Australia calls on rescue team for help

Four hours notice was all two members of the Palmerston North City Council Civil Defence Rescue Emergency Support Team received before they flew to Queensland this afternoon to help address widespread flooding in the Australian State.


Shane Briggs and Liz Smith received the call from Australia this morning and four hours later they were on a flight to Queensland.


Shane and Liz are specialists in using equipment that is required to protect communities from flooding. They hold Rescue 3 International Swiftwater Rescue and Hydro Response Barrier Installation certificates.


They are part of a composite team made up of Clay Griffin (Hydro Response), Palmerstonian, Craig Beaven (Emergency Management Academy of NZ – a city based Emergency Management training provider), Shane and Liz.


The team are likely to be deployed to Charleville, 780 kilometres west of Brisbane where there is widespread flooding. They will assist local emergency management with the installation of the Geodesign Flood Barrier System, which is a steel or pallet barrier system that can be quickly erected and is more effective than traditional sand bagging.


The Head of the Palmerston North Civil Defence and Emergency Management, Matthew Smith, says Shane and Liz were chosen because of their skill and the professional training they have received.


“The call from Australia for help reflects positively on our reputation and readiness and how we are regarded in Palmerston North,” he says. “We are fortunate to train and work with specialists like the Emergency Management Academy and Hydro Response here in Palmerston North.”