Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Recent bushfires across the Whitsunday Region, including fires that have caused road and highway closures, are a timely reminder of just how quickly conditions can change.
Thankfully, our emergency services have responded quickly but seeing how fast these fires can develop reinforces the importance of being prepared.
Across parts of the Whitsundays, conditions are drying out quickly.
We live in North Queensland and understand that natural hazards are part of life here. Bushfires, severe storms, flooding and cyclones are very different events, but the same principle applies to all of them: the best time to prepare is before there is an emergency.
For people living in or near bushfire-prone areas, now is a good opportunity to take a walk around the property.
Keep grass and vegetation maintained, clear leaves and other combustible material from around buildings, make sure access to your property is clear and think about what you would do if fire threatened your area.
Most importantly, have a Bushfire Survival Plan and make sure everyone in your household knows it.
Where would you go? What would you take? What happens with pets? How would you stay informed?
Those decisions are much easier to make around the kitchen table than when there is smoke in the air and an emergency warning on your phone.
It is equally important to know where you will get reliable information. Council’s Disaster Dashboard is worth bookmarking now, providing a central source for local warnings, road conditions and other information during an emergency.
And while bushfire is front of mind at the moment, it won’t be long before our attention turns towards the summer storm and cyclone season.
We can’t control what the weather throws at us, but we can control how prepared our households and properties are.
Recent bushfires across the Whitsunday Region have also shown the best of our community — people looking out for each other and supporting our emergency services and first responders.
Their efforts are a reminder that we all have a part to play. The best thing the rest of us can do is make sure our homes, properties and families are prepared before an emergency happens.
Publishers Indemnity. Any individual or entity that places advertising, supplies copy material, or submits editorial content to Core Life Publishing agrees and undertakes to ensure that all such material:- Does not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights;- Is free from any content that could be considered defamatory, libelous, or slanderous;- Does not infringe upon any rights related to privacy or breach of confidence;- Contains no obscene, indecent, or otherwise unlawful material;- Complies fully with the Trade Practices Act and all other applicable laws, regulations, or statutes.Furthermore, by submitting or placing such material, these individuals or entities agree to indemnify and hold harmless the publisher, Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd, and/or its agents from and against any and all investigations, claims, demands, liabilities, damages, costs, or judgments arising out of or in connection with the material provided. All material is believed to be accurate at the time of printing and remains the copyright of Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd.
© 2026 Mackay and Whitsunday Life Pty Ltd.
.jpg)
