Representative from councils around Queensland have gathered to sort out the state’s disaster management plans.

A Disaster Management Summit has been held this week at the RNA Showgrounds’ Royal International Convention Centre. Local government representatives came together to discuss and debate protocols around Queensland’s recent and future natural disasters.

The Queensland state budget was reportedly “blown off course” this year as a result of massive disaster relief spending. The $2.5 billion damage bill came from a rough summer of floods and fires, now leaders are meeting to recap and consider the lessons learned.

Delegates were given the opportunity to participate in a simulated disaster media conference on Tuesday at the State Disaster Coordination Centre, a great opportunity for many Mayors who are called upon to be an image of calm authority in times of crisis.

Bundaberg Mayor and Disaster Management panellist Mal Forman said “The LGAQ will also catalogue information shared and this will be a valuable database going forward... the networking between councils who have been down the natural disaster path enables everyone to share a common experience but to explain the subtle differences each response brings.”