Cairns has been recognised at the Get Ready Queensland Resilient Australia Awards for its role in making Queensland the most resilient state in Australia.
Cairns Regional Council received a commendation and Smithfield State High School a top mark at the recent Awards.
The annual awards celebrate and promote initiatives that build community resilience to disasters and emergencies around Australia.
Council received a highly commended in the local government category for the Cairns Resilient Businesses Network.
An initiative of Council, with support from the Cairns Chamber of Commerce, the network helps businesses become more resilient through training, workshops and planning templates.
Since its introduction two years ago, the initiative has continued to grow and featured in a presentation at the recent Australian Disaster Resilience conference, Council said in a statement.
Deputy Mayor and Chair of Local Disaster Management Group, Terry James said the awards highlighted the good work being done in building the region’s resilience.
“Recognition at the recent awards shows the quality of the resilience development programs available in Cairns and across our communities,” Cr James said.
“These are unique initiatives in the state and contribute significantly towards building resilience in two critical sectors of the community – our young people and our businesses.”
Smithfield State High School won the state schools award for its ‘Cairns in Your Hands’ sustainability project, delivered through its Tropical North Learning Academy.
The program gave students the opportunity to contribute to Council’s “Our Cairns Coast” Coastal Hazards Adaptation Strategy – a guide to decision-making, planning and responses in managing natural threats to the coast from erosion, storm-tide inundation and sea level rise to the year 2100.