Shire beach residents chosen to trial national warning system
Emergency alert
Cooya Beach, Newell Beach, and Wonga Beach have been chosen as the only Queensland region set to take part in a national trial of a new phone emergency-warning system.
The Federal Government’s AusAlert system can send messages to every mobile phone in the country in the event of a national emergency such as a flood or bushfire.
Cooya, Newell and Wonga residents are set to be sent warning-system kits next week so they can take part in the state trial of the system at 2pm on Tuesday, June 16.
“These kits will include materials to support information sharing across the community,” a Government release states.
The National Messaging System is described as a ”telephony-based warning capability built by the Australian Government for use by states and territories and the Commonwealth”.
It is expected to be fully operational by October following the community-based trials, as well as a national test.
The system features an “intrusive alert” with unique features including the capability to send messages in an event of “national significance”.
Community-based trials will be conducted across nine national locations in the next two months.
For more information go to nema.gov.au/our-work/risk-reduction/ausalert.
