FAQs
Webinar Q&A - 10 Sep 2021
In communities that don't have a Council asset to establish a hub, what are their options?
Community should address any requests for infrastructure through their local Councillor through "business as usual" Council channels.
There may be an opportunity to utilise non-Council owned amenities such as local venues or progress halls - this will be investigated further later in the project.
What is the timeframe for installation and activation of the Local Information Hubs?
We want to activate as soon as possible. We are on a timeline for project completion by 30 June 2022.
Will the information displayed on the screens be multi-lingual?
We are very conscious and sensitive to the influx of vistors during holiday times so the information will make the maximum possible use of few words and icons/diagrams where possible.
One of the screens will inform non-English speakers in a few languages of where to look for information.
Will the Local Information Hub information be visual only or audio as well?
Visual screens only.
Will the information displayed on the screen at the information hub be eventually available to be seen on my home computer?
This project is scalable. It can be as broad and inclusive as we want to build it, in due course. RRP is the starting point. There is no reason why we could not repeat the information on an App/Webpage/Council Facebook page, etc.
Will there be a Facebook page that can replicate what is shown on the community hub screens?
This project is scalable. It can be as broad and inclusive as we want to build it, in due course. RRP is the starting point. There is no reason why we could not repeat the information on a Facebook page.
Are there plans to consider access for people with limited mobility, and for vision impaired people?
Most Council amenities have already been modified for limited mobility access. Vision impairment can be addressed with the intent is to minimise the amount of information on any screen, and to have the information displayed as largely as is practicable.
Do we expect people to seek refuge at the Local Information Hub?
No. We do not expect people to use the facilities where the Local Information Hubs are located as a refuge. The Hubs are being installed to provide timely, accurate and authoritative information to empower the community to think, assess, decide, and act.
How will public facility buildings be protected an how will the hubs be protected if there is a fire ravaging through the area?
The bushfire protection of the public facilities, halls and sites are not addressed as part of RRP. These aspects of the locations are business as usual for the Council asset managers and emergency agencies.
In regard to the screens, there are access/anti damage/vandalism protections being applied to the design and installation.
How does the upgrade of the assets dovetail into the categorisation of the existing Neighbourhood Safer Place (NSP)?
Categorisation of Neighbourhood Safer Places (NSP) is the responsibility of the Rural Fire Service following meeting the criteria set out in the Neighbourhood Safer Place guidelines available on the RFS website.
Any natural inclination for members to assemble at a Community Hall without direct instructions from a combat agency is a dangerous act and could put community at higher risk.
Community should first and foremost listen to the directions of the Emergency Services and develop a Bush Fire Survival Plan
Will the authorised person in the community input information from each local area by email or by phone?
Community involvement in making the information hubs work well is essential and will allow community to be a part of the effort to report circumstances on the ground. The method of that information will either be by voice or email dependent on the end communication configuration of the information hub.
Will we be able to call the EOC with information and not just send an email?
The intention is to establish a two way link with the Council, or if activated, the EOC. That may be voice or email via the satellite link and solar/battery powered by the essential circuit of the information hub.
What's the point of being able to charge your phone or iPads/laptops if you can't access the signal via the commercial NBN dish?
The availability of two General Purpose Outlets (powerpoints) connected to the Essential Services allows for (limited) access to recharging that would otherwise not be there. The satellite connection is NOT commercial. It is for a specific purpose of providing a platform for timely, authoritative and accurate information of a community nature from Council or, if activated, the EOC. Just as in your own home, a commercial connection is to be funded by the user.
Huskisson Hall was/is a pilot hub and has the panels and Tesla battery. What is the latest on the monitor screen and satellite internet capability?
Huskisson will be in the next two sites (Husky and Kangaroo Valley) after the Callala Bay pilot site is complete.
Who has control over what community information is displayed at the hub out of emergency times?
During an emergency the Combat Agency in conjunction with the Police Local Emergency Operations Controller will decide what information will be made available on the Information Hubs so community can receive up to date information.
Will the screens only be accessible internally?
No. Our budget allows for either double sided screens mounted in one location such as a window (Callala Bay) or single internal and single external mounted screens appropriately protected from the elements and damage.
Can the screens be used to display local trades and services as a paid advert?
The funding grant is for local community information from Council/EOC. Commercial information or other forms of advertising are not the intention of the approved funding for the screens.
Can the committee turn the screens off if the hall is being used for an event such as a wedding?
Yes. Each Local Information Hub will have its own remote for the screens and able to turn of the screen if desired. Should there be a need to energise information urgently, the screens can be remotely switched on by the Council/EOC if necessary.
- Kangaroo Valley Showground - 179 Moss Vale Road, Kangaroo Valley 2577
- Berry Showground - 35 Alexandra Street, Berry 2535
- Nowra Showground - Family Cafe, Worrigee Street, Nowra 2541 (Lot adjacent to 27 West Street)
- Milton Showground, 107 Croobyar Road, Milton 2538
- Shoalhaven Heads Community Centre - 111 Shoalhaven Heads Road, Shoalhaven Heads 2535
- North Nowra Community Centre - 7 Hood Close, North Nowra 2541
- Greenwell Point Community Memorial Hall - 83 Greenwell Point Road, Greenwell Point 2540
- Culburra Beach Community Centre - Fred Evans Lane, Culburra Beach 2540
- Callala Bay Community Centre - Emmett Street, Callala Bay 2540
- Callala Beach Community Centre - 89 Quay Road, Callala Beach 2540
- Huskisson Community Centre - 17 Dent Street, Huskisson 2540
- St Georges Basin Community Centre - 21 Meriton Street, St Georges Basin 2540
- Erowal Bay Lions Park - 99-75 Naval Parade, Erowal Bay 2540
- Thomson Street Sporting Complex - 21 Thomson Street, Sussex Inlet 2540
- Yulunga Drive Community Centre - 195 Sunset Strip, Manyana 2539
- Lake Conjola Community Centre - Lake Conjola Entrance Road, Lake Conjola 2539
- Burrill Lake Community Hall - 67 Princes Highway, Burrill Lake 2539
- Kioloa/Bawley Point Community Centre - 650 Murramarang Road, Kioloa 2539
- Wandandian Progress Association Hall - D2683 Princes Highway, Wandandian 2540
- Holiday Haven Currarong - 8 Cambewarra Road, Currarong 2540
- Holiday Haven Bendalong - 1 Waratah Street, Bendalong 2539
- Holiday Haven Lake Conjola - Lake Conjola Entrance Road, Lake Conjola 2539
- Holiday Haven Lake Tabourie - 595A Princes Highway, Lake Tabourie 2539
- 7–10 kW Solar system with microinverters. The size of the system will depend on the roof and orientation.
- 13.5 kWh Tesla Battery System with Tesla Gateway for isolating and switching to generator
- 15 Amp generator Connection Point
- Samsung OMN-D Series 46” or 55” portrait screens (size to accommodate site constraints)
What is the reason for the RRP?
The RRP responds to the community expectations and needs arising from the many environmental and social challenges experienced during the bushfires, flood, and COVID19. The RRP develops and establishes partnerships with research, commercial and academic providers to grow our Community's confidence to strengthen its resilience. Most importantly it actively engages the Community as the most important partner and participant in growing resilience to better equip our City for the futuristic scenarios and the adaptive pathways needed to tackle the challenges that these scenarios may present.
What is a Long Term Community Resilience Plan?
The intent of community Resilience Plan is to allow the community to consider long term strategic issues and opportunities to build resilience to future impacts from natural hazards. It also enables the community to engage with the various planning processes of local, state and federal government and non-government agencies.
What are the sites to receive the new technology?
Communications and energy technology will be installed at 19 Council-owned halls and community centres across the Shoalhaven (view on map). Four Holiday Haven holiday parks will have information "dashboards" installed (ie. the screen only - no independent power or communications technology). The sites to receive upgrades include:
Showgrounds:
Community Centres and Halls:
Holiday Haven Caravan Parks:
What will the upgrades to Community buildings include?
The power upgrades are intended to provide reliable power by fitting each facility with solar panels and a battery to assure uninterrupted power for essential services in each building. Essential services include exit signs, lighting, fans, refrigeration and communication equipment (LED Screen 'dashboard', modems and laptop/ipad charging). The communication upgrades provide 'point to point' satellite internet between the local Information hub and the Emergency Operations Centre. A generator connection point will be integrated into the facility switchboard. This will enable additional power for the resumption of non-essential services, if a suitable community-owned generator is able to be sourced within the community.
The specific equipment currently being trialed at pilot sites is:
Will the screens be usable for multi-function applications for community events?
The screen will be dedicated for emergency information and will be maintained as targeted infrastructure exclusively to deliver emergency information in a timely manner to the community. If needed and requested by the community, Council will support community groups in proposals to install additional AV equipment to the facility for community use on a case by case basis.
Is the Local Information Hub an Evacuation Centre?
No. The Local Information Hub is being established to inform the community with timely information and advice from the EOC during periods of emergency. In an emergency communities need to follow all evacuation advice.
Why is the Local Information Hub not an Evacuation Centre?
The identification of an Evacuation Centre is a decision of the Local Emergency Management Committee in the Planning phase. The activation of an Evacuation Centre is the responsibility of the Local Emergency Operations Controller and the Incident Controller eg RFS/SES during the response phase of an emergency .To be a recognised Evacuation Centre, a building or facility must meet very stringent criteria for the safety and well being of the Community. An identified evacuation centre is required to be audited on an annual basis and be endorsed by the State Government. An evacuation centre is a centre which provides affected people with basic human needs including shelter, food and water. Possibly one of the most endearing features of communities within the Shoalhaven is their isolation which presents the largest risk of “one road in, one road out”. Also many communities populations expand many times over in holiday periods. The local Information Hub will provide authoritative information and inform the community in a measured and escalatory way so that residents and visitors are able to be informed and execute their emergency plans in good time. The Information Hub will allow emergency services to enforce warnings and messaging when other options may not be available.
How do we use the equipment at our local facilities?
As infrastructure is installed to the local facilities, Stream 2 of the RRP project will facilitate a series of workshops with local community groups to assist the development of local plans identifying who and how to use the infrastructure in the event of an emergency. Sign up for updates via the Subscribe button on the top right of the page if you would like to stay up to date on future opportunities to get involved.
Will public WIFI be provided at each Council building under RRP?
Not at this stage. RRP will fund power and communications independent of the grid and mobile phone towers, in order to service essential infrastructure for a Local Information Hub to provide authoritative information to the Community and a connection back to the EOC for emergency information and needs.
Will Council supply generators for use at our local facility in the event of an emergency?
Currently the project has funding to supply a generator connection point on the switchboard at the facility. This element has been included following feedback from the 2020 fires, when many local communities were able to source local generators in order to provide power at the local hall. Due to the requirement for frequent servicing, testing and cycling of fuel for generators this is not currently a service that Council is in a position to provide.