Disaster Coordination Centre tender awarded
Date published: 25 July 2017
Council is delivering more jobs with its capital works program with local firm Jackson Semler awarded the tender to construct Townsville’s Local Disaster Coordination Centre at today’s full council meeting.
Townsville Mayor Cr Jenny Hill said up to 100 jobs involving various technical skills and trades would be supported during the construction and ongoing operation of the centre.
“I said back in March last year that the construction of the coordination centre would support local jobs and I am happy to say that is exactly what is happening,” Cr Hill said.
“This centre will be able to withstand the full force of a Category 5 cyclone and that will allow the Local Disaster Management Group to coordinate emergency responses and repairs where and when they are needed.
“The current coordination centre at the Bamford Lane depot is aged, not custom designed and only rated up to a Category 3 cyclone event which would not have stood up to Cyclone Debbie had it hit Townsville.
““The coordination centre will be tailored to manage the local responses before, during and after a disaster.
“To ensure ratepayers are getting the best value for money out of this centre, the facility will be the daily operation centre for the CCTV security room.”
The disaster centre received $1.9 million funding support from the joint Commonwealth-State Natural Disaster Resilience Program.
“The joint funding from the Commonwealth and State Governments acknowledges the importance of having a modern, highly effective coordination centre for the city’s protection.
“Construction of a tailored facility will place the local disaster response headquarters at an a site that will not be cut off due to flood waters while ensuring essential lines of communication remain open during major natural disasters.”
Council set aside $6.8 million in the City Budget for the construction which is set to commence by the end of August at the Dalrymple Road service centre.
