Statement from Troy Green, General Manager of Tweed Shire Council

10 May 2019

Following the Inquest into the deaths of Stephanie King, Ella-Jane Kabealo and Jacob Kabealo

Today the recommendations were released from the Coronial Inquest into the tragic deaths of Stephanie King, Ella-Jane Kabealo and Jacob Kabealo on April 3, 2017.

Troy Green, General Manager of Tweed Shire Council said that this tragic event, and the wider impact of the devastating flood, continues to deeply affect the Tweed community more than two years on.

“On behalf of Council and Councillors, our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to the King and Kabealo families and their friends as we remember Stephanie, Ella-Jane and Jacob.

“We lost six members of the Tweed community around these unprecedented floods and we also remember Gitana Schiphoni, Marc Austin and Matthew Roser.

“Tweed Shire Council fully accepts the recommendations of the Coroner and we are committed to implementing them to prevent a similar tragedy.

“As was acknowledged during the Inquest, we have already taken significant steps to improve safety and to communicate more proactively with the community.

“Last year we completed the construction of a 220 metre guardrail along the river side of Dulguigan Road. We have also launched an online Emergency Dashboard for Tweed community members which brings together important information from a number of agencies into one place.

“In addition, the Inquest acknowledged the work we have done to improve our internal processes in relation to road closures.

“Council has continued to support the Tweed community throughout the recovery from the devastation caused by the 2017 flood.”