Access keys | Skip to primary navigation | Skip to secondary navigation | Skip to content | Skip to footer |
Problems viewing this site

Media Statements

Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services
The Honourable Neil Roberts

Wednesday, 26 August, 2009

Ingham Flood Relief project recognised at Community Safety awards

Almost 3,000 hours of clean-up work performed by correctional centre work crews in the wake of this year's Ingham flood has taken a top honour at today's 2009 Minister's Awards for Excellence in Community Safety.

The Townsville Correctional Centre's Ingham Flood Relief Project won the "Engaging and Serving Communities" category at the awards ceremony, which took place at Parliament House in Brisbane.

When wild weather wreaked havoc across north Queensland earlier this year, offender work crews from the Capricornia and Townsville Correctional Centres committed 2,905 hours to the clean-up effort.

Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Neil Roberts said that the crews had played a vital role in restoring the lives and homes of those affected by the flood.

"Work crews travelled 90 minutes back and forth from the Townsville Correctional Farm every day to shovel tonnes of debris, silt and gravel from the parks, drains and str eets of Ingham," Mr Roberts said.

"By introducing low-risk prisoners to work alongside emergency services crews and the local community in the flood clean up effort, council was able to focus on restoring infrastructure and assisting residents.

"The positive attitude, excellent community engagement skills and the supervisors' ability to lead the work crews was highly commended by Hinchinbrook Shire Council and very much appreciated by the community."

The Minister's Awards for Excellence are an annual celebration of the dedication of frontline personnel and the staff who work behind the scenes for the Department of Community Safety (DCS).

A total of 33 nominations were received with eight winners and two entries highly commended across eight categories.

Mr Roberts said the awards recognised the outstanding achievements, innovations and leadership across the department and confirmed that DCS staff continued to set the benchmark for servi ce delivery to the people of Queensland.

"Many creative initiatives were recognised at this year's award including recruitment campaigns, safer management procedures, community disaster assistance projects and training programs which ensure the safety of staff and a safer community for the people of Queensland," Mr Roberts said.

"The initiatives acknowledged today are driving improvements at national and international levels as Queensland emergency and corrective services continue to work together to enhance community safety."

Nominations and winners from the Minister's Awards for Excellence in Community Safety, which were generously supported by the Queensland Police Credit Union (QPCU) for the second consecutive year, will now contest at the Premiers Awards for Excellence.

Winners:
Leadership Excellence (joint winner) - Return Home and Custodial Correctional Officer Recruitment Campaigns
Innovation and Creativity - "Hidden Dan ger" procedure for safe management of contaminated equipment
Engaging and Serving Communities - Ingham flood relief operations
Building Queensland's Regions - Work Program - Community Disaster Assistance Projects
Sustainable Environment - Bulimba Creek Catchment Project
Growing Queensland's Economy - Banana Blankeys Project
Zero Harm - Focusing on Our People - QAS Manual Handling Program

Media contact: Minister's office - (07) 3239 0199, DCS Media - (07) 3247 8186



Last updated: 27 August 2009