2025 Annual Disaster MANAGEMENT REPORT · Report

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING                                      9 SEPTEMBER 2025


Significantly, Council endorsed its Noosaville Foreshore Infrastructure Master Plan in June 2025
which incorporates climate resilient foreshore treatments to address growing risks of erosion and
frequent tidal inundation. Council also continues to work with the Department of Environment,
Science, Tourism and Innovation, the University of Sunshine Coast, the University of Queensland,
and University of New South Wales to improve modelling of coastal hazards and improve resilience
planning.

Council worked closely with QFD and the CSIRO to review and validate updated bushfire hazard
modelling and mapping for the Noosa region over the past two years. Council awaits State approval
of the updated mapping which provides a more accurate representation of bushfire hazard, so it can
incorporate this both in its planning scheme and public disaster mapping information. In addition, the
team are keeping abreast of any outputs from the Firetech program being managed by the Peregian
Digital Hub and any new innovations that can help to build resilience to future bushfire risks.

With regard to extreme heat risk, Council has partnered with Sunshine Coast Council and RMIT
University to undertake a Heat Vulnerability Index study of both regions, and partner with the
University of Sunshine Coast on modelling the effects of local microclimates and the Urban Heat
Island effect. This has resulted in the development of an Urban Greening Strategic Action Plan with
a staged three phase rollout, as well as the design of Cool Refuges in key outdoor recreational
spaces to support heat risk reduction for the Noosa community. Further work is required to address
the significant risk of extreme heat, including conducting a second pass (detailed) heat risk
assessment, developing an Urban Greening Master Plan, and an urban cooling and heat response
plan in collaboration with QLD Department of Health and other relevant agencies.

Recognising that continued emissions of greenhouse gases contributes to global climate change
which drives an increase in the frequency, severity and duration of these hazards, Council continues
to demonstrate leadership on reducing its emissions through a strong net zero target, whilst also
supporting community in reducing its emissions of greenhouse gases. Sustained effort to mitigate
climate change is essential in order to reduce the magnitude of change seen in climate-related
hazards over the coming years.

Building community resilience and facilitating adaptation to the changes already being felt continues
to be a high priority for both the Climate Change and Disaster Management Teams. Collaboration
on initiatives such as the Climate Wise Communities program, community climate risk workshops
and the Adaptation Game continue within the available resources of both teams.

Regular updates are given to the LDMG as well as the Emergency Operations Team meetings on
the climate change adaptation projects that relate to preventing disaster occurrence and improving
resilience to climate and disaster risks.

16. Focus for 2026
In addition to responding to emerging events, the program will continue to prioritise foundational
activities such as pre-season audits, ensuring the reliability of systems, reviewing key documents
and procedures, recruiting staff for the Local Disaster Coordination Centre (LDCC) during
activations, and delivering relevant training in disaster support functions.

Another key focus is the implementation of improvement actions identified from Tropical Cyclone
Alfred and the Western Queensland Trough system (Attachment A). These events provided valuable
learning opportunities, and considerable effort has been made to capture lessons and improvements.

Disaster reconstruction will focus on reconstruction from infrastructure damage arising from the
Western Queensland Trough system.

The disaster resilience program will continue to focus on disaster preparedness, but will also
undertake a reflections exercise from the extended disaster reconstruction program to assist in
informing future programs of this magnitude. The lessons learnt exercise will gather information from