Concerns over council readiness for bushfire season

TOOWOOMBA councillors have expressed concern at the region’s readiness to respond to bushfire season in the Crows Nest and Hampton areas.

A photo of the Pechey bushfire at dusk on November 13, looking back from Crows Nest. PHOTO CREDIT: Matthew Eastgate Photography and Film

TOOWOOMBA councillors have expressed concern at the region's readiness to respond to bushfire season in the high-risk Crows Nest and Hampton areas, after the findings from a new report were laid bare.

The new study by the TRC's water and waste group, which examined the current and future water pressure needs for the northern Toowoomba region, found several access points did not meet the minimum or maximum pressure requirements for the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service to use in case of a bushfire situation.

The study also highlighted how an earlier report from 2013 recommended the installation of more than 60 fire hydrants across the area, but the council was unable to account for them on the ground yet.

It comes on the back of a severe 2019 bushfire season that saw several serious fires in the Crows Nest and Hampton areas.

"Capital works need to be addressed, particularly the firefighting requirements," water and waste general manager Damian Platts said.

"If we were to face another November event, we would have slightly better response (this time), but not to the level I would be very comfortable with."

Water and waste chair Cr Rebecca Vonhoff expressed her concern at whether the council was prepared for the coming season.

"I'd hate to think we're making (the QFES's) jobs harder," she said.

The report recommended more than $2.18 million over the next 40 years towards fixing the network issues.