Western Downs Regional Council receives award for flood and fire recovery efforts

The bushfires that scorched the Western Downs in 2023 were some of the worst in Queensland’s history, but in the face of adversity Western Downs Regional Council has been recognised for their recovery work. DETAILS HERE.

Western Downs Regional Council won an award for their bushfire recovery efforts

Western Downs Regional Council has been awarded the Local Government Managers Australia Teamwork Award for their disaster response and recovery efforts during the 2023-24 bushfires and floods.

The 2023 bushfires on the Western Downs was one of the largest bushfire events in Queensland history with a total burn area of 13,102ha with 112 structures destroyed or severely damaged and 562 damage assessments completed.

Presented at the LGMA Awards for Excellence Gala at Brisbane last Thursday night the LGMA Awards recognise the best local government initiatives in the state and celebrate the outstanding work undertaken by councils across Queensland.

TARA, AUSTRALIA – NewsWire Photos – OCTOBER 31, 2023. A fire bombing helicopter lands in Tara, Queensland, about 300 kilometres west of Brisbane. Fire fighters have been battling multiple bushfire in Queensland and NSW. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Council also earnt third place in the Australasian Management Challenge, which pits teams of councils around Queensland in a one-day regional challenge.

Western Downs Regional Council chief executive Jodie Taylor said the award recognised the exceptional display of teamwork across all areas of the organisation during the recent bushfire and flood emergencies.

“I am just so very proud of the whole of council response and recovery efforts during the catastrophic bushfires and floods that ravaged the region in 2023 and 2024,” Mrs Taylor said.

“From co-ordinating the on-the-ground disaster response to the tireless dedication of our field staff in the sweltering heat of the front lines for the provision of water to those teams mobilising and manning evacuation centres and emergency communications – every single member of council stepped up to support our community through these challenging times.

“Through it all, the care our teams showed for each other and our communities, was truly extraordinary.”

Dalby Leagues Club under water in March 2022 floods Photo: Aiden Wilkinson

Mrs Taylor said council’s disaster co-ordination team were vital in helping keep the community safe.

“The disaster co-ordination team is a highly dedicated group of professionals and council staff, who demonstrate unwavering commitment and exceptional teamwork to keep our communities safe and connected in the face of some of the worst natural disasters our region has ever seen,” she said.

“During the bushfires of October and November 2023, our team did a tremendous job mobilising and manning evacuation centres in Dalby, Tara and Chinchilla for displaced and at-risk residents.

“Our disaster management team is made up of staff from multiple areas of council, and the way in which our teams have mobilised to use resources, collaborate and communicate during the darkest times in our community proves the adage that the whole is greater than sum of its parts.”

Mrs Taylor said it was great for council to be recognised for their efforts.

“During these times of adversity, councils staff worked around the clock for weeks on end as a united and cohesive team, with the Local Disaster Management Group, to deliver appropriate and accurate emergency response efforts, communications, resources, and support to affected areas,” she said

“In a mighty show of teamwork between council staff and external stakeholders, council was able to provide immediate short-term caravan accommodation for temporarily displaced residents and long-term emergency housing at the Tara Accommodation Recovery Park.

“It’s great to see our teams’ dedication and hard work acknowledged among the best Local Governments in Queensland.”

Originally published as Western Downs Regional Council receives award for flood and fire recovery efforts