‘Tough reading’: Cairns council’s post-TC Jasper review finds key failings in disaster response
Major shortcomings in the Far North’s disaster response during Tropical Cyclone Jasper have been identified in Cairns Regional Council’s submission to the Inspector General of Emergency Management.
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Major shortcomings in emergency services’ response to Tropical Cyclone Jasper and flooding have been identified in Cairns Regional Council’s submission to the Inspector General of Emergency Management.
Cairns councillors endorsed the submission to the IGEM on Wednesday, which is reviewing Queensland’s 2023–24 severe weather season with actions to improve the state’s preparedness.
A “critically ineffective” Australian Warning System, unreliable weather information, a lack of Far North forecasters and the absence of key Local Disaster Management group members were highlighted by the council in its submission as major challenges during the natural disaster.
The submission also called out an over-reliance on AWS communications, impacting the LDMG’s ability to issue localised warnings and poorly co-ordinated and inadequately resourced personnel and equipment.
The flooding and cyclone accrued an estimated damage bill of more than $1bn.
“The events of December 13-17 (2023) will forever be remembered in the history books of Cairns,” Division 8 Cr Rhonda Coghlan said.
“It was unprecedented. It was difficult. Yes, it was chaos and it just happened so terribly fast.
“The flooding we experienced, its volume and velocity had never been experienced in living memory.
“While property damage was unprecedented we are very thankful that there were no serious injuries or loss of life (in Cairns).”
Meanwhile, a separate, independent after-action report commissioned by the council into the major weather event has made 17 recommendations to improve responses to disaster management.
The Cairns Local Disaster Management Group will action improvements outlined in the independent Forge After Action Review, which considered the operational, tactical, and strategic activities during Tropical Cyclone Jasper and flooding in December 2023.
“It is a bit of tough reading,” Mr Tickner said.
“This is really is a council looking inward and saying, ‘We did a good job with some things but we need to pick up our game here and here’.
“It’s that transparency … whether you think council did a good or bad job I think this is good for any further issues we have with events like this.”
The council issued an advertisement recently for a new disaster co-ordinator to take on the critical role.
It’s understood the previous co-ordinator had been seconded to the role following the resignation of their predecessor in late 2022.
The incoming local disaster co-ordinator will “lead, develop and maintain prevention, preparedness, response and recovery programs” according to the job description.
Councillors acknowledged the work of emergency services, staff and volunteers for their efforts during and after the natural disaster.
“We definitely can’t guarantee this won’t happen again,” Ms Coghlan said.
Mayor Amy Eden was appointed as the new chair of the Local Disaster Management Group at the post-election meeting on April 12, 2024, with Deputy Mayor Brett Olds appointed as the deputy chair.
Ms Coghlan is the chair of the Cairns LDMG Recovery Committee.
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Originally published as ‘Tough reading’: Cairns council’s post-TC Jasper review finds key failings in disaster response
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