Indigo Shire Council has a carefully prepared Municipal Emergency Management Plan that is activated in times of emergency, the last time being during the 2003 bushfires.

Indigo Shire Council Municipal Emergency Resource Officer Mr Mark Greene said as documented in the Emergency Management Act 1986 and the Local Government Act 1989, councils played a critical role in Victoria’s emergency management arrangements.

He said councils had emergency management responsibilities because they were the closest level of government to their communities and had access to specialised local knowledge about the environmental, demographic, road network and community features of their districts.

“People also naturally seek help from their local council and emergency response/recovery agencies both during the response to, and recovery from, emergencies” he said.

“The roles allocated to local government in the Emergency Management Act, and in the Emergency Management Manual Victoria, were arrived at with close regard to the real concerns and normal functions of local government.

“The Council Municipal Emergency Resource Officer responsibilities include the coordinate Council resources in emergency response, maintain effective liaison with emergency agencies within the municipality, keep the municipal emergency coordination centres prepared to ensure prompt activation is needed.

“Council’s Municipal Recovery Managers responsibilities include coordinating municipal and community resources for recovery, establish priorities for the restoration of community services and needs and liaise, consult and negotiate with recovery agencies and council on behalf of the affected area and community recovery committees.”

Mr Greene said experience indicated that these constituted what the community expected of Council during an emergency.

He said response and recovery agencies were actively involved during and after an emergency, but councils had a lasting responsibility for the wellbeing of their communities.

“It is interesting to note that during the 2003 bushfires Council was actively involved in the response phase for approximately 2 weeks whereas the recovery phase lasted for some 18 months,” he said.

Mr Greene said the community saw their Council as their link to sources of assistance beyond their locality, and for information and support in managing emergencies.

Further information for residents to help prepare for emergencies can be obtained by visiting the Emergency Management Australia web site at www.ema.gov.au.