Terrain NRM, the regional body for the Wet Tropics region of Queensland, has marked three years since Cyclone Larry decimated much of the central and northern Queensland coast with a reflection on the response effort.
Terrain CEO, Allan Dale, was appointed to the Operation Recovery Industry Action Taskforce, and said of the group’s involvement in the recovery process, “Our participation in taskforces and other teams made sure that NRM issues were considered and represented in plans for industry and infrastructure recovery, which was very important.”
“As a part of this participation, Terrain also provided direct support to industry sectors in developing their Industry Action Plans, and worked with Conservation Volunteers Australia to coordinate urgent clean-up and rehabilitation activities for landholders in the region. This was a critical contribution during a time when the clean-up support of other organisations and government departments was not yet in place.”
“Terrain also employed a response coordinator for six months to manage the development and implementation of post-cyclone investments and initiatives, develop post-cyclone response policy options and assess the impact of the cyclone on our delivery programs,” said Allan.
Since the immediate recovery response, Terrain has also supported a range of activities to help the Wet Tropics get back on its feet, including fundraising and funding efforts with Landcare Australia and the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal/Australian Dairy Farmers.
“Terrain was subsequently contracted to deliver these funds to priority activities in the region, including on-farm recovery, targeted revegetation works on priority waterways and wildlife corridors, supporting Traditional Owners to recover cultural sites, and an environmental impacts workshop for educators.”
The team at Terrain also provided on-ground support and coordination for the Backyard Blitz program, which, in partnership with Landcare Australia, ‘blitzed’ the much damaged grounds of the Innisfail State High School.
“We also hosted a community forum in 2006, which has since resulted in the establishment of a cross-sector committee, which will have direct access to, and influence on, any future disaster management response arrangements,” said Allan. “This committee will ensure an effective response to the needs of the environment after a disaster, and will also provide regular technical and policy advice to the District Disaster Management Group. Terrain is currently seeking resources to operate this important mechanism.”
