Treating the risks in Cairns

Cairns is exposed to the well-known natural hazards of tropical cyclone, flood, storm surge and thunderstorm, but is also exposed to the lesser-known hazards of landslip, earthquake and dam break flooding. Recommendations for treating the risks associated with these hazards have been made that will involve a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment strategies, require the cooperation of all three levels of government, involve public utility authorities and private enterprise and involve the community as a whole. This paper summarises the suggested mitigation treatment options, presented to the Cairns City Council and identified in the Local Government Disaster Mitigation Project conducted in Cairns in 1999/2000 by the Queensland Department of Emergency Services.