A stockpile of more than 25,000 sandbags, enough to stretch from Mossman to Port Douglas, has been ordered as Douglas Shire Council ramps up preparations for the wet season.
Two pallets of empty sandbags have arrived at Council’s Port Douglas depot, with sand already in place at sandbag stations across the shire ahead of the wet season. Empty sandbags will be available at the stations from mid-December.
Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said the sandbag stockpile should serve as a timely reminder for households to start thinking about their own wet season preparations.
“Our sandbag stations are being prepared for the wet season and residents can already familiarise themselves with the location of their nearest site,” Mayor Scomazzon said.
“While the wet season is still a few weeks away, now is the time to check your emergency plans, know where your nearest sandbag station is located and make sure you’re prepared for severe weather.
“Preparing early can make a significant difference when severe weather threatens.”
Sandbag stations are located at:
- Mossman Showgrounds
- Port Douglas Sports Complex
- Daintree Village Hall/Sports Oval
- Wonga Fire Brigade shed
- Alexandra Bay SES shed
Other measures being undertaken by Council’s Disaster Management Unit include:
- Recruitment and training of Council’s Incident Management and Shelter Management teams
- Progressing flood studies, hazard assessments and mitigation projects to improve understanding of local risks
- Coordinating disaster management training and strengthening the skills and confidence of staff involved in emergency response
