Kingston District Council has recently delivered two innovative and collaborative projects through the Federal Government’s Black Summer Bushfire Grants program.
The project, which comprises two components, came at a combined cost of $50,000.
Council chief executive Nat Traeger said the council considered the projects “money well spent” when compared with the communication improvements gained.
The first component rolled-out was the acquisition of 12 Mobile Cell Fi Boosters for installation in eight local CFS vehicles and four Kingston District Council emergency responder vehicles.
The Telstra Mobile Cell Fi boosters will improve mobile phone signal strength and provide increased coverage for both emergency responder and council vehicles, which will result in stronger partnerships with better communication during emergency situations.
“Council has an excellent relationship with our local emergency services and their volunteers,” Ms Traeger said.
“We have an i-Responda program, which sees us allocate our ordinary resources in extraordinary circumstances, such as emergency response.
“Effective and timely communication has been highlighted as critical during bushfire and other emergency events, to ensure personnel safety as well as rapid response where necessary, particularly in black spot areas throughout the district.”
The second component installed is an interactive, multi-faceted digital kiosk, which is an innovative community communication solution and the first of its kind in the Limestone Coast.
Ms Traeger said the digital kiosk had the capacity to deliver high impact communication, provides real time emergency, fire danger ratings and weather warnings, public safety messages, promotion of community and wellbeing activities/events, and a 24/7 tourist wayfinding service and digital visitor information point.
“Not only has our community suffered tragic losses and is susceptible to major fire and weather events, but it also no longer has a newspaper to keep its community reliably informed,” she said.
“Our community is ageing and many of our permanent residents do not use social media or email which is where the kiosk comes into its own.
“It will offer an interactive, user-friendly experience to visitors and community and is designed around useability, providing features for wheelchair accessibility and a high contrast option for the vision impaired.”
The Digital Kiosk was sourced through SAGE Automation in Tonsley Park, South Australia and is part of their Smart Cities solution and industry division.
These Black Summer Bushfire projects were delivered through the Kingston District Council’s Community Wellbeing & Participation Program and funded by the Australian Government.
Ms Traeger said accessibility was important to the council, and the installation of the digital kiosk was just the start of some exciting projects planned.
“In a breakthrough for the tiny coastal town, some 150 metres of access path has just arrived,” she said.
“MobiMat RecPath, which will complement the Faun Trackway which is used for all vehicle beach access is an all weather, portable, accessible, and inclusive beach matting.
“MobiMat RecPath is a portable and removable rollout access pathway for pedestrians, wheelchair users, strollers, and bicycles.
“Environmentally friendly the lightweight and easy to install MobiMat RecPath is made from 100% recycled polyester from recycled plastics.”
Ms Traeger said the MobiMat RecPath will be accessible from Marine Parade opposite the Kingston Caravan Park via a hotmix extension of the walking/bike track across to the verge to the beach.
The matting will connect with this path to create a pathway to the beach and water.
It will be accessible throughout most of the year, with removal during the cooler, winter months before installation again in Spring.
Installation of the MobiMat RecPath will occur next month and will be ready for community use over the upcoming holiday season.
Kingston District Council received $60,000 through the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program for this project.
