Surf Coast Shire Council has begun preparing for the potentially early start of this year’s fire season by hosting a major regional planning exercise.
The planning exercise was held at Aireys Inlet Community Centre, drawing together multiple organisations including Surf Coast, Colac Otway and Corangamite shire councils, Country Fire Authority, emergency services organisations, government departments and disaster relief and utility providers.
Positing the isolation of a Great Ocean Road community during an extreme fire danger day in late January, participants looked at the best ways to identify and deliver relief needs in an emergency.
Surf Coast Shire Council chief executive Robyn Seymour said the exercise looked at critical actions which needed to take place during the first 12, 24 and 48 hours from outside and within an isolated community.
“Principal objectives included working on how to identify and deliver relief needs, understanding a governance structure and ensuring all agencies are using the same terminology,” Ms Seymour said.
“Providing emergency relief in these situations is challenging and complex. Having agencies come together to work through scenarios in advance can be vital in helping many cogs work together when crisis arrives.”
Emergency Recovery Victoria Regional Recovery director Angela Carey said recovery needed to be “swift and effective” after an emergency.
“Planning exercises are essential to make sure all partners in emergencies are in the best possible position to anticipate and respond to the needs of community after a major emergency.
“Victoria’s emergency management sector is well prepared for the season ahead, but being fire-ready is a shared responsibility.
“We all have a responsibility to understand the risk, have a fire plan in place and keep up-to-date with warnings on the VicEmergency App and website.”
The shire is encouraging property owners and occupants to join in the preparation after fire authorities warned the dry winter and autumn could lead to the fire season hitting the region early this year.
Visit surfcoast.vic.gov.au/community/emergencies-and-safety and cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare for more information on how to prepare for this year’s fire season.
