Former Quilpie Shire Council Mayor, Stuart Mackenzie OAM has today been appointed Queensland’s State Recovery Coordinator to lead recovery efforts in western Queensland following once-in-a-generation flooding.
Mr Mackenzie (pictured) served as a Councillor on Quilpie Shire Council from 1997 to 2004, as Deputy Mayor from 2004 to 2008 and was elected Mayor in 2012.
He is also the previous Chair of the Outback Queensland Tourism Association and founder of the non-profit, charitable public company Outback Gondwana Foundation Ltd.
Mr Mackenzie said he would make timely, coordinated activity the focus of the role, building on the efforts of local, district and state disaster management groups to date.
“This flood event has greatly affected the communities in north and western Queensland and while they are resilient and determined people, the recovery will undoubtedly prove challenging,” he said.
“My focus remains on making the recovery process as easy as possible for those who have been impacted, and I look forward to delivering this alongside the Premier, the Queensland Reconstruction Authority and importantly, local stakeholders.”
The Government has also announced Queensland Police Service’s Chief Superintendent, Emergency Management and Coordination Command, Troy Pukallus as the Deputy State Recovery Coordinator.
Premier, David Crisafulli said both Coordinators would ensure affected communities recovered as quickly as possible.
“Many people in western Queensland have lost everything and these appointments make sure they get the local support needed to guarantee there is no daylight between response and recovery,” Premier Crisafulli said.
“With Stuart Mackenzie OAM and Chief Superintendent Troy Pukallus leading recovery efforts, we have appointed two people with decades of experience who know and understand what locals need best.
“Western Queenslanders are resilient, and this is about matching that attitude with action to ensure they can recover and rebuild as quickly as possible.”
Queenslanders seeking information on disaster assistance can visit www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp.
