Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005

1. Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005 SOUTH AUSTRALIA

2. 56—Fire prevention on private land • (2) If a council believes that conditions on private land in a fire district are such as to cause an • unreasonable risk of the outbreak of fire on the land, or the spread of fire through the land, due • to the presence of flammable undergrowth or other flammable or combustible materials or • substances, the councilmay, by notice in writing that complies with any prescribed requirement, • require the owner to take specified action to remedy the situation within such time as may be specified in the notice.

3. 71—The South Australian Bushfire Prevention Advisory Committee • (1) The South Australian Bushfire Prevention Advisory Committee continues in existence. • (2) The Advisory Committee consists of— • (b) the following members appointed by the Governor: • (i) 2 representatives of local government, at least 1 being a suitable person to represent rural councils, nominated by the LGA;

4. 73—Regional bushfire prevention committees • (1) The Chief Officer may, by notice in the Gazette, establish a regional bushfire prevention • committee in relation to an SACFS region. • (2) A regional bushfire prevention committee will consist of— • (ii) 2 representatives of the councils whose areas lie wholly or partially within the • region, selected by those councils in accordance with the regulations;

5. 75—District bushfire prevention committees • (1) A rural council, or 2 or more rural councils acting together, must, by notice in the Gazette, establish a district bushfire prevention committee in relation to its area or their areas.

6. 77—Fire prevention officers • (1) Subject to this section, each rural council must appoint a suitably qualified fire prevention officer for its area. • (2) A rural council may appoint 1 or more assistant fire prevention officers.

7. 83—Private land • (1) In this section— • responsible authority means— • (a) in relation to land within the area of a council—the council for that area;

8. 84—Council land • (1) A rural council that has the care, control or management of land in the country must take reasonable steps to protect property on the land from fire and to prevent or inhibit the outbreak of fire on the land, or the spread of fire through the land. • (2) A rural council must, in acting under subsection (1), take into account proper land management principles. • (3) If, in the opinion of the Chief Officer, a rural council has failed to comply with subsection (1), the Chief Officer may refer the matter to the Minister to whom the administration of the Local Government Act 1999has been committed (with a view to that Minister taking action in relation to the council under that Act).

9. Local Service Areas include: • Barossa Yorke –Nuriootpa • Far North – Port Augusta • Mid West – Whyalla • North East – Port Pirie • West Coast – Port Lincoln • Hills Murray – Mt Barker • Riverland – Berri • South East – Mt Gambier • South Coast – Christies Beach

11. SA Government Reform Commission Regional Boundaries • The GRC has considered the development of a single set of regional boundaries to provide for greater efficiencies in the planning, delivery and monitoring of government services. • Cabinet has approved the proposal, which will be implemented by agencies over a two-year timeframe with PIRSA taking the lead role in terms of monitoring and review.

13. SAMFS has the following functions`

14. SAMFS has the following functions: • (a) to provide services with a view to preventing the outbreak of fires, or reducing the impact of fires, in any fire district; • (b) to provide efficient and responsive services in any fire district for the purpose of fighting fires, dealing with other emergencies or undertaking any rescue; • (c) to protect life, property and environmental assets from fire or other emergencies in any fire district;

15. SAMFS functions (cont): • (d) to develop and maintain plans to cope with the effects of fires or emergencies in any fire district; • (e) to provide services or support to assist with recovery in the event of a fire or other • emergency in a fire district; • (f) to perform any other function assigned to SAMFS by or under this or any other Act.

16. SACFS has the following functions

17. SACFS has the following functions: • (a) to provide services with a view to preventing the outbreak of fires, or reducing the impact of fires, in the country; • (b) to provide efficient and responsive services in the country for the purpose of fighting fires, dealing with other emergencies or undertaking any rescue; • (c) to protect life, property and environmental assets from fire and other emergencies occurring in the country;

18. SACFS functions (cont): • (d) to develop and maintain plans to cope with the effects of fires or emergencies in the country; • (e) to provide services or support to assist with recovery in the event of a fire or other emergency in the country; • (f) to perform any other function assigned to SACFS by or under this or any other Act.

19. SASES has the following functions `

20. SASES has the following functions: • (a) to assist the Commissioner of Police in dealing with any emergency; • (b) to assist the State Coordinator, in accordance with the State Emergency Management Plan, in carrying out prevention, preparedness, response or recovery operations under the Emergency Management Act 2004; • (c) to assist SAMFS and SACFS in dealing with any emergency;

21. SASES functions (cont): • (d) to deal with any emergency— • (i) where the emergency is caused by flood or storm damage; or • (ii) where there is no other body or person with lawful authority to assume control of operations for dealing with the emergency; • (e) to deal with any emergency until such time as any other body or person that has lawful authority to assume control of operations for dealing with the emergency has assumed control;

22. SASES functions (cont): • (f) to respond to emergency calls and, where appropriate, provide assistance in any situation of need whether or not the situation constitutes an emergency; • (g) to undertake rescues; • (h) to perform any other function assigned to SASES by or under this or any other Act.

23. Pathway for declaring an Identified Major Incident STATE COORDINATOR STATE CONTROLLER CONTROL OR COORDINATING AGENCY

24. Christies Beach Mt Gambier Berri Mt Barker Nuriootpa Port Pirie Whyalla Port Augusta Port Lincoln Zone Emergency Centres (ZECs) are located at:

25. SEC SCC LCC ZEC

26. The Local Government Act 1999 commits Local Government to responsibilities for emergency Management: Section 7. Functions of a council: Para (d)…to take measures to protect its area from natural and other hazards and to mitigate the effects of such hazards.

27. THE STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ORGANISATION STATE COORDINATOR .... MINISTER .... GOVERNOR ê ZECs ……. SEC .......... NEMCC (EMA) ì é ë AGRICULTURE FIRESTATE EMERGENCY SERVICE & ANIMAL SERVICES HEALTH & COMMUNITY SERVICES AMBULANCE MEDICAL & FIRST AID MEDIA ENGINEERING POLICE LOGISTICS DEFENCE FORCE (SA) COMMUNICATIONS

28. CONCEPTS OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT The Commonwealth recognises four concepts of emergency / disaster management. They are: 1. The All Hazards Approach 2. The Comprehensive Approach 3. The All Agencies (or Integrated) Approach 4. The Prepared Community

29. THE ALL HAZARDS APPROACH Even though specific counter-measures will often vary with different hazards, it is desirable to establish a single set of management arrangements capable of encompassing all hazards. Flood damage at the Yanyarrie Creek, approximately 15km north of Carrieton. Picture: Sam Gameau

30. THE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH ‘PPRR’ Prevention (or mitigation - reduce the severity of) hazard impact. Preparedness within the community. Response - providing an effective response immediately following any hazard impact. Recovery - providing for recovery of the community affected by the hazard impact.

31. Hazard-centred approach to Disaster Management HAZARDOUS EVENTS

32. Risk Management approach to Disaster Management RISK MANAGEMENT & RISK PREVENTION

33. PREVENTION / MITIGATION • Zoning / land use management • Building codes • Building use regulations • Relocation • Safety improvements • Legislation • Public Information • Community awareness / education • Tax, insurance incentives / disincentives

34. Sir John Harvey-Jones, a former director of ICI once said… “Planning is an un-natural process: it is much more fun to do something.The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression.”

35. PREPAREDNESS • Community awareness / education • Disaster plans • Training / test exercises • Emergency communications • Evacuation plans • Mutual aid agreements • Warning systems • Resource inventories • Provision of special resources SES volunteer Steven Allen crosses Wonoka Creek on the washed out Wilpena Rd. (Jan 07) Picture: Jill Pengelley

36. RESPONSE • Implementing plans • Implementing emergency legislation / declarations • Issuing warnings • Activating emergency operations centres • Mobilising resources • Notifying public authorities • Providing medical assistance • Providing • immediate relief • Search and rescue

37. RECOVERY • Restoring essential services • Community rehabilitation • Counselling programs • Temporary housing • Financial support / assistance • Health and safety information • Long-term medical care • Physical restoration / reconstruction • Public information • Conducting economic impact studies • Business recovery A railway line buckled near Whyalla after earth was washed from beneath the tracks. (January 2007) Picture: Nigel Cooper

38. THE ALL AGENCIES (OR INTEGRATED) APPROACH • Our arrangements for dealing with major emergencies and disasters in Australia require an active partnership between Commonwealth, state / territory and local levels of government, statutory authorities and voluntary and community organisations.

39. Things to address… • Control agencies • Command Control and Coordination • Memoranda of understanding • Cross-jurisdictional arrangements • Multi-agency exercising • Networking

40. THE PREPARED COMMUNITY • From the community viewpoint, the three vital links in dealing with emergencies / disasters are individuals, voluntary organisations, and local government. • Public education plays a key role in preparing communities.

41. How do we change people’s attitudes? • Confronting apathy and disinterest is an on-going challenge. • A mitigation mind-set needed. • Communities need to be empowered to take appropriate actions.

42. Some challenges to Public Education • Only 17.5% of Australia's working-age population, less than one in five, is able to cope with all the literacy demands of everyday life. • It is estimated that 7% of the world’s population has dyslexia.

43. Inventors /Engineers / Scientists Albert Einstein Thomas Edison Alexander Graham Bell Artists /Writers Leonardo Da Vinci Walt Disney Hans Christian Andersen William Butler Yeats  Military / Political Strategists General George Patton Winston Churchill Michael Heseltine Performers Cher Whoopi Goldgberg Susan Hampshire This is not about ridiculing dyslexics. Talented dyslexics include:

44. EM Project Opportunities in Local Government

45. Background The 2002 Council of Australian Government (COAG) review: “A shift in focus towards cost-effective, evidence-based disaster mitigation” “Beyond disaster response and reaction, to anticipation and mitigation” Endorsed roles and responsibilities for all levels of government

46. Funding opportunities for State and Local authorities • Natural Disaster Mitigation Program • Working together to manage emergencies program • Catchment management subsidy scheme • Local Government disaster fund • Post event recovery programs

47. Best Management Practice (BMP) funding • Natural Heritage Trust Projects Investments and Fundings • Website www.nht.gov.au • The Commonwealth provided $12.7 million for 69 priority projects identified by the eight SA regions in 2003-2004. The projects ranged from $135,000 to conserve the black-eared miner, one of Australia's most endangered birds, $135,000 to implement irrigation reform in the Lower Murray and $350,000 in incentives and technical support for environmental and resource management by Lower South East land holders.

48. Working Together To Manage Emergencies Program • Projects that enhance community safety • All hazard emergency/risk plans, preparation and recovery plans, personnel development protective measures for Critical Infrastructure • Local government and volunteers • $50K amounts ~ $1.5m for SA • 100% grants, 12 month focus • Opened Nov 2006, how many more rounds? • www.ema.gov.au

49. Natural Disaster Mitigation Program (NDMP) • Natural disaster mitigation works and studies • ~ $1.5 m, 66% grants • Multi year projects • Opened Nov 2006, one more round + • www.dotars.gov.au

50. Local Government Disaster Fund • Post-Ash Wednesday • Infrastructure restitution and mitigation • All hazards disasters, flood • Open all year, ongoing • Eligibility based on formula of % capital base and operations budget • Contact Local Government Relations Unit: Jane Gascoigne