Somerset Regional Council Bushfire Recovery Plan Eastern Bushfires, 7 October – 19 December 2019 Mayor CEO Endorsed by: Somerset Regional Council on 12 February 2020 Graeme Lehmann Mr Andrew Johnson Recovery narrative Somerset is a region rich in diversity. From breathtaking mountain scenery to major water resources and recreational assets such as Lakes Wivenhoe and Somerset, the is full of beauty and discovery, which makes for an ideal country getaway and outdoor adventure. Damage and impacts Located only an hour away from ’s CBD, Somerset’s native forests, placid waterways and picturesque patchwork landscape is a major attraction for tourists and locals alike. Human and Social Environment • Community wellbeing – short term evacuations, Despite its idyllic lifestyle and location, the Somerset region is no stranger to disaster events, which has made for a robust and resilient • Approximately 25,500 hectares were affected community unit. Somerset is committed to increasing the resilience and growth of the community while continuing its commitment to a including Esk hospital. • Burnt and fallen trees – public health and sustainable future. • Community wellbeing – a number of impacted safety risk. properties not insured or underinsured. Council Mission • Concerns surrounding vegetation regrowth for • Community wellbeing – psychosocial wellbeing of rural producers community members affected, compounded trauma We, in partnership with the community, will realise our vision by: • National, state and local parks and walking • Focussing on our customer’s needs from drought. trails damaged, impacting on public access. • Planning for the future • Isolation for children due to school closure – Esk • Threat to flora and fauna in the region. • Utilising resources efficiently and effectively State School. • Increased erosion as a result of loss of • Using sound business practices • Essential services – loss of power and water to • Utilising the practice of continuous improvement vegetation affected communities.

Recovery narrative Recovery • Removal of water from already depleted water About the disaster event • Community messaging – limited radio broadcasts sources providing relevant information to the community During the November-December 2019 bushfires, a number of communities within the Somerset region were forced to evacuate due to during event. uncontained fires throughout the area. The fires continued to burn over several weeks, which led to disruption throughout the community, in particular to essential services, businesses, rural producers and tourism. The event required a multi-agency response, including the help of • Concerns surrounding limited support for wildlife interstate and international firefighters, to bring the blaze under control. carers Building Approximately 25,500 hectares were impacted by the 2019 bushfires in the Somerset region. • 4 dwellings were destroyed/uninhabitable. Economic • 3 sheds destroyed. Local Recovery Group • Power disconnected to a number of Recovery narrative Recovery Due to the prolonged time frames the fires continued (over two months), The Local Recovery Group was not formally established. Instead it was • Impacts to rural properties, such as fencing loss, decided that the recovery could be managed by the lead agencies involved based on 'business as usual'. As such, in using this practical model stock welfare and loss of paddock feed. homes/businesses. of our recovery plan, Council did not require full activation of all the subgroups. Similarly, during the fire events, the LDMG did not meet the • Potential loss of income to local services and small • Water tanks sustained fire damage/residue. need to go beyond 'Lean Forward' and operated by direct interaction with lead agencies. businesses • Loss/damage to irrigation systems and water • Tourism: potential impact on tourism due to road pumps. Lines of Recovery • Power poles damaged/destroyed. Damage impacts and Damage closures and closure of national parks The Somerset Regional Council Recovery Sub Plan involves four key functions: • Tourism: perception that area is unsafe - impacting • Kilometres of fencing destroyed local businesses. • Human and Social • Loss of primary production equipment – trucks, water • Economic tanks etc. • Environment • 840 hectares of plantation destroyed at HQ Transport and Roads • Infrastructure Plantations. • Kilcoy-Murgon Road, Monsildale Road, Esk Key stakeholders • Landcruiser Mountain Park evacuated Hampton Road, , Stakeholders include lead state government agencies, community groups, non-government organisations/non-government • Brisbane Valley Rail Trail closed in sections – impact Wivenhoe-Somerset Road, associations, local businesses and other invested parties. to tourism Road and a number of local roads were closed Recovery objectives during event. 1. Essential services – power and water supply - repaired and restored. • Road signs damaged/destroyed. 2. Emergency funding (personal hardship) available to the community. Recovery timeframes • Loss of sediment into Stormwater system as a 3. Provide psychosocial support to community members. result of fires with follow up rain storm 4. Rural producer fencing repaired and/or replaced. 5. Damage and impact assessments performed by QFES. 6. Fencing, sheds, water tanks and farming infrastructure repaired and/or replaced. Short term Medium to long term Ongoing 7. Restore confidence in the tourism market. 8. Damaged/destroyed road furniture is removed or replaced as required. Ensure that fire damaged trees are Human and Social 1 2 5 12 11 3 9 inspected and removed if needed. 9. Increase community awareness and preparedness for all hazards through community engagement. 12 6 4 7 10. Recovery of wildlife habitats to accelerate return of wildlife. Economic 11. Assist residents in finding grants/funding opportunities to support community recovery from event, for example DCDSS, GIVIT, BlazeAid and RuralAid. Environment 12 10 12. Enhance recovery governance through the updating of Council’s Local Recovery Sub-Plan.

Infrastructure 1 5 12 6 4 8

Recovery objectives Recovery Recovery timeframes Recovery Activations summary Map of SomersetRecovery narrative Somerset RegionalCouncil Map Map of Somerset Activations for Disaster Recovery Funding Assistance • • • • Disaster relief measure Fordetails of activations andassistance measures visit *The PHAS and ESSRS for Somerset is limited, refer to to refer limited, is Somerset for ESSRS and PHAS *The Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme (PHAS)* Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme Counter Disaster Operations www.qld.gov.au/community/disasters - emergencies/queensland www.qra.qld.gov.au/activations - disasters 20/11/2019 20/11/2019 20/11/2019 Activation date for specific areas. areas. specific for

Measure of success Recovery tasks Measures • • • • • Infrastructure • • • • • • • • • Human and Social Recovery tasks • • • • • • • Infrastructure • • • • • • • • Human and social replaced/fixed. Irrigation, water tanks and pumps have been Power hasreconnected tobeen all properties. Damageassessments completedhave been Asset damagehasidentified. been Roads are open andtrafficable. Psychosocial support services have provided. been disasters. Community increasedin preparationresilience of future recovery process. Community kept up to datewith key information during the communities andlocal non Stronger partnerships and relationships built with strategies.resilience securedFunding to support community recovery and Community havemembers accessed financial assistance. Schools have reopened andreturnedtochildren school. Community havemembers returnedto work. term accommodation. transitioned from evacuation centres into temporary/long Community havemembers returnedhome or have Power reconnections. advising residents on available support programs. pipes, pumps andirrigation to rural properties by Provide assistance to repair fencing, water tanks, assessments to undertaken.be Establish damageto dwellings / damage androad furniture. Removal of fire vegetationdamaged impacting road Replacedamagedroad furniture. Identify damagedassets. Reopen roads. shop for Council Promote Council incl. communications, stocking, materials etc. Confirm council processes for evacuation centres, Promote bushfire awareness in community Reopen schools assistance. to psychological support services to those inof need In partnership with relevant agencies, provide access the community. Identify andmanagepersonal hardship cases within individuals Provide emergencyhardship payments to impacted Assess humanand social impacts of of success ’ ‘ s s Disaster Dashboardas a one s s disaster messaging - government organisations. - stop - • • • • Environment • • • • • • Economic andtheir habitats. Identify impact andactivities to support therecovery of wildlife council landfill Allow easy access for community to safely dispose of waste at naturalenvironment. Identify impacts and activities to support therecovery of the trees Inspect andremove if necessary any fire damaged hazardous opportunities to assist recovery. Identify impact on agriculture andpotential funding business Stimulate the tourism sector within Somerset Engage with local community groups andimpacted businesses Reopen National Parks funding opportunities Assist with fencing replacementby directing properties to Contact rural properties to extentdetermine of impact • • • • Environment • • • • • Economic Effective waste disposal hasundertaken. been have removed. been Hazardous fire affectedtrees blocking road corridors Re Wildlife numbershave increasedin impactedareas. supported. Primary producers and rural properties have been eventsPlanned havein resumed theregion. reopened National parks andcamping grounds have been by event. Support has provided been for businesses affected business messaging, resulting intourism. increased Tourism - opening of national parks. ” . – targeted mediacampaigns / open for - “ open for