Every summer, Australians face increasingly intense extreme weather events such as floods, storms, cyclones, and heatwaves, all exacerbated by climate change. These events not only jeopardise the safety and well-being of our communities but also put an unnecessary strain on our biodiversity and economy. To adequately prepare for the heat and hazards we are facing, we need more than just an emergency kit and evacuation strategy. We require proactive measures from our local governments to adapt and enhance our towns and communities’ resilience to the impacts of extreme weather events.
Given the scale of the task ahead, Federal, State and Local governments will need to work collaboratively to keep us safe from extreme weather events. The first important step is ensuring our local governments are properly resourced to develop the skills and programs to effectively plan and implement the required changes for us to adapt and become resilient.
The Queensland Conservation Council along with the nine regional conservation councils who work across the whole state have come together to urge the State Government to commit to the following measures to better prepare us for the challenges ahead:
- Revamp the QCoast2100 Program: Ensure that all local governments have access to non- competitive funding through the Qcoast2100 program. This funding should support local governments to create and implement hazard reduction plans utilising the latest science and modelling to accurately map interactions between riverine flooding, sea-level rise, coastal erosion and storm surge events.
- Establish a QHeat2100 Program: Create a program that reflects the success of QCoast2100 and offers non-competitive funding to assist local governments. This funding should support local governments to create and implement hazard reduction plans including regional heat mapping, vulnerability assessments and biodiversity solutions.
- Promote Nature-based Solutions* (NbS): Prioritise and allocate funds to local governments to implement Nature-based Solutions (NbS) through needs-responsive grant programs. Additionally, provide resources for local governments to hire staff with expertise in NbS to ensure climate-responsive design for safe, liveable communities.
- Support the Queensland Climate Resilient Councils Program: Reinstate and commit to the long-term funding of the Local Government Association of Queensland’s successful Queensland Climate Resilient Councils Program. This program facilitates collaboration and capacity building across all local government areas, fostering resilience to climate change impacts.
You have the power to influence this. See the link below and sign this letter today. You will be sending a strong message to decision makers to urge them to commit to these crucial actions. Together, we can ensure that our local governments are equipped with the tools and funding they need to protect our communities and adapt to a changing climate.