Central Highlands Regional Council is excited to launch the ‘Our Region, Our Resilience’ program, an initiative dedicated to building stronger communities, together.
A free, community party in the park at the Emerald Botanic Gardens will mark the official start of the program this Sunday 23 May.
Mayor Kerry Hayes said the program will drive information, awareness, and a more collaborative approach to community engagement around natural disaster preparedness, responsiveness and resilience.
‘We are very excited about the program, which represents our commitment to an improved approach to how we deal with flood and other natural hazards across the region,’ he said.
All are welcome to attend the launch party to learn more and enjoy a range of free activities including face painting, sausage sizzle by the Rotary Club, giant jumping castle and drawing competition.
The event will also officially reveal the new Emerald Memorial Flood Markers, installed last month.
‘The flood markers or totems mark the three highest historical floods on record of 1950, 2008 and 2010,’ the Mayor said.
‘The markers commemorate the lived experiences of those in our community who have been affected across the years, and serve as a reminder that we, as a community, live with the prospect of flood every day.’
The ‘Our Region Our Resilience’ program will involve several projects, the first being the Draft Planning Scheme Amendment for Floodplain Management.
Community engagement for the amendment will also kick off as part of the launch event, with a regional roadshow set for 23 May to 3 June. Council will visit 10 communities to share new flood information and discuss how together we can best plan for more prepared, responsive, and resilient floodplain management.
‘We hope the community will come along this Sunday and help us celebrate this exciting new focus on the delivery of a more integrated and coordinated approach to improved natural hazard management across the region,’ Mayor Hayes said.
To find out more about the Draft Planning Scheme Amendment for Floodplain Management or the ‘Our Region, Our Resilience’ program visit council’s website.
For those who can’t make it, you can also find out more by contacting council’s new, dedicated flood email flood@chrc.qld.gov.au