranged vendors who all get paid a base rate for the prep work should the rental not be required.”

Mr Grafton said Australian event managers were “the best and most versatile in the world”.

“All you need is us,” he said.

“Underemployed, almost broke, events people.”