State Member for Cook Jason O'Brien has responded to claims that the cyclone shelter, set to be built on Port Douglas State School property this year, should be constructed on a site on Old Port Road.
In The Newsport article 'STOP! Look closer urges locals' (Monday 9 January, 2012), residents Russell Jean and Steve Hull were calling for the cyclone shelter plan to be revised, citing a 12000sqm Council owned block in Old Port Road (approximately 200m from the Captain Cook Hwy intersection) would allow future expansion of facilities, better road access, and less management concerns than the school site.
The article prompted Mr O'Brien to respond to their claims saying the Old Port Road site lies in a 'moderate' flood risk zone, or yellow zone indicated in the Council's flood maps, making it an inappropriate location for the shelther.
"I have just had it re-confirmed that the site the two gentlemen (Mr Jean and Mr Hull) are advocating for is in the yellow flood zone and therefore would never be considered for this project," Mr O'Brien wrote in the Have Your Say comments area of the article.
"The flood map is available on the Council website but I asked officers to confirm. Sites were only considered that were in the white zone (above the Q100 flood level), had highway access, were clear of other buildings and trees and had helicopter access just to name a few of the key criteria.
"The school site ticks all these boxes and is pretty well the only site freely available in Port Douglas that does so," he said.
To add to the intrigue, the Council Evacuation Map which indicates storm tide levels shows the site in question seemingly bordering a 'safe' white zone and yellow zone (pictured above).
Mr O'Brien added that issues such as management and public access are currently being addressed.
"The school principal is preparing a template memorandum of understanding so that community groups will be able to use the facility.
"Of course everyone wants a bigger one (cyclone shelter) but with no other level of government able to contribute to the capital costs now nor to the fit out, ongoing maintenance or management this is the best option the State Government has to provide Port with a safe facility as well as a sport and recreation centre.
"The plans for the centre have previously been put on The Newsport website and I urge people to look at what a great facility this will become."
But Mr Hull added his thoughts to Monday's article saying he and Mr Jean had done their homework in recommended the alternative site.
"When Russell and I started our push for this to become a bigger, better and more suitable facility for our 12,000 residents (regional) we obviously checked the storm surge maps.
"There is over 5,000sqm of white zone on the land in question.....also ALREADY in place......DIRECT highway access for emergency vehicles......immediate direct areas for bus/car parking and helicopter access...no buildings or trees that would cause problems in a storm.
"These are KEY criteria requirements as per QLD govt public works guidelines.
This site certainly ticks a lot of boxes! "
Read more of today's news. Check out The Newsport home page.
also as an example,the currently proposed regional shelter has HALF the internal gathering space of the mossman community centre.
with regards to an accurate population figure from oak beach up to the lower daintree(which is the area designated for this shelter)it is a bit of a task.i spoke with julia leu re this and she pointed me to some govt websites that helped.
the figure is somewhere between 10/12,000.
Even when the firies come to the school for an educational visit now there is not enought room for one emergency vehicle and kids let alone all the emergency services if required and the unreasonable number of locals u expect to cram into this "cyclone shelter"
Time to stop and think people before they start construction on this useless building when we get left with a sub-standard facility.
Just a quick reply in relation to Mr OBrien's latter comments -
He was approached from approx October 09 about a multi-purpose/sports/cyclone centre and I believe it wasnt until this proposed cyclone shelter fell in his lap as it did with the current governemnt after the donation from the UAE?? Otherwise they were very slow in delivering the promised 12 or 14 shelters mentioned in parliament by the Premier and till the date of the new announcement of the donation and matching funds from the Govt when they had only delivered one and half centres??
If you look at the criteria for the cyclone shelters there are questions about the selection in light of what we have been able to present as an alternative??
As Steve said we looked at the flood zone maps and checked prior to saying anything - with the council, looking at the maps, blowing them up and checking??
I certainly agree that the school is part of the community, being that I have children going to the school and I have been attending the P & C meetings along with Steve. We have spoken to school parents who are very keen on the centre but also I believe are fully supportive of what we are trying to achieve for the WHOLE community and not just for the school. We have had discussions at P & C and they are quite daunted with the whole thing and what may be required of them or the school and this is because the current member and Govt havent had the community consultation they promised so people are either ill informed or not informed at all?? It was also pointed out to me that it is hoped that the approx 265 students (300????)are not hoping to go to this shelter with their parents because they wont all fit??
Some open clarification on where all the funding is coming from and what it is paying for, presented to the community would be nice. I wont hold my breath on openess and transperancy??
Would have been nice if a more local based company got the tender?? Probably would have done more for the local tradies and economy??
I believe it would be nice if Mr OBrien played his part fully and that was to have a serious look at the alternatives to what they are trying to deliver as it would do more for the region!!!
We were told by our local member and the responsible Minister that the Govt had no more funds to go with the alternative to go bigger and better but the local member can go out and make a promise to a community of approx 1000-1500 persons that the current govt is going to deliver to their community a $4.5m multi purpose/sports/cyclone shelter??? A community which is approx 30-40minutes away from a recently delivered $9.5m centre??? We have approx 12000 persons in our region that this shelter is supposed to cover??
I just think more could be done for this region by ALL levels of Govt and our local member could revisit this decision with his counterparts and come up with a much better outcome with the right co-operation??
I have moved mountains to get a cyclone shelter/sports hall in Port Douglas. The decision on exactly where to put the shelter is not politically motivated. An expert panel made up of people like council officers, Q Build and Emergency Management Queensland came up with a short list of sites that met all criteria.
I have also seen the flood maps but made a point of checking specifically with council officers on the site being put forward by Russel and Steve. I was advised that it is in the yellow zone.
The Port Douglas State School is also part of the community. I would hope that at some stage someone would speak to the parents of the 300 kids who attend the school and ask them what they think about the cyclone shelter being built on their grounds.
As I said before the Principal is preparing a template MOU for community use. Education Queensland has contributed some of the funds to fit out the centre: funds that were not going to be easily found anywhere else.
This is a really good news story for Port Douglas and I am pleased to have played my part in delivering this important piece of infrastructure to service the community in good times and bad. I also expect that it will assist local builders during these very difficult times.
and
http://www.tourismportdouglas.com.au/STOP-Look-closer-urges-locals-NEWSPORT.6964.0.html
Thanks Ed
Unfortunately this is the bottom of the map. Check out the Port Douglas evac route map here http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/20008/port-douglas-3-304.pdf
We haven't censored it, it's a true representation of what's been published.
I have met with Steve Hull and Russell Jean and visited the sites and am impressed by the research they have done into the proposed multi purpose centre for Port Douglas.
There is no doubt a cyclone shelter will afford much reassurance and of course protection to the community in the event of a cylcone or storm surge.
There is also no doubt in a State facing a $85 million debt that the best must be made of the resources available.
If Port Douglas and the surrounding area could achieve the safety of a state of the art cyclone shelter and a multi purpose centre that would bring cultural and sporting events to the community then Mr OBrien ought to move mountains to see that outcome. The economic benefit of such a centre is immeasurable in the long term.
The Cairns Regional Council is going to spend $150 million on an entertainment precinct for Cairns that will be subsidised by the Douglas ratepayers. The Council has land and funds it could apply to this project which would would see the best possible outcome for Port Douglas and the surrounding population.
Port Doulgas like all tourist towns is struggling to cope with the current economic downturn and the locals should be applauded and encouraged for their stamina and initiative.
Mr OBriens arguement about the yellow zone on the alternate site is just a smoke screen as I understand over 6000m2 of the alternate site is not flood prone whereas all the approaches to the school site are.
Jason OBrien and Labor took away the elected Council from Douglas without consulation and now he is detrmined to impose a less than standard facility on the community without consultation
Whilst Mr Obrien might not be listening to the community on this issue I am and if elected will ensure Port Douglas and the surrounding community get the best possible outcome from this project
David Kempton
LNP candidate for Cook
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