Ensuring residents in Cowra are well prepared and looked after in the event of future floods and other potential disasters, was the focus of a mock evacuation at the Golf Club recently.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke was on hand to meet with representatives of the various agencies and community groups taking part in the response exercise, to hear more about what plans are in place, should disaster strike the town.
“As we know, when the Lachlan River reaches a certain point, Cowra gets cut in half, so it’s vital that we have the resources in place on both sides of the river, to ensure all residents are catered for should similar events unfold in the future,” Ms Cooke said.
“Thanks to the Cowra Bowling Club and the Cowra Golf Club, we have an evacuation centre on the east and on the west side of the river. So it doesn’t matter which side of town you reside on, there is now a very well-equipped evacuation centre for residents to go to.
“As the Minister for Emergency Services, Resilience, & Flood Recovery during the 2022 floods, I – together with the then-Premier Perrottet – launched an independent flood inquiry, which essentially provided vital insight into what went wrong, but also what went right in terms of rescue, response, and recovery during those flooding events.
“And it’s exercises like this here in Cowra, that demonstrates that we have learnt the lessons of the past, and we’re now applying those lessons in a way that ensures we’re better prepared in the future.
“I’d like to congratulate all involved in this exercise, including organiser Feargus O’Connor, Executive Director of Disaster Welfare, with the Department of Communities and Justice, and the close to 100 first-responders from the various agencies and not-for-profit organisations in the town, who took part.
“This kind of proactive approach serves as a model for others, and demonstrates the vital role key agencies and organisations play, in ensuring the safety and well-being of our community members.
“The event highlighted the value of emergency response training, as well as the establishment of evacuation protocols, and the need for ongoing investment in essential rescue equipment and resources,” she said.
