What’s happening?
Redlands has brought together senior disaster management professionals from eight Queensland councils for a new skills development and exchange program. The training day, held on North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah), formed part of the Local Government Association of Queensland’s (LGAQ) Council to Council (C2C) Exchange Pilot, officially launched in August and funded by the RACQ Foundation.
Why it matters
The C2C pilot aims to strengthen disaster preparedness before emergencies occur. Redland City Mayor and Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) chair Jos Mitchell said the program builds on lessons learned from Tropical Cyclone Alfred in March. “The peer-to-peer learning through the C2C pilot will strengthen that support and bring extra capacity and professional development,” Mayor Mitchell explained.
Local impact
Mayor Mitchell said the program not only ensures Redland City Council is ready to assist other regions but also helps familiarise other councils with the Redlands in case support is needed. She added, “It will prepare Redland City Council officers if they need to help another council in an emergency; as well as familiarise other councils about Redlands City should we need their support again.”
By the numbers
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Eight councils were represented at the training, including Douglas Shire, Cairns Regional, Cook Shire, Cassowary Coast Regional, Townsville City, Scenic Rim Regional, and Lockyer Valley Regional.
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One major cyclone – Tropical Cyclone Alfred in March, highlighted the importance of collaboration when Redlands received support from Townsville, Mackay, and Douglas councils.
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More than 133,000 Redlands residents stand to benefit from stronger disaster response coordination.
Zoom In
During the North Stradbroke Island visit (Minjerribah), participants saw firsthand the erosion on Main Beach caused by Tropical Cyclone Alfred, underscoring the real and lasting impacts of severe weather events. LGAQ CEO Alison Smith said the program was “about Queenslanders helping Queenslanders,” connecting councils in times of crisis and building resilience during quieter months.
Zoom Out
Queensland’s geography leaves many regions vulnerable to cyclones, floods, and fires. Programs like C2C aim to create a unified network of councils able to share expertise, equipment, and personnel across distances, ensuring no community is left without help.
What to look for next?
With the C2C pilot underway, Redland City Council officers will continue training with other Queensland councils. The outcomes of this pilot may shape a permanent statewide model, giving local governments extra capacity to respond swiftly when disaster strikes.
