People in Eden-Monaro that have been through natural disasters are being encouraged to share their experiences as part of the Independent Review of Commonwealth Disaster Funding.
The review is seeking input on community experiences with funding programs, processes and support, understanding of the roles of the different levels of government during a disaster and thoughts on how the Commonwealth could support communities to reduce their disaster risk.
Public submissions opened last month, and will continue to accept feedback until 10pm AEST on Friday, 14 July 2023.
Mr Andrew Colvin APM OAM, a former Australian Federal Police Commissioner who led national recovery efforts after the 2019-20 Black Summer Bushfires, is leading the review.
The review is also considering how government investment in disaster risk reduction, preparedness, response, recovery and resilience can better support both a national system and the scale of transformation needed to build resilience to the extreme disaster events Australia is projected to experience over coming decades.
A final report is expected to be provided to Government in April 2024.
To provide your feedback and input, ask questions about the public submissions, and access more information about the review, please visit the National Emergency Management Agency’s website.
Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt said "This review is the next step in the Federal Government’s ongoing work to ensure Australia is better prepared for, and responds faster to, future natural disasters.
“We want to make sure our disaster funding model is current, effective and best supports Australians before, during and following a disaster.
“Submissions have been open for a few weeks, but we want to make sure that everyone who wishes to contribute can do so – from councils to small business owners, primary producers and individuals.
“It is important that this review considers views across all sectors so that we can better understand how we can improve current disaster supports and response arrangements.”
The Member for Eden-Monaro, Kristy McBain added “Eden-Monaro has experienced 35 declared natural disaster events since 2016 – from bushfires, severe storms and floods.
“What we’ve seen during and after these events is the need for an improved disaster framework that better supports all levels of government coordinating response and recovery.
“We know that future disasters will strike, which is why it’s so important that we have a workable framework in place that gets people back on their feet, without the need to jump through hoops.
“This review is a significant step in reforming our national approach to disaster response and recovery, which is why I encourage as many people as possible to get involved.”
Council makes available existing infrastructure to act as evacuation centres. When required, evacuation centres are opened and operated by the NSW Government through the arrangements with the relevant welfare agencies and supporting charities.
It is of interest that Eurobodalla evacuation centres are not nominated prior to an emergency.
From potential sites, the lead agency will determine suitable evacuation centres. The lead agency will also issue relevant evacuation messages.
During the last bushfires Hanging Rock community Centre, Moruya Basketball Court and Narooma Leisure Centre were identified as formal evacuation centres staffed by NSW Government personal. Each site was sub-optimal and each site remains suboptimal with little if any improvement in readiness for the next emergency declaration.
The three evacuation centres within Eurobodalla registered more than nine thousand people at the peak of the evacuations.
The emergency services agencies were required to review the outcomes of the operation of the evacuation centres as part of their normal post event processes.
Council was to participate in this review with input directed into the review process via the Local Emergency Management Officer.
Recommended improvements including those needed to make the evacuation centres and community infrastructure more resilient and effective were then to become the basis of applications for funding to the Office of Emergency Management.
It is NOT known if this review was carried out.
Section 29(1) of the State Emergency and Rescue Management Act delegates the preparation and review of Emergency Management Plans to Local Emergency Management Committees.
The Eurobodalla Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC) is required to review this Local Emergency Management Plan every three (3) years
