Cook Shire residents are being encouraged to help shape the region’s future disaster preparedness, with a series of community workshops taking place this April.
The sessions will directly inform new local disaster plans tailored to the unique risks, challenges and priorities of communities across the Shire.
With extreme weather events becoming more frequent and unpredictable, Cook Shire Council is working to ensure each community is better prepared, better informed and better connected when disaster strikes.
Workshops will be held in Cooktown, Lakeland, Rossville and Ayton, providing an opportunity for residents to share their local knowledge, lived experience and practical ideas. Workshops for Laura, Coen and Portland Roads will be scheduled later in the year.
We want to hear directly from our communities, what works, what doesn’t, and what we need to do better, so these plans are grounded in real experience, not assumptions.
Mayor Robyn Holmes said strong community input is critical to building effective and realistic disaster plans.
“No one understands the risks better than the people who live here,” Mayor Holmes said.
“We want to hear directly from our communities, what works, what doesn’t, and what we need to do better, so these plans are grounded in real experience, not assumptions”.
“The more people who get involved now, the better prepared we’ll be when it matters most.”
Participants will also gain a better understanding of local risks, emergency processes and how to prepare their households and properties.
Council is encouraging residents, business owners and community groups to attend and have their say.
The Local Disaster Plan workshops will be held on the following dates:
Cooktown Events Centre – Sunday 19 April, 9:00am to 11:00am
Lakeland Community Hall – Sunday 19 April, 2:30pm to 4:30pm
Rossville Community Hall– Monday 20 April, 10:00am to 12:00pm
Ayton Library – Tuesday 21 April, 2:00pm to 4:00pm
This project is funded under the Community Recovery and Resilience Officer Program, jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments.
For more information contact Cook Shire Council via email to mail@cook.qld.gov.au or by phoning 4082 0500.
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