We support councils to undertake their roles and responsibilities under Victoria’s emergency management arrangements through advocacy, guidance and practical assistance.
This includes representing local government on most state-level committees and working groups.
Emergency management Green Paper
The Green Paper, Towards a more disaster resilient and safer Victoria [PDF], was released in September 2011.
We advocated strongly the principles of community resilience, all-hazards, all-agencies and three tiers of planning and operations in our submission. Issues that were raised in council feedback that fell outside the scope of our submission will be followed up directly.
Improving Emergency Management in Local Government Program
Responding to increasing demands on local government to provide emergency management support for communities and emergency services, we initiated the Improving Emergency Management in Local Government Program.
This program addresses the role of local government in emergency management, builds capability and facilitates collaboration across the sector.
Capability improvement
To assist councils with delivering emergency management services, we are implementing a number of programs to improve the capability of the local government sector to perform its increasing emergency management role.
We boost the emergency management capability of councils by providing support to existing programs and activities, and by promoting the development of new models to share knowledge and resources among councils.
This includes helping the local government sector maintain and improve performance standards in the delivery of emergency management services to their communities.
We will continue to work in partnership with the Municipal Emergency Management Enhancement Group on joint projects that enable resource sharing among councils in emergencies, as well as improving the standardisation of emergency management activity and structures within councils.
We also provide a specialised service to councils in the development and procurement of complex emergency management systems and the coordination of inter-council donations during emergencies.
Fire
We are working with Victorian agencies, the Victorian Government and councils to increase consistency and integration in fire management through the Integrated fire management planning framework.
At the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission, we represented the sector and coordinated local government’s response to the commission’s final report recommendations [PDF] and the Victorian Government’s implementation strategy [PDF].
We continue to actively represent Victorian councils at state level in the implementation of the Bushfires Royal Commission recommendations.
A submission was made by us in response to the Victorian Government’s Fire services' property levy option paper [PDF].
Flood
On behalf of local government, we made a submission on flood warnings and response to the Victorian review of 2010 – 2011 flood warnings and response. A submission was also made to the State Parliament Environment and Natural Resources Committee's Inquiry into Flood Mitigation Infrastructure in Victoria.
We provided advocacy and coordination support to councils affected by the floods that occurred between September 2010 and February 2011.
Pandemics
Our advocacy includes a focus on the role local government would play in the event of a pandemic.
We have worked with councils and the Departments of Health and Human Services on a number of resources and plans which clarify the role of councils in a pandemic.
For information about pandemic influenza, visit the Department of Health website.
About emergency management
Emergency management brings together all levels of government, volunteer organisations and the private sector in a formalised and coordinated way to prevent and manage emergencies.
In recent years, Victoria’s emergency management arrangements have been continually tested through significant fires and floods, localised storms and non-natural disasters such as chemical spills.