General News
1 November, 2025
City tests its readiness
CAIRNS Regional Council and partner agencies have put their disaster response capabilities to the test during Operation Zona.
The operation was a large-scale local disaster management exercise at the Local Disaster Coordination Centre in Woree last week.
About 120 participants took part in the exercise, which simulated a severe tropical cyclone crossing the coast near Cairns.
The scenario tested the region’s Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) operations, bringing together representatives from local, state and federal agencies, the Australian Defence Force and a range of government and non-government organisations.
Mayor Amy Eden, who is also LDMG chairwoman, said Operation Zona was an important opportunity to strengthen collaboration and ensure all agencies are prepared ahead of the cyclone season.
“We know how vital it is for Cairns to be ready when severe weather strikes. Exercises like this allow us to test our disaster coordination systems, strengthen communication across agencies, and ultimately keep our community safe,” she said.
Participants rehearsed key aspects of Cairns’ disaster operations plan, including incident management procedures, communication systems and logistics coordination, within a realistic cyclone scenario.
The seasonal outlook points towards a wetter than average season in Queensland.
The findings come as Suncorp’s own severe weather meteorologist Andrew Bufalino forecasts a wetter than usual season for parts of the east coast but acknowledged a mix of conditions at play across the country, which Australians needed to prepare for.
“A likely shift towards La Niña conditions means Queenslanders can expect above-average rainfall, increasing the risk of flash and riverine flooding along the eastern seaboard,” he said.
Woolworths is encouraging customers to prepare for the cyclone season ahead.
It has launched a campaign to help customers prepare early, reduce last-minute demand and relay clear, actionable guidance from relevant emergency services across the month of October.” It includes:
In-store messaging – the promotion of an ‘emergency kit ready’ message across stores, including tailored messaging for each region (e.g., ‘Ready together in Queensland’).
Convenient location of essential products – essential non-perishable food and non-food products at the end of aisles, filled with categories recommended by emergency services and local governments.
Woolworths Cairns operations manager Scott Mackay said their stores and team members in the Cairns region played a vital role both during and after a disaster, “but it’s equally important to prepare”.
“This includes preparing pantries with stock of essential products such as water, long-life milk, rice, pasta, batteries and pet food,” he said.
