REC267-1163 |
33 - Relief and recovery
33 - Relief and recovery
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Corrections Volunteer Labour Teams
The employment of volunteer Corrections inmates in community support cleanup work was
well received by the community and should not be overlooked in future recovery operations.
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REC267-1154 |
36 - Volunteers
36 - Volunteers
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Coordination of Volunteer Support
A key challenge for recovery staff is the coordination across community volunteer groups and
individuals to ensure support provided is complementary and directed to the areas in most
need. This is an important activity that should be considered in future recovery planning.
Establishing formal working partnerships with key volunteer organisations that outline
expectations during recovery operations is recommended.
|
REC267-1162 |
10 - Infrastructure
10 - Infrastructure
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Telecommunications and Power Infrastructure
Noting the high reliance within the community on power and telecommunications
infrastructure, there would be benefit for Governments at both State and Federal level to
work with power providers and telecommunications companies to better define disaster
response and recovery responsibilities, and to identify options for increasing redundancies in
networks in order to improve surety of service
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REC267-1153 |
4 - Fire season preparation
4 - Fire season preparation
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Planning for Access to Potentially Isolated Communities
The challenges faced by Dungog Council in resolving the Torryburn access issue resulted in
extended delays that impacted adversely on the Torryburn community. The issue arose
because the community is accessed by a single access route. The challenges faced by Dungog
Council could well be experienced again in future events for similar communities with single
means of access. Emergency access options for such communities, including alternate routes
or transport means to be utilised in an emergency, should be considered in local emergency
plans. In addition, the criteria, likely requirement for, and means of re-supply during the
recovery phase should be clarified.
|
REC267-1161 |
33 - Relief and recovery
33 - Relief and recovery
|
VIP Visits
The value of visits by senior Government members and Vice Regal representatives to disaster
affected communities cannot be overstated. On all occasions, the visits lifted community
morale, reminding people that their welfare was important and that they were not forgotten.
Accordingly, they should be encouraged in future recovery operations, but organised in
consultation with the affected communities to ensure that they are not “over-visited”.
|
REC267-1148 |
33 - Relief and recovery
33 - Relief and recovery
|
Planning for Recovery Centres Recovery Centres are a proven means of providing support to affected communities. More comprehensive recovery planning is needed at local levels, including the identification of potential Recovery Centre sites in Local EM Plans to help facilitate streamlined establishment of the Centres in future events. Consideration should be given to developing a clear set of standard messaging regarding
Recovery Centres to ensure community members are aware of the Centres, the areas they
are servicing, and the support people can expect to receive at the Centres. Consideration
should also be given to the preparation of a generic Recovery Centre infrastructure
requirements statement to complement the Recovery Centre Guidelines, which would serve
as a baseline requirements document to which site specific needs could be added.
|
REC267-1160 |
33 - Relief and recovery
33 - Relief and recovery
|
Transition from Response to Recovery
The management of the transition from the Response Phase of an emergency event to the
Recovery Phase is important to ensure the continuity of effective management of the event.
The NSW Recovery Plan should be amended to provide more specific requirements for
handover and (ongoing if necessary) intelligence sharing between lead combat agencies and
Recovery at the regional / local level. To support this improvement, MPES should identify and
train additional internal and/or surge staff to take up roles as Recovery Information/Liaison
Officers and pro-actively embed these officers into Incident Control Centres at a Regional and
State level. This would augment recovery operations by allowing not only information
collection and analysis but participation in decision making.
The NSW Recovery Plan should be amended to provide more specific direction on the role,
responsibilities and location of Recovery Information/Liaison Officers
|
REC267-1156 |
33 - Relief and recovery
33 - Relief and recovery
|
Streamlining NDRRA Grants Processes
Noting the need for financial oversight in assessing NDRRA determinations, these grants are
important to the community and opportunities to streamline the approvals process should
be explored with the Commonwealth in order to minimise delays in the future.
|
REC267-1155 |
33 - Relief and recovery
33 - Relief and recovery
|
MP Recovery Reference Group
The creation of the MP Recovery Reference Group enabled a separation of operational
recovery activities, managed by the Recovery Coordinator through the Regional Recovery
Committee, from the discussion of issues at the strategic level by elected representatives. It
also provided a forum for local MPs to raise issues directly with the Government, either via
the Chair, or directly with Ministers. Accordingly, this is a model of engagement that should
be considered for employment in future recovery operations.
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