2022-10-11 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                             11 OCTOBER 2022


11.     Queensland Reconstruction Authority Funding and Activities
In addition to the funding stream made available due to the February/March flood event the
following funding program/s were applicable to Council in this category in the 2022/2023
financial year.
      Get Ready Funding
      2019 Bushfire Recovery Funding
      Black Summer Bushfire Funding
      Local Economic Recovery Program
Council received $22,300 in funding in 2022/2023 under the Get Ready program. The funding
aims to improve community resilience to disaster events. Projects funded this year include:
      Preparation and delivery of radio and television advertising in relation to disaster prep.
      Enhancement to and delivery of a primary school education program.
      Printing Get Ready Queensland (GRQ) branded Emergency Action Guide and GRQ co-
       branded collateral for community education events.
12.     FireTech Connect
Developed by the Peregian Digital Hub in the wake of the 2019 bushfires, Firetech Connect has
brought together tech companies, Council and QFES with the goal of boosting bushfire
resilience. Achievements to date include:
      On 7 June 2022, Firetech Connect partnered with Telstra to trial drone assisted 5G
       emergency communications capabilities at the Ringtail Quarry.
      On 5 July 2022, Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Queensland Fire
       and Emergency Services to partner together to trial a range of technologies to predict,
       detect, track and fight bushfires.
      On 19 July 2022, Firetech Connect partnered with Rhinmetall and Telstra to trial an
       autonomous emergency response vehicle that was controlled via the 5G network with
       assistance of drone assets. This trial occurred at Ringtail Quarry.
      On 23 September 2022, Council partnered with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
       to install twin 360-degree AI enhanced Fire Detection Cameras on Mt Tinbeerwah. The
       installation is a part of a trial in conjunction with US based company Pano.IO which will
       see a Queensland first trial of this novel technology. This capability will then be further
       enhanced with the addition of another set of cameras on a Council owned
       telecommunications tower at Black Mountain. This installation will occur in mid-October.
The contract for FireTech Connects Big Data Lab has recently been awarded, design has been
completed and construction has begun with delivery due in mid-February 2023.
Previous Council Consideration
Nil.
Finance
A further report will be presented in late 2022 providing a financial update on disaster
management operations, including delivery of grant funded projects.
Previous Council Consideration
Nil.
Risks & Opportunities
The recent flood event highlighted deficiencies that require addressing to enable Noosa Council
to better respond to future flood events. These deficiencies include the lack of:
      contemporary flood assessments and modelling


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