Inquiry Search
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC321-4212 | 34 - Local knowledge | We recommend that DELWP increases its collaboration with Victorian Traditional Owner groups to facilitate the reintroduction of cultural burning and ensure effective support for these practices across all of its regions. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC319-4186 | 34 - Local knowledge | Supporting local recovery: The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that the entity referred to in Recommendation 13, or otherwise responsible government department work with councils and communities before, during and after emergencies to strengthen: |
REC319-4190 | 11 - Evacuation and shelters | Humanitarian relief: The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions work with the Municipal Association of Victoria and councils to build contingencies into emergency relief centre planning to ensure places of shelter are inclusive, recognise diversity and are better placed to support all displaced people in circumstances of: |
REC319-4194 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Public communications: The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that Emergency Management Victoria and / or the entity referred to in Recommendation 13, or otherwise responsible government department, work with councils and government to refine an operational relief and recovery public communications strategy that: |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC318-4173 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that in conjunction with Inquiry Recommendation 2, the State establish or assign responsibility to a single body or entity to lead and coordinate the implementation of evidence-based fuel management policy, practice and assurance and reporting on activities on both public and private land in Victoria. |
REC318-4185 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that Emergency Management Victoria works with the emergency management sector and relevant emergency management entities in New South Wales and South Australia to identify and address key cross border operational and resource management issues. This engagement should aim to enhance interoperability and maximise the capability and capacity of agencies to work together during emergencies along Victoria’s borders. |
REC318-4184 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that Emergency Management Victoria collaborate with the emergency management sector to develop a capacity model that considers current and future: |
REC318-4180 | 11 - Evacuation and shelters | The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that Victoria Police – in collaboration with the community and the emergency management sector – reflect on events of the 2019–20 fire season to review and enhance evacuation plans and processes with consideration of: |
REC318-4179 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that Emergency Management Victoria – in accepting that emergency management is a ‘shared responsibility’ - collaborate with the emergency management sector and community to: |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC317-4090 | 11 - Evacuation and shelters | State and territory governments should, as a priority, adopt nationally consistent terminology and functions for the different sheltering facilities, including evacuation centres, Neighbourhood Safer Places, places of last resort and natural disaster shelters. |
REC317-4096 | 8 - Communications and warnings | State and territory governments should urgently deliver and implement thevall-hazard Australian Warning System. |
REC317-4072 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Australian Government should consider whether employment protections under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) are sufficient to ensure that fire and emergency services volunteers will not be discriminated against, disadvantaged or dismissed for reasons associated with their volunteer service during natural disasters. |
REC317-4094 | 8 - Communications and warnings | State and territory governments should expedite the development and implementation of the Australian Fire Danger Rating System. It should ensure that there is national consistency in the visual display of the AFDRS and action to be taken in response to each rating. |
REC317-4066 | 2 - Emergency powers | The Australian Government should make provision, in legislation, for a declaration of a state of national emergency. The declaration should include the following components: |
REC317-4089 | 11 - Evacuation and shelters | State and territory governments should ensure that those responsible for evacuation planning periodically review those plans, and update them where appropriate, including in relation to: |
REC317-4093 | 11 - Evacuation and shelters | State and territory governments should ensure those responsible for evacuation planning periodically review those plans, and update where appropriate, to provide for coordination between states and territories in cross border areas and to provide cross-border access to evacuation centres. |
REC317-4064 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Australian, state and territory governments should work together to develop consistent data standards to measure disaster impact. |
REC317-4088 | 11 - Evacuation and shelters | State and territory governments should ensure that those responsible for evacuation planning periodically review those plans, and update them where appropriate, including in relation to: |
REC317-4092 | 11 - Evacuation and shelters | State and territory governments should ensure those responsible for evacuation planning periodically review these plans, and update them where appropriate, to account for the existence and standard of any evacuation centres and safer places (however described) in the community, including: |
REC317-4099 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Australian, state and territory governments should continue to explore the feasibility of a national, all-hazard emergency warning app. |
REC317-4081 | 18 - Access to fire ground | State and territory governments should provide information to the public on the closure and opening of roads. Information should be provided in real-time, or in advance based on predictions, where possible. |
REC317-4091 | 11 - Evacuation and shelters | State and territory governments should provide further community education on the function and limitations of different sheltering facilities, including evacuation centres, Neighbourhood Safer Places, places of last resort and natural disaster shelters. This education should be nationally consistent. |
REC317-4098 | 8 - Communications and warnings | The Australian Government should facilitate state and territory governments working together to develop minimum national standards of information to be included in bushfire warnings apps. |
REC317-4055 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Australian Government should revise the COMDISPLAN thresholds to provide that a request for Australian Government assistance, including Defence assistance, is able to be made by a state or territory government when: |
REC317-4080 | 18 - Access to fire ground | State and territory governments should include road closure and opening information on all roads within their borders on public apps. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC278-1225 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The committee recommends that the Australian and Tasmanian Governments: • develop options to increase co-operation to ensure that the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is protected and conserved in line with Australia's obligations under the World Heritage Convention; and • work together to ensure strong provisions to protect the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area from bushfire risks are included in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC275-1174 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | IGEM recommends that fire agencies consider an earlier classification of Level 3 incident for fires that present significant complexity such as was evident in the Wye River – Jamieson Track event. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC264-1078 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The State review and revise the community carbon monoxide response protocol and the firefghter carbon monoxide response protocol, to: |
REC264-1088 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | GDF Suez adopt and apply the firefghter carbon monoxide response protocol. |
REC264-1077 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The State take the lead in advocating for a national compliance standard for PM |
REC264-1084 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | GDF Suez revise its Emergency Response Plan, to: • require an increased state of readiness on days of Total Fire Ban; • require pre-establishment of an Emergency Command Centre; • require pre-positioning of an accredited Incident Controller as Emergency Commander; and • require any persons nominated as Emergency Commander to have incident controller accreditation and profciency in the use of the Australasian Inter-service Incident Management System. |
REC264-1075 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The State: • bring forward the commencement date of s.16 of the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Amendment Act 2014 (Vic), to facilitate the requirement that approved work plans specifcally address fre prevention, mitigation and suppression; and • acquire the expertise necessary to monitor and enforce compliance with fre risk measures adopted by the Victorian coal mining industry under both the mine licensing and occupational health and safety regimes. |
REC264-1082 | 8 - Communications and warnings | The State review and revise its communication strategy, to: • needed for effective and rapid public communications during an emergency; and ensure all emergency response agencies have, or have access to, the capability and resources • ensure, where appropriate, that private operators of essential infrastructure are included in the coordination of public communications during an emergency concerning that infrastructure. |
REC264-1074 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The State enact legislation, to: • require Integrated Fire Management Planning; and • authorise the Emergency Management Commissioner to develop and implement regional and municipal fire management plans. |
REC264-1080 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The State develop and widely disseminate an integrated State Smoke Guide, to: • incorporate the proposed State Smoke Plan for the management of public health impacts from large scale, extended smoke events; • include updated Bushfre Smoke, carbon monoxide and PM protocols; and 2.5 • provide practical advice and support materials to employers, communities and individuals on how to minimise the harmful effects of smoke. |
REC264-1073 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | The State establish, for any future incident, integrated incident management teams with GDF Suez and other Victorian essential industry providers, to: • essential industry providers; and require that emergency services personnel work with GDF Suez and other appropriate • implement the Australasian Inter-service Incident Management System. |
REC264-1079 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The State review and revise the Bushfre Smoke Protocol and the PM Health Protection Protocol, to: 2.5 • ensure both protocols are consistent with each other; and • ensure both protocols include assessment methods and trigger points for specifc responses. |
REC264-1089 | 8 - Communications and warnings | GDF Suez improve its crisis management communication strategy for the Hazelwood mine in line with international best practice. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC257-1551 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The use of Internal and External ranges at MTA for patrolling activities be prohibited. |
REC257-1538 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Commanding Officer Defence Explosive Ordnance Training School amend relevant instructions, both generally and specifically, so as to ensure that explosive ordnance used in training serials is logged in real time, in accordance with extant doctrine. |
REC257-1550 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Defence engage with both the Bureau of Meteorology and the Rural Fire Service to determine a more suitable index system. In the interim, Range Standing Orders be amended so that live-firing on the ranges on Marrangaroo Training Area not be permitted where the Forest Fire Danger Index for either the Central Ranges District or Greater Sydney Region is 12, it being the threshold for HIGH Fire Danger Rating or above. put another way, and in a practical sense, Range Standing Orders should, as an interim measure, require the Officer in Charge Practice and the Range Control Officer to consider the Forest Fire Danger Index for both Central Ranges District AND Greater Sydney Region on the day of any given serial. If either index is as 12 or above, live-firing should not be permitted. Any indication in Range Standing Orders or elsewhere that live-firing is permitted on Marrangaroo Training Area when the Fire Danger rating is HIGH should be rescinded. |
REC257-1555 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | The lines of responsibility be made clearer and some individual, perhaps the Regional Environmental Officer, or agency be given overarching responsibility to ensure recommended works related to bushfire mitigation on Defence Estate are carried out in accordance with the Bushfire Management Plan which the Manual for Fire Protection Engineering directs be prepared. |
REC257-1537 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Commanding Officer Defence Explosive Ordnance Training School review and enforce Standard Operating Procedures to ensure that appropriate explosive ordnance accounting and handling practices, in accordance with Defence doctrine, are adhered to during all training activities. |
REC257-1549 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Marrangaroo Training Area Range Standing Orders should be reviewed to impose a requirement that the Officer in Charge of any live-firing practice ascertain and consider current weather parameters, temperature, humidity, wind strength and direction, registered at Mt Boyce immediately prior to any demolition serial. The setting of those parameters and their limits should be decided in consulation with the Bureau of Meteorology and Rural Fire Service and inserted into Range Standing Orders. |
REC257-1554 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | All documents be reviewed to remove ambiguity and perceived inconsistencies. Marrangaroo Training Area Range Standing Orders be subject to further examination, with particular consideration of the bushfire mitigation strategies referred to in the Bushfire Management Plan 2011-2014 before amendments to Chapter 10 are made. the basis upon which Range Standing Orders might fix a cut-off point for live-firing exercises should depend on continued bushfire strategies. Range Standing orders and Marrangaroo Training Area Bushfire Management Plan be reviewed annually. if hazard reduction has not occurred or the fire trails degraded, Range Standing Orders should take into account of heightened risk. |
REC257-1547 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | The Marrangaroo Training Area Regional Environmental Officer confer with the local Rural Fire Service at least annually and determine a hazard reduction regime capable of implementation. It is furter recommended all ranges be reviewed in relation to the same issue, that is, that personnel involved in the management of each range under Defence control be directed to confer with local firefighting authorities on at least an annual basis to assess hazard reduction responses to be pursued for that range in subsequent years. |
REC257-1553 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | On matters relating directly to safety or risk, or when live-firing may occur, where there is ambiguity or apparent inconsistency, the most conservative or restrctive order should be followed until formal clarification has been provided. |
REC257-1545 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | Range Control Officer Marrangaroo Training Area liase with the local Rural Fire Service units to develop a map indicating the areas of the range likely to contain unexploded ordnance. |
REC257-1552 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Authority be given to the regional Environmental Officer to close a range or impose live-firing restriction in addition to any set out in Range Standing Orders if circumstances so warrant. |
REC257-1543 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Range Standing Orders be amended to include a direction that no Defence vehicle is to leave the administration area of Marrangaroo Training Area during a bushfire, except to leave Marrangaroo Training Area itself through the main gate, unless it is a properly equipped bushfire fighitng vehicle havig at least four wheel drive capabiliy and self-protection equipment. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC233-1592 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy will work with the Communications Sector Group within the Trusted Information Sharing Network to develop best practice guidance for owners of critical communications infrastructure regarding public messaging during a prolonged telecommunications outage covering: |
REC233-1604 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Governments and other stakeholders consider reviewing their existing emergency management arrangements to ensure public communications are clear and the public is kept informed of the incident response. |
REC233-1603 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) to work with the Triple Zero Awareness Work Group through Australian Communications and Media Authority's (ACMA) Emergency Service Advisory Committee to review Triple Zero awareness messages with regard to telecommunications outages. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC215-1873 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Fire services can improve outcomes by implementing standard procedures that ensure the welfare and safety of crews and the public are not compromised |
REC215-1872 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Fire services can improve outcomes by implementing standard procedures that ensure the welfare and safety of crews and the public are not compromised |
REC215-1871 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | Fire services can improve outcomes by developing a checklist for use by incident controllers |
REC215-1878 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Regulators can help to achieve improved outcomes by acknowledging that changes to legislation and the BPEM guidelines may be required to help address the identified issues |
REC215-1874 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | Fire services can improve outcomes by working with EPA as the regulator and licensing authority to achieve improved compliance with the required outcomes specified in the BPEM guidelines |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC198-2905 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | The Fire Services Commissioner ensures that there is a single standard for the tabards worn by the IMT on the fireground and in control centres to ensure consistency and aid interoperability. |
REC198-2903 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | The CFA works with MFB to ensure that the MFB control unit is available for responding to large fires and multi-agency incidents in fringe CFA areas |
REC198-2902 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | The Fire Services Commissioner clarifies the role of regional controller for major fires and incidents other than bushfire. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC196-0240 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Improve links and interactions between the communication systems e.g. customise OSOM messages to each of the communication mechanisms, link OSOM with Emergency Alert. |
REC196-0245 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Develop a robust evaluation framework to review community bushfire warning policies, processes, systems and procedures both internally and with communities at regular intervals and immediately after a major bushfire event. |
REC196-0231 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Allow the MFB and SES access to using OSOM. |
REC196-0239 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Review Emergency Alert and OSOM systems to improve ease of use. |
REC196-0244 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Educate and engage with fire-affected landholders about the types of warnings, what they might expect from the warnings and their responsibility for response to prevent loss of life. |
REC196-0229 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Amend SOP J4.01and other strategic and procedural documents to reflect the goal of ‘timely, relevant and tailored’ for community bushfire warnings. |
REC196-0238 | 34 - Local knowledge | Encourage ICCs to use local knowledge to review templates prior to release. |
REC196-0243 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Review the potential use of ‘crowdsourcing’ sites such as Bushfire Connect in community bushfire warnings. |
REC196-0237 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Ensure that warning terminology used in the templates and FireWeb is consistent. |
REC196-0242 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Integrate social media into the OSOM system. |
REC196-0236 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Review the use of the terms in the templates e.g. ‘out of control’ so that community misconceptions are minimised. |
REC196-0241 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Review OSOM to enable monitoring or tracking of where messages were sent, who they were sent to and when they are due for review. |
REC196-0246 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Review the suite of community bushfire warning systems available to tourists across the State. |
REC196-0234 | 34 - Local knowledge | Ensure that local knowledge, local flavour and local language is used where possible in the development of all community bushfire warnings. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC195-0321 | 7 - Inter-agency communication | The Fire Services move towards a common and more disciplined approach to fireground communications. |
REC195-0327 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | The Fire Services Commissioner ensures that the inter-relationship between Information Sections at all levels is understood. |
REC195-0313 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Fire Services expedite programmed work on joint operational command and control, including standards, procedures and training |
REC195-0319 | 7 - Inter-agency communication | The Fire Services introduce systems, procedures and operational training that promote information sharing and consistent situational awareness at every level, including to and from the fireground. This should include agencies such as police members on duty at roadblocks |
REC195-0325 | 8 - Communications and warnings | The Fire Services evaluate the new information and warning systems to identify ways to integrate them and improve their capacity to issue timely, relevant and tailored messages. This should include the use of social media. |
REC195-0312 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Fire Services Commissioner ensures that joint fireground command and control, integration and escalation procedures are developed, particularly for ‘fastrunning’ fires |
REC195-0318 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | The Fire Services develop a joint protocol for each Fire Service to notify the other of fires reported from fire towers |
REC195-0324 | 8 - Communications and warnings | The Fire Services, in consultation with media outlets, develop a more effective strategy for informing the community of Total Fire Ban days. |
REC195-0311 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Fire Services ensure that agency specific operational procedures fully align with the arrangements. |
REC195-0336 | 20 - Role of police | Victoria Police, under the auspice of the Regional Emergency Response Plan, lead a task force to ensure that the Princes Highway is treated as an asset of significance and an appropriate risk-based approach is adopted to minimise the impact of fire. This approach is to be integrated into regional and municipal fire management plan |
REC195-0317 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | The Fire Services ensure that an incident action plan (summary) is developed in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure J3.03. |
REC195-0323 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | Incident Controllers ensure that Emergency Management Teams consider, provide advice, and manage the broader consequences of actions, such as reopening roads, the resumption of public transport and school buses, and the welfare of those impacted by traffic management points. |
REC195-0309 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | The Fire Services, and other emergency management agencies, use the Tostaree fire as a scenario exercise to improve understanding of fast-running fires and enhance interoperability and control strategies |
REC195-0331 | 8 - Communications and warnings | The Fire Services ensure information and warning projects are able to be integrated with a common operating platform. |
REC195-0316 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | The Fire Services continue to develop fire behaviour analysis and predictive science capability by ensuring the Fire Behaviour Analysis Team is appropriately resourced with accredited staff and available to provide services to the IMT. |
REC195-0322 | 7 - Inter-agency communication | The Fire Services investigate the reported technical communication issues for this fire |
REC195-0328 | 8 - Communications and warnings | The Fire Services ensure that information and warnings are developed in accordance with the Victorian Warning Protocol |
REC195-0315 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | The Fire Services, as part of the regular review of Incident Management Teams – Readiness Arrangements, reassess current resource sustainability and identify opportunities for a more flexible application. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC181-0173 | 7 - Inter-agency communication | The Country Fire Authority review and improve its communications strategy as a matter of priority and develop a program for identifying and responding to black spots in radio coverage. |
REC181-0159 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | The Country Fire Authority and the Department of Sustainability and Environment prescribe and audit the minimum number and nature of level 3 joint training exercises in which incident management team staff (including volunteers) are required to participate. |
REC181-0172 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | The Country Fire Authority and the Department of Sustainability and Environment standardise their operating systems and information and communications technologies with the aim of achieving greater efficiency and interoperability between agencies. |
REC181-0154 | 11 - Evacuation and shelters | The State introduce a comprehensive approach to shelter options that includes the following: ■ developing standards for community refuges as a matter of priority and replacing the 2005 Fire Refuges in Victoria: Policy and Practice; ■ designating community refuges—particularly in areas of very high risk—where other bushfire safety options are limited; ■ working with municipal councils to ensure that appropriate criteria are used for bushfire shelters, so that people are not discouraged from using a bushfire shelter if there is no better option available; ■ acknowledging personal shelters around their homes as a fallback option for individuals. |
REC181-0163 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The State consider amending the Emergency Management Act 1986 to introduce a graded scale of emergency declarations short of a state of disaster. |
REC181-0158 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Country Fire Authority and the Department of Sustainability and Environment amend their procedures to require the following: ■ that at locations that attract preparedness levels A or B there be a full incident management team under the leadership of an accredited level 3 Incident Controller in position by 10.00 am on days of code red fire danger and a core incident management team (eight personnel) under the leadership of an accredited level 3 Incident Controller in position by 10.00 am on days of extreme fire danger; ■ that at locations that attract preparedness levels A or B there be a full incident management team under the leadership of an accredited level 3 Incident Controller in position by 10.00 am on days of code red fire danger and a core incident management team (eight personnel) under the leadership of an accredited level 3 Incident Controller in position by 10.00 am on days of extreme fire danger. |
REC181-0169 | 18 - Access to fire ground | The Country Fire Authority provide to all CFA volunteers an identification card or similar to facilitate their passage through roadblocks established in accordance with the 2009 Guidelines for the Operation of Traffic Management Points during Wildfires. |
REC181-0162 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The State consider either amending the Emergency Management Act 1986 or adopting a standing practice to require the Minister for Police and Emergency Services or the Chief Commissioner of Police to consult the Premier about the possibility of declaring a state of disaster for all of or any part of Victoria whenever the Minister or the Chief Commissioner of Police becomes aware of circumstances that make it a reasonable possibility that the criteria for making such a declaration will be satisfied. |
REC181-0155 | 11 - Evacuation and shelters | The State introduce a comprehensive approach to evacuation, so that this option is planned, considered and implemented when it is likely to offer a higher level of protection than other contingency options. The approach should: ■ encourage individuals—especially vulnerable people—to relocate early; ■ include consideration of plans for assisted evacuation of vulnerable people; ■ include consideration of plans for assisted evacuation of vulnerable people. |
REC181-0164 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Victorian fire agencies amend the AIIMS framework before the 2010–11 fire season in order to do the following: ■ designate the Information Unit as a separate section reporting directly to the Incident Controller and require that the Information Unit contain a dedicated Public Information Officer whenever a full incident management team is required; ■ specify a set of functions in relation to which the Deputy Incident Controller for a level 3 incident will have oversight, which may be adjustable for a particular incident by agreement between the Incident Controller and the Deputy Incident Controller; ■ ensure that an individual with local knowledge is incorporated in an incident management team |
REC181-0213 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The State enact legislation designed to achieve two specific ends: ■ appoint a Fire Commissioner as an independent statutory officer responsible to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services and as the senior operational firefighter in Victoria; ■ make the Chief Fire Officer of the Department of Sustainability and Environment a statutory appointment. The Fire Commissioner should have responsibility for the following: ■ promoting and directing reform aimed at increasing the operational capability, interoperability and resilience of Victoria’s fire services; ■ developing and building operational capacity to prepare for the days of highest bushfire risk and exercising control over level 3 fires as the permanent State Controller; ■ providing to government periodic advice on the metropolitan fire district boundary on the basis of triggers, frequency and criteria approved by government; ■ representing Victorian interests on operational matters in national committees. |
REC181-0168 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | The Country Fire Authority and the Department of Sustainability and Environment amend their procedures to require that a suitably experienced, qualified and competent person be appointed as Incident Controller, regardless of the control agency for the fire. |
REC181-0185 | 20 - Role of police | Victoria Police continue to pursue a coordinated statewide approach to arson prevention and regularly review its approach to ensure that it contains the following elements: ■ high-level commitment from senior police; ■ a research program aimed at refining arson prevention and detection strategies; ■ centralised coordination that includes comprehensive training, periodic evaluation of arson prevention strategies and programs, and promotion of best-practice prevention approaches; ■ a requirement that all fire-prone police service areas have arson prevention plans and programs, according to their level of risk. |
REC181-0209 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Department of Sustainability and Environment amend the Code of Practice for Fire Management on Public Land in order to achieve the following: ■ provide a clear statement of objectives, expressed as measurable outcomes; ■ include an explicit risk-analysis model for more objective and transparent resolution of competing objectives, where human life is the highest priority; ■ specify the characteristics of fire management zones—including burn size, percentage area burnt within the prescribed burn, and residual fuel loading; ■ adopt the use of the term ‘bushfire’ rather than ‘wildfire’. |
REC181-0151 | 11 - Evacuation and shelters | The State revise its bushfire safety policy. While adopting the national Prepare. Act. Survive. framework in Victoria, the policy should do the following: ■ enhance the role of warnings—including providing for timely and informative advice about the predicted passage of a fire and the actions to be taken by people in areas potentially in its path; ■ emphasise that all fires are different in ways that require an awareness of fire conditions, local circumstances and personal capacity; ■ recognise that the heightened risk on the worst days demands a different response; ■ retain those elements of the existing bushfire policy that have proved effective; ■ strengthen the range of options available in the face of fire, including community refuges, bushfire shelters and evacuation; ■ ensure that local solutions are tailored and known to communities through local bushfire planning; ■ improve advice on the nature of fire and house defendability, taking account of broader landscape risks. |
REC181-0161 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The State consider amending the Emergency Management Act 1986 and the Emergency Management Manual Victoria in order to achieve the following: ■ remove the title of Coordinator in Chief of Emergency Management from the Minister for Police and Emergency Services; ■ clarify the function and powers of the Minister; ■ designate the Chief Commissioner of Police as Coordinator in Chief of Emergency Management, who would have primary responsibility for keeping the Minister informed during an emergency. |
REC181-0167 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | The Country Fire Authority and the Department of Sustainability and Environment establish before the 2010–11 fire season: ■ a uniform, objective and transparent process based on the current DSE approach for the accreditation of level 3 Incident Controllers; ■ a performance review system for level 3 Incident Controllers; ■ a traineeship program for progression from level 2 to level 3 incident management team positions. |
REC181-0204 | 2 - Emergency powers | The State amend the Country Fire Authority Act 1958 to enable the Chief Officer to delegate the power to issue fire prevention notices. |
REC181-0160 | 20 - Role of police | The State clarify whether, during major fires, Victoria Police should discharge its coordination functions from the State Emergency Response Coordination Centre or from the State Control Centre. |
REC181-0165 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | The Country Fire Authority and the Department of Sustainability and Environment: ■ amend their procedures to require that an incident action plan summary be completed within the first four hours of an incident being reported and be provided to the State Control Centre and, where established, to the relevant Area of Operations Control Centre; ■ adopt DSE’s incident action plan summary as the template to be used by all incident management teams and ensure that the template is included in the online IMT Tool Box; ■ provide regular training to IMT staff, highlighting the importance of information and reinforcing the support available from specialists within the State Control Centre. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC177-3296 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Use of single strings of intermediate casing to penetrate hydrocarbon bearing zones should be carefully risk assessed. Multiple strings of intermediate casing have the advantage of isolating lost circulation zones and sealing off anomalous pressure zones. If intermediate casing is set in a hydrocarbon zone it should be treated as production casing. |
REC177-3316 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Wells should be re‐entered with a BOP in place unless a documented risk assessment indicates that well control can be maintained at all times. |
REC177-3341 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The definition of ‘good oilfield practice’ in the OPGGS Act is unduly narrow. The current definition is incapable of application except where things ‘are generally accepted as good and safe’. The definition should be amended such that ‘good oilfield practice includes…’. |
REC177-3370 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Environment plans and OSCPs should be made publicly available as a condition of approval of proposals under the OPGGS Act, and should clearly set out Scientific Monitoring requirements in the event of an oil spill. |
REC177-3302 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Industry, regulators, and training/research institutions should develop standards that address best practices for cementing operations (including liaising, as appropriate, with overseas regulators) with a view to overcoming problems which can effect the integrity of cemented casing shoes, annulus and cement plugs. |
REC177-3322 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Batched drilling operations should only be undertaken after careful assessment of the special risks which such operations give rise to; well control must be maintained during the course of batched drilling operations. |
REC177-3352 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The regulator, rather than the responsible Minister, should be given the power to direct an operator to use a particular rig for the purpose of well control operations, if appropriate in the circumstances, and the power should be used in the future if that rig is the best option available. This would necessarily involve the operator fully compensating for the use of the rig and any other associated costs. The Inquiry suggests that this power could be invoked and given effect as a condition of an operator’s licence. |
REC177-3276 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | WOMPs should be comprehensive and freestanding, rather than an overarching document cross‐referencing many other documents (although the Inquiry also recommends a freestanding well control manual; this should be a guide to rig and onshore personnel on good oilfield practice). |
REC177-3309 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | If performance of barrier installation is outsourced by a licensee, the contractor (for example, the cementing company) should be engaged on terms which clearly require the provision of expert advisory services by the contractor with respect to barrier integrity. |
REC177-3327 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Information relevant to well control must be captured and communicated within and between licensees and rig operators (and relevant third party contractors), in a manner which ensures it comes to the attention of relevant personnel. In particular, protocols should be developed to ensure that changes in shift and hitch do not operate as communication barriers. |
REC177-3361 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The National Plan should be revised to ensure that it fully comprehends environmental matters and that it recognises the importance of the prompt implementation of Scientific Monitoring to facilitate the assessment of the environmental impacts of an incident. |
REC177-3292 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Licensees should be subject to an express obligation to inform regulators of the proposed removal of a barrier, even if they consider that well integrity is not thereby compromised. The information should be provided by way of special report, rather than included in a standard reporting document (such as a DDR). The information provided should include risk assessment details. Removal of a barrier should not take place without prior written approval of the relevant regulator(s). |
REC177-3315 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | PCCCs should be installed in a timely manner (for example, to prevent corrosion in the MLS apparatus). Non‐installation in order to park a BOP is not acceptable. |
REC177-3340 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | To better ensure that ‘risks’ are identified and managed in accordance with sound engineering principles and good oilfield practice, it is recommended that regulation 25(1)(a)(i) and (2)(a)(i) of the Management of Well Operations Regulations, be reworded as follows: ‘A titleholder must not commence / continue a well activity if…a well integrity hazard exists in relation to the well’. |
REC177-3368 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The regulatory framework should provide that in respect of all activities in Commonwealth waters: |
REC177-3301 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The industry standard of two barriers should be replaced with the concept of ‘two or more barriers’ as a minimum standard. A minimum standard when operations proceed normally should never be regarded as a sufficient standard in other circumstances. |
REC177-3320 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Any pro‐formas used by licensees, rig operators and contractors for recording information about installation of barriers should explicitly provide for ‘exception reporting’, that is, the form should include provision for recording any unforseen or untoward events which occur in the course of installation. |
REC177-3350 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The recommendations of the Inquiry in relation to suitable ways of achieving well integrity contained in Chapter 3 be included in a guidance manual that is issued for the assistance of industry and regulators. |
REC177-3275 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Well Operations Management Plan (WOMPs) submitted by licensees to the regulator(s) should continue to be the primary framework document for achieving well integrity. |
REC177-3308 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Volumes of cement used in connection with barrier installation should be calculated with the assistance of a pro‐forma which records all relevant baseline data, which should be verified by onshore personnel. |
REC177-3326 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Prior to commencement of drilling operations, senior representatives of the licensee and rig operator should exchange certificates to the effect that their respective key personnel and contractors have been informed in writing of agreed well control arrangements. |
REC177-3359 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The National Plan should be reviewed to clarify the arrangements to apply in Commonwealth waters regarding key roles and responsibilities, including in relation to the ESC, in the event of an oil spill. This should also address any necessary training required. |
REC177-3284 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Memoranda of Agreement should be entered into between operators in relation to provision of emergency assistance in the event of blowouts. |
REC177-3314 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Secondary barriers (including PCCCs) should only be installed, tested, and removed with a BOP in place unless a documented risk assessment indicates that well control can be maintained at all times. |
REC177-3339 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Inquiry supports the objective (rather than prescriptive) approach to regulation now followed in Australia. However, the pendulum has swung too far away from prescriptive standards. In some areas relating to well integrity there needs to be minimum standards. |
REC177-3367 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Procedures and accountabilities should be established to ensure, in the event of a future incident, that: |
REC177-3300 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Licensees and rig operators should install an additional barrier whenever (i) there is any real doubt as to the integrity of any barrier; (ii) whenever the risk of flow from a reservoir increases materially in the course of operations; and (iii) where the consequences of a blowout are grave (for example, for reef systems or shorelines). |
REC177-3319 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Drilling programs dealing with barrier installation should incorporate relevant aspects of manufacturer’s instructions. |
REC177-3345 | 2 - Emergency powers | NOPSA’s prohibition powers should be extended such that a prohibition notice can be issued where a NOPSA Occupational Health and Safety Inspector believes, on reasonable grounds, that an activity is occurring or may occur at a facility involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of a person. |
REC177-3307 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Any indication of a compromised cemented shoe which cannot be resolved with a high measure of confidence should result in the installation of additional well control barrier(s). |
REC177-3325 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Relevant personnel from licensees and rig operators should meet face to face to agree on, and document, well control issues/arrangements prior to commencement of drilling operations. Well control should be regarded as a so‐called SIMOP to signify its critical importance to both licensees and rig operators, and to ensure that they each take responsibility for achievement and maintenance of well control. |
REC177-3355 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Inquiry also supports Bills and Agostini’s recommendation: ‘…in relation to safety case development and compliance overall, that NOPSA revise its approach to interacting with operators prior to the safety case assessment process and subsequently direct more resources into its advisory functions. We further recommend that NOPSA develop and implement a formal plan for supporting and guiding each operator prior to safety case acceptance, as well as for ongoing compliance with that safety case, recognising the unique experience, capabilities and assessed risk of that operator. Each plan needs to include advice, education and liaison meetings with the operators. The plan needs to be continuously reviewed and reassessed based on the latest information, including the interaction with the operator’. |
REC177-3283 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | A separate, identifiable barrier manual should be agreed upon and used by licensees, rig operators, and cementing contractors. These manuals should set out best industry practice in relation to achieving and maintaining well integrity. They should describe barrier types, barrier standards, general principles of well integrity, testing and verification methods and technologies, standard operating procedures (including procedures for the capture and communication of relevant information within and between relevant stakeholder entities). Barrier manuals should address blowout control during drilling, completion, re‐entry, tie‐back of casing strings and so on. Barrier manuals should be the subject of expert external review, and should be regularly updated. |
REC177-3313 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Barriers should not be installed or removed off‐line. The derrick should be located over a well at the time of removal and installation of any barrier. This will enable more decisive action to be taken in the event a problem arises. |
REC177-3335 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Licensees, rig operators and relevant third party contractors should develop well control competency standards for key personnel in other entities involved in well control operations. |
REC177-3366 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The National Plan should be reviewed: |
REC177-3298 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Reliance upon one barrier against a blowout must not take place except with the prior written approval of the relevant regulator and then only in a true emergency situation (see below). |
REC177-3318 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Manufacturers should be consulted about how to address non‐routine operational problems affecting their well control equipment. |
REC177-3343 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The OPGGS Act should be amended to allow for a power to suspend a petroleum production licence (in addition to the current power to cancel a licence or suspend its conditions). |
REC177-3377 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Minister consider legislative amendments to the OPGGS Act which make clear that |
REC177-3306 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | It should be standard industry practice to re‐test a cemented casing shoe (that is, after WOC) whenever the plugs do not bump or the float valves apparently fail. Standard industry practice should require consideration of other tests in addition to a repeat pressure test. |
REC177-3324 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The mere fact that the rig is over the platform should not be regarded by licensees or regulators as sufficient justification for reliance on only one barrier. The default position should be that producible wells are shut‐in when a rig is moved on and off a platform, or when a drilling unit is moved between wells on a platform. |
REC177-3354 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | NOPSA develop a policy of engagement with operators so as to enable experts (including safety experts) to canvas all available options for well control in the event of a blowout. |
REC177-3280 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Well construction and management plans should include provision for an independent compliance review of well integrity (i) in the event of stipulated triggers; and (ii) at least once in the period between perceived achievement of well integrity and production. The independent compliance review should be undertaken by an expert who is not involved in the day‐to‐day drilling operations. Reviews should be completed in sufficient time to enable results to be implemented in a meaningful manner. |
REC177-3312 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The BOP and rig should not move from a well until barrier integrity has been verified. |
REC177-3334 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Licensees, rig operators, and relevant third party contractors should develop well control competency standards for their key personnel. Wherever possible, the competencies of key personnel should be benchmarked against their roles and responsibilities. |
REC177-3363 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | DEWHA, in concert with AMSA and with expert input, should develop ‘off the shelf’ monitoring programs that can be speedily implemented following incidents in Commonwealth waters. In this context, the utility of the current Scientific Monitoring program should be peer reviewed to inform future policy. |
REC177-3297 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | A minimum of two barriers should be in place at all times (including during batched operations) whenever it is reasonably practicable to do so. |
REC177-3317 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Any equipment (including PCCCs) used as, or to install, a barrier should be manufactured for that purpose and be generally recognised as fit for purpose. If equipment is designed in‐house by a licensee or rig operator it should not be approved for use unless and until it is subjected to expert external analysis. |
REC177-3342 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Written (rather than verbal) approval from the DA (or new regulator) should be obtained before the commencement of well activities that lead to a physical change of a wellbore, other than in a true emergency situation (requiring amendment to regulation 17 of the Management of Well Operations Regulations). |
REC177-3373 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Arrangements should be developed to minimise duplication between the EPBC Act and the OPGSS Act Environment Regulation. |
REC177-3305 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Cement integrity should be evaluated wherever practicable by way of cement evaluation tests, rather than relying on pre‐operational calculations of cement and displacement fluid volumes. |
REC177-3323 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Where multiple wells are drilled, operations and occurrences at one well must be carefully assessed for any implications with respect to well control at other wells. |
REC177-3353 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The regulatory regime should also impose an obligation on an operator to ascertain the availability, and provide details to the regulator, of any potential relief well rigs, prior to the commencement of drilling operations (including prior to each phase of a drilling operation where applicable). |
REC177-3277 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The concept of ‘good oilfield practice’ should be supplemented by the requirement to incorporate into WOMPs non‐exhaustive minimum compliance standards in relation to well control: for example, stipulations as to when BOPs and/or well control systems must be in place and when they can be removed and minimum barrier requirements (a number of other factors that should be stipulated are outlined in other recommendations below). |
REC177-3311 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Horizontal or high angle penetration of a reservoir should be avoided wherever practicable until such time as the apparent problems associated with the cementing of a casing shoe in these situations are satisfactorily overcome. If a casing string does penetrate a well horizontally or at a high angle, standard practice should be to install two secondary barriers in addition to the cemented casing shoe. |
REC177-3328 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | All communications between on‐rig and onshore personnel relating to well control should be documented in a timely manner. |
REC177-3362 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Procedures for the approval of development projects should ensure that conditions of approval are comprehensive and clearly set out the obligations of their proponents in relation to environmental matters (including expected monitoring and remediation obligations). |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC176-0143 | 8 - Communications and warnings | The Commonwealth Government work with the states and their agencies to ensure consistent terminology is used when communicating with the public. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC155-3482 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Victorian Government, and responsible agencies, expedite the implementation of the Integrated Fire Management Planning framework. |
REC155-3479 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That a process of year round community engagement in the preparation of Fire Operations Plans be established. In addition a record of year round community engagement, as contained in the Gippsland Fire Operations Plan, should be a requirement of all Fire Operations Plans. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC132-3592 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Clarifying protocols for activating VBIL beyond normal working hours and for 24 hour activations |
REC132-3591 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Joint development of templates for provision of core incident information by regional Incident Management Teams to CFA and DSE emergency coordination centres as basis for updates to the VBIL and other authorised information recipients |
REC132-3590 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Investigate procedures for updating the Victoria Bushfire Information Line (VBIL) Integrated Voice Response recorded message system to allow recording of permanent bushfire safety, and incident-specific, messages, accessible when the VBIL is experiencing high call volumes during large and/or numerous significant incidents |
REC132-3597 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | Investigate engaging with other agencies involved in emergency management including SES, VicRoads, VicPolice, OESC and DHS to establish a single united emergency information line for Victoria that can be used to provide information to the public from all agencies involved. |
REC132-3595 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Development of framework document investigating future direction of VBIL including its role during incidents and its role in the transition from bushfire preparation to incident to bushfire recovery phases |
REC132-3594 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Need for scripting of messages by fire agency representatives when promoting VBIL services via radio, TV and newspapers. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC124-3887 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Give priority to the establishment of risk management processes across all stages of prescribed burning within the Department’s broader risk management strategy: |
REC124-3886 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | Clarify, strengthen and document roles, responsibilities and accountabilities of DSE and its partner organisations in the prescribed burning program: |
REC124-3883 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | Integrate information management systems relating to the prescribed burning program to provide consistency across the networked emergency organisation: |
REC124-3889 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | Develop a component of the DSE Workforce Strategy to build organisational capacity and sustainability of the prescribed burning program across the networked emergency organisation: |
REC124-3888 | 8 - Communications and warnings | Strengthen internal and external communications to ensure adequate stakeholder involvement throughout the prescribed burning program: |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC104-2261 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the emergency management arrangements be amended to require Police Divisional Emergency Response Coordinators, in consultation with other response agencies, to establish and document procedures and structures at regional level in order to ensure there is: |
REC104-2285 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That, as a matter of urgency and in consultation with stakeholders, CFA and DSE develop and communicate clear guidelines on how and when privately owned firefighting equipment should be integrated into the fire response. |
REC104-2329 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That CFA, DSE, MFESB and Victoria Police jointly develop a unified command and control system that better integrates with the State's emergency management arrangements, and that this be endorsed by the Victoria Emergency Management Council by July 2004. |
REC104-2216 | 8 - Communications and warnings | That Victoria include an agenda item for both the National Emergency Management Committee and the National Meeting of Emergency Services Ministers recommending that the Australian Communications Authority review both the Commercial Radio Codes of Practice and Guidelines, and Community Broadcasting Codes of Practice, to ensure they provide necessary guidance and obligations on radio stations during emergencies and in relation to emergency warnings. |
REC104-2227 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Municipal Fire Management Plan amendment includes appropriate provisions for the audit of the plans including: |
REC104-2269 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | That the fire agencies ensure that Incident Action Plans developed by Incident Management Teams are consistent with, and built on, the agreed Fire Control Priorities. |
REC104-2297 | 8 - Communications and warnings | That the model of community engagement developed by DSE and CFA and applied during the 2002-2003 fires is further developed and refined, particularly in regard to short-duration, rapidly escalating incidents. |
REC104-2246 | 34 - Local knowledge | That DSE undertake community consultation on policies relating to roads and access tracks on public land, particularly in respect to fire management. |
REC104-2275 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | That the ‘Incident Objectives’ established for any response should reflect the endorsed Statewide ‘Fire Control Priorities’, and the relevant Municipal Fire Management Plan. |
REC104-2302 | 8 - Communications and warnings | That opportunities be explored to use community radio to complement other methods of communication with isolated communities. |
REC104-2258 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | That, wherever possible, Incident Management Team members from DSE, CFA and MFESB who are likely to be deployed together to manage fire, should train and exercise together. |
REC104-2283 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | That DSE, CFA, MFESB and VICSES work cooperatively to establish a common system for resource tracking during major fires and incidents. |
REC104-2324 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That this group reports to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services on proposed legislative amendments to the Emergency Management Act 1986, the Country Fire Authority Act 1958 and any associated legislation by June 2004. |
REC104-2215 | 8 - Communications and warnings | That the Coordinator-in-Chief of Emergency Management directs the Media sub-committee of the State Emergency Response Committee to review the use of the Standard Emergency Warning Signal and its accompanying message. |
REC104-2226 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the new Municipal Fire Management Plan is informed by the policy directions of the subcommittee of the Victoria Emergency Management Council. |
REC104-2267 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | That DSE and CFA develop an agreed process for the effective transfer of control from one Incident Control Centre to another, including processes for communicating this change to fire ground supervisors and local communities. |
REC104-2296 | 8 - Communications and warnings | That in relation to the provision of information to communities affected by fires and other emergencies, DSE and CFA ensure that: |
REC104-2238 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | That the Victorian fire agencies negotiate with their counterparts in New South Wales and South Australia to put in place agreements for mutual aid and the development of cross border strategy for the management of fires burning in the vicinity of, or across, State borders, and these agreements are reviewed annually. |
REC104-2274 | 7 - Inter-agency communication | That when Incident Management Teams implement significant changes to objectives and strategies, these are effectively communicated to firefighters, fire ground supervisors and affected communities, and are incorporated into the broader organisational planning. |
REC104-2301 | 8 - Communications and warnings | That CFA and DSE work with Australian Broadcasting Corporation Local Radio to identify black spots, and explore opportunities to further improve coverage for broadcasting emergency information. |
REC104-2257 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Emergency Management Act 1986 be amended to require the development of agreements that describe joint operational arrangements between emergency response agencies. |
REC104-2280 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | That DSE and CFA ensure that: |
REC104-2323 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | That CFA, DSE, MFESB, VICSES, Victoria Police and OESC, in consultation with the Municipal Association of Victoria, consult on the proposal to combine Municipal Councils’ current responsibilities for the development of an emergency management plan/committee, as required by the Emergency Management Act 1986 and a fire prevention plan/committee as required by the Country Fire Authority Act 1958. |
REC104-2203 | 11 - Evacuation and shelters | That CFA further develops the information supporting the decision to stay or go, to incorporate a better understanding of both the likely consequences of leaving home at inappropriate times, and the conditions and |
REC104-2266 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | That DSE and CFA review their joint planning for Incident Control Centres to ensure that, wherever safe and practicable, those Centres are located close to the fire area. |
REC104-2295 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | That more emphasis should be given to communication and discussion in regard to State Aircraft Unit’s roles, responsibilities, practices and procedures. |
REC104-2224 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Country Fire Authority Act 1958 be amended to: |
REC104-2236 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Statewide Fire Control Priorities: |
REC104-2273 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | That personnel assigned the roles of Division Commander, Sector Commander and Strike Team Leader be given flexibility to alter tactics to take advantage of changed conditions on the fire ground. |
REC104-2300 | 8 - Communications and warnings | That Victoria Police Media Unit coordinate work with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the emergency service agencies to implement this arrangement. |
REC104-2253 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That Victoria Police, CFA and DSE review the relationship between fire service regional co-ordination arrangements and Divisional Emergency Response Plans and that any changes be formalised in the emergency management arrangements. |
REC104-2279 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | That operational briefings in multi-agency fires should, wherever possible, be joint briefings of all agencies involved. |
REC104-2322 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | That DSE commits appropriate resources to work with OESC in developing the bushfire component of the model. |
REC104-2199 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That evidence of the rekindling or otherwise of spring prescribed burns in forests be assembled and a model constructed and tested to see whether or not some days in spring could be used for prescribed burning in certain circumstances and places, especially in Zone 1. |
REC104-2265 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | That in the review of Incident Control Centre locations, DSE and CFA give due consideration to: |
REC104-2288 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That CFA develop protocols to integrate Ultra High Frequency and Citizen Band radios into their communication structures. |
REC104-2336 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | That OESC work with the fire agencies in developing implementation strategies for recommendations agreed by Government. |
REC104-2220 | 2 - Emergency powers | That CFA should not be given the power to direct Forest Industry Brigades to engage in fire prevention and suppression activities off their land and that decision should remain the responsibility of the plantation company. |
REC104-2233 | 34 - Local knowledge | That communities, public land managers, Water Authorities and Catchment Management Authorities jointly identify and implement local and environmentally sound solutions to improve the availability of water for firefighting through the Municipal Fire Management Planning process. |
REC104-2272 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | That personnel assigned the roles of Division Commander, Sector Commander and Strike Team Leader on the fire ground are actively encouraged to provide input into the selection of strategies and tactics. |
REC104-2299 | 8 - Communications and warnings | That consideration be given to formalising Australian Broadcasting Corporation Local Radio as the official emergency radio station for Victoria, given it is the only radio station that can cover the whole of the State. |
REC104-2252 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That existing DSE and CFA regional co-ordination arrangements be reviewed and any changes, such as the continued use of Integrated Multi-Agency Co-ordination Centres, be reflected in the Victorian emergency management arrangements. |
REC104-2278 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That DSE and CFA review the standards and protocols for documentation, including mapping, provided to fire line managers as part of their briefing notes, to ensure these are concise and appropriate. |
REC104-2311 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That all Departments, statutory authorities, utility providers and Local Governments be made aware of the need to develop contingency plans for recovery activities, and that such plans, and the associated public education and information strategies, are included in the Municipal Emergency Management Plans. |
REC104-2198 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That an explicit formulation of the interactions between terrain, fuel, ignition pattern, time of day and weather be created to better define those days suited to prescribed burning. |
REC104-2262 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | That the practice of appointing Deputy Planning Officer, Deputy Operations Officer and Deputy Logistics Officer in an Incident Management Team be abandoned. This recommendation acknowledges the benefits of retaining a Deputy Incident Controller from the support agency (in accordance with section 4.2.6 of the Emergency Management Manual Victoria), to ensure that the command structure of that agency is preserved. |
REC104-2287 | 8 - Communications and warnings | That DSE and CFA work with the Bureau of Emergency Services Telecommunications to ensure that rural communication issues are appropriately addressed in the Statewide Integrated Public Safety and Communications Strategy, and that priorities and business cases are agreed for critical issues. |
REC104-2330 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That this unified system include recommendations for the appointment of one person or agency to be responsible for overall control of fire suppression activity in country Victoria, including for any legislative reform considered necessary. |
REC104-2219 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That, following the review of Forest Industry Brigades, the Country Fire Authority Act 1958 be amended to ensure that the Forest Industry Brigades, which are acting in an approved manner, have the same powers and rights as other Brigades when attending fires on public land or interstate. |
REC104-2229 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That DSE and the Department of Primary Industries formalise an agreement by the 2003-2004 fire season documenting the policies, procedures and financial arrangements relating to the availability of Department of Primary Industries staff to be trained and released for fire prevention and suppression activities on public land. |
REC104-2271 | 14 - Incident Mgt Teams | That DSE and CFA ensure that agreed strategy and tactics, and the rationale, be communicated to personnel involved in the fire fight and be included in briefings for fire line personnel. |
REC104-2298 | 8 - Communications and warnings | That relevant Government agencies including Emergency Communications Victoria, the Bureau of Emergency Services Telecommunications and the Victoria Police Media Unit, evaluate the proposals put forward by the Australian Communications Authority with respect to the hearing impaired. |
REC104-2251 | 11 - Evacuation and shelters | That Victoria Police ensure all police members understand the Victorian legislation in relation to evacuation, and that any decision to recommend evacuation remains with the Incident Controller. |
REC104-2276 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That CFA and DSE jointly develop procedures to ensure that a more consistent strategic approach can be maintained at shift and tour of duty changes. |
REC104-2309 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That the Emergency Management Act 1986 be amended to include a provision that, on the recommendation of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services as Co-ordinator-in-Chief of Emergency Management, or of another Minister, the Premier establish a Ministerial Task Force to oversee recovery in situations of extreme natural disaster or other emergency events. |
REC104-2196 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That, as a result of this monitoring, weather conditions for the safe conduct of burning in such operations should be defined. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC098-2152 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth, through the Council of Australian Governments and the Australasian Fire Authorities Council, initiate an overhaul of the incident management systems used |
REC098-2165 | 7 - Inter-agency communication | The Committee recommends that Emergency Management Australia and the Australian Communications Authority work with state and territory bush fire authorities to ensure that that district communication plans |
REC098-2187 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth require state and territory governments to have in place comprehensive bush fire management plans as a pre-requisite for accessing funding from the National Heritage Trust and like programs. |
REC098-2149 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth work with the states and territories through the proposed Council of Australian Governments to review the response to bushfires to ensure that principles of fire prevention and rapid and effective initial attack are adopted and implemented by all rural fire authorities and public land managers |
REC098-2164 | 7 - Inter-agency communication | The Committee recommends that: |
REC098-2181 | 11 - Evacuation and shelters | The Committee recommends that the Australasian Fire Authorities Council’s suggested evacuation protocol be adopted by all of the Australian States and Territories. |
REC098-2141 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth through the National Heritage Trust, offer assistance to the states and the Australian Capital Territory to develop specific prescribed burning guides, at least |
REC098-2159 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that in changing the incident management systems as proposed in recommendation 23 above all bushfire agencies review concerns about difficulties in communicating operational information from the fire front to air operations. |
REC098-2170 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that Emergency Management Australia request the Australasian Fire Authorities Council to: |
REC098-2135 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth seeks to ensure that the Council of Australian Governments implements to a minimum national standard adequate access to all public lands including wilderness areas of national parks. |
REC098-2154 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth seek to ensure that the Council of Australian Governments seek the adoption by all states and territories of multi-agency protocols and agreements for fire |
REC098-2168 | 2 - Emergency powers | The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth investigate, and where necessary, require the urgent enhancement of the provision of emergency power and telecommunications services for the purpose of |
REC098-2153 | 7 - Inter-agency communication | The Committee recommends that the state and territory bushfire agencies ensure that, on a district basis, communications are addressed within the district operations plans and that the plans are capable of easy adoption to incident action plans. |
REC098-2166 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that Emergency Management Australia work through the Australasian Fire Authorities Council to ensure that: |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC061-3413 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | The Committee recommends to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services that a joint communications and dispatch facility be established under the Minister's control to implement the following minimum services to the Victoria Police and the emergency services: |
REC061-3412 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Ministry for Police and Emergency Services seek common national fire standards. |
REC061-3410 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that, following the development of standards of fire cover, related standards be established for: |
REC061-3248 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | The Committee recommends to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services that a joint communications and dispatch facility be established under the Minister's control to implement the following minimum services to the Victoria Police and the emergency services: |
REC061-3247 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that the Ministry for Police and Emergency Services seek common national fire standards. |
REC061-3244 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The Committee recommends that, following the development of standards of fire cover, related standards be established for: |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC037-4166 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | In the future development of Victoria’s counter—disaster capability, effective utilisation and management of resources be regarded as a major objective. |
REC037-4165 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | • Proposed amendments to the State Disaster Plan be formalised |
REC037-4161 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | That separate counter—disaster systems be avoided by retaining counter—bushfire arrangements as part of the State’s total counter— disaster system. [Reference paragraph: 228] |
REC037-4160 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The current counter—bushfire concept be retained, with the proviso that it be kept under continuous review to ensure that all relevant future developments and techniques are effectively utilised. (Reference paragraphs: 88 to 90 and 257 to 259] |
REC037-4168 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The provisions of the State Disasters Act, 1983, be extended to cover the proposed policy and organisational amendments. (Reference paragraph: 286] |
REC037-4167 | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | The definitions of command, control and co—ordination, as stated in the Australian Counter Disaster Handbook, be standardised throughout Victoria’s counter—disaster system. [Reference paragraphs: 106 to 111] |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC016_3953 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | It is therefore recommended that the State Electricity Commission should be advised by someone whose profession it is to consider and devise methods of forest fire protection and suppression; that he should collaborate with others to devise a general scheme of organized protection of the undertaking and township of Yallourn; and that above all, he should have direct access to the Commissioners themselves, lest his advice should lose something of its strength and reality in its journey through the “proper channels” of the Commission’s organization. |
REC016_3947 | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | It is recommended that the services of this body [Air Raids Precautions Body] be used in future if to do so be thought desirable. |