Remote Planners to be Better Disaster Equipped

Australia’s principal planning body has begun a long term program to better prepare remote area
planners for natural disasters.

The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) has appointed a former airport redevelopment manager to
set up the initiative ‘Supporting Post Disaster Planning in Flood Affected Areas’.

Megan Dugdale said her role as Project Coordinator will be to create protocols and provide the
wherewithal for regional and remote area planners to better deal with natural disasters well into the
future.

“My job will take twelve months, but in that time we will have a system that gives planners in the
regions better access to valuable knowledge,” Ms Dugdale said.

“Some of these regional planners work on their own and the new system will give them access to
other planning professionals with prior disaster experience and the tools to function better in a post
disaster environment.”

Engaged by PIA, Megan Dugdale will work out of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority which
has already been credited with an enormous amount of rebuilding since last year’s major disasters.

“My work will be different to the many challenges facing the Reconstruction Authority planners. But
certainly there is a synergistic relationship with the roles and we’ll be able to communicate better
working together.

“A lot of reconstruction has already been completed twelve months on from last year’s events but
there is still a lot to learn from what’s happened.

“Major disasters can expose gaps in some processes and highlight the need to understand more
about what happens in such events.

“The intention from this is to set up a system and a process that has an ongoing effect. We’ll set up
mentors and those relationships will continue after my work is done. So it’s not just short term
focus.”

The PIA initiative has been made possible with funding from the Attorney General’s Department
through the National Emergency Management Program (NEMP). Following last years significant
flood events, PIA was invited to apply for assistance to help rebuild devastated communities.

PIA President Dyan Currie said the institute was pleased to be able to appoint Megan Dugdale to
set up and manage the program.

“Megan has an architectural and redevelopment background and has a wealth of experience
working in highly regulated environments,” Ms Currie said.
“She has great organisational ability and expert negotiation skills working with contentious issues.
Her redevelopment roles with hotel groups and Sydney Metropolitan Airports required plenty of
community consultation.

“We are grateful for the funding that has enabled PIA to do this and during the next twelve months
we will be able to assist planners in locations that are still struggling with rehabilitation.

“With this system in place professional knowledge developed through post disaster recovery
experience will be easily accessed by planners in affected areas.”

The project will include the establishment of web based links and resources on post disaster
planning, educational seminars, volunteer support and outreach services facilitated by experienced
post-disaster planners.
Planning Institute Australia