In the face of increased bushfire risks due to warmer weather and dry conditions, communities across Australia are gearing up to confront the challenges of this higher risk weather season.
With a history of bushfires and other natural hazards, the Rockhampton Region understands the importance of disaster preparedness. Its commitment goes beyond safeguarding human lives; it also extends to the well-being of animal residents at the Rockhampton Zoo.
In November 2018 the Rockhampton region experienced a catastrophic bushfire that had the potential to devastate a large portion of the community. Over 1.4 million hectares were burnt out during the fires, with 17 dwellings, 72 sheds and 28 vehicles sustaining damage across Central Queensland.
While the region is no stranger to natural hazards, the 2018 bushfire saw a need to evacuate residents at a scale the region had not previously experienced. Through the coordination of these evacuations, a risk was identified for the animal residents and infrastructure of Rockhampton Zoo. Not only is the location loved by locals, but it is also a tourism hotspot that supports the region’s economy.
Through a $512,000 grant from the Australian Government's Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program, the Rockhampton Zoo has been able to implement essential safety measures to protect its animals and staff.
During a tour led by Tony Williams, the Mayor of Rockhampton Regional Council and Liz Bellward, the Zoo's Director, we learned about the impactful improvements made possible by the grant.
Emergency evacuation and management plans have been put in place for the animals.
Specially designed crates have been created to assist with transporting animals of all sizes.
The Zoo now has a motorised cart and new concrete pathways to ensure smoother and quicker evacuations under pressure.
“Through the Black Summer Bushfire grant, we’ve seen benefits not only to our facilities, but it’s also giving peace of mind to our communities that we have the capabilities to support them in times of need,” Mayor Williams said.
To support bushfire preparedness, irrigation systems have been installed and upgraded across the zoo to saturate in the event of a bushfire. These systems have been installed to focus on the enclosures of the animals we can’t evacuate such as Chimpanzees, Cassowaries, Kangaroos and more.
These strategic upgrades not only enhance the Zoo's readiness for emergencies but also provide the Rockhampton community with invaluable peace of mind, knowing that proactive measures are in place.
The Rockhampton Zoo Bushfire Resilience Project is one of five grants provided to the Rockhampton Regional Council under the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery grant program. Other grants included supporting the introduction of a Bushfire Resilience Officer, replacing a generator at Rockhampton City Hall, increasing capacity for firefighting response and an emergency services staging area upgrade.