Queensland disaster communications bolstered with Gov. tech

A federal MP says communications in a disaster can be the difference between life and death. Here’s why.

Regional areas like Ingham have had issues with communications during floods. Picture: Cameron Bates.

In the wake of the Royal Commission into Disaster Arrangements, the federal government is pitching the use of technology in order to ease communication issues in regional and rural Australia.

The National Broadband Network Co. is working with emergency services and councils, showing off portable antennas which provide people in a disaster area with satellite internet and mobile phone connection.

Federal communications Minister Michelle Rowland was in Townsville on Thursday for a demonstration day, showing the antennas to emergency responders.

Flinders Shire mayor Jane McNamara said a test of the technology had been undertaken at the remote Porcupine Gorge, 280km southeast of Townsville.

“Now, if you sort of stand on your left leg and scratch your right ear, you might get one bar of Telstra there,” Ms McNamara said.

“But with this ‘fly away’ unit they were actually able to run a drone over the whole area and do heat imaging for a search and rescue,” she said.

An NBN antenna used during emergencies and disasters, called a 'drive away kit'. Picture: Blair Jackson.

Burketown flooded this year and a lot of telecommunication infrastructure and solar panel batteries failed, Ms McNamara said. The mayor was impressed the new antennas can be powered by a car battery.

Flinders Shire mayor Jane McNamara says communications in her region are inconsistent. Picture: Blair Jackson.

NBN Co is shopping around three different types of antenna, ranging from $8,000 to $60,000. There is a fixed antenna that has been installed at remote hospitals, police stations and schools before.

Regional emergency services got a look at the ‘fly away kit’ which includes an antenna that folds up into cases quickly for transportation. NBN Co also believe a vehicle-mounted ‘drive away kit’ will be of use in the bush.

Federal communications Minister Michelle Rowland with an NBN satellite antenna in the foreground, at a press conference in Townsville on May 18. Picture: Blair Jackson.

“If anyone is interested, I strongly suggest that they contact NBN Co to find out how they can get involved,” Ms Rowland said.

“In some cases, warning messages that are sent can take days or hours to arrive. And we know that in a natural disaster that can be the difference between life and death.”

NBN Co regional and remote chief development officer, Gavin Williams, said the federal government had funded some of the units and seven retail service providers also offered the service.

Floods in Burketown left people with means of communication this year.

The government was responding to the The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, Minister Rowland said.

The commission made noted people involved in the 2019/2020 bushfires could see each other across state borders, but could not contact each other.

Ms Rowland was also spruiking a $10m federal government task force which is set to streamline the channels used by emergency services across the country as well as develop a national messaging system capable of sending emergency alerts using cell broadcast technology.

Originally published as Queensland disaster communications bolstered with Gov. tech