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State Emergency Management Committee
Annual Reportfor the reporting period ending 30 June 2012for the reporting period ending 30 June 2012
All correspondence regarding this report is to be directed to:
Secretary SEMC
SEMC Secretariat
20 Southport Street
West Leederville WA 6007
Telephone: (08) 6552 5145
Email: [email protected]
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State Emergency Management Committee Annual Report
Foreword
The 2011/12 year was an extraordinarily busy and challenging one for all involved in
emergency management in Western Australia. The Ellensbrook (Margaret River), Bindoon
and Milyeannup (Nannup) bushfi res, South West land division storm and Tropical Cyclone
Lua were just a few of the emergencies that required access to the emergency powers of
the Emergency Management Act 2005.
The year also saw a great deal of learning for Western Australian emergency management
practitioners. Two Reports; Appreciating the Risk: Report of the Special Inquiry into the
November 2011 Margaret River Bushfi re and the Community Development and Justice
Standing Committee’s Report on Western Australia’s Readiness for the 2011/12 Bushfi re Season,
were released during the year and made a number of key recommendations that directly
impacted the way emergency management is practiced in the State.
The State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC) carried out its functions under
the Emergency Management Act 2005 in a dynamic environment. Change was being
implemented at both a State and national level and SEMC, through the SEMC sub-
committees and District and Local Emergency Management Committees, needed to
respond by developing and implementing new policies, plans and procedures, which
comprise the State’s emergency management arrangements.
SEMC itself was also directly impacted by change and was re-constituted at the end
of July 2012 to include an independent Chair and two other independent members.
The Committee also includes the chief executives of the major agencies involved in
Western Australia’s emergency management arrangements and a representative of local
government. The re-constitution has provided a greater focus on preparedness and
compliance through a clearer separation between the roles of the SEMC and the State
Emergency Coordination Group (SECG), chaired by the Commissioner of Police. The SECG
coordinates the response to specifi c emergencies, whereas the SEMC sets the policy
framework. The re-constituted SEMC will provide a report on the State’s preparedness for
large scale emergencies at the end of October 2012.
As the incoming Chair and the incoming Executive Offi cer respectively, we would like
to acknowledge the work undertaken by the previous SEMC and particularly the work
undertaken by the Chair, the Commissioner of Police. We would also extend our thanks to
Emergency Management Western Australia (EMWA)1 for their eff orts during 2011/12.
This Annual Report is submitted to the Minister for Emergency Services in accordance with
section 25 of the Emergency Management Act 2005.
Kerry Sanderson AO Michelle Reynolds
Chair Executive Offi cer
SEMC SEMC
1 EMWA, a portfolio of FESA, provided support to the SEMC. As part of the re-constitution of SEMC, EMWA was renamed the SEMC Secretariat in July 2012.
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Contents
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Enabling Legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
SEMC Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Responsible Minister . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
SEMC Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
State Emergency Management Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
SEMC Committee Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
SEMC Sub-committees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
SEMC Strategic Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Key Achievements against the SEMC Annual Business Plan 2011/12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Goal 1 – Horizon Scanning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
State Risk Assessment Framework Developed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Spatial Information Capability Developed and Maintained . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Western Australian Representation on National Committees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Goal 2 – Infl uencing Funding Policy for Emergency Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Western Australia Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (WANDRRA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Natural Disaster Resilience Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Goal 3 – Harness a State Capability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Review of State Emergency Management Policy 4.1 – Operational Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
State Alert / Emergency Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
State Exercise Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Recovery Management Post-Incident Is In Line With Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Goal 4 – Developing Community Resilience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Emergency Broadcasters Memorandum of Understanding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Community Emergency Management Arrangements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
National Disaster Resilience Program (NDRP) Funding for Local Government Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Case Study: City of Bunbury – Ready to Roll: U-4-72 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Goal 5 – Infl uencing Land Use Planning and Building Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Land Use Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Goal 6 – Reinforcing / Integrating the Comprehensive EM Approach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Traffi c Management during Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Goal 7 – Policy and Governance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Prescription of Hazard and HMA for Heatwave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
SEMC Emergency Management Framework . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Changes to the Emergency Management Regulations 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Changes to State Emergency Management Policies (SEMP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Changes to State Emergency Management Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Changes to State Emergency Management Plan (Westplan) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Status of State Emergency Management Plans – Westplans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Status of State Function Support Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
State Emergency Coordination Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
SECG Summary: Ellensbrook (Margaret River) fi re – November 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
SECG Summary: Milyeannup (Nannup) fi re – November/December 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
SECG Summary: Bindoon fi re – January 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
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GlossaryAWARE All West Australians Reducing Emergencies
CT Counter-Terrorism
DCP Department for Child Protection
DEC Department of Environment and Conservation
DEMC District Emergency Management Committee
DPC Department of the Premier and Cabinet
EM Emergency Management
EMA Emergency Management Australia
EMWA Emergency Management Western Australia
ERM Emergency Risk Management
ESS Emergency Services Sub-committee
FESA Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia
HMA Hazard Management Agency
ISG Incident Support Group
LEMC Local Emergency Management Committee
LG Local Government
LSS Lifeline Services Sub-committee
NDRRA Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements
NCTC National Counter-Terrorism Committee
NEMC National Emergency Management Committee
OASG Operations Area Support Group
PIA Post Incident Analysis
PING Public Information Group
RSS Recovery Services Sub-committee
SECG State Emergency Coordination Group
SEMC State Emergency Management Committee
SMC State Mitigation Committee
WESTPLAN Western Australian Emergency Management Plan
SECG Summary: Tropical Cyclone Lua & Kalumburu Flood – March 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
SECG Summary: South West Land Division Storm – June 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
District Emergency Management Committees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Signifi cant Emergencies by Emergency Management District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Key achievements against district business plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Local Emergency Management Committees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Ministerial Directives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
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Enabling Legislation
The State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC) is established by section 13 (1) of the Emergency
Management Act 2005.
SEMC Membership
Section 13 of the Emergency Management Act 2005 provides for the membership of the SEMC to consist of:
(a) a chairman appointed by the Minister;
(b) a deputy chairman appointed by the Minister;
(c) an executive offi cer appointed by the Minister;
(d) a person who is representative of local government, appointed by the Minister; and
(e) such other members as are provided for, and appointed in accordance with, the regulations.
The Emergency Management Regulations 2006 provide for the ‘other members’, referred to in section 13(e) of
the Emergency Management Act 2005, to consist of:
(a) the chief executive offi cer of the department principally assisting the Minister administering the Health
Act 1911, or a nominee of that chief executive offi cer, appointed by the Minister;
(b) the chief executive offi cer of the department principally assisting the Minister administering the
Children and Community Services Act 2004, or a nominee of that chief executive offi cer, appointed by
the Minister; and
(c) not more than 5 other members appointed by the Minister.
The Minister is to ensure that the chairman has expertise or experience that is relevant to the functions of
the SEMC and the State Emergency Coordination Group (SECG) and that each other member has expertise
or experience that is relevant to the functions of the SEMC.
The SEMC has the following functions under section 14 of the Emergency Management Act 2005:
(a) to advise the Minister on emergency management and the preparedness of the State to combat
emergencies;
(b) to provide direction, advice and support to public authorities, industry, commerce and the community
in order to plan and prepare for an effi cient emergency management capability for the State;
(c) to provide a forum for whole of community coordination to ensure the minimisation of the eff ects of
emergencies;
(d) to provide a forum for the development of community wide information systems to improve
communications during emergencies;
(e) to develop and coordinate risk management strategies to assess community vulnerability to
emergencies;
(f) to perform other functions given to the SEMC under this Act;
(g) to perform any other function prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this section.
Responsible Minister
The Hon. Troy Buswell MLA, Treasurer; Minister for Transport; Emergency Services.
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SEMC Members
Chairman
Dr Karl O’Callaghan APM
Commissioner of Police
Deputy Chair
Mr Wayne Gregson APM
Chief Executive Offi cer Fire and Emergency Services Authority of
Western Australia
Executive Offi cer*Mr John Butcher
Executive Director Emergency Management
Western Australia*Until March 2012.
Mr Paul Carr was appointed
Executive Offi cer from March 2012.
Mr Duane Bell
Western Australia PoliceSEMC Member
(Chair – Emergency Services Sub-committee)
Mr Geoff Hay
Department of Premier and Cabinet
SEMC Member(Chair – Recovery
Services Sub-committee)
Mr Terry Murphy
Director GeneralDepartment for Child ProtectionSEMC Member
Dr Andrew Robertson
Department of HealthSEMC Member
(Chair – Health Services Sub-committee)
Mr Keiran McNamaraDirector General Department of
Environment and Conservation
SEMC Member
Mr Mark Fitzhardinge
Water CorporationSEMC Member
(Chair – Lifelines Services Sub-committee)
Ms Ricky Burges PSM
Chief Executive Offi cer Western Australian Local Government Association
SEMC Member
Mr Mike Bergin
Bureau of MeteorologySEMC Member(Chair – Public
Information Group)
The composition of SEMC for 2011–12 was:
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State Emergency Management Committee
SEMC met on three (3) occasions, plus one (1) special meeting to discuss the implications of the A Shared
Responsibility: The Report of the Perth Hills Bushfi re February 2011 Review, during the 2011/12 reporting period.
Member Position/Organisation Total number
of meetings attended
Represented by Proxy/ Number of meetings
Dr Karl O’Callaghan SEMC Chairman 4
Mr Wayne Gregson SEMC Deputy Chairman 22 Mr Craig Hynes 13
Mr. John Butcher SEMC Executive Offi cer 3
Mr Paul Carr SEMC Executive Offi cer 14
Mr. Duane Bell Western Australia Police 4
Mr. Mark Fitzhardinge Water Corporation 3
Mr. Michael Bergin Bureau of Meteorology 3
Mr. Geoff Hay Department of the Premier and Cabinet 4
Mr. Terry Murphy Department for Child Protection nil Mr David Harrison 4
Dr Andrew Robertson Department of Health 2 Ms Muriel Leclercq 2
Ms Ricky Burges Western Australian Local Government Association
3
Mr. Keiran McNamara Department of Environment and Conservation
3 Mr Peter Dans 1
2 Mr Wayne Gregson was eligible to attend 2 SEMC Meetings.3 Mr Craig Hynes was proxy for Ms Jo Harrison-Ward (former Deputy Chair).4 Mr Paul Carr replaced Mr John Butcher as Executive Offi cer SEMC in March 2012.
State Emergency Management Committee
District Emergency Management Committees
Local Emergency Management Committees
Emergency Services
Health Services
Lifelines Services
Public Information
Recovery Services
State Mitigation
SEMC Sub-committees
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SEMC Committee Structure
SEMC Sub-committees
Section 21 of the Emergency Management Act 2005 allows the SEMC to establish such sub-committees as
it thinks fi t to advise the SEMC on any aspect of its functions or to assist with any matters relevant to the
performance of its functions. Sub-committees may, but need not, consist of or include members of the
SEMC.
The SEMC has established the following sub-committee:
• Emergency Services Sub-committee (ESS)
• Health Services Sub-committee (HSS)
• Lifelines Services Sub-committee (LSS)
• Public Information Group (PING)
• Recovery Services Sub-committee (RSS)
• State Mitigation Committee (SMC)
The role of each sub-committee is described in the table below.
Sub-committee Role
Emergency Services
Sub-committee
To develop policies and emergency management protocols to
assist hazard management agencies, combat agencies and support
organisations to meet their emergency management responsibilities.
Health Services
Sub-committee
To develop policies and health related emergency management
protocols that will assist in the management of persons aff ected
by a major emergency (i.e., medical, public health or humanitarian
emergencies), in accordance with SEMC policies.
Recovery Services
Sub-committee
To oversee the planning and operation of State level recovery
arrangements.
Lifelines Services
Sub-committee
To provide a forum for the exchange of information that will assist
or improve the operation of lifeline services or functions at times of
emergency, for the benefi t of the community.
Public Information Group To develop and maintain arrangements for the provision of public
information and public education related to emergencies in accordance
with SEMC policies.
State Mitigation
Committee
To develop and implement comprehensive emergency mitigation
policies and strategies for natural hazards and any other issues identifi ed
by SEMC; to strengthen partnerships with local governments, and remote
and Indigenous communities; to foster emergency risk management
activities and implement mitigation measures in order to minimise the
impact of natural hazards on people, property and the environment.
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SEMC Strategic Plan
The SEMC uses a process of annual business planning which includes the sub-committees and District and
Local Emergency Management Committees (DEMCs/LEMCs) that are created under the provisions of the
Emergency Management Act 2005.
At its meeting on 2 September 2008, the SEMC endorsed the SEMC fi ve year Strategic Plan. The SEMC
Strategic Plan (2008-2013) articulates seven goals which are outlined below.
To assist the SEMC in achieving the outcomes outlined in the fi ve year plan, annual goals and delivery
items were developed and documented in an annual business plan. The 2011/12 annual business plan was
endorsed by SEMC at its meeting in September 2011. In accordance with State Emergency Management
Procedure ADP3 – Annual Business Planning, DEMCs and LEMCs align their business plans to these goals.
Goal 1 – Horizon Scanning
Outcome: Emergency managers think strategically and embrace innovation and fl exibility,
monitor emergent issues and take preventive and preparatory measures to build disaster
resistant and resilient communities.
Goal 2 – Infl uencing Funding Policy for Emergency Management
Outcome: Capacity to adequately fund SEMC strategic priorities (with continuity of funding
agreed at regular intervals).
Goal 3 – Harness a State Capability
Outcome: State, multi-agency approach to development and deployment of capabilities to
reduce vulnerability to hazards and ensure capacity to mitigate, prepare, respond and recover
from emergencies.
Goal 4 – Developing Community Resilience
Outcome: Less vulnerable individuals and communities with the capacity to cope with
emergencies.
Goal 5 – Infl uencing Land Use Planning and Building Codes
Outcome: Improved all hazards mitigation, infrastructure hardening and management of
residual risk.
Goal 6 – Reinforcing / Integrating the Comprehensive EM Approach
Outcome: Improved understanding and adoption of EM approaches across stakeholders.
Goal 7 – Policy and Governance
Outcome: Emergency management outcomes are achieved through the development and
implementation of sound policy and eff ective corporate governance.
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Key Achievements against the SEMC Annual Business Plan 2011/12
Goal 1 – Horizon Scanning
State Risk Assessment Framework Developed
Following work already undertaken by SEMC and SMC in 10/11, SEMC has developed the State
Emergency Risk Assessment Framework in consultation with key stakeholders.
The Western Australian State Emergency Risk Assessment Framework describes the process for
assessing the level of risk presented by a range of events in a “potential worst case consequence”
scenario. The level of assessed risk to the State determines whether the event should be a prescribed
‘hazard’ under the Emergency Management Act 2005 or identifi ed as a ‘threat’ to the State.
SEMC has facilitated the risk assessment of the State’s priority “sudden onset natural hazards” of
cyclone and fl ood. This risk assessment was undertaken in accordance with the State Emergency
Risk Assessment Framework, the National Emergency Risk Assessment Guide and the international
risk management standard ISO: 31000/2009.
The risk assessment was undertaken following extensive research to identify, collate and review
a wide range of evidence relating to both the likelihood of each event occurring and current
resilience measures in place. All evidence collated was reviewed and assessed by a panel of
stakeholders from both the Western Australian and national emergency management sector.
The State Risk Register is an outcome of the risk assessment process and a draft has been produced
to articulate the level of risk exposure to the State of Western Australia from assessed hazards
and identify priority treatment programs to mitigate risk and enhance community resilience to
emergencies. The State Risk Register, incorporating risks assessed in accordance with the State
Emergency Risk Management Framework, will be fi nalised by 30 June 2013.
Finally, State Emergency Risk Policy is being developed to facilitate State and local risk
assessments. The fi rst step in this Policy development is the drafting of a SEMC Policy on Risk
Management. This Policy will encompass the risk management concepts of establishing context;
identifying risks; analysing risks; evaluating risks; and treating risks, along with the principles of
mitigation. The Policy will be a valuable resource for all emergency management practitioners at
State, district and local level, undertaking risk assessments. It is expected that the State Emergency
Risk Policy will be published by December 2012.
Spatial Information Capability Developed and Maintained
Signifi cant work has been undertaken through the SMC around the shared land information
platform for emergency management (SLIP-EM).
There has been a move towards agencies providing access to operational data through SLIP and/
or the SLIP-EM service. A SLIP-EM Support Agreement is now in place with Western Australia Police
and Department of Health is reviewing their requirements for SLIP-EM.
Western Australian Representation on National Committees
Western Australian delegates attend national committees and working groups to represent the
State’s interests on a variety of emergency management issues and as a means of monitoring and
infl uencing emerging trends. The following list highlights a number of the national committees
attended by Western Australian delegates:
• Standing Council on Police and Emergency Management (SCPEM)
• National Emergency Management Committee (NEMC)
• National Disaster Resilience Working Group
• National Flood Risk Advisory Group
• National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements Stakeholders Group
• Community and Disability Service Ministers Advisory Committee – Disaster Recovery
Sub-committee (CS DRSC)
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• Australian Emergency Management Institute (AEMI) Advisory Group
• AEMI Jurisdictional Training Management Group
• Remote Indigenous Communities Advisory Committee
• Triple Zero Working Group
• Australian Tsunami Working Group
• National Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Working Group
• National Spatial and Information Management Group
• Australasian Inter-service Incident Management System Advisory Group
• Australian Health Protection Committee
• Health All Hazards Working Group
• National Health Emergency Management Sub-committee
• National Mental Health Disaster Response Committee and Taskforce
• HIC/DoHA Telehealth Advisory Group
• Communicable Diseases Network of Australia
• Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC)
• National Counter Terrorism Committee (NCTC)
Goal 2 – Infl uencing Funding Policy for Emergency Management
Western Australia Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (WANDRRA)
FESA manages the Western Australia Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements
(WANDRRA) which provide fi nancial assistance to communities whose social, fi nancial and
economic wellbeing have been signifi cantly aff ected by an eligible natural disaster event. An
event is not deemed eligible5 unless expenditure on eligible measures exceeds $240,000.
During 2011/12, eight natural disaster events were deemed eligible under WANDRRA:
• Severe Thunderstorms and associated fl ooding – South West (3 November 2011)
• Bushfi re Shire of Augusta–Margaret River (23 November 2011)
• Severe Thunderstorms and associated fl ooding – Eastern Central Wheatbelt and North Eastern
and Western Great Southern (6 & 12 December 2011)
• Severe Thunderstorms and associated fl ooding – South West (30 & 31 December 2011)
• Tropical Cyclone Heidi and associated fl ooding– Pilbara, Western Kimberley, inland Gascoyne
and Goldfi eld regions (11 January 2012)
• Tropical Cyclone Lua and associated fl ooding – East Pilbara (17 March 2012)
• Trough and Associated Flooding – South West (31 May 2012)
• Tornado and Storm Events – most of the south of the State (7–13 June 2012).
Statistics:
• The last event in the fi nancial year (tornado and storm events) aff ected 119 local government
authorities (LGAs). Signifi cantly, over the past two fi nancial years, all 137 LGA’s in the State were
aff ected by at least one natural disaster event.
• In this year, 83% of LGA’s were aff ected by up to 2 events and 17% by 3 or more.
• A total of $132,249,270 has been expended on all current WANDRRA events in 2011/12, which
means for the fi rst time that State thresholds have been met and that the State will be making
a claim to the Commonwealth Government in the region of $50 million. Claims for events that
occurred in 2011/12 can be made until 30 June 2014.
5 Refer www.FESA.wa.gov.au for further information on the criteria for WANDRRA eligibility.
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• WANDRRA expenditure for 2011/12 by hazard category is as follows:
Hazard Total ($)
Bushfi re 4,880,806
Cyclone including associated fl ooding 6,416,912
Flood (Warmun – Recovery) 104,511,7506
Storm 16,439,802
Total 132,249,270
Natural Disaster Resilience Program
The Natural Disaster Resilience Program (NDRP) is part of an ongoing, single funding program
from the Australian Government administered by FESA. The program aims to develop safer, more
sustainable communities that are better able to withstand the eff ects of natural disasters, reduce
the risks of such events and reduce the damage and losses they cause.
The NDRP replaces the National Disaster Mitigation Program, Bushfi re Mitigation Program and the
National Emergency Volunteer Support Fund.
The available fund for 2011/12 was $3.15 million which also included an amount of $66,867 as a
result of under-spending in a Natural Disaster Mitigation Program project.
In 2011/12, there were a total of 41 submissions and from these 31 were approved for funding by the
State Assessment Panel, with the agreed projects totalling $3,145,160. These were endorsed by SEMC
on 19 January 2012 and approved by the Minister for Emergency Services on 14 February 2012.
Goal 3 – Harness a State Capability
Review of State Emergency Management Policy 4.1 – Operational Management
A review of SEMP 4.1 – Operational Management was carried out to address a recommendation
of the A Shared Responsibility: The Report of the Perth Hills Bushfi re February 2011 Review. The State
policy was amended to address the:
• role of the Incident Controller in making an incident level declaration;
• process for reviewing the incident level of an incident;
• role of an Operations Area Manager in escalating an incident level declaration; and
• direction that all SECG activations will now convene at the State Coordination Centre, in West
Leederville.
The review also necessitated the development of a new Operational Procedure (OP-23) – Incident
Level Declaration.
State Alert/Emergency Alert
A review of the State’s community warning system – ‘State Alert’ – was conducted by FESA to identify
opportunities for enhancing the system’s functionality and interoperability with the National
community warning system –‘Emergency Alert’. Following a detailed analysis of both systems and
consultation with key stakeholders, SEMC endorsed a recommendation for Western Australia to
transition to the National emergency warning system ‘Emergency Alert’ by 30 November 2012.
State Exercise Program
Western Australia’s emergency management arrangements require all State level emergency
management plans (Hazard Westplans) to be tested at least annually. A State exercise schedule
is maintained by the Emergency Services Subcommittee. In 2011/12 a total of 41 exercises were
undertaken at local, district and State levels and covering 17 of the 26 Hazard Westplans. The
6 Although the Warmun fl ood incident was reported in 2010/11, signifi cant recovery costs ($79,057,289) were incurred in 2011/12.
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SEMC Secretariat is working closely with hazard management agencies to ensure compliance in
2012/13.
Recovery Management Post-Incident Is In Line With Policy
As a result of the number of signifi cant incidents requiring extensive community recovery a full review of
the State’s recovery arrangements was undertaken in 2011. The review produced 19 recommendations
to enhance State recovery arrangements for consideration by SEMC. Following endorsement of
these recommendations extensive progress has been made in revising the relevant SEMC policy,
plans and procedures with completion scheduled in 2013. A review of SEMC Policy 4.4 State Recovery
Coordination has been undertaken and a draft Policy has been developed for consultation.
Goal 4 – Developing Community Resilience
Emergency Broadcasters Memorandum of Understanding
Signifi cant work has been undertaken by the Public Information Group (PING) on the development
of a set of criteria for the assessment of commercial and community based broadcasters across
Western Australia to be designated as Emergency Broadcasters. The implementation of a formal
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with those Broadcasters will continue into 2012/13.
Quarterly reviews are conducted by PING members into signifi cant events with emphasis on
identifying gaps in public information dissemination.
Community Emergency Management Arrangements
Community emergency management arrangements were a priority area for SEMC during the year,
with Community Emergency Management Offi cers (CEMOs) actively engaged at a local level to
assist local governments in the development of local arrangements. In 2011/12, a total of 18 Local
Emergency Management Arrangements were noted by the SEMC. Consequently, 134 of the State’s
137 local governments have now developed Local Emergency Management Arrangements. The
CEMOs continue to work closely with those few local governments who are still in the process of
developing Local Emergency Management Arrangements for their district.
National Disaster Resilience Program (NDRP) Funding for Local Government Projects
As mentioned previously, the intent of the Program is to build community resilience to natural
disasters through measures that reduce disaster risk, build emergency management capability or
support emergency service volunteers. There were 31 projects totalling some $3.15 million in 2011/12.
One of these projects, City of Bunbury’s Ready to Roll: U-4-72, is described in the following Case Study.
Case Study: City of Bunbury – Ready to Roll: U-4-72
In 2004, the City of Bunbury secured a funding grant to undertake an extensive, community-
based emergency risk management (ERM) project that involved a broad range of
agencies, groups and individuals from the Bunbury community. Bunbury’s Emergency Risk
Management (ERM) process won national acclaim when it converted good theory to practice
(A/NZ Standard/ 4360), and returned an extremely usable product at a local community level
that genuinely worked to reduce risks to the Bunbury community.
Through the U-4-72 Project, the City builds understanding of and responsibility for
emergency management within Bunbury’s population so that all people in the diverse
community can confi dently participate in emergency management planning and decision-
making processes.
U-4-72 aims to “switch people on” to the reality that they will have to rely on themselves for
up to 72 hours (i.e. 3 days) in the event of a major disaster or emergency. It aims to encourage
people to take responsibility for their own preparedness and take real steps to be ready,
regardless of the hazard. It seeks to engage local people to create a groundswell of local action
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that builds the capacity of people to act independently. It also aims to create a culture in the
local community that makes emergency preparedness the norm.
The City hopes to encourage people to become “switched on” to preparedness.
Most signifi cantly, the City maintains it makes the community more resilient to adverse
events because they are more connected and prepared physically, socially and
psychologically. U-4-72 will increase the resilience of people so that they have the ability to
rebound from a disaster with a new focus on recovery.
Goal 5 – Infl uencing Land Use Planning and Building Codes
Land Use Planning
The State Mitigation Commitee (SMC) engaged the Department of Planning to provide Western
Australian representation and input to the National Land Use Planning and Building Codes Task
Force, which is a national project under the Risk Assessment, Measurement and Mitigation Sub-
committee (RAMMS).
The Department of Planning provided jurisdictional input to the national stock-take and gap
analysis in relation to planning, development and building matters.
Goal 6 – Reinforcing / Integrating the Comprehensive EM Approach
Traffi c Management During Emergencies
The State Policy Group, established by the Department of Premier and Cabinet to address a
number of the Recommendations from A Shared Responsibility: The Report of the Perth Hills Bushfi re
February 2011 Review, in turn tasked FESA (Emergency Management Western Australia—the
portfolio of FESA that supported SEMC)—with carriage of a number of recommendations. This
included Recommendation 32, which states:
Recommendation 32
The Western Australian Police and the Fire and Emergency Services Authority jointly examine
the Traffi c Management System developed in response to the 2009 Victorian bushfi res and
seek its adaptation to use in WA with additional attention to the access and egress by bona
fi de residents to areas that are evacuated.
To address this recommendation, a multi-agency Traffi c Management Working Group (TMWG)
was established to examine the recommendation in the context of the State’s emergency
management arrangements. The TMWG comprised representatives from:
• EMWA (on behalf of SEMC)
• Western Australia Police
• Department of the Premier and Cabinet
• Department for Child Protection
• Department of Environment and Conservation
• Main Roads
• Department of Health
• St John Ambulance Australia
• Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia
• Western Australian Local Government Association.
The working group sought to determine whether the Western Australian arrangements were
defi cient in any area and if defi ciencies were identifi ed, whether adapting the Victorian guidelines
for use in Western Australia would mitigate those defi ciencies.
While the working group agreed that the Western Australian arrangements were largely consistent
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with current best practice, the group identifi ed scope to enhance the ‘Restricted Access Permit’
system to better address the issue of residents’ access for the purpose of actively defending their
properties from bushfi re.
The TMWG recommended that the Emergency Services Subcommittee, in consultation with the
Interagency Bushfi re Management Committee, establish a project for developing appropriate
operational procedures for the implementation of response and recovery phase ‘Restricted Access
Permits’ for bushfi re and, subsequently, across all hazards.
Goal 7 – Policy and Governance
EMWA performs the executive function on behalf of the SEMC. The SEMC Annual Business Plan
allocates a number of policy and governance tasks to EMWA.
Prescription of Hazard and HMA for Heatwave
At the SEMC meeting in December 2010, EMWA and the Department of Health were directed to
research the risk of an extreme heat event on Western Australia and provide recommendations as
to whether it should be prescribed as a hazard under the Emergency Management Act 2005.
EMWA and the Department of Health undertook a range of national research in relation to the
event and found that there is a range of defi nitions utilised across jurisdictions and varying
approaches taken to mitigate identifi ed risk.
A review of the defi nitions utilised in other jurisdictions was found to not be suitable in the
Western Australian context, given the signifi cant variation in climatic conditions across the State
and community resilience due to geographic location.
The Bureau of Meteorology developed a standard national defi nition for this event, which the
Department of Health and SEMC applied to the draft State Emergency Risk Assessment Framework
to determine the level of risk to the State. Due to the limited availability of data in relation to known
heat events (due to the new defi nition used) the risk assessment was conducted on the Metropolitan/
Peel Emergency Management District where available data had a higher confi dence level.
As a result of risk assessment the level of risk presented to both the State and the Metropolitan/
Peel Emergency Management District it was recommended that:
1. The defi nition of ‘heatwave’ in the Western Australian context be formalised by the Bureau of
Meteorology.
2. The event of ‘heatwave’ be defi ned as a ‘hazard’ within the State Risk Register.
3. The event of ‘heatwave’ be prescribed as a ‘hazard’ within the Emergency Management
Regulations 2006.
4. The Department of Health should be prescribed as the ‘Hazard Management Agency’ for the
‘response’ aspect of the hazard of ‘heatwave’ within the Emergency Management Regulations 2006.
5. The State Emergency Management Committee direct the Department of Health to be
responsible for the coordination of the development and review of a State Emergency
Management Plan (Westplan) for the hazard of ‘heatwave’.
6. Following the development of a clear defi nition for the hazard of ‘heatwave’, EMWA facilitate a
review of risk assessment on a State wide basis.
Of these six recommendations, 37, 4 and 5 have been implemented, with the balance being
progressed.
The priority resilience programs identifi ed in the risk assessment to be developed by a heatwave
advisory group, chaired by the Department of Health and including FESA and the Bureau of
Meteorology amongst other agencies.
7 Note: Ultimately, it proved unnecessary to specifi cally prescribe the hazard of heatwave as a separate hazard, as advice indicated it could be captured under “other natural event” (section 3, Emergency Management Act 2005 – defi nition of “hazard”(a)).
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SEMC Emergency Management Framework
State Emergency Management Information Sheets
State Emergency Management Procedures
State Emergency Management Plans
State Emergency Management Policies
Emergency Management Act 2005
Emergency Management Regulations 2006
State Emergency Management Information Sheets provide additional information that may not
be described within legislation, policy, procedures or guidelines. Information Sheets may depict
Frequently Asked Questions, (FAQ), a summary of relevant contact details or any other information
considered necessary to distribute.
State Emergency Management Procedures should be utilised when a process needs to be
explained through a step by step process, allowing emergency management agencies and
personnel to complete tasks in compliance with State Emergency Management Policy.
State Emergency Management Plans are those prepared under section 18 of the Emergency
Management Act 2005 to outline State arrangements for the emergency management of hazards
and support functions.
State Emergency Management Policies are those developed under section 17 of the Emergency
Management Act 2005 and should be developed when there is a need to prescribe formal
instruction or processes or as a result of governing legislation or a SEMC resolution. Policy should
clearly defi ne the required outcome that is to be achieved and explain the roles and responsibilities
of all parties involved.
Policies may be supported by the following documents which form part of the SEMC framework.
The State Emergency Management Framework was established to assist with the defi ning of how and at
what level, diff erent types of information should be documented.
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Changes to the Emergency Management Regulations 2006There were two amendments to the Regulations during the 2011/12 reporting period:
• State Health Coordinator was prescribed as the HMA for response to the hazard of heatwave
• Brookfi eld Rail (name change).
Changes to State Emergency Management Policies (SEMP)
The following Policies were reviewed and revised:
• SEMP 4.3 - Post Operation Reports
• SEMP 4.1 - Operational Management
• SEMP 2.6 - Annual Reporting.
Changes to State Emergency Management Procedures
The following procedure was developed:
• Operational Procedure – OP23 – Incident Level Declaration.
Changes to State Emergency Management Plan (Westplan)
The following State Emergency Management Plan (Westplan) was developed:
• Westplan Liquid Fuel Supply Disruption.
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Status of State Emergency Management Plans – Westplans
State Emergency Management Plans in Western Australia are known as Westplans and provide strategic,
State-level arrangements for managing the particular hazards to which they apply. The period to review
Westplans has been extended by SEMC from two years to fi ve years, or as required, as a result of a number
of factors including the extensive consultation that is required to ensure the plans are current and meet
community and emergency service agency needs.
The status of Hazard Westplans at the end of the 2011/12 reporting period is as follows:8
Westplan Hazard Hazard Management Agency Due for review by
Westplan Animal & Plant Biosecurity
Animal or Plant – Pest or Disease
Department of Agriculture and Food Mar 2013
Westplan Air Crash Air Crash Western Australia Police Dec 2014
Westplan Bushfi re Fire (Bushfi re) Fire and Emergency Services Authority/Department of Environment and Conservation
Jun 2012 (in progress)
Westplan Brookfi eld Rail Emergencies
Brookfi eld Rail Emergencies
Brookfi eld Rail Dec 2013
Westplan Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN)
Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear
Fire and Emergency Services Authority Jun 2013
Westplan Collapse Collapse of a structure or landform
Fire and Emergency Services Authority Jun 2013
Westplan Cyclone Cyclone Fire and Emergency Services Authority Dec 2012
Westplan Dambreak Dambreak Water Corporation Sep 2009Westplan
Dambreak is
in the process
of being
revoked.
Westplan Earthquake Earthquake Fire and Emergency Services Authority May 2016
Westplan Flood Flood Fire and Emergency Services Authority Sep 2015
Westplan Gas Supply Disruption
Natural gas supply disruption
Offi ce of Energy Jun 2016
Westplan HAZMAT Hazardous Materials (including Radioactive Materials)
Fire and Emergency Services Authority Dec 2015
Westplan Human Epidemic
Human Epidemic Department of Health Oct 2013
Westplan LANDSAR Land Search and Rescue Western Australia Police Dec 2012
Westplan Liquid Fuel Disruption*
Liquid fuel supply disruption
Public Utilities Offi ce Sep 2016
Westplan Marine Oil Pollution
Marine oil pollution Department of Transport Jun 2015
Westplan Marine Transport
Marine Transport Emergency
Department of Transport Jun 2016
8 Note: Hazards in this chart are referenced using common terminology. Legal titles of prescribed hazards can be found in section 3 of the Emergency Management Act 2005 and regulation 15 of the Emergency Management Regulations 2006.
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Westplan Hazard Hazard Management Agency Due for review by
Westplan Marine Search and Rescue
Marine Search and Rescue
Western Australia Police Mar 2013
Westplan Nuclear Powered Warships
Nuclear Powered Warships
Western Australia Police Dec 2015
Westplan Rail Crash (PTA)
PTA Rail Emergencies Public Transport Authority Dec 2014
Westplan Road Crash Road Crash Western Australia Police Jun 2013
Westplan SPRED Space re-entry debris Western Australia Police Mar 2015
Westplan Storm Severe Storm Fire and Emergency Services Authority Sep 2009 (under
review)
Westplan Tsunami Tsunami Fire and Emergency Services Authority Sep 2015
Westplan Terrorist Act Terrorist Act WA Police Sep 2014
Westplan Urban Fire Fire (Urban) Fire and Emergency Services Authority Jan 2005 (Westplan
proposed
by Hazard
Management
Agency to be
withdrawn)
*Indicates new Westplan.
Status of State Function Support Plans
Support Westplan Support Function Responsible Agency Due for review by
Westplan Health Health Health (Department of) Sep 2014
Westplan Public Information
Public Information SEMC Public Information Group Jul 2017
Westplan Recovery Coordination
Recovery Department of the Premier & Cabinet Apr 2013
Westplan Registration & Reunifi cation
Registration & Reunifi cation
Department for Child Protection Jan 2015
Westplan Reception Reception Department for Child Protection Dec 2014
Westplan Resupply Re-supply Fire and Emergency Services Authority
Nov 2004 (Westplan
proposed
to be
withdrawn)
Westplan Telecommunications
Telecommunications Fire and Emergency Services Authority
Mar 2010 (Reviewed
Westplan
currently
being
drafted)
Westplan Welfare Welfare Department for Child Protection Mar 2014
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State Emergency Coordination Group
Under the provisions of section 26 of the Emergency Management Act 2005, a State Emergency Coordination
Group (SECG) may be established if an emergency occurs or is imminent at the request of the relevant HMA
or on the initiative of the State Emergency Coordinator in consultation with the relevant HMA.
The functions of the SECG are to:
• ensure the provision of coordinated emergency management by public authorities and other persons;
• provide advice and direction to public authorities and other persons to facilitate eff ective emergency
management; and
• liaise between the emergency management agencies and the Minister.
During the year, an SECG was activated for fi ve emergencies.
1. Ellensbrook (Margaret River) Fire
Controlling Agency: Department of Environment and Conservation.
Six meetings: 23rd, 24th, 25th and 28th November 2011 held at State Coordination Centre, West
Leederville.
2. Milyeannup (Nannup) Fire
Controlling Agency: Department of Environment and Conservation.
Two meetings: 1st and 2nd December 2011 held at State Emergency Operations Centre, Maylands.
3. Bindoon Fire
Controlling Agency: Fire and Emergency Services Authority.
One meeting: 29th January 2012 held at State Coordination Centre, West Leederville.
4. Tropical Cyclone Lua & Kalumburu Flood
Controlling Agency: Fire and Emergency Services Authority.
Two meetings: 17th and 18th March 2012 held at State Emergency Operations Centre, Maylands.
5. South West Land Division Storm
Controlling Agency: Fire and Emergency Services Authority.
One meeting: 11th June 2012 held at State Emergency Operations Centre, Maylands.
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SECG Summary: Ellensbrook (Margaret River) Fire – November 2011
On the morning of the 23 November 2011, two fi res in the same region of Western Australia
escaped containment lines of prescribed burns conducted by the Department of Environment
and Conservation (DEC).
The fi rst of these fi res was at Ellensbrook (15 km North West of Margaret River) and the second
at Gnarabup (7 km South West of Margaret River). From the time of the escape to the eventual
suppression, the fi res destroyed 45 properties, damaged critical infrastructure, and burnt over
2000 hectares. Fortunately, no lives were lost.
Ellensbrook (Margaret River) fi re – November 2011.
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Bindoon fi re – January 2012.
SECG Summary: Milyeannup (Nannup) Fire – November/December 2011
On 23 November 2011, the Milyeannup-Nannup fi re escaped from a prescribed burn conducted
by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC). After the fi re’s escape, it burned
over 50,000 hectares before being extinguished on 5 December 2011. This is understood to be
one of the largest bushfi res in the south-west region of Western Australia in over 50 years. While
no houses were lost, one person was injured in an indirect incident, and a number of properties
sustained damage.
SECG Summary: Bindoon Fire – January 2012
The Bindoon fi re was declared a level 3 bushfi re at 15:45hrs on 29 January 2012. The fi re burnt
more than 1200 hectares and broke into two head fi res at the Bindoon Moora Road.
The fi re behaviour was erratic and fi re fi ghters were unable to make signifi cant impact on fi re
suppression. Machines were deployed to track the boundaries and cut fi re breaks.
State Alert was used to alert the community and the community of Wannamal was evacuated. Rail
infrastructure was threatened and power was shut down on the Bindoon/Moora Road.
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SECG Summary: Tropical Cyclone Lua & Kalumburu Flood – March 2012
Forming well off the Pilbara coast on 13th March 2012, Tropical Cyclone (TC) Lua gradually
intensifi ed and was potentially going to cross the coast as a Category 5 system. That scenario did
not eventuate and, after tracking in diff erent directions, TC Lua crossed near Pardoo Roadhouse
150 kilometres east of Port Hedland on 17th March as a Category 4 cyclone.
The Bureau of Meteorology reported that TC Lua was the strongest cyclone to hit Australia in 2012.
Communities in both the Pilbara and Kimberley were spared, with TC Lua narrowly missing heavily
populated areas when it crossed the coast.
More than 320 people relocated to welfare centres opened by the Department for Child Protection
at Port Hedland, Nullagine, Newman, Marble Bar and Jigalong. As a precautionary measure, oil and
gas workers from off shore platforms were evacuated and Pilbara mining operations shut down
with the approach of TC Lua, the second tropical cyclone to threaten the region in two months.
One of the region’s major iron ore export hubs, the Port Hedland Port was also closed, while
around 900 airline passengers had their travel plans interrupted when fl ights were cancelled to
Port Hedland, Broome and Karratha.
TC Lua maintained cyclone intensity for a signifi cant distance inland, triggering blue alerts for
the communities of Wiluna and Meekatharra, before fi nally being downgraded to a tropical low
just north of Wiluna at 11am on 18 March. There were also a number of fl ood warnings across the
Pilbara, Kimberley and Gascoyne regions because of heavy rainfall associated with the cyclone.
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SECG Summary: South West Land Division Storm – June 2012
Severe storms hit the Perth metropolitan area and southern regions of the State from 10th
through to 12th June 2012. The aff ected area stretched from Kalbarri to Kalgoorlie in the east,
and Israelite Bay on the south coast. The Perth coastal suburbs of Cockburn, Rockingham and
Mandurah, as well as the South West and in particular Bunbury, bore the brunt of the storms.
On 10th June 2012, a signifi cant storm surge was reported along the south west coast, as sea levels
rose over a metre above the normal high tide mark in Geographe Bay. Widespread rain also fell
throughout western parts of the State, with heavy falls in the southwest Gascoyne and northern
Central West districts. The Swan River at Perth near Barrack Street recorded a high tide peak of
1.73 metres, and the river foreshore and Riverside Drive were fl ooded.
Local South West crews attended more than 400 requests for assistance, while nearby Australind,
Harvey, Waroona, Pinjarra and Collie State Emergency Services (SES) units collectively responded
to 140 additional incidents.
South West Land division storm –
June 2012.
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District Emergency Management Committees
The State is divided into fourteen (14) emergency management districts comprised of specifi ed local
government districts by Emergency Management Districts Order 2006 (Western Australian Government
Gazette 4 November 2008, No. 187).
The following is a list of the State’s District Emergency Management Committees (DEMCs):
• Central Metropolitan
• East Metropolitan
• Goldfi elds–Esperance
• Great Southern
• Kimberley
• Midwest–Gascoyne
• North West Metropolitan
• Peel
• Pilbara
• South East Metropolitan
• South Metropolitan
• South West
• West Metropolitan
• Wheatbelt.
The Emergency Management Act 2005, section 32, describes the function of a DEMC as:
• to assist in the establishment and maintenance of eff ective emergency management arrangements for
the district for which it is constituted; and
• to undertake other such functions as are prescribed in the regulations.
Compliance
Pursuant to section 33 of the Emergency Management Act 2005, the DEMCs are required to prepare and
submit to the SEMC, an annual report on their activities during the fi nancial year. In the 2011/12 reporting
year, all DEMCs prepared and submitted an annual report except for the Pilbara DEMC. A Community
Emergency Management Offi cer is working with the Pilbara DEMC to ensure future compliance with annual
reporting requirements.
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Signifi cant9 Emergencies by Emergency Management District
EM District Description of operations area Dates active Description of emergency
Kimberley Kimberley region 12/3/12 – 18/3/12 Tropical Cyclone Lua
Pilbara Pilbara coast 26/1/12 – 29/1/12 Tropical Cyclone Iggy
South East Metro Metropolitan area 10/06/12 Metropolitan storms
South Metro Metropolitan area 10/6/12 – 13/6/12 Metropolitan storms
Northwest Metro Koondoola 28/3/12 Koondoola bushfi re
West Metro Nil
Central Metro Dianella/Morley 10/6/12 – 12/6/12 Tornado
Metropolitan area 10/6/12 – 12/6/12 Metropolitan storms
East Metro Belmont 10/6/12 – 12/6/12 Metropolitan storms
South West Bunbury 23/11/11 – 25/11/11 Blackwood complex fi res
Margaret River 23/11/11 – 25/11/11 Margaret River fi res
Bunbury 10/6/12 – 11/6/12 South West storms
Peel Nil
Great Southern Nil
Goldfi elds/Esperance Nil
Midwest Gascoyne Carnarvon, Upper Gascoyne, Shark Bay, Murchison and Northampton.
January 2012 and June 2012
Major fi res in Carnarvon. Cyclones Heidi and Iggy and major fl ooding in the Gascoyne, Murchison and Greenough River systems.
Wheatbelt Nil
Key achievements against district business plans
DEMC business plans are developed to align with the seven goals set by the SEMC, with direction provided
on the required outcomes against these goals. Each District is required to develop and submit strategies to
achieve the outcomes required by SEMC along with any additional goals, outcomes and strategies specifi c
to its district or local area for the reporting period.
9 Emergencies requiring Operational Area Support Group (OASG) Activation.
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Local Emergency Management Committees
Pursuant to section 38 of the Emergency Management Act 2005, a local government is to establish one or
more Local Emergency Management Committees for the local government’s district. There are currently
137 local government districts and in the 2011/12 reporting period 137 local governments reported as either
having established a LEMC or as being represented on a combined LEMC.
04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12
Percentage of local governments and local communities reporting as having established LEMC or part of a combined LEMC
86.9% 88.3% 88.1% 90.6% 72% 91% 90.7% 100%
The functions of a Local Emergency Management Committee are, in relation to its district or the area for
which it is established:
(a) to advise and assist the local government in ensuring that local emergency management
arrangements are established for its district;
(b) to liaise with public authorities and other persons in the development, review and testing of local
emergency management arrangements; and
(c) to carry out other emergency management activities as directed by the SEMC or prescribed by the
regulations. (Section 39 – Emergency Management Act 2005).
Compliance
Pursuant to section 40 of the Emergency Management Act 2005, after the end of each fi nancial year each
LEMC is to prepare and submit to the DEMC for the district an annual report on activities undertaken by it
during the fi nancial year.
In the 2011/12 reporting period, one hundred and fi fteen (115) LEMCs submitted Annual Reports for
inclusion in the SEMC Annual Report. Of those, sixty nine (69) reported as having endorsed Local Emergency
Management and Recovery Arrangements for the local governments they represent.
In the 2011/12 reporting period, the following LEMCs prepared and submitted an annual report:
• Albany
• Armadale
• Ashburton Inland
• Ashburton Pannawonica
• Augusta–Margaret River
• Bassendean
• Bayswater
• Belmont/Town of Victoria Park
• Beverley
• Boddington
• Boyup Brook
• Bridgetown–Greenbushes
• Brookton
• Broome
• Broomehill Tambellup
• Bruce Rock
• Bunbury
• Busselton–Dunsborough
• Canning/South Perth
• Capel
• Carnamah–Coorow
• Carnarvon
• Chapman Valley
• Cockburn
• Collie
• Coolgardie
• Corrigin
• Cranbrook
• Cue
• Cunderdin
• Dandaragan
• Dardanup
• Denmark
• Derby
• Donnybrook/Balingup
• Dowerin
• Dumbleyung
• Dundas
• East Kimberley (Kununurra)
• Esperance
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• Exmouth
• Fitzroy Crossing
• Fremantle
• Geraldton–Greenough–Abrolhos Islands
• Gingin and Chittering
• Gnowangerup
• Goomalling
• Gosnells
• Halls Creek
• Harvey
• Irwin
• Jerramungup
• Kalamunda
• Kalbarri
• Kalgoorlie–Boulder
• Katanning
• Kellerberrin–Tammin
• Kondinin
• Koorda
• Kulin
• Kwinana
• Lake Grace
• Laverton
• Leinster
• Leonora
• Mandurah
• Manjimup
• Meekatharra
• Melville
• Merredin
• Mingenew–Morawa–Perenjori–Three Springs
• Moora
• Mount Magnet
• Mount Marshall
• Mukinbudin
• Mundaring
• Murchison
• Murray
• Nannup
• Narembeen
• Narrogin–Cuballing–Wickepin
• Newman
• Ngaanyatjarraku
• Northam
• Northampton
• Onslow Coastal
• Perth and
Kings Park & Botanic Gardens Authority
• Pingelly-Wandering
• Plantagenet
• Port Hedland
• Quairading
• Ravensthorpe
• Rockingham
• Roebourne
• Rottnest Island
• Sandstone
• Shark Bay
• Stirling
• Swan
• Toodyay
• Trayning
• Upper Gascoyne
• Victoria Plains
• Wagin
• Wanneroo–Joondalup
• Waroona
• West Arthur
• Western Central
• Williams
• Wiluna
• Wongan–Ballidu
• Wyndham
• Yalgoo
• Yilgarn & Westonia
• York
Ministerial Directives
There was one Ministerial Directive to SEMC during the year.
On 30 April 2012, the Minister directed SEMC to undertake the formal oversight and validation of the
Department of Environment and Conservation‘s (DEC) response to the Margaret River Bushfi re Inquiry
recommendations.
LEMC and Western Australian Emergency Management Districts
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