Production and retail nurseries in Queensland are participating in a data mapping pilot program aiming to increase the rate of recovery and improve business resilience following a natural disaster.
Nursery & Garden Industry Queensland (NGIQ)’s ‘Cyclone Debbie Agricultural Recovery and Resilience Project‘ identified a need for nurseries impacted by a natural disaster to re-assess their nursery site as part of a whole-of-business review and risk mitigation strategy.
NGIQ Industry Recovery and Resilience Manager Kerry Battersby said the spatial data project mapped nursery sites to assist with business preparedness and recovery.
“It can take up to three years for a nursery to fully recover from a disaster, and the need for nurseries to provide accurate and timely damage reporting to government, insurance and financiers is critical to recovery,” Ms Battersby said.
“Spatial data mapping can provide a nursery owner with the ability to promptly measure and assess the financial loss of infrastructure, buildings and damage to specific growing areas. This can make reporting the initial loss assessment quicker and less stressful.”
The pilot program, launched at NGIQ’s annual Green Expo recently, showcased preliminary spatial data mapping and sought feedback from industry delegates.
Owner of Mt Nathan Nursery and participant in the pilot program Bruce Williams said the information would improve his business’ ability to minimise risk and improve resilience.
“We can use the data mapping tool to accurately identify flood levels, measure growing area, and help us better utilise the land we have under production,” Mr Williams said.
“Since we decided to remove plant stock from the low-lying zone flooded by Cyclone Debbie, we need to think differently about space. The drone flights and computer data are impressive and if we can use technology this way, it provides us with information to help us make best use of our site.”
NGIQ is continuing to work with production and retail nurseries to collect further mapping data and implement risk mitigation strategies and improve resilience to improve recovery time and grow in the future.
Mt Nathan Nursery owners Cath and Bruce Williams with Todd Morschel of Land Solutions Australia using drone technology as part of NGIQ’s data mapping pilot program.