Community Information Hubs Launched
In a first for Australia, 26 digital information screens have been installed across the Shoalhaven to provide authoritative, accurate and timely information to communities at all times of the year, including in emergency situations.
In normal times, the screens will be displaying real-time information, including the daily fire danger rating, weather from the Bureau of Meteorology in addition to promoting local community and Council events relating to each individual community where they are installed.
The screens have been delivered as part of a $2 million Council initiative jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments in response to the community’s experience of the 2019-20 Currowan Bushfires, where critical communication was severely impacted by power outages and disruptions to the mobile phone network.
The new communications system will support the resilience of communities in how to think, decide and act in the best interests of their safety and wellbeing.
We saw how standard communications failed during the worst of the bushfire emergency and people felt isolated and unable to make informed decisions. These digital screens provide residents with reliable and current information that can be updated in an instant and tailored for each specific community to be an accurate source of truth.
The project was managed and coordinated by former Fleet Air Arm Commander and Shoalhaven Recovery Coordinator, Vince Di Pietro to build community-led resilience.
We know from what we saw on the ground and the many testimonies given to the NSW Government’s Independent Inquiry into the Summer 2020 Bushfires, that the lack of access to timely, accurate, local information was a significant cause of community concern during the bushfires.
Providing infrastructure that is robust enough to overcome the vulnerabilities of standard power through stand-alone solar power systems and satellite communications will make all the difference. An emergency doesn’t generally happen in an instance or an immediate vicinity. It builds and may travel long distances over a period of time. Ensuring timely and accurate information helps people with decision-making. Iinformed decision-making helps people to build resilience to respond better to future emergencies.
Almost three years have passed since the Black Summer bushfires destroyed homes across NSW, including the South Coast, and the NSW Government is continuing to deliver the support our local region needs to keep moving forward in recovery. The Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund is part of the $4.5 billion bushfire support program co-funded by the Australian and NSW governments for bushfire recovery, response and preparedness in NSW. The fund is backing projects that bring communities together, support tourism, boost business recovery and increase preparedness for future bushfires.
Each information hub includes a technology upgrade providing satellite connection powered by solar panels delivered to the state of the art 13.5-kilowatt Tesla Powerwall2 battery and 55” portrait information screens accessible both internally and externally to the Council-owned facilities where they are installed.
The Community Information Hubs are located across the city at 26 locations including all showgrounds, four Holiday Haven tourist parks and the Wandandian Progress Association Hall.
Image: Shoalhaven Mayor, Cr Amanda Findley (right) alongside community member Howard James, with
Federal member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips MP and Project co-ordinator Vince Di Pietro
for the official launch at the Callala Community Centre.
