SEMC NEWS Volume 2 Issue 4 – OCTOBER 2015

SEMC–ORGANISED NATURAL HAZARDS CONFERENCE AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS The 8th Australasian Natural Hazards Management Conference (ANHMC 2015), which was organised by the State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC) Secretariat, has been hailed as a resounding success. See page 2–5 for our ANHMC 2015 highlights.

Image: The Minister for Emergency Services the Hon. Joe Francis MLA delivering the opening address at the Australasian Natural Hazards Management Conference in .

•INSIDE THIS ISSUE• • ANHMC 2015 HIGHLIGHTS • 2–5 • STATE RISK PROJECT DISTRICT ROLL OUT UPDATE • 10 • WA2015 RESILIENT AUSTRALIA AWARDS CEREMONY • 6 • MAKING A STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARATION •11 • AMENDMENT TO THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS • 8 • SOUTH WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT • NEW DEMC LOGOS LAUNCHED• 9 ALLIANCE (SWLGEMA) CONFERENCE • 11

SEMC SECRETARIAT W. www.semc.wa.gov.au 20 Southport Street, West Leederville WA 6007 E. [email protected] T. (08) 9482 1700 E. Communications Coordinator: [email protected] SEMC NEWS VOLUME 2 ISSUE 4 SEMC NEWS October 2015

and recovery was a significant highlight on day two of the conference. ANHMC HIGHLIGHTS Other day two highlights included: The 8th Australasian Natural Hazards MLA and the SEMC Chair Frank Edwards Kevin Fenaughty’s (GNS Science) Management Conference (ANHMC CSC. presentation “Discovering the impact of 2015), which was organised by the State geological hazards”; Sarb Johal’s (Joint Other highlights from the opening day of Centre for Disaster Research) fascinating Emergency Management Committee the conference included: analysis of the “Impact of the Canterbury (SEMC) Secretariat, has been hailed as a earthquakes on mental health care resounding success. Heather Taylor’s (SEMC Secretariat) professionals’ capability to deliver services keynote address on the conference theme of during recovery”; Loretta van Gasselt’s risk, capability and impact; Jon Mitchell’s Over 200 delegates attended the main (Department of Planning) presentation (Joint Centre for Disaster Research) two-day conference held at the University on the development of bushfire prone presentation “Assessing the effectiveness Club of , while over mapping and bushfire risk management of disaster response coordination training 260 attendees participated in the eight planning; and Veronique Florec’s (UWA) in disaster response”; Tony Spicer’s (WA workshops (seven of which were held at revealing presentation “Economic analysis Health) insightful presentation “Health the SEMC offices) and the bushfire field trip of prescribed burning in the south-west of State Emergency Management Committee’s (SEMC) Chair impacts of heatwaves: the relationship (Perth Hills). Western Australia”. Frank Edwards’ CSC opening address was delivered to a between heatwave intensity and health packed auditorium of over 200 delegates. The organisers of ANHMC 2015 wish service utilisation”; The special forum to The workshop series covered a range of to thank ALL conference and workshop mark the International Day for Disaster emergency management/natural hazard which proved to be both highly educational presenters for sharing their latest thinking, Risk Reduction, with panel members subjects: Western Australian emergency risk and insightful. Special thanks to the field management (SEMC Secretariat); Economics research, science and expertise with consisting of Prof. Carmen Lawrence trip hosts - the Office of Bushfire Risk of natural hazard mitigation (UWA); Lessons delegates during the course of the five-day (UWA), Erin Fuery (Australian Red Cross), Management (OBRM) and the Department identified from emergency events (Auckland event. Dr. Anne Garland (Applied Research in of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW) - as well as Environmental Sciences Nonprofit, Inc.) University of Technology); New Zealand Day one of the main conference commenced emergency management reform; Disaster the detailed and complex multi-agency and Dr. Michael Rumsewicz (Bushfire and with a traditional Welcome to Country by impact and risk mapping and modelling expertise provided by: Bruce Telfer (OBRM), Natural Hazards CRC). Noongar Elder Dr Richard Walley, followed tools (NIWA); Improving mitigation Keith Low (DPaW), Michael Pasotti (DPaW) by opening speeches by the Minister for Michael Utsler’s captivating keynote address decision-making (Risk Frontiers); and and volunteer firefighter Rod Eyre. Emergency Services the Hon. Joe Francis on the Deepwater Horizon disaster response Animal welfare emergency management Next year’s iteration of the Australasian (Massey University). Natural Hazards Management Conference ANHMC 2015’s concluding event was has been announced. The event will be the “classroom in a coach” bushfire risk taking place 1-3 June 2016 in Wellington, management field trip to the Perth Hills, New Zealand.

Michael Utsler’s keynote address on the Deepwater Horizon disaster response and recovery.

The Minister for Emergency Services the Hon. Joe Francis MLA delivering the conference’s opening address.

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ANHMC 2015 PHOTO GALLERY... CONFERENCE, WORKSHOPS AND FIELD TRIP: 12–16 OCTOBER 2015

4 5 SEMC NEWS VOLUME 2 ISSUE 4 SEMC NEWS October 2015 WA AWARDS CEREMONY HELD FOR THE 2015 RESILIENT AUSTRALIA AWARDS

The Resilient Australia Awards WA state ceremony was held on 14 October 2015. The event took place during the 8th Australasian Natural Hazards Management Conference 2015 at The University Club of Western Australia where the Hon. Joe Francis MLA, Minister for Emergency Services, Corrective Services, Small Business and Veterans, presented trophies to the winners. The independent judges considered a strong pool of applications—the judges commented that it was difficult to select the best entries. In addition to the two category winners, two entries were selected to receive a Highly The Resilient Australia Awards 2015 WA award winners pictured Commended award. The state with the Minister for Emergency Services the Hon. Joe Francis MLA winner of the People’s Choice and the SEMC Chair Frank Edwards CSC. photography award was also announced at the ceremony. The Resilient Australia Awards is an Australian Government The state winners have been initiative sponsored by the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s included in the next round Department, in conjunction with States and Territories. The of the awards—the national State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC) Secretariat The Photography Award – People’s Choice awarded to Kyle Nowak’s “WA Southwest Communities Under Threat.” winners will be announced later is the Western Australian awards convenor on behalf of the in the year. Minister for Emergency Services.

Winners: Highly Commended Awards:

State and Local Government Award Category: State and Local Government Award Category:

City of – Beyond the Gate, Aged Care Emergency Support City of Greater Geraldton – Operation Barndi Mara Network – Disaster Aware Community Award Category: Full details of the winning and highly commended projects are available on the Australian Red Cross – The Pillowcase Project SEMC website.

Photography Award – People’s Choice:

Kyle Nowak – WA Southwest Communities Under Threat

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AMENDMENT TO THE NEW DEMC LOGOS LAUNCHED EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT The SEMC Secretariat has recently relevant district information on the new undertaken a collaborative project to create SEMC website, to be launched at the end of DISTRICTS District Emergency Management Committee the year. (DEMC) badging. On 25 August 2015, the Minister endorsed within the East Metropolitan district for the In the future, information relevant to a Each emergency management (EM) district a proposal to amend the Emergency purposes of EM. specific district will have its own place on now has its own logo which can be used for Management Districts Order 2006 and The Emergency Management Districts DEMC initiated communication. the SEMC website. These logos will make it gazetted this Order on the 13 October 2016 in Amendment Order 2015 represents the easy to find the information relevant to you accordance with Section 28 of the Emergency The logos are part of a bigger project to help culmination of a comprehensive review and your community. Management Act 2005. of the metropolitan EM districts outlined standardise tools and resources used at This amendment has altered the seven in SEMC’s report Review of Emergency district level, while increasing the identity of The logo reflects the collaborative nature of metropolitan emergency management (EM) Management Districts-Perth and Surrounds. individual DEMCs. DEMCs by using 11 bars to represent the 11 districts to four metropolitan districts and EM districts and abstractly represents the The table below indicates the amended These logos will be heavily used in DEMC amended the district of Great Southern to metropolitan districts and the local communications and will be key to accessing shape of Western Australia. include the . governments now contained within each All Perth Airport land is deemed to be district.

District Local Government

Town of Bassendean Shire of Kalamunda Town of Peppermint Grove Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale City of Cockburn Town of East The new DEMC logos for each emergency management district. Rottnest Island Shire of Waroona

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DID YOU KNOW?... STATE RISK PROJECT Making a State of Emergency Declaration DISTRICT ROLLOUT In our last newsletter, we examined the prevent loss of life, or destruction of or damage UPDATE benefits of making an emergency situation to property or the environment. declaration in order to access the powers of These extraordinary powers, available under Part 6 of the Emergency Management Act 2005 The State Emergency Management Division 2 of Part 6 of the EM Act, are in (EM Act). Committee (SEMC) State Risk Project’s addition to the emergency powers available district rollout is continuing to gather steam, An emergency situation, which may under an emergency situation declaration and with a number of risk assessment workshops be declared by the relevant hazard include, but are not limited to: taking place throughout 2015, and more management agency, or the State Emergency • the power to direct public authorities; workshops scheduled in the upcoming Coordinator (SEC), enables hazard months. management officers to exercise significant • entering or breaking into a place or vehicle in The next scheduled workshops are: emergency powers. an emergency area; • South-West district: 27 October - Storm However, where an incident is of such • searching, removing, dismantling, hazard a magnitude that it requires additional, demolishing or destroying any premises or extraordinary emergency powers, there is vehicle; • Wheatbelt district: 11 November - the option of making a State of Emergency • containing, removing or destroying an Earthquake and Rail Crash hazards Declaration. animal or substance; and • Goldfields-Esperance: 18 November - Plant Biosecurity hazards A State of Emergency is declared by the • disconnecting or taking and using any fuel, Bushfire and Marine Transport Emergency Minister on the advice of the SEC, where the hazards • May and June: Storm, Flood, Bushfire and gas, electricity or water. Earthquake hazards Minister is satisfied that: These powers are exercisable by authorised The district rollout will continue in the • he/she has considered the advice of the officers; authorised by the SEC under Section South-West and Goldfields-Esperance SEC; into 2016 with risk assessments also Kimberley: 61 of the EM Act. • an emergency has occurred, is occurring or set to commence for the remaining Although the State has had the ability to make • September: Bushfire hazard is imminent; and districts: , Midwest- and a State of emergency declaration since 2005, to Metropolitan. • August: Human Epidemic and Road • extraordinary powers are required to date, this provision has never been used. Transport Emergency hazards BACKGROUND • July: Cyclone and Flood hazards In May 2015 the State Risk Project moved into a new phase of assessing risk at a district LATEST EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT level, following the emergency management Wheatbelt: boundaries as designated in State Emergency • August: Bushfire hazard CONFERENCE UNDERLINES THEME OF LOCAL Management Policy 2.4. • May: Storm and Flood hazards PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION The district rollout of the State Risk Project, On Friday 28 August 2015 the South West among other funding sources. which is being done in parallel with ongoing Local Government Emergency Management State-level risk assessments, is initially Goldfields-Esperance Alliance (SWLGEMA) hosted the latest The keynote address was from Glenn Cook assessing the risks posed to each district in its series of emergency management from the Bureau of Meteorology. Glenn spoke • September: Storm and Earthquake hazards from their five priority hazards. Over time, conferences. about the likely changes to our weather from this may be followed by assessments of the Consistent with its mission of promoting the short, medium and long term perspectives. remaining relevant prescribed hazards. South-West: opportunities for collaboration within the He also highlighted the likely impacts that Since May 2015 the following risk assessment South West region, the conference theme • September: Bushfire hazard these scenarios may have on the frequency workshops have been carried out by the was “Local Partners in Risk Management - A State Risk Project team: Collaborative Journey”. and impact of natural hazards upon our south western communities. This discussion then The local level rollout of the State Risk Speakers from around the nation spoke formed the basis for the remaining speakers. Project is currently under development and Great Southern workshops: on their experiences on a range of topics, is likely to commence from approximately centred around the impacts of climate For information on SWLGEMA, the latest • July: Marine Oil Pollution and Animal and mid-2016. change, on emergency risk management for conference, speaker notes and the questions this region. and answers from the plenary sessions, The conference was supported by the SEMC please visit the SWLGEMA website: Secretariat through an AWARE Grant, www.swlgema.com.

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