Thursday, February 10, 2011

Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry

Justice Catherine Holmes, Jim O’Sullivan AC and Phillip Cummins commenced the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry today. Their Terms of Reference include the adequacy of equipment and communications systems. Written submissions are invited by 5.00pm, 11 March 2011. The final report is due by January 2012.

My postings on the may be of interest to the commission. The 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission contacted me about postings on emergency communications.

a) the preparation and planning by federal, state and local governments; emergency services and the community for the 2010/2011 floods in Queensland,

b) the performance of private insurers in meeting their claims responsibilities,

c) all aspects of the response to the 2010/2011 flood events, particularly measures taken to inform the community and measures to protect life and private and public property, including

  • immediate management, response and recovery
  • resourcing, overall coordination and deployment of personnel and equipment
  • adequacy of equipment and communications systems; and
  • the adequacy of the community’s response.

d) the measures to manage the supply of essential services such as power, water and communications during the 2010/2011 flood events,

e) adequacy of forecasts and early warning systems particularly as they related to the flooding events in Toowoomba, and the Lockyer and Brisbane Valleys,

f) implementation of the systems operation plans for dams across the state and in particular the Wivenhoe and Somerset release strategy and an assessment of compliance with, and the suitability of the operational procedures relating to flood mitigation and dam safety,

g) all aspects of land use planning through local and regional planning systems to minimise infrastructure and property impacts from floods,

h) in undertaking its inquiries, the Commission is required to:

  • take into account the regional and geographic differences across affected communities; and
  • seek public submissions and hold public hearings in affected communities. ...
From: Terms of Reference, Commissions of Inquiry Order (No.1)k, The State of Queensland, 2011.


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