Mr BARRETT - 2015-02-24
Can you provide an update on the Cyclone Lam recovery effort across Arnhem Land?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. On Sunday he had the opportunity to come with me to Elcho Island to inspect the cyclone damage at Galiwinku. I had the opportunity of bumping into the member for Nhulunbuy there.
The member for Blain was heartened to see spirits so high while we were there, which I was also impressed with. Police, emergency services, Power and Water staff, government workers and non-government organisations should be applauded for their immediate response. I acknowledge the staff from the Department of Children and Families, who responded immediately in the evacuation of community members from Warruwi to the Foskey Pavilion. The DCF staff are tirelessly working there also, along with many other people.
We have moved from a response phase to a recovery phase. Jim Rogers, from the Department of the Chief Minister Nhulunbuy, is now overseeing the regional recovery coordination area. At this stage, the state of emergency has been extended until Friday to allow recovery efforts to continue smoothly, ensuring the safe restoration of essential services and the maintenance of health and safety for residents.
Impact assessments have been completed in all four major communities impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Lam: Gapuwiyak, Galiwinku, Milingimbi and Ramingining. Technical teams have also begun assessment of the Marthakal and Milingimbi homelands, which were inaccessible. Some still are because of fallen trees and debris. The immediate focus is on removing those fallen trees to allow for a greater level of civil access by road.
Additional NTES volunteers and chainsaws were flown to Galiwinku, Ramingining and Milingimbi over the weekend and today to assist with the clean-up of dangerous fallen trees affecting power lines. Recovery coordinators are planning to deploy additional chainsaw operators in order to boost existing efforts to remove fallen trees from around the community.
Significant progress has been made across all communities to restore the high- and low-voltage networks. Electrical contractors in Milingimbi, Galiwinku and Ramingining are working to restore house connections where it is safe to do so. There are three levels of electrical work, which are high-voltage, low-voltage and household connections.
There is much more information to provide, but the recovery coordinators are preparing to mobilise multi-trade construction teams, and the Department of Housing already has teams in those cyclone affected communities, seeing how we can provide short-, medium- and long-term housing solutions to those who have been left homeless.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. On Sunday he had the opportunity to come with me to Elcho Island to inspect the cyclone damage at Galiwinku. I had the opportunity of bumping into the member for Nhulunbuy there.
The member for Blain was heartened to see spirits so high while we were there, which I was also impressed with. Police, emergency services, Power and Water staff, government workers and non-government organisations should be applauded for their immediate response. I acknowledge the staff from the Department of Children and Families, who responded immediately in the evacuation of community members from Warruwi to the Foskey Pavilion. The DCF staff are tirelessly working there also, along with many other people.
We have moved from a response phase to a recovery phase. Jim Rogers, from the Department of the Chief Minister Nhulunbuy, is now overseeing the regional recovery coordination area. At this stage, the state of emergency has been extended until Friday to allow recovery efforts to continue smoothly, ensuring the safe restoration of essential services and the maintenance of health and safety for residents.
Impact assessments have been completed in all four major communities impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Lam: Gapuwiyak, Galiwinku, Milingimbi and Ramingining. Technical teams have also begun assessment of the Marthakal and Milingimbi homelands, which were inaccessible. Some still are because of fallen trees and debris. The immediate focus is on removing those fallen trees to allow for a greater level of civil access by road.
Additional NTES volunteers and chainsaws were flown to Galiwinku, Ramingining and Milingimbi over the weekend and today to assist with the clean-up of dangerous fallen trees affecting power lines. Recovery coordinators are planning to deploy additional chainsaw operators in order to boost existing efforts to remove fallen trees from around the community.
Significant progress has been made across all communities to restore the high- and low-voltage networks. Electrical contractors in Milingimbi, Galiwinku and Ramingining are working to restore house connections where it is safe to do so. There are three levels of electrical work, which are high-voltage, low-voltage and household connections.
There is much more information to provide, but the recovery coordinators are preparing to mobilise multi-trade construction teams, and the Department of Housing already has teams in those cyclone affected communities, seeing how we can provide short-, medium- and long-term housing solutions to those who have been left homeless.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016