Council has a number of priorities, but ultimately they all come back to care.
Care for our people, and our environment.
Care for those who need our support. Especially at times when they need us the most.
Our emergency management team exemplifies these values.
In recent years, we’ve seen a wide variety of emergencies that many people in our community have had to contend with.
There’s been storms, floods, bushfires, a tornado, and of course, the COVID-19 pandemic.
These have left houses unliveable, damaged public and private infrastructure; destroyed natural habitats; and left a huge physical and mental toll on our residents.
Preparing for, and responding to, different emergencies requires a coordinated and comprehensive approach from a range of agencies.
Greater Geelong’s new Municipal Emergency Management Plan, endorsed in April, outlines that risk management is a shared responsibility.
Governments, agencies, businesses, organisations, and individuals all have their role to play.
We work with agencies to plan for, and respond to, emergencies to reduce the consequences on our local communities.
We provide resources – such as employees and/or equipment – where needed to support lead response agencies such as Victoria Police, Country Fire Authority, Fire Rescue Victoria, and the SES.
This can include overseeing traffic management, or clearing roads of fallen trees.
It is in the relief and recovery phase that the City takes on additional responsibilities, such as coordinating Emergency Relief Centres.
These centres provide the community with short-term shelter and respite; direct and timely information; and, if needed, personal support.
They offer food, water, and immediate material-aid; help reconnect families and friends; and provide emergency financial and legal assistance.
It was well documented that following the major storm event in mid-October, City road repair crews saw a 300 per cent increase in workload.
About 1700 potholes were repaired over the following two months, as part of a huge clean-up and recovery effort.
But the response efforts to the floods began before the rains had stopped, through the activation of a relief centre.
The City established the centre in Grovedale to support people who had their residences threatened by rising waters.
Thankfully, most people don’t get a first-hand appreciation of everything involved in emergency management.
I’ve had the honour of hosting, or attending, service award ceremonies for two great emergency agencies in recent times.
Council marked Geelong Coast Guard’s 60 years of continuous service to the boating community, with a Civic Reception at City Hall.
The volunteers have provided tireless service, invaluable expertise and often life-changing support around-the-clock since their inception.
I was also fortunate to attend Fire Rescue Victoria’s Long and Good Service Awards Ceremony in Geelong last month.
This event celebrated recipients of the National Emergency Medal (for their contribution to the major bushfires of 2019-2020), and members who had served up to a remarkable 55 years.
The community is very lucky to have such dedicated, skilled, and highly experienced emergency services personnel in our region, who dedicate themselves to ensuring all of us return home safely.
Drawing on highly trained volunteers, and paid professionals, the region has an integrated and comprehensive emergency management system that has the community’s wellbeing as its focus.
