Cyclone shelter unveiled for Tully locals

Owners of real estate in Tully in Queensland can be susceptible to natural events such as floods, cyclones and storms.

But in an effort to mitigate the dangers, the state government has unveiled a category five cyclone shelter at Tully State School.

As part of a $60 million cyclone shelter program, the facility at Tully is the third to be built - a project that has been jointly funded by the state government and the government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Touring the facility yesterday (February 19), premier Campbell Newman said that this facility is in response to the fact that Tully was one of the hardest hit areas when Cyclone Yasi arrived.

He explained: "But the region has made excellent progress rebuilding homes, schools and businesses over the past two years.

"Shelters like this one in Tully are an important part of making sure North Queensland is better protected next time around."

The facility is 1,500 square metres and can accommodate 800 people during such an event, where wind speeds may reach 300 kilometres an hour.

The school will be able to use the building on a day-to-day basis as a sports complex, sports lab and teaching facility.