The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) has partnered with Zero Emissions Noosa Inc, Noosa Council and Noosa Environmental Education Hub (Noosa EEHub) in a project designed to improve emergency evacuation shelter experiences for future evacuees.
In the 2019 bushfires, thousands of Noosa Shire residents were forced to evacuate their homes. Many residents sought refuge at emergency evacuation shelters at The J and Noosa Leisure Centre.
USQ’s Dr Carina Anderson is leading the project.
“Australia is facing more natural disasters due to climate change and an increase in extreme weather events,” Dr Anderson said.
“In 2019, we had the Noosa bushfires, and then more recently the major flooding in Queensland and New South Wales.
“More natural disasters will mean an increasing reliance on evacuation centres.
“Our project aims to make evacuation centres physically and psychologically safer places to stay during times of natural disasters.”
Noosa Council carbon reduction project officer Annie Nolan said, “As part of this project, two battery systems supplementing the existing solar arrays will be installed, one at The J and one at the Noosa Leisure Centre.
“It is important to have sustained power to evacuation shelters.
“During natural disasters such as bushfires, electricity from the grid may be cut and the batteries provide emission-free power rather than having to bring in a diesel generator at the evacuation shelters.
“These battery systems will secure an ongoing power supply to the evacuation centres during emergencies.”
Zero Emissions Noosa president Anne Kennedy said the project would help to reduce emissions in the Noosa Shire.
“The battery systems will be installed on Noosa Shire Council community buildings, so it’s a win for the community and a win for the environment.”
Noosa EEHub managing director Dalia Mikhail said: “Giving students a real-life application of their curriculum through this project is an exciting opportunity for our local students.”
The building resilience for bushfire-affected communities in Noosa Shire project is made possible thanks to funding from the Australian Government for the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program.
