Hinchinbrook flood disaster: Queensland Fire deploy Flexible Habitat in Ingham, Townsville
A transportable, temporary tiny town for up to 90 emergency services personnel has been established in Ingham to aid the ongoing response to the Hinchinbrook flood disaster.
Townsville
Don't miss out on the headlines from Townsville. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A transportable, temporary tiny town for up to 90 emergency services personnel has been established in Ingham to aid the ongoing response to the Hinchinbrook flood disaster.
Vastly experienced Queensland Fire and Rescue Service station officer Paul Dunn from the Gold Coast, also a member of the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) team, said the Flexible Habitat had deployed at the Ingham Showgrounds gymnasium “to support anyone in the field during the disaster”.
“The Flexible Habitat, people refer to it as a ‘tent city’, has the capacity to cater up to 90 people in the field, plus the management team,” he said.
Mr Dunn said the Townsville-based habitat had been deployed to Ingham, while the Brisbane-based habitat was operating in Townsville.
Queensland Fire and Rescue Service officer Paul Dunn, head of a four-person management team in Ingham, said the Flexible Habitats comprised of nine large tents that could each sleep up to 10 people.
“That includes all the bedding, it’s not luxury but it is comfortable.”
Mr Dunn, who has been involved in multiple relief operations in Queensland or abroad, said the habitat’s were largely self-sufficient but were currently using features of the Hinchinbrook Shire Council Showgrounds, including the kitchen, toilets and showers.
“We have a contingency outside if the local facilities fall over, we have eight portable toilets, six portable shower units with hot water, we also have 6000 litres of potable water storage.”
He said 65 personnel based at the habitat had departed on Sunday, to be replaced by a new deployment of 60 to 70 SES volunteers on Monday.
“Generally what we do with the Flexible Habitat is to take the burden off the local community with crews coming into assist so we can house our of Fire and Rescue personnel, whether they be rescue technicians, Rural Fire or SES.”
Mr Dunn said the entire habitat, which was designed to be carried by a single semi-trailer, was confronted by a challenging situation given the destroyed Ollera Creek Bridge on the Bruce Highway between Townsville and Ingham.
“Normally, that semi would drive to the location, it’s got a fork-lift on it, we’ll unload all our pallets, set up all our tents, establish water supply, sanitation, decontamination and that’s how we go,” he said.
“In this instance, a full semi-trailer load of gear couldn’t get any further north than Ollera Creek.”
Mr Dunn said the Australian Defence Force stepped up, ferrying 10 to 12 truckloads of the habitat to Ingham where it was built up from Thursday to Sunday morning.
The urban search and rescue instructor said that in addition to the recent disaster, there were further concerns about the potential for renewed flooding, including at the Showgrounds.
“So viable sites where we can set this up, we haven’t been able to do that because there is potential that they may flood again and until the weather system has stopped, we are sort of hamstrung as to where we can go because it does appear that the water has been quite significant through here (the Showgrounds).”
A severe weather warning for “heavy, locally intense rainfall” was reissued for the entire Hinchinbrook Shire before midday on Monday.
“Six-hourly rainfall totals between 120 to 180 mm are possible during Monday, and could increase further up to 250 mm on Tuesday morning,” BOM warned.
More Coverage
Originally published as Hinchinbrook flood disaster: Queensland Fire deploy Flexible Habitat in Ingham, Townsville
Join the conversation
NQ flood disaster won’t end when the water recedes
While a reprieve from the rain is within sight, the impacts from the disaster will continue to be felt long term within industries across the region. Here’s how it could impact you.
Read more
‘Lost track of time’: Ingham health staff battle without end amid floods
A team of dedicated staff at the Ingham Health Service have knuckled down throughout the torrential floodwaters and inclement weather that’s battered the region recently.
Read more