Redland Bay SES Group is one step closer to having a new operations centre with work progressing on the fit-out of a building at Redlands Business Park.

Redland City Mayor and Local Disaster Management Group chair Karen Williams said the new premises, which were purchased by Council last year, would meet the ongoing and future needs of the Redland City SES Unit and increase its capacity to service the expanding Redlands Coast community.

“Our local SES crews have a reputation as being among the best across the state and this $1.735 million facility will allow them to support the southern part of our city,” she said.

“This new facility will also provide additional support to the Southern Moreton Bay Islands and can be used as a staging area for incoming crews if required.”

Front from left: SES Local Controller Clare Barker, Member for Redlands Kim Richards, Mayor Karen Williams, Cr Julie Talty, Cr Mark Edwards. Middle row from left: Project manager Alex McGregor, Redland Bay SES Group Leader Daniel Tuckwood, Council’s Disaster Planning and Operations Manager Michael Tait, Cr Lance Hewlett. Back from left: Site supervisor Peter Huston, SES Regional Manager Mark Dole.

Cr Williams said the new building would also add to the Redlands Bay SES Group’s incident management and operations capability and add an extra Incident Control Room – both of which are currently run from the Cleveland SES Group’s base.

“All mainland groups are currently tasked out of Cleveland for a Unit response, adding a 40 to 50 minute turnaround time for crews working in the southern end of the city during operations and to attend training.

“This facility will reduce that response time, giving the community confidence that help is on hand when it’s needed.”

Division 6 Councillor Julie Talty said the new premises on Jardine Drive would be substantially larger than the Group’s current shed at Weinam Creek.

“The new facility is large enough to house all the SES vehicles, boats, trailers and equipment,” Cr Talty said.

“It will also include areas to wash down vehicles, to do basic equipment maintenance, and a lockable storage area for portable items such as chainsaws, generators, ropes and harnesses.

“It will also provide a reception area, an office area that can be used as an incident control room, a training room, staging area, kitchen, toilets and showers, a storeroom, a communications room and parking onsite.

“The Redland Bay SES Group is committed to ensuring the safety of everyone on Redlands Coast and the volunteers are excited about the opportunities for providing an even more cohesive service from their new base.”

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services has provided a grant of $75,000 towards the fit-out of the building, and Redland Emergency Service Volunteer Association has committed $40,000 towards the fit-out, furniture and fittings.

State Member for Redlands Kim Richards said, “Our Redland SES Groups are highly awarded and home to some of our finest frontline personnel, so it is only fitting that they have a home that reflects this.

“It was fantastic that the Queensland Government was able to support Redland City Council in delivering the new facility with $75,000 in QFES SES Support Grant funding to assist with the fit-out.”

The fit-out of the Redland Bay building is expected to be completed by early April 2021, weather permitting.

Redland City Council has established sandbagging stations.

Council Depot Cleveland – 199-205 South St, Cleveland – Click here for directions
Council staff and SES will be onsite to assist. Sand, bags and shovels will be supplied.
Open from 10:30am – 5pm

24-hour self-service sandbagging stations are located at:

Council Depot Dunwich – 11-37 Mitchell Cres, Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island – Click here for directions
Outside the Redland City Council Depot, 11-37 Mitchell Crescent, Dunwich –
Sand and bags supplied. Please take your own shovel.

Council Depot Russell Island – 6 Cambridge Rd, Russell Island – Click here for directions
Outside the Council Depot on Cambridge Road. Sand and bags supplied. Please take your own shovel.

Council Depot Macleay Island – 22-24 Scarborough Rd, Macleay Island – Click here for directions
Outside the Council Depot on Scarborough Terrace. Sand and bags supplied. Please take your own shovel.

Please note: enclosed shoes must be worn.

Council reminds residents to check gutters are clear and to secure loose items around the home.

Need assistance?

☎️ Call the SES on 132 500 to log a job, which will be prioritised and tasked. This will help ensure our most vulnerable in the community are addressed as a priority.

🚨 Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if the situation is life-threatening.

⚡️ Call Energex on 13 19 62 to report fallen powerlines. Remember to stay clear and warn others.

📞 Call Council on 3829 8999 to report fallen branches on public spaces across the city.

Please mindful of conditions when outdoors; Queensland Fire and Emergency Services advises that people should:

• Never drive, walk or ride through flood waters. If it’s flooded, forget it.
• Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
• Avoid using the telephone during a thunderstorm.
• Beware of fallen trees and powerlines.

For the latest advice and emergency warnings:

• Head to www.bom.gov.au
• Tune in to 612ABC
• Bay FM 100.3
• Monitor Council’s Disaster Dashboard
• Follow Redland City Council on Facebook and Twitter

Council has completed all 56 recommendations included in the 2017 Fire Review by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES).

Redland City Mayor and Local Disaster Management Group Chairperson, Cr Karen Williams said the QFES report was commissioned by Council following the 2016 fires on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands and resulted in significant improvements across the Redlands Coast.

“The community is to be congratulated for their very positive support towards these improvements.

“Commissioned by Council following 2016 fires on Macleay and Russell Island, the Fire Management Plan Review Report was a partnership with other emergency agencies and stakeholders who together worked to respond to the 42 recommendation made for SMBI fire responses and 14 for the mainland.

“Our Southern Moreton Bay Islands (SMBI) Island communities, in particular, are now much better prepared and supported including through the acclaimed SMBI Community Champions and new SMBI Coordinator role.

“Brokered in response to the review recommendations, the volunteer SMBI Community Champions have demonstrated the vital role that strong local networks have in supporting community resilience and emergency responses, especially for more remote communities like SMBI.

“Community education and awareness campaigns have been a fundamental part of the review response and included ‘Safer SMBI, “Spring Clean-Up’, ‘Know Your Neighbour’, ‘Street speaks’ and ‘Get ready campaigns’.

“The campaigns have helped to drive property clean-up and hazard reduction efforts and increased community resilience and readiness in an emergency.

“Tonnes of additional rubbish and abandoned car bodies have been removed from the SMBI properties in direct response to the campaigns. A property compliance effort has also resulted in 764 notices issued to reduce fire hazards and 83 properties cleaned up by Council and contractors.

“The ‘know you neighbour” campaign alongside new island coordinator and community champions has helped expand support for more vulnerable community members during emergencies.

Other fire review responses have included:

• New local area emergency management plans developed across the city and provided to residents.
• GIS mapping undertaken and sophisticated hazard and fuel load technology used to assess and map fire risks.
• Evacuation routes surveyed and updated and emergency signage installed.
• Fire trails inspected cleared and widened and a future program of work identified.
• A new community emergency dashboard warning and alert system developed and in use.
• Program of annual hazard reduction burns and vegetation management undertaken.
• Vital new telecommunications infrastructure installed and upgraded.
• New fire and emergency services equipment allocated and a new Brisbane Region Fire Mitigation Brigade established.

“Council, the community and multiple agencies have responded positively to improving our fire and emergency response. Working closely with the community and supporting individual responsibility for fire safety on private properties remains essential to ongoing improvement,” Cr Williams said.

“While today’s Council report formally closes the Fire Report recommendations, it does not stop the fire management activity that will continue alongside Council’s annual disaster preparedness activities.

“Recent storm events have reminded us to be ever vigilant in the face of fire, flood and storm events and to look at and address risks around our properties’.

‘Council will continue to support and advocate for well-co-ordinated fire and emergency responses across the Redlands, especially the regional hinterland areas around Mount Cotton and the Bay Islands including North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah).

Locations with large bushland areas, unique logistical and access issues, and demographically higher aged and vulnerable communities continue to require a whole of government and community response’.

Redlands Coast residents are urged not to drive through flood water over roads after emergency services attended five swift water incidents overnight.

Redland City Mayor and Local Disaster Management Group chair Karen Williams said one driver had to be rescued after her car ended up on a guard rail on Springacre Road, Thornlands.

“While last night’s rain was far above what the bureau predicted it is concerning that some motorists took unnecessary risks by driving on flooded roads and they were very lucky their actions didn’t end in tragedy,” she said.

“I urge all drivers to heed the messaging – if it’s flooded, forget it.”

The other swift water incidents occurred on Vienna Road Alexandra Hills, Duncan Road and Avalon Road in Sheldon, and Pitt and Nelson Road Wellington Point.

Cr Williams said Redland SES Unit received 110 calls for assistance overnight after last night’s downpour.

“The level of rain that fell on Redlands Coast last night over a short period of time was remarkable, and included 118mm at Alexandra Hills between 6.15pm and 7.15pm.

“Most of the calls to the SES were for flooding and leaking roofs.

“I urge everyone to be patient as our wonderful SES volunteers make their way around the city.

“If any residents, especially those in low-lying areas, have concerns about flooding to their properties I encourage them to attend one of Council’s self-serve sandbagging stations set up today at the South Street Depot in Cleveland and outside the depots on North Stradbroke (Minjerribah), Russell and Macleay islands.

“More rain is forecast over the next couple of days, with the Bureau of Meteorology advising the chance of a thunderstorm, possibly severe, today so I encourage residents to go early to collect sandbags.

“I also encourage residents whose properties are prone to flood to have sandbags at their home ready for significant rain events.”

Cr Williams said Council would continue to monitor water over roads, however the majority of flash flooding had subsided.

“Leslie Harrison Dam, which is managed by Seqwater, started to spill last night and our catchments are waterlogged, so any further rain could lead to more flooding,” she said.

Council’s sandbagging stations are open until 6pm today.

Contact the SES on 132 500 if you require assistance or if you need sandbags outside sandbagging station hours.

For life-threatening emergencies, contact triple zero (000) for Police, Fire and Ambulance services.

Keep up to date on weather warnings at bom.gov.au/qld

Redland SES Unit is well prepared for storm season and general rescues with the official launch of a new purpose-built vehicle for the Cleveland Group.

Redland City Mayor and Local Disaster Management Group Chair Karen Williams joined SES volunteers to launch the truck.

“This new vehicle has been specifically fitted out for SES use for storm response and with general rescue equipment,” she said.

“This includes ladder lifters which make it easier and safer to get ladders off the truck, and improved storage for chainsaws, PPE and kit bags.”

Mayor Karen Williams with members of Redland SES Unit, SES Regional Manager Mark Dole (far left) and Council’s Disaster Planning and Operations Manager Michael Tait (far right) with the new SES vehicle

Cr Williams said the vehicle was purchased using funding from Council along with a grant from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund.

“Council was very happy to support our SES volunteers with guidance on grant writing and assistance with the purchase of the vehicle with the right specifications and gear.

“Council’s Fleet Services team will also provide ongoing maintenance support for it.”

Cr Williams said Redlands Coast was lucky to have one of the hardest-working, community-minded SES teams in Queensland.

“During the past year, the unit responded to more than 376 incidents including searches for missing people, assistance with fires, storm damage and police support with COVID-19 border security.

“Our SES is about people helping people and this new vehicle will make their job that much easier.”

Cr Williams acknowledged Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, State Emergency Service and the Redland Emergency Services Volunteer Association for their support in obtaining the grant for the vehicle.