Michael Warren

Journalist

There are growing calls for Douglas Shire Council to immediately follow suit and launch a similar, critical initiative confirmed by Cairns Regional Council today.

Following its latest ordinary meeting, Cairns Council reiterated its commitment from late last year to engage an independent consultant to conduct a post-event review of its response to last December’s flooding event associated with ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper.

Cairns Council confirmed it intends to engage a specialist team to undertake the debrief, which will use an after-action review methodology.

Cairns Regional Council confirmed stakeholders engaged in disaster operations – including those in the Incident Management Team (IMT), the Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) and the relevant subcommittees – will be invited to participate in the review.

Council said the debrief will focus on determining the levels of effectiveness of operational, tactical, and strategic activities and initiatives, including governance.

The debrief is expected to commence next month and a final report due by late June.

Douglas Shire Council’s response to Ex Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the flood event has faced stern criticism over the past month with many residents slamming Council for disjointed, poor communication, lack of urgency, lack of planning, lack of leadership, vision, response to the double disaster.

Council has also been slammed for its response to the local roads and water crisis over the past few weeks.