Exercise Galvanise

5 September 2018

Exercise Galvanize Prepares for Flood Management

Goondiwindi Regional Council’s readiness for a major flood event was assessed yesterday in an exercise that tested its Local Disaster Management Plan.

The one-day workshop assessed the capabilities of the Local Disaster Management Group and other service providers to respond to a major levee bank failure in Goondiwindi and flooding in Yelarbon.

Representatives attended ‘Exercise Galvanize’ from Goondiwindi Regional Council, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Queensland Police Service, Queensland Ambulance, Darling Downs Health Services, Sunwater, Transport and Main Roads, and other local service providers at Gateway to Training in Goondiwindi.

Attendees were faced with different theoretical flood scenarios and asked to demonstrate their response plan for each situation.

‘The Local Disaster Management Plan is subject to annual assessment,’ said Jason Quinnell, Director of Community and Corporate Services at Goondiwindi Regional Council.

‘This was the biggest exercise we’ve run for some years. Events of this kind allow Council and community groups to ensure that emergency action plans are in place, and to identify any information gaps that need further research or preparation.

‘One take-away from the day is that we now know we need to look at modelling to determine more precise impacts, should the levee bank be compromised,’ Mr Quinnell said.

The Goondiwindi township is entirely within the floodplain of the Macintyre River and therefore susceptible to floods from heavy rain. The Macintyre River reached a record of 10.64 m during the 2011 floods.

‘The levee bank has not been breached since its construction following the 1956 flood,’ said Councillor Rick Kearney, Chair of the Local Disaster Management Group. ‘We’re very confident in the work that we do to keep the bank in good condition. We may be in drought conditions now, but exercises like this ensure plans are in place when we do get the rain again,’ he said.

A detailed report of outcomes will be delivered to the LDMG by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services in the coming weeks.

For further information, please contact:

Councillor Graeme Scheu
Mayor
Goondiwindi Regional Council
Mobile: 0427 718 877
Email: gscheu@grc.qld.gov.au