AS THE flood inquiry continues with its hearings around Queensland, council will next week make some changes to its Local Disaster Management Group.

In the corporate services committee meeting there will be a recommendation put to council to review membership of the group, which was set up in 2008.

Following the recent flood disasters, the local group conducted a number of meetings during and after the recent flood disasters and recommended a representative from the Department Transport and Main Roads (TMR) and Council’s Manager of Community Development both become core members of the local group.

According to a council spokeswoman the group has also been discussing the possibility of using early warning SMS to alert residents of emergencies.

She said it was under investigation, however, it was more likely the system would be effective in fast moving events such as bushfire in Warwick, as floods move more slowly.

However, Killarney and Stanthorpe may benefit from the SMS warnings and CEO Rod Ferguson has previously suggested some kind of siren to warn of flood events in Killarney.

The report to be put to council next week says TMR’s role in disaster events was and will be vital to the successful management and co-ordination of most, if not all, disasters due to a critical national highway route within our region.

“Council’s Manager of Community Development has and will provide a vital link between the response and recovery phases of most, if not all, disasters in addition to fulfilling a coordinating role for the region’s Evacuation Centre/s (if required),” it says.

“The recommended local group structure has also been amended to include representation from both the north and south areas of the region for all organisations.

“The names of members have also been removed from the list to prevent the membership from having to be approved by Council in the event of staff changes.”

Council will vote on the changes at next week’s committee meeting before making a final decision at the general meeting.