Cairns’ mayor commits to independent review into council’s natural disaster management

A Cairns councillor has called for an outsourced review into authorities’ disaster response co-ordination after ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper. Here’s how the mayor responded.

Outsourcing a comprehensive review of Cairns’ Local Disaster Management Group’s response to Ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper and subsequent flooding calamity is vital, according to Division 5 councillor and mayoral candidate Amy Eden.

At council’s meeting on December 21, Ms Eden sought permission to table a motion that would commit Cairns Regional Council to an independent review, but the five-member Unity Team, who occupy the majority of council’s seats, voted to not progress the motion.

“It beggars belief,” she said.

“We need an independent review, our community deserve it.”

Division 5 councillor Amy Eden. Picture: Isaac McCarthy

Earlier in the same meeting, Cairns’ mayor Terry James said an independent review would happen, although his statement was not put to the council as a motion.

“Council would always conduct an independent post-event review in relation to our own role,” Mr James said, at the meeting.

“We are but one cog in the wheel of the LDMG, which is its own separate entity. It is only the state government … who can task the inspector-general of emergency management to undertake a full review in relation to the remit of the wider LDMG.”

Michael Saveka and his partner Bonnie Short, with children Maria, Indie and baby Sam, were sorting through the destroyed contents of their Machans Beach home. Picture: Bronwyn Farr

This week, Mr James reiterated an independent review, with a comprehensive scope that included council’s communications to the public, would “no doubt” happen.

He said the council had not yet engaged a specific external entity to lead the review.

“The full review is standard practice,” he said.

“(Ms Eden’s motion) did not need to be heard because we were already going to do a review.

“I said everything she wanted in the mayoral minute.”

Machans Beach resident Rosita Norman begins the mammoth task of cleaning up a flood-inundated home. Picture: Bronwyn Farr

Ms Eden said messaging received by Cairns’ residents by authorities during the calamity was confusing.

“I have had residents asking me ‘how can we be directing all residents in red and yellow zones to ‘leave now’ on Tuesday afternoon when it was clear by then that the threat was moving north and there was more than enough time to delay these big calls to see how the situation developed’,” she said.

Shae Curr-Parkes and Kate Hammacott become distressed as they wait for word from family members stranded by flood waters at Holloways Beach. Picture: Brendan Radke

“I have residents asking me – ‘what happened, were people asleep at the wheel, how can I get a message on Sunday December 17 at 7.28am saying ‘flood watch and act’ saying move to higher ground now’ when we recorded 825mm of rain in the Barron catchment in the 72 hours to 9am Saturday.

“We worry about complacency and people not taking things seriously – what can we expect when we get our communications and directions to them so wrong.

“We need to learn from this and be better next time.”

Originally published as Cairns’ mayor commits to independent review into council’s natural disaster management