General News
19 March, 2025
Push for vital disaster HQ
A $6 million disaster centre is topping Douglas Shire Council’s federal election wish list.
The council is advocating for the $5.77m disaster coordination, community recovery and resilience centre after the Mossman council chambers were found to be totally lacking in the December 2023 Cyclone Jasper flooding event.
Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said the Douglas Shire was one of the most disaster-prone regions in Australia and it urgently required a centre, purpose-built to provide coordinated support during and after cyclones, flooding and other crises.
“The impacts of Tropical Cyclone Jasper highlighted many deficiencies and vulnerabilities, severely disrupting disaster management efforts,” she said.
“Disaster coordination efforts were conducted from the Douglas Shire Council chambers at Mossman, a facility with structural disaster management weaknesses, inadequate space, inadequate communications and power continuity, minimal self-sustainment and with no community accessible facilities for recovery and resilience building activities.
“Establishing the Douglas Shire Disaster Coordination, Community Recovery and Resilience Centre is a critical investment in ensuring faster, more effective disaster response, reducing economic and social disruption and strengthening community resilience.
“It would also have the capability to serve as a primary backup site for neighbouring councils during a disaster.
“It also be used for a multi-purpose building, so it’ll be where the community can access services during and after disaster and we can also host training and education programmes through there as well.
“We’ve got to advocate hard. The elections are coming up, we’ll be pushing hard to try and get our local candidates to see if we can get this through funding.
“(The) council continues to advocate for improved disaster recovery and resilience facilities and have commenced negotiating with local members and other candidates.
“A Douglas Shire Disaster Coordination, Community Recovery and Resilience Centre funding commitment would highlight the major parties have a genuine care for our community and a focus on disaster preparedness, recovery and resilience.
“Something I think we could have a really good case because surrounding councils can also use as well, so north of us such as Wujal (Wujal), Cooktown and Hope Vale.
Beyond its role in direct disaster activities, the multi-purpose centre will offer a safe place to access services during and after a disaster.
It will host training and education programs for local government, emergency and service providers, volunteers and the community.
Additionally, it will serve as a safe and accessible gathering point for community engagement, information sharing, skills development and collaboration in disaster recovery and resilience-building activities.
Read More: Port Douglas
