Staff

Background and research questions The Innisfail coastal area is extremely Hazard prone. During the last decade teams from the Centre for Disaster Studies have carried out post disaster surveys in Innisfail and Johnstone Shire on three separate occasions. Following Cyclone Larry members of the Centre have been extensively involved in analyses of cyclone response and the recovery process. Researchers with the Centre have a detailed and specific knowledge of the area, of hazard research in coastal North Queensland, and of the legislation, processes and structure of multi-hazard risk assessment. On the one hand our researchers have been involved in carrying out natural disaster risk mitigation studies for a number of Shire Councils, and on the other hand we have completed an extensive evaluation of the whole program of natural disaster risk mitigation studies in Queensland. A significant component of these studies has involved land-use planning, the roles of planners and compliance with the Integrated Planning Act and the State’s Natural Hazards Planning Policy. The approach to hazard planning in coastal Queensland must involve emergency managers and planners within the context of detailed scientific understanding of the local environment and potential natural hazards. However, multi-hazard risk assessments are carried out in existing communities. In this case the community is yet to come into being. Therefore, disaster planning for the Ella Bay community must take place in conjunction with the urban design team. The research will