New QRA role to help flood-affected Goondiwindi Region communities with recovery, reconstruction and improved flood preparations

The Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) has advised that it will provide the services of a new Regional Recovery Coordinator to be based in Goondiwindi for the next year.

The new role will coordinate the immediate recovery and reconstruction efforts for local areas impacted by the December 2021 floods. It will include assisting communities and Council to apply for funding and ensuring preparedness for future severe weather events.  In addition, the role will lead stakeholders through debriefings to identify and address a number of learnings from recent events e.g. the suitability of the evacuation site for the Inglewood community and the Bureau of Meteorology modelling and warning systems.

QRA’s General Manager Recovery, Ms Jo Killick, will temporarily take on the role and will be based at the Goondiwindi Regional Council offices in Goondiwindi from this week until late February 2022. The QRA will then identify another suitable Community Recovery Officer for the region to continue for a further 12 months.

Ms Killick will bring a wealth of experience to the region, having led recovery planning for the Central and Southern Queensland Bushfires and the North Queensland Monsoon Trough in 2019.

Mayor of the Goondiwindi Region the Honourable Cr Lawrence Springborg AM said he was grateful to the QRA for recognising the impact of the recent flood event on our community.

“We are very grateful to QRA for providing this resource for our region at no cost to our ratepayers,” Cr Springborg said.

“I’m extremely glad that the state government has recognised the severity of this recent event and the devastating impact it has had on many in our communities. As a regional Council we operate with a lean workforce and budget, and appreciate these additional resources to undertake the extensive recovery efforts particularly in relation to our roads.  Also there were some clear lessons learnt already this season and I have requested this support so that we can urgently work towards making sure we are as ready as possible for the next major flood in our region.

“I’m confident that Ms Killick will bring invaluable experience to the role and have an immensely positive impact on our future responses to floods in the region.”

“Council will hold a community debrief with Inglewood residents this Tuesday evening to talk through what worked and what didn’t during their recent evacuation and recovery – and the feedback shows that consideration of an alternate evacuation point will be a high priority, especially as this summer looks to continue to be very wet.”