Brisbane residents are being urged to take advantage of Council’s three “super sandbag weekends” ahead of another season of potentially severe weather.
Cr Schrinner today revealed Council will open its four sandbag depots – Zillmere, Newmarket, Morningside and Darra – over the next three Saturdays and Sundays for residents who want to collect free sandbags.
More than 150,000 sandbags have been packed in advance while SES volunteers and Council staff will be on hand to demonstrate the best way to stack sandbags in the event of flooding.
Residents can also prepare by taking advantage of Council’s three free green waste recycling weekends – which continue this weekend.
“Brisbane experienced one of its worst-ever floods in February and our community continues to rebuild and recover,” Cr Schrinner said.
“While we can’t prevent severe weather, we can be better prepared, and that’s particularly important given predictions of another season of severe La Nina conditions.
“So we’re stepping up how we help residents prepare by opening our depots for the next three weekends.
“Our super sandbag weekends will not only give residents the opportunity to have sandbags at the ready, they will give them the chance to learn from the experts how best to lay sandbags.”
To prepare for the super sandbag weekends and storm season, more than 150,000 sandbags have been packed, which is more than triple the standard stockpile.
During the peak of the February flood event, Council was handing out 24,000 sandbags a day.
Sandbag will continue to be available outside the depots throughout the storm season for those residents unable to attend or need more.
Cr Schrinner said Council will also activate temporary sandbag drop-zones at key locations throughout Brisbane in the event of potential flooding.
Target areas include Karana Downs, Archerfield, Sherwood, Toowong, Yeronga, Yeerongpilly, Chandler, Bracken Ridge and West End.
Cr Schrinner said free green waste recycling will continue to be available at all four of Council’s Resource Recovery Centres for the next two weekends.
“We have all heard the warnings about a third successive La Nina event,” Cr Schrinner said.
“Clearing gutters and trimming trees is a big part of being prepared and our free green waste recycling weekends are aimed at encouraging residents to get in and get this done early.”
Cr Schrinner also urged residents to sign up to the Brisbane Severe Weather Alert service as part of their preparation.
“During the February flood event, this service distributed about 2.7 million email and SMS alerts to residents who had signed up to receive them,” he said.
“These alerts are based on the latest Bureau of Meteorology advice.
“We need more Brisbane residents signed up to this service and that’s why we are currently offering a range of fantastic prizes for people who subscribed before December 1.”
For more information on how you can prepare for storm season, visit Brisbane City Council’s website.
For more Brisbane news now, visit www.adrianschrinner.com.au/brisbanenews.
