In the wake of the weather events surrounding TC Jasper, the Douglas Shire Council has introduced a variety of initiatives to increase resilience and preparedness for future events. The IT department of the Council has been instrumental in supporting Douglas Shire to prepare for, and respond to, future weather events.
During the events of TC Jasper, the Council identified an absence of communication infrastructure, which resulted in a lack of connectivity for those in affected areas. Major communication carriers were disrupted almost immediately, resulting in significant outages. Although some back-up alternatives were available to the community, a gap in education around the availability of resources prevented workers and the community from utilising this infrastructure. Vulnerable communities within Douglas Shire, particularly in the Daintree area, were cut off.
In a direct response to the issues discovered during TC Jasper, the IT department at Douglas Shire Council has rolled out a total of 13 Starlink satellite receivers, allowing key users (including critical resource entities such as the various Douglas Water Treatment plants, and the nearby emergency services) to stay connected during severe weather events where land based communication systems may be affected. The Douglas Shire Council is also in the process of rolling out educational programs to ensure that community members are aware of the resources that are available to them in situations similar to TC Jasper.
These initiatives aim to improve the community’s health and wellbeing, supporting continued interactions between vulnerable community members and strengthening relationships during high-stress situations. The additional upgrades at the Port Douglas library will also enable key Council emergency responders to remain online during severe weather events. As one Mossman resident stated, this upgrade will “[be of] benefit no matter the disaster.”
The uplift of these technologies and capabilities is safeguarding the community in preparation for future events and is addressing some of the key learnings from TC Jasper.
