Build bushfire resilience 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 on-
going 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.
ZEN president Anne Kennedy, Dr Carina Anderson of USQ and Anne Nolan of Noosa Council.
Noosa Chamber drinks to new financial year ahead It has been a challenging and busy financial year but the Noosa Chamber of Commerce and Industry is celebrating the new financial year with a sunset drinks and networking event on 1 July from 5-7pm at Notch in Noosa Junction and welcome to Kirk Dalgrin of Notch as one of its newest members. It will be a wonderful opportunity for guests to network with like-minded business people to share their experiences over the past 12 months in Noosa’s business community and discuss how they can work together
to build the local economy in a socially and environmentally responsible way for the benefit of the whole community. The Chamber will welcome Noosa Council’s chief executive officer Scott Waters in a demonstration of how connections being formed between the Chamber and our Council are a cornerstone of the chamber’s focus, given the critical need for local government and the organisation to work together to develop and execute better solutions for the health and vitality of the
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community’s local economy. A spokesperson said the Chamber was very much attuned to the day-to-day challenges that get thrown at business, and members all knew how much tougher it has become in today’s economic climate of a post-Covid economy with everyone suffering from rampant inflation and supply-chain woes. They said it was worth remembering a great quote by Herminia Ibarra, a Professor at the London Business School: “Network-
ing is a lot like nutrition and fitness: we know what to do, the hard part is making it a top priority.” Non members are very welcome. One of the Junction’s newest eateries, Notch will be offering drinks and a sample of their delicious menu items for guests. Notch also offers the Chamber’s members a 10 per cent discount for dinner bookings. Bookings are essential and can be made online at noosachamberofcommerce.com. au