Inquiry Search
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC321-4202 | 10 - Infrastructure | We recommend that DELWP investigates incentives and advises government on options to accelerate burying and insulating the remaining high-voltage bare-wire powerlines in the 33 highest risk areas. |
REC321-4214 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | We recommend that DELWP determines which elements of different regional planning approaches are the most effective and implements these across the state. |
REC321-4203 | 9 - Community education | We recommend that DELWP provides advice to government, in consultation with Country Fire Authority, Fire Rescue Victoria and councils, on options to improve owner and occupier awareness of and accountability for bushfire management overlay planning controls (see Section 4.3). |
REC321-4215 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | We recommend that DELWP develops more holistic bushfire-management planning that focuses on the best mix of risk treatments rather than planned burning alone. |
REC321-4204 | 4 - Fire season preparation | We recommend that DEWLP and CFA (in consultation with FRV) in partnership with councils, provide advice to government in line with the Safer Together: A new approach to reducing the risk of bushfire in Victoria policy on options to better resource the assessment of risk on private land, its treatment and activities to enforce compliance of land owners with risk-reduction treatments. |
REC321-4217 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | We recommend that DELWP in partnership with Country Fire Authority and Fire Rescue Victoria develops, implements and publicly reports on a holistic suite of performance metrics to demonstrate: - the impact that planned burning has on public and private land on bushfire risk - the impact that planned burning has on public and private land on ecosystem resilience - the impact that non-burn fuel management activities have on public and private land on bushfire risk - the impact that its activities at local and regional levels have on bushfire risk - the cost-effectiveness of its fuel management activities on public and private land. |
REC321-4207 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | We recommend that DELWP reviews its target for the number of fuel hazard assessments conducted and ensures that this measure is evidence based, accurately reflects regional performance, and that the department monitors and reports on each region’s performance against it. |
REC321-4201 | 10 - Infrastructure | We recommend that DELWP improves the Powerline Bushfire Safety Program's transparency by publicly reporting on activities, costs and risk-reduction outcomes. |
REC321-4211 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | We recommend that CFA (in consultation with FRV) improves planning on private land to ensure risk assessments and plans are conducted consistently across public and private land to address state-wide bushfire risk based on where and how they can most effectively reduce risk. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC319-4193 | 9 - Community education | Public communications: The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that Emergency Management Victoria and the entity referred to in Recommendation 13, or otherwise responsible government department, coordinate ongoing education campaigns to increase public awareness of community roles and responsibilities during periods of emergency relief and recovery. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC318-4174 | 9 - Community education | The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (or the single entity referenced in Recommendation 4) – with support from all legislated fuel management organisations for public and private land – lead a community engagement process to improve the Victorian community’s understanding of: |
REC318-4186 | 9 - Community education | The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that Emergency Management Victoria – in collaboration with the emergency management sector – develops and implements processes to ensure greater dissemination and improved understanding of information for all Victorians, and visitors to Victoria in an emergency event. This should consider but not be exclusive to individuals who: |
REC318-4171 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that the State review (and where necessary amend) legislation including but not limited to the Country Fire Authority Act 1958, Forest Act 1958 and Local Government Act 2020 to: |
REC318-4182 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that Emergency Management Victoria – in partnership with agencies engaged in state, regional and incident control centres: |
REC318-4170 | 4 - Fire season preparation | The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that responder agencies and Emergency Management Victoria review preparedness arrangements to ensure procedural documentation (including plans), recruitment, briefings and training are completed before significant seasonal events are likely to occur. Seasonal preparedness should culminate in attestations of assurance to confirm that: |
REC318-4181 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that Emergency Management Victoria – in collaboration with the emergency management sector and as part of the emergency management planning reforms: |
REC318-4178 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (or the single entity referenced in Recommendation 4) – in collaboration with the Country Fire Authority and local government – undertake a review of the current residual risk target to ensure that it remains contemporary in terms of its designated percentage value. The review should: |
REC318-4175 | 4 - Fire season preparation | The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (or the single entity referenced in Recommendation 4) – supported by other organisations with a legislated responsibility for fuel management – plan for and increase the application of non-burning fuel management treatments including mechanical means. The annual fuel management report should include the non-burn component of fuel management treatment, track annual change, and provide a comparison to the previous three years. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC299-1348 | 4 - Fire season preparation | In keeping with the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission’s findings and recommendations, human life has primacy in bushfire‑related regulations and it is important that this is maintained in the implementation of bushfire management overlays and relevant vegetation removal exemptions should reflect the primacy of human life. |
REC299-1347 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | In order to manage a reduced time window available to undertake the current types of planned burns, alternative methods, including the indigenous mosaic ‘cool’ burns, should be examined and trialled as they may extend the period in which planned burns can be undertaken while reducing overall risk and fuel loads. |
REC299-1344 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | That a review of the cross‑tenure approach be undertaken to determine its effectiveness and to address issues that arise in fire prevention on private and public land. |
REC299-1343 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | That the Government conduct a review of fire prevention |
REC299-1341 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | That in conjunction with a risk‑based approach, a minimum hectare target is also maintained that can be measured and compared. This minimum target should not be below the 5% target established by the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC291-1234 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | The Department of Parks and Wildlife to plan for the highest priority hazard reduction burning effort around settlements and critical assets in the South West and Perth Hills. The annual objective is to treat a total of 60,000 hectares of priority hazard reduction per annum, comprising 20,000 hectares per annum of Land Management Zone A and 40,000 hectares per year of Land Management Zone B. |
REC291-1249 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The Department of the Premier and Cabinet to conduct an independent review of the current arrangement for the management and distribution of the Emergency Services Levy. The review will have the specific purpose of: · seeking input from key entities including the Departments of Treasury, Finance, Fire and Emergency Services, Lands, and Parks and Wildlife, WA Local Government Association, and the Office of Bushfire Risk Management. · ensuring the arrangement has the flexibility and agility to deal with emerging bushfire risk priorities. · establishing a budget process that enables a shift in investment towards prevention, mitigation and building community resilience and capability. |
REC291-1233 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The State Government to explore options for streamlining the functions and the independence of the State Emergency Management Committee Secretariat and the Office of Bushfire Risk Management with a view to including an inspectorate function, and appointing a person who is dedicated to that role. The purpose is to provide assurance and reporting, and to inquire into, monitor and report transparently on emergency management standards, preparedness, capability, service delivery and investment performance outcomes. Within two years of the establishment of this arrangement the State Government to review and assess whether it is meeting the desired outcomes. |
REC291-1248 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The State Emergency Management Committee to establish a State Bushfire Coordinating Committee as a sub-committee of SEMC. The State Bushfire Coordinating Committee will be chaired by the Director of the Office of Bushfire Risk Management and will have the primary responsibility to: · develop a State Bushfire Management Policy and a set of long term bushfire risk management objectives; · provide a forum for key bushfire risk management stakeholder agencies; · advise the SEMC on matters pertaining to bushfire, in particular, to report against the investment in, and achievement of the bushfire risk management objectives; · provide advice and support to the proposed Chief Officer of the Rural Fire Service on bushfire risk management matters; and · report to SEMC and to the community on bushfire risk management matters on at least an annual basis. |
REC291-1237 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | The Department of Fire and Emergency Services, utilising the Office of Bushfire Risk Management, to develop a simplified and fast track hazard reduction burn (and other fuel mitigation techniques) planning and approval process to ensure the timely conduct of township and asset protection burns by Bush Fire Brigades and individual property owners. The process is to be agile and adaptable for the range of stakeholders which may participate in low risk, small scale, low complexity burn planning and approvals. |
REC291-1236 | 4 - Fire season preparation | The Departments of Parks and Wildlife and Fire and Emergency Services to develop options for the expansion of the ‘Bushfire Mitigation Grant Scheme’ 20 January 2016 Waroona Fire Special Inquiry utilising both State and Commonwealth Government funding to enable the implementation of hazard reduction works identified through the Bushfire Risk Management Planning process. This will target hazard reduction projects on land owned by private landholders in rural-urban interface areas, critical infrastructure protection, local government land, roadsides and land managed by utilities. |
REC291-1235 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | The Department of Parks and Wildlife to continue emphasis on landscape hazard reduction burning with the annual objective of treating 140,000 hectares per annum in Land Management Zone C. In combination with Recommendation 2 (above) the strategic objective will be that a fuel age of less than six years will be maintained across 45% of the landscape on State Forest, National Parks and other Parks and Wildlife managed lands in the South West and Perth Hills. This will address the current backlog (created from under achievements of the recent two decades of burn programs) by the end of the 2020-2021 burning season (i.e. within the next 5 years). |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC290-1219 | 17 - Assets and technology | Live resource tracking system that can be used by all response agencies |
REC290-1215 | 4 - Fire season preparation | Appropriate and scalable resourcing models for remote locations |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC276-1178 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Within six months, consider improved processes for consulting with and engaging volunteers and continue to work with LGs to improve information sharing and communication. Specifically, DFES should improve communication around its decisions on equipment and training as well as provide better information about access to services. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC265-1123 | 17 - Assets and technology | Every effort should be made to enhance the ability of communications personnel to cope with fast moving and time critical fire events by providing and maintaining: ongoing extensive communications training; advanced vehicle capability for clear communication within areas of radio coverage dead spots; ability to receive Air intelligence live streaming; map production facilities; deployment of multiple Incident Control Vehicles when required; all Incident Control Vehicles with access to DFES Information Technology Systems. |
REC265-1112 | 17 - Assets and technology | Radio infrastructure in the Perth Hills should be reviewed to assess whether it is practicable for radio and/or mobile phone coverage to be improved to achieve better coverage across the area. |
REC265-1120 | 9 - Community education | DFES should prepare a Standard Operating Procedure for the conduct of community meetings, and have available the appropriate audio visual and other equipment, to ensure that such meetings are able to fulfil their function in providing information and direction |
REC265-1108 | 4 - Fire season preparation | Appropriately equipped Incident Control Centres should be identified and/or established throughout the Perth Hills to meet the requirements of a fully resourced Incident Management Team in future bushfire events. |
REC265-1119 | 24 - Govt responsibility | Relevant policies and Westplans should be amended to require that full consultation occurs between the Controlling Agency and the Department for Child Protection and Family Support regarding the location of the evacuation centre(s) in a bushfire incident. |
REC265-1103 | 16 - Training and behaviour | DFES should review its training courses and Standard Operating Procedures to satisfy itself that all incident management personnel have the required level of understanding of WA emergency management arrangements, including those that relate to the roles of the Incident Management Team and Incident Support Group and the declaration of incident levels. |
REC265-1117 | 17 - Assets and technology | Automatic Vehicle Location technology should be adopted to enable a better appreciation of the deployment and location of appliances at an incident, in order to increase situational awareness |
REC265-1102 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | SEMC Secretariat Community Emergency Management Officers should work with the Shire to document the Shire of Mundaring’s learnings from the Parkerville Stoneville Mt Helena fire with a view to sharing this with other local authorities particularly those facing similar situations in order to extend the range of tools available to assist local governments to understand their roles and responsibilities in future emergencies. |
REC265-1116 | 17 - Assets and technology | Procedures should be established to monitor the use of heavy plant during a bushfire incident, including the tasking of support appliances. Procedures should provide for the appointment of a dedicated Machinery Supervisor as prescribed within the Australasian Interservice Incident Management System. |
REC265-1101 | 9 - Community education | Staff and consultants skilled in community engagement practice should be specifically included in bushfire risk management planning and preparedness building programs undertaken by State agencies and/or local government. |
REC265-1115 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Training and awareness raising should be conducted to enhance the appreciation and understanding of DFES State and Regional operational personnel, including potential Incident Management Team members, of the nationally adopted Bushfire Alert and Messaging Matrix, in order to ensure that the most appropriate alert levels and associated community messaging are applied during bushfire incidents. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC264-1072 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The State empower and require the Auditor-General or another appropriate agency, to: • oversee the implementation of these recommendations and the commitments made by the State and GDF Suez during this Inquiry; and • report publicly every year for the next three years on the progress made in implementing recommendations and commitments. |
REC264-1087 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | GDF Suez: • practice and ensures that, by taking a risk management approach, it is suitable for fire prevention, mitigation and suppression in all parts of the Hazelwood mine; and review its ‘Mine Fire Service Policy and Code of Practice’ so that it refects industry best • work plan for the Hazelwood mine. incorporate the revised ‘Mine Fire Service Policy and Code of Practice’ into the approved |
REC264-1086 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | GDF Suez: • consequences of fire in the worked out areas of the Hazelwood mine, and an assessment of the most effective fre protection for the exposed coal surfaces; conduct, assisted by an independent consultant, a risk assessment of the likelihood and • controls are in place to eliminate or reduce the risk of fre; and prepare an implementation plan that ensures the most effective and reasonably practicable • implement the plan |
REC264-1085 | 10 - Infrastructure | GDF Suez establish enhanced back-up power supply arrangements that do not depend wholly on mains power, to: • ensure that the Emergency Command Centre can continue to operate if mains power is lost; and • ensure that the reticulated fre services water system can operate with minimal disruption if mains power is lost. |
REC264-1083 | 9 - Community education | The State, led by Emergency Management Victoria, develop a community engagement model for emergency management to ensure all State agencies and local governments engage with communities and already identifed trusted networks as an integral component of emergency management planning. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC263-1097 | 16 - Training and behaviour | CFA should: improve Brigade Operational Skills Profiles to reflect volunteer activity and availability |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC262-1489 | 10 - Infrastructure | That the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority reclassifies its State Emergency Communications Centres as critical national infrastructure. |
REC262-1490 | 10 - Infrastructure | That the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority critically reviews: |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC254-1583 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Once Recommendation 1 has been actioned, all agencies give greater priority to the promulgation of Red Flag warnings in order to enhance situational awareness on the fireground. |
REC254-1582 | 17 - Assets and technology | As a minimum requirement, all vehicles entering the fireground must be fitted with an accessible fire blanket – one per person in each vehicle plus roll down, in-cab, radiant heat shields. |
REC254-1581 | 16 - Training and behaviour | All agencies ensure fire managers are trained to correctly interpret the new Spot Fire Weather Forecast and to familiarise themselves with the entire format – ensuring consideration of the whole forecast - not just the tabular data containing the 12 hour forecast. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC252-2570 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | Western Australia Health should carry out targeted clinical audits in volunteer country sub-centres until longer term solutions are in place |
REC252-2570 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | Western Australia Health should carry out targeted clinical audits in volunteer country sub-centres until longer term solutions are in place |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC250-0796 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The Department of Premier and Cabinet should lead: x the development of an evaluation framework, based on work undertaken to date by the Department of Human Services, to be used in assessing the impact of relief and recovery programs in the recent floods and in future disaster events x an evaluation of the impact of relief and recovery programs in the recent floods, using this framework. |
REC250-0794 | 24 - Govt responsibility | Rural Finance Corporation (Department of Treasury and Finance) and Regional Development Victoria should coordinate any future disaster relief and recovery programs for businesses. |
REC250-0793 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The Department of Premier and Cabinet should develop clear guidelines for departments in designing community disaster relief and recovery programs. |
REC250-0790 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The Department of Justice should review the current model for rapid impact assessment to improve the quality of the information collected. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC248-2587 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Victoria Police should adequately train all frontline police managers to handle complex personal matters involving staff. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC227-2850 | 17 - Assets and technology | I recommend that the AFP be provided with a search and rescue vessel which is suitable to the specific conditions of Christmas Island. I further recommend that steps be taken to ensure that if for any reason the search and rescue vessel is not available, there is a replacement vessel on Christmas Island capable of providing an emergency response in difficult sea conditions. |
REC227-2848 | 17 - Assets and technology | I recommend that the AFP take steps to determine whether access can be obtained to the National Search and Rescue Council endorsed SARMAP program covering the Australian Search and Rescue Region as well as adjoining tiles for Indonesia. Steps should be taken to ensure that if possible coverage would include high traffic areas where SIEVs enter the Australian Search and Rescue region allowing timely search and rescue plans to be drawn up for any potential incidents. |
REC227-2846 | 17 - Assets and technology | I recommend that Border Protection Command continues to examine ways of improving its surveillance capability around Christmas Island so that the risk of SIEVs arriving undetected is reduced. |
REC227-2859 | 17 - Assets and technology | I recommend that the issue of RHIB jet intake protection be allocated a high priority and that there be ongoing investigation of possible solutions to reduce the problem. |
REC227-2851 | 17 - Assets and technology | I recommend that consideration should be given to acquiring two personal water craft for deployment by appropriately trained and equipped staff of the AFP or the VMRS or both on Christmas Island. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC226-0541 | 4 - Fire season preparation | Experienced forecasters and fire behaviour experts should be embedded in DEC at least at a state level to ensure that fire risks are properly understood by decision makers. |
REC226-0553 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | Rolling risk assessment conducted during ignition of prescribed burns should identify whether an escape is likely to develop into a Level 3 incident. As soon as possible after it has been identified that the escape cannot be contained, the incident should be declared a Level 3. |
REC226-0583 | 17 - Assets and technology | The state should converge on a single communications platform for all emergency management and support agencies. |
REC226-0549 | 4 - Fire season preparation | All forms of fuel modification should be available to fire managers. |
REC226-0582 | 17 - Assets and technology | The state should progressively align on a shared platform, such as WebEOC, to establish a COP [Common Operating Picture or Platform?]. |
REC226-0544 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | Prescribed burns which meet the ‘red flag’ criteria should have mandated risk Establish risk management criteria for management criteria imposed. |
REC226-0581 | 24 - Govt responsibility | Increased acceptance of mutual obligations will be fundamental to the management of fire risk across the state |
REC226-0543 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | There should be clearly established criteria for burns which are specially challenging, and these criteria need to extend beyond the intended boundaries of the prescribed burn. |
REC226-0571 | 24 - Govt responsibility | A review of the manner in which resourcing is conducted across all agencies needs to occur with a review identifying the best manner to ensure all agencies adapt to the same process. |
REC226-0542 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | A risk management approach is needed which considers risks both inside the prescribed burn and the risks that will need to be managed if the fire escapes. This risk assessment should be dynamic in line with the four day and seven day weather forecast. |
REC226-0568 | 24 - Govt responsibility | State-wide all agency reporting should be established to facilitate the interactions of emergency management agencies, support agencies and governments. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC225-0540 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | : In due course, acts of bravery are considered and recommendations for awards are submitted, including commendations for the delivery of First Aid. |
REC225-0533 | 17 - Assets and technology | As a minimum requirement, all vehicles entering the fireground must be fitted with an accessible fire blanket – one per person in each vehicle plus roll down, in-cab, radiant heat shields. |
REC225-0532 | 16 - Training and behaviour | All agencies ensure fire managers are trained to correctly interpret the new Spot Fire Weather Forecast and to familiarise themselves with the entire format – ensuring consideration of the whole forecast - not just the tabular data containing the 12 hour forecast. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC224-1629 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The Minister for Emergency Services must ensure that future post-incident analyses are completed and made public within eight weeks of a natural disaster. |
REC224-1634 | 10 - Infrastructure | The Minister for Emergency Services should urgently review the technical issues with the Western Australia Emergency Radio Network program that is forcing the State’s firefighters to revert to their older radio networks. |
REC224-1631 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The State Government prepare a strategy before the 2013-14 bushfire season on how the main firefighting agencies should deal with a drier South West region where fewer prescribed burns can be completed each year. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC223-0522 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The response operation to the Margaret River bushfire in November 2011 be the subject of a review with independent oversight. |
REC223-0521 | 9 - Community education | The Department of Environment and Conservation develop and implement a strategy to better inform the community about the complexities and decisions surrounding prescribed burns when they are undertaken in the rural urban area. |
REC223-0518 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The Department of Environment and Conservation explore human resourcing models that: · make succession planning a priority; · look at options for the attraction and retention of staff; and · review how the salary levels of staff matches the decision making required in major activities such as prescribed burns. |
REC223-0516 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The Department of Environment and Conservation review its implementation of the findings of the Ferguson Review conducted in 2010. |
REC223-0515 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | The Department of Environment and Conservation urgently undertake a review of its risk management practices as they relate to prescribed burns including but not limited to: *reviewing risk management practices to ensure that they are in accordance with AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009; * finalising and implementing the new complexity model developed in house by the DEC; * considering a broader set of parameters of risk by conducting an environmental scan or similar tool for areas under consideration for a prescribed burn; *updating the prescribed fire plans to reflect the broader risk considerations discovered through environmental scanning; *better informing the risk considerations by updating the ‘Red Book’ to reflect current research on burning in coastal heath; and * reconsidering the utility of the ‘Red Flag Burn’ notification on files and either adopting it as a policy across the State or removing it as a consideration. |
REC223-0523 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The Government consider enacting legislation to facilitate the review of all future major incidents, including but not limited to fire, earthquake, storm and marine inundation, and the emergency response to them. |
REC223-0514 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | The Department of Environment and Conservation review its current policies and operational guidelines in particular by: * strengthening the governance of operations by ensuring the Guidelines are relevant and practical; * ensuring the processes that are implemented for prescribed burns are: (a) value adding to the decisions and approvals required (b) informed by substantive input (c) focussed on outcome rather than process; *completing the draft management plan for the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Capes Area Parks and Reserves in accordance with the provisions of the Conservation and Land Management Act 1989; * exploring the possibility of automating and streamlining the various processes for formulating a prescription for prescribed burns for ease of access and updating; and * clarifying the guidance provided to decision makers as to the ‘edging’ and security of prescribed burns. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC222-1861 | 41 - Emergency Management exercises | The Ministers for Health, Emergency Services, Environment and Police provide additional funds to their agencies so that a detailed exercise is held on a regular basis based on a disaster that will create the worst outcome for the State. |
REC222-1847 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The Ministers for Emergency Services, Environment and Police ensure their departments undertake a formal review by 30 June 2013 of the welfare services addressing stress and trauma provided to both their career and volunteer members. |
REC222-1869 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The Ministers for Emergency Services, Environment and Police ensure their departments include provisions for regular external audits of invoices for payment in their next round of Employee Assistance Program contract negotiations. |
REC222-1867 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The Minister for Emergency Services ensure that the Fire and Emergency Services Authority’s peer support program is rejuvenated as soon as possible with increased funding to provided added training for staff volunteering for this program |
REC222-1865 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The Minister for Police immediately instigate processes to ensure that the psychological well-being of officers is at the forefront of the Western Australia Police’s staff planning. These processes should include all officers being trained in psychological first aid, with subsequent regular refresher courses. Senior officers should be the first priority for psychological first aid training. |
REC222-1862 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The Minister for Emergency Services request the State Emergency Management Committee to review by June 2013 the sharing of data between the State’s emergency response agencies using the WebEOC software and any further enhancements that can be made to this process. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
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REC217-1817 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The current technical guidelines for the construction of levee systems will be reviewed. A revised Levee Design, Construction and Maintenance technical guidelines will include guidelines for the construction of both priority public levees, and private levees on private land, such as ring levees, which protect key assets. These guidelines will be made available to all rural councils, who will make landowners constructing new levees on their property aware of the principles and specifications contained in the guidelines and encourage construction based on them. |
REC217-1824 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The Victorian Government to implement the recommendations of the Victorian Floods Review in relation to the development and implementation of appropriate flood mitigation and protection strategies for essential services. |
REC217-1809 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | All priority public levees not currently the subject of approved schemes, will become subject to approved schemes under Division 5, Part 10 of the Water Act 1989. Such schemes will articulate an agreed set of terms, including: |
REC217-1835 | 24 - Govt responsibility | Within the jurisdiction of Melbourne Water, it shares with local councils the responsibility to manage local drainage systems as outlined under the Water Act 1989 and the Local Government Act 1989 respectively: |
REC217-1815 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | A regular inspection and maintenance regime will be undertaken for all high priority levees managed by a public authority. All such levees will be inspected by the relevant public authority on an annual basis, and after a flood event. All levees will have a regular maintenance schedule. |
REC217-1823 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The Victorian Government should work with the New South Wales Government and the Murray Darling Basin Authority to establish an appropriate floodplain management committee and to develop a floodplain management strategy for the Murray River. The strategy will define priority regions for the development of floodplain management plans, address ways of improving the management of all levees on the Murray River, and seek agreement in relation to improved approvals processes, levee heights and maintenance regimes. |
REC217-1808 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The revised Victoria Flood Management Strategy should provide a strategic framework for the management and ongoing maintenance of Victoria’s levees. The Victoria Flood Management Strategy will provide criteria for a consistent statewide approach to the prioritisation of the state’s levees for future management and investment: |
REC217-1832 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The revised Victoria Flood Management Strategy should clearly identify authorities and assign responsibilities for stream blockage and debris removal in waterways posing a high risk to public infrastructure both during and after a flood: |
REC217-1813 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The Department of Sustainability and Environment will develop guidelines for streamlining the permitting system for conducting works on levees for incorporation in the revised Victoria Flood Management Strategy, in order for maintenance on all levees to occur more quickly. The guidelines will outline circumstances in which exemptions from current approval processes are appropriate. Councils will be permitted to obtain exemptions within their planning schemes for: |
REC217-1846 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The state government should implement the recommendations of the Victorian Floods Review in relation to the creation of resilience committees and resilience plans, with responsible authorities. |
REC217-1822 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The state government will work with Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water and stakeholders to determine ongoing ownership and associated responsibilities for redundant channel infrastructure in the Wimmera and the Mallee. |
REC217-1807 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | A revised Victoria Flood Management Strategy is needed and should clearly articulate the principles, roles and responsibilities for the ownership, management and ongoing maintenance of Victoria’s levees. Neither land tenure nor prior government involvement will dictate ownership of public levees: |
REC217-1831 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | Significant modification of waterways in urban or rural areas will only be considered after the completion of a flood risk management process, undertaken in consultation with members of the community. |
REC217-1812 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | Streamlined processes to enable access to levees for the purposes of conducting works, including maintenance, must be implemented. Where a levee is managed by a public authority as part of a formal scheme, and is sited on either private land, or on a mixture of public and private land, access to private land for works will be negotiated as part of any scheme agreement. Where a levee is sited on public land, but is not managed by a public authority, local beneficiaries willing to conduct maintenance will be given access to do so, provided: |
REC217-1843 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The state government implement the Victorian Floods Review recommendation 10 in relation to the datums used to describe river and stream heights. |
REC217-1821 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | Where flood investigations show positive and cost effective outcomes, infrastructure providers, such as VicRoads, will consider enhancing their infrastructure to act as levees. Any development of this nature will require collaboration with, and the approval of, the relevant floodplain authorities. |
REC217-1827 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The role of flood risk management planning rests with CMAs and Melbourne Water (under the Water Act 1989), and is a shared responsibility with local government. Shared responsibilities for flood risk management planning and implementation will be consistently reflected in government policy. |
REC217-1811 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | Responsible authorities will identify low priority levees for potential removal, and have them removed when funding becomes available. |
REC217-1840 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The state government implement the Victorian Floods Review recommendation 8, to review the flood gauging network. As part of the review, consideration should also be given to the use of portable telemetered river gauges, and to the replacement of manual gauges with telemetered gauges over time and where appropriate. |
REC217-1818 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The Department of Sustainability and Environment to review ownership of Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water’s Yarriambiack Creek levee, with a view to the appointment of a more suitable public managing authority/authorities. |
REC217-1826 | 39 - Disaster Risk Management | A revised Victoria Flood Management Strategy should identify and assign roles and responsibilities for the management and ongoing maintenance of Victoria’s waterways, for the purposes of flood protection and flood mitigation: |
REC217-1810 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | Where a levee has been identified as low priority, and beneficiaries are not willing to contribute to its maintenance, public authorities will inform levee beneficiaries that they will not fund the repair of their levee following a flood event. |
REC217-1839 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The state government accept recommendations 25 to 28, inclusive, of the Victorian Floods Review. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC216-2864 | 9 - Community education | Management of community expectations: continued community education. |
REC216-2863 | 9 - Community education | Management of community expectations: better understanding of what different groups within a community expect. |
REC216-2865 | 9 - Community education | Management of community expectations: further development of tools that would allow the community to more easily |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC215-1875 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | Fire services can improve outcomes by seeking input to decisions about siting, design and fire water systems as part of the planning and licensing processes |
REC215-1881 | 35 - Business and Industry in relation to industry | Landfill operators must be encouraged to achieve greater compliance with the required outcomes relating to fire that are set out in the BPEM guidelines, particularly with regard to water supplies |
REC215-1880 | 24 - Govt responsibility | Regulators can help to achieve improved outcomes by involving fire services in the planning and licensing processes |
REC215-1879 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | Regulators can help to achieve improved outcomes by auditing compliance with the BPEM guidelines on a regular basis |
REC215-1877 | 39 - Disaster Risk Management | Regulators can help to achieve improved outcomes by considering the issues identified by this review |
REC215-1876 | 39 - Disaster Risk Management | Fire services can improve outcomes by initiating discussions with landfill operators about fire management planning and emphasising the critical importance of water supplies and early intervention |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC204-1916 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC) processes should be reviewed to ensure that: |
REC204-1915 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The Department of Regional Development and Lands should ensure that event organisers and government agencies responsible for sponsoring and approving events have a greater level of awareness about the requirements of section 91 licences under the Land Administration Act 1977 (WA). |
REC204-1913 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The Department of the Attorney General consider conducting a review of the Civil Liability Act 2002 (WA) in light of the 2011 Kimberley Ultramarathon. Such a review should consider issues such as the effectiveness given to competitor waivers under the Act and the potential difficulties of establishing proceedings and enforcing a judgement against foreign‐based providers of recreational activities. |
REC204-1911 | 24 - Govt responsibility | As part of the review of its due diligence processes, Tourism WA should ensure that: |
REC204-1919 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | Tourism WA must give specific regard as to whether land use approvals need to be sought, particularly from Department of Regional Development and Lands, when conducting due diligence for event sponsorship proposals that require sign off by both departments. |
REC204-1909 | 35 - Business and Industry in relation to industry | Eventscorp should ensure that organisers of events its sponsors are directed to all appropriate authorities and stakeholders to ensure the responsible, safe and efficient planning and conduct of the event. |
REC204-1918 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | Department of Regional Development and Lands and Department of Environment and Conservation should consider how their respective land use approval processes can incorporate the input of Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs) as part of risk assessments for high risk events and adventure sport activities. |
REC204-1908 | 39 - Disaster Risk Management | As part of the current revision of its contract template for sponsorship agreements, Tourism WA should ensure that: |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC203-0284 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | DEC should investigate embedding an experienced forecaster in the state operations centre. |
REC203-0278 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | Prescriptions should mandate consideration of measures to retire risk. |
REC203-0283 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | Core ignition, particularly of red flag burns, should be informed by the 4 & 7 day forecasts (including a longer term perspective over 3 to 4 months) |
REC203-0277 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | A risk-management approach is needed which considers risks both inside the prescribed burn and the risks that will need to be managed if the fire escapes. The risk assessment should be organised and in line with the four and seven day weather. |
REC203-0282 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | The burn prescription should capture the fuel characteristics and potential rate of spread for those areas outside the burn that will likely be critical during the initial attack on any escaping fire. |
REC203-0276 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | There should be clearly established criteria for burns which are specially challenging, and these criteria need to extend beyond the intended boundaries of the prescribed burn. The criteria should be clarified and adopted as agency S OPs. |
REC203-0281 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | Prescriptions need to be interpreted by experienced and knowledgeable personnel to ensure risk is fully understood. It is important that the background and justification for these decisions are captured at each stage and are visible to all levels in WA fire management hierarchy. |
REC203-0286 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | Decisions taken on the basis of this risk assessment need to be captured and distributed across district and state. |
REC203-0280 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | Contingency plans for escaping burns should be prepared in advance. |
REC203-0285 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | A rolling risk assessment is required which captures the risks of the burn escaping and provides adequate resources. |
REC203-0279 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | Once a burn is ignited, it needs to be the subject of continuing risk assessment and appropriate mitigation. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC202-0494 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The Minister for Emergency Services introduce by the 2012-13 bushfire season psychological testing of all FESA career staff and bushfire and rescue volunteers. |
REC202-0500 | 24 - Govt responsibility | In implementing the Keelty Report’s Recommendation 42, the Ministers for Emergency Services and Environment jointly report to Parliament by May 2012 on the likely impacts on, and implications for, the future bushfire operations of the State Government of the drying climate in the State’s South West region. |
REC202-0512 | 9 - Community education | The Minister for Emergency Services commission an independent report to Parliament by June 2012 on an assessment of the success of FESA’s Total Fire Ban community education campaign in improving the community’s knowledge on this issue. |
REC202-0493 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The Minister for Emergency Services report to Parliament every six months on the progress made in completing all of the outstanding Recommendations of the Keelty Report. |
REC202-0498 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The Minister for Planning report to Parliament by May 2012 on the urgent actions undertaken by the Department of Planning and the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) to transfer responsibility for declaring bushfire prone areas to the WAPC. |
REC202-0511 | 9 - Community education | The Minister for Emergency Services commission an independent report to Parliament by June 2012 on the best practices in other jurisdictions to increase the rate of residents likely to be effected by a bushfire who properly prepare their properties before the bushfire season. |
REC202-0497 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The Minister for Local Government have urgent discussions with the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) as to why they are not supporting the full Recommendations addressed to local government in the Keelty Report. The Minister ensure that by May 2012 WALGA and its member councils have the resources to fully implement theimplementation of the Recommendations. |
REC202-0510 | 9 - Community education | The Minister for Emergency Services and the Minister for Local Government provide additional resources to FESA, DEC and WALGA in the 2012-13 Budget to improve the Western Australian community’s knowledge of bushfire safety and to allow these agencies to involve the public in their exercises. |
REC202-0496 | 17 - Assets and technology | The Minister for Emergency Services ensure that a whole-of-government equipment register of the firefighting equipment held by FESA, DEC and local government authorities is in place for the 2012-13 bushfire season. |
REC202-0506 | 17 - Assets and technology | The Minister for Emergency Services ensure that FESA has the funds to implement the installation and use of WebEOC for use during the 2011-12 bushfire season and immediately put in place common protocols with the Police and DEC to record significant events during a bushfire. |
REC202-0495 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | At the conclusion to the 2011-12 bushfire season, the Minister for Emergency Services institute a thorough review of the operations of FESA, the Police and DEC in protecting the State from bushfires and other natural disasters, with a primary focus on: · staffing levels; · equipment levels and coordination; and · training needs. The Minister report to Parliament by June 2012 on any changes that need to be made to the current departmental structures to optimise the State’s preparedness for the 2012-13 bushfire season. |
REC202-0503 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The Minister for Police and Emergency Services and the Minister for the Environment report to Parliament by December each year as to the state of readiness of the main State Government agencies tasked with fighting bushfires. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC201-0249 | 17 - Assets and technology | FRS fire appliance allocation and training needs to be reviewed to enhance offensive bushfire capability within the metropolitan area. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC200-1692 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | The Fire and Emergency Services Authority, the Department of Environment and Conservation and local governments take proactive steps to conduct their prescribed burning programs as joint exercises. This will give effect to: |
REC200-1728 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The Water Corporation immediately review the outstanding orders for hydrant repairs and develop strategies to reduce the backlog. |
REC200-0348 | 9 - Community education | The Fire and Emergency Services Authority consider alternative wording to Total Fire Ban that ensures people gain a more complete understanding of what actions are prohibited. |
REC200-0390 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The Fire and Emergency Services Authority and local governments examine the current competencies of Chief Bushfire Control Officers and Community Emergency Services Managers (or Community Fire Managers) and consider what further development is needed to ensure these staff are capable of: measuring and mapping fuel loads maintaining fuel load databases drawing up prescriptions for, and overseeing controlled burns building effective working relationships with all relevant stakeholders. |
REC200-1701 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The Fire and Emergency Services Authority convene a facilitated debriefing session between the families who remained behind to protect their properties, and the incident controllers. |
REC200-0360 | 4 - Fire season preparation | The Interagency Bushfire Management committee develop and oversee a work program to: conduct site specific assessments to assess current fuel loads assess, analyse and prioritise bushfire risk on land within and adjacent to communities develop a three year rolling mitigation works program with annual implementation and review. This work should commence independently of any decision on the most effective online integrated system. All data collected should be uploaded to the SLIP. |
REC200-1684 | 9 - Community education | The Fire and Emergency Services Authority, in partnership with local governments, conduct more focused pre-season bushfire education, which emphasises: |
REC200-1718 | 35 - Business and Industry in relation to industry | Western Power and the Water Corporation continue to work collaboratively to assess options to better protect the power supply to water pumping stations in bushfire prone areas. |
REC200-0377 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The State Government mandate that the title deeds for relevant properties be amended to indicate if the property is in a declared bushfire prone area. |
REC200-1691 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | The State Government consider resourcing the Department of Environment and Conservation and local governments to develop and administer a comprehensive prescribed burning program in Perth‟s urban/rural interface to compliment DEC's existing landscape-scale program. |
REC200-1727 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The State Government transfer responsibility for the installation, removal, maintenance of fire hydrants to the Water Corporation, in accordance with the recommendations of the 2006 CDJSC Inquiry into Fire and Emergency Services Legislation. |
REC200-0347 | 9 - Community education | The Department of Education oversee the provision of bushfire education in schools that are located in bushfire prone areas, ensuring that all schools in these areas incorporate key bushfire messages in their curriculum. |
REC200-0388 | 17 - Assets and technology | The Water Corporation immediately review the outstanding orders for hydrant repairs and develop strategies to reduce the backlog. |
REC200-1700 | 4 - Fire season preparation | The Interagency Bushfire Management committee develop and oversee a work program to: |
REC200-0356 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | The State Government reaffirm its 2009 decision to approve DEC exercising greater flexibility in managing smoke within national guidelines, in order to achieve its prescribed burn program. |
REC200-1682 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The State Government give legislative effect to the Planning for Bush Fire Protection Guidelines. |
REC200-1717 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The State Government mandate that the title deeds for relevant properties be amended to indicate if the property is in a declared bushfire prone area. |
REC200-0376 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | State and locals governments: a) recognise that regardless of future declarations of bushfire prone areas, the existing planning and building problems in the Perth Hills related to bushfire risk will persist; b) urge residents in these areas to retrofit their homes and evaporative air conditioners in compliance with AS 3959 - 2009; c) examine options to retrospectively bring these areas into compliance with Planning for Bushfire Protection Guidelines. |
REC200-1688 | 9 - Community education | The Department of Education oversee the provision of bushfire education in schools that are located in bushfire prone areas, ensuring that all schools in these areas incorporate key bushfire messages in their curriculum. |
REC200-1726 | 41 - Emergency Management exercises | Emergency service agencies undertake more consultation and joint exercising involving the Fire and Emergency Services Authority, the Department of Environment, the Western Australian Police, the Department for Child Protection, local governments and volunteers – including Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades. |
REC200-0346 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The Fire and Emergency Services Authority work in partnership with the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia to develop a package of information for new residents moving into bushfire prone areas, and a process to ensure this information is provided through real estate agents. |
REC200-0387 | 17 - Assets and technology | The State Government transfer responsibility for the installation, removal, maintenance of fire hydrants to the Water Corporation, in accordance with the Recommendations of the 2006 CDJSC Inquiry into Fire and Emergency Services Legislation. |
REC200-1699 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The State Government ensure that the continued development of the Fire and Emergency Service Authority's Integrated Bushfire Risk Management System is dependent on an independent comparative assessment of its functionality and cost-effectiveness against the Spatial Support System used by the Department of Environment and Conservation. |
REC200-1732 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The State Government review implementation of the Special Inquiry's recommendations in two years. |
REC200-0351 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | The Fire and Emergency Services Authority, the Department of Environment and Conservation and local governments take proactive steps to conduct their prescribed burning programs as joint exercises. This will give effect to: Reducing fuel load Improving inter-operability A mutual understanding of the fire fighting techniques of each agency. |
REC200-1681 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The State Government transfer responsibility for declaring bushfire prone areas from local government to the Western Australian Planning Commission. The Western Australian Planning Commission should urgently assess those areas that should be declared bushfire prone. |
REC200-1716 | 24 - Govt responsibility | State and locals governments: |
REC200-0365 | 17 - Assets and technology | The Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) review its program to decommission vehicles and ensure that when such vehicles are offered during an incident that FESA staff adhere to FESA’s own policy of ‘Use of Private Vehicles in Fires’. |
REC200-1687 | 9 - Community education | The Fire and Emergency Services Authority work in partnership with the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia to develop a package of information for new residents moving into bushfire prone areas, and a process to ensure this information is provided through real estate agents. |
REC200-1723 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The State Government restructure the Fire and Emergency Services Authority as a Department. As part of this restructure, Emergency Management Western Australia should either |
REC200-0344 | 9 - Community education | The Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) review its distribution of information material, including Prepare. Act. Survive. FESA should also consider including the community in pre-season exercising, in consultation with the Department for Child Protection and local governments. |
REC200-0384 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | Emergency Management Western Australia develop mechanisms to calculate the estimated total cost of a fire to the community. |
REC200-1698 | 39 - Disaster Risk Management | The Fire and Emergency Services Authority, the Department of Environment and Conservation and local governments jointly develop a single, integrated system for fuel load assessment and management. |
REC200-1731 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The Interagency Bushfire Management Committee develop a consistent program of education, training (including media), testing and review of Level 3 Incident Controllers. |
REC200-0350 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | The State Government consider resourcing the Department of Environment and Conservation and local governments to develop and administer a comprehensive prescribed burning program in Perth’s urban/rural interface to compliment DEC’s existing landscape-scale program. |
REC200-1712 | 10 - Infrastructure | FESA and local governments jointly review radio communications capability prior to the 2011/12 bushfire season with a view to improving the current delivery of service to firefighters. |
REC200-0364 | 17 - Assets and technology | The Fire and Emergency Services Authority review its use of the Australian Interagency Incident Management System to ensure that the most appropriate resources (including aerial resources) are used to respond to an incident. If resources are rejected during an incident either through the decision making process or other grounds, the reason for the decision should be documented. |
REC200-1686 | 9 - Community education | Local governments continue to include information on bushfire risk and preparedness with rates notices. |
REC200-1722 | 39 - Disaster Risk Management | Emergency Management Western Australia and the State Emergency Management Committee amend WESTPLAN-BUSHFIRE to require State Emergency Coordination Group meetings to be held at the State Coordination Centre in West Leederville. |
REC200-0343 | 9 - Community education | The Fire and Emergency Services Authority, in partnership with local governments, conduct more focused pre-season bushfire education, which emphasises: Water supply is not guaranteed during a bushfire Power supply is not guaranteed during a bushfire Saving life will be a priority over saving property so expect to be evacuated Once evacuated, access to affected areas may not be possible for several days Water ‘bombing’ by aircraft cannot be guaranteed in bushfire SMS warnings are advice only and may not be timely. |
REC200-0379 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The State Government recognise the projected changes in climate and potential impact on future fire events. |
REC200-1694 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The State Government give its full support to the Western Australian Local Government Association's Send to Solve initiative. |
REC200-1730 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The Fire and Emergency Services Authority and local governments examine the current competencies of Chief Bushfire Control Officers and Community Emergency Services Managers (or Community Fire Managers) and consider what further development is needed to ensure these staff are capable of: |
REC200-0349 | 9 - Community education | The Fire and Emergency Services Authority work in partnership with Main Roads Western Australia and local governments to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for the use of mobile variable message boards to alert the community to the declaration of a total fire ban and what it means. |
REC200-0392 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The State Government review implementation of the Special Inquiry’s Recommendations in two years. |
REC200-1707 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | Main Roads Western Australia undertake more frequent examinations of its bridges located in areas prone to bushfire and ensure that the risk posed to loss of infrastructure in a fire is understood by local authorities. |
REC200-0361 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The Fire and Emergency Services Authority convene a facilitated debriefing session between the families who remained behind to protect their properties, and the incident controllers. This session should include open discussion and explain the decisions of all parties – including how the incident controllers determined priorities, and why residents chose not follow their advice to evacuate. The learning outcomes should be promulgated across all agencies and incorporated in future level 3 incident controller training programs. |
REC200-1685 | 9 - Community education | The Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) review its distribution of information material, including Prepare. Act. Survive. FESA should also consider including the community in pre-season exercising, in consultation with the Department for Child Protection and local governments. |
REC200-1719 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The State Government recognise the projected changes in climate and potential impact on future fire events. |
REC200-0340 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The State Government transfer responsibility for declaring bushfire prone areas from local government to the Western Australian Planning Commission. The Western Australian Planning Commission should urgently assess those areas that should be declared bushfire prone. |
REC200-0378 | 17 - Assets and technology | Western Power and the Water Corporation continue to work collaboratively to assess options to better protect the power supply to water pumping stations in bushfire prone areas. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC199-0441 | 4 - Fire season preparation | the state undertake further trials to explore the opportunity for greater use of social media as a credible source of information to and from the public during an emergency |
REC199-0407 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | the state: • undertake a strategic review to identify areas at risk from flash or riverine flooding. Shortcomings in the flood gauging networks identified in the review should then be the focus of remedial action • seek to address as a priority any notable gaps in the total flood warning system as apparent in the 2010–11 floods (including south west Victoria, Wimmera and north central region) by enhancing mapping, gauging and education programs; and • seek a commitment from the Bureau of Meteorology to ensure any new gauges installed are utilised to enhance flood prediction capability and coverage. |
REC199-0455 | 24 - Govt responsibility | the state conduct an ‘all hazards’ needs analysis to determine requirements for level 3 Incident Control Centres with a focus on ‘all hazards’ and multi-agency capability. Following this analysis, the state take steps to ensure the availability of sufficient and functional level 3 Incident Control Centres across the state with an ‘all hazards’ and multi-agency capability |
REC199-0425 | 35 - Business and Industry in relation to industry | the state require that dam owners and operators inform the control agency and the Bureau of Meteorology about the management and operation of dams and weirs consistent with the flood warning requirements of the relevant river systems, including providing telemetry at sites as necessary. This may require the state proactively liaising with other states to ensure equivalent obligations are placed on interstate dam operators where the dam may impact Victorian communities. |
REC199-0475 | 16 - Training and behaviour | the Department of Planning and Community Development review the volunteer register and examine additional options to support councils in volunteer management, including the development of tools and staffing support. |
REC199-0431 | 9 - Community education | the state allocate core funding for the ongoing delivery of the ‘FloodSafe’ program to flood prone communities across Victoria. |
REC199-0406 | 24 - Govt responsibility | the state expand the Regional Water Monitoring Partnerships model to include all flood warning gauges. |
REC199-0452 | 17 - Assets and technology | the state ensure that any new systems and equipment purchased by state emergency management agencies are interoperable with other relevant agencies to the fullest extent possible. This should involve the state establishing a procurement gateway process with input from the Emergency Services Commissioner. |
REC199-0424 | 35 - Business and Industry in relation to industry | the state require dam owners and operators to review storage operating manuals to incorporate lessons from the 2010–11 floods and make this information publicly available. The manuals should include a clear policy on dam surcharging and pre-release. |
REC199-0466 | 24 - Govt responsibility | the Departments of Health and Human Services finalise the definition of ‘vulnerable person’ and the list of facility types where vulnerable people are located and ensure that the definition and associated policy(ies) are applicable across ‘all hazards’. |
REC199-0430 | 9 - Community education | the state undertake a community education program to inform households of their respective flood risk. This may include information on rate notices of heights of houses above flood level and educating people about flash flooding. |
REC199-0485 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | the state: • adopt a strategy to expedite incorporation of updated flood mapping or modelling into planning schemes • reconsider in what circumstances the ‘1 in 100 year event’ is the appropriate design event • actively support the Australian Building Code Board in its development of a new national standard for residential buildings in flood prone areas. Until such time as any new standard is incorporated into Victorian law, provide advice to householders about appropriate building materials for flood prone areas and ways that houses can be designed or adapted to mitigate flood risk; and • retain the ability of a Catchment Management Authority to require a council to refuse a planning permit or impose particular conditions when the Catchment Management Authority considers the flooding risk to be unacceptable. |
REC199-0401 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | the state task the Emergency Services Commissioner with the responsibility to establish an effective audit regime of the total flood warning system. |
REC199-0450 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | the state ensure that appropriate record management processes are developed and implemented and that these processes also provide record accountability for multi-agency operations. Agency processes should be standardised to the fullest extent possible |
REC199-0415 | 16 - Training and behaviour | the state ensure that all personnel who are likely to become involved in incident management teams for floods receive basic flood awareness training prior to such involvement. |
REC199-0465 | 24 - Govt responsibility | the state undertake major reform of Victoria’s emergency management arrangements to bring about an effective ‘all hazards, all agencies’ approach, incorporating: • clarity of command and control in all emergencies • common operating platforms, including communications and information technology • interoperability between all agencies • regular joint training and exercising by all agencies • the development and implementation of performance standards for each emergency management agency • the development and maintenance of effective planning arrangements at all levels of emergency management • a meaningful monitoring and audit regime for designated standards and planning requirements; and • an effective accountability mechanism to support the maintenance of legislative and other agency obligations. |
REC199-0428 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | the state clarify which agency is responsible for collecting post-flood extent and related data. This should include: • the development of guidelines to ensure consistent standards are applied to post-flood data collection; and • an appropriate process to ensure funding availability for such activities. |
REC199-0483 | 9 - Community education | the state ensure: • where external assistance is provided to Victoria during emergencies, communities are advised of the specific purpose of that assistance, through media and other information channels; and • all agencies provide incident management personnel with information regarding the arrangements for tasking Australian Defence Force resources and that this advice is reinforced during emergencies where Australian Defence Force support is provided. |
REC199-0400 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The state take the necessary measures to clarify roles, responsibilities and cost-sharing arrangements for flood warning systems, including tasking state and regional bodies to be responsible for the flood warning system. This will require engaging with the commonwealth to amend the 2001 arrangements, updating the 1998 floodplain management strategy accordingly and continuing to support commonwealth initiatives designed to improve flood mapping standards and associated issues. |
REC199-0448 | 16 - Training and behaviour | the state ensure that sector wide familiarity and understanding of the various systems for incident management is developed and maintained. Primarily, this should be achieved through multi-agency emergency management training and exercising involving usage of the various agency incident management systems. |
REC199-0414 | 16 - Training and behaviour | the state ensure that all personnel who, because of their particular flood expertise, are likely to be potential participants in an Incident Control Centre are familiar with the requirements of the Australasian Inter-service Incident Management System structure |
REC199-0463 | 16 - Training and behaviour | the state: • ensure an appropriate regime of regular emergency management training and exercising is introduced. This must be ‘all hazards’ and multi-agency focused and include all relevant stakeholders • designate an accountable officer to hold ongoing responsibility for conducting such exercises; and • designate the Emergency Services Commissioner as holding ongoing responsibility for auditing and reviewing this training and exercising. |
REC199-0427 | 35 - Business and Industry in relation to industry | the state require dam owners and operators provide regular situational reports to the relevant control agency where dam issues may impact incident management. |
REC199-0482 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | the state task the Emergency Services Commissioner with the responsibility to develop and undertake the regular audit of emergency management plans at all levels. |
REC199-0445 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | the state develop and implement operational performance standards for each state agency involved in emergency management response and recovery and that: • each agency be assessed by the Emergency Services Commissioner periodically against these performance standards for both capability and capacity; and • where performance against these standards for either capability or capacity cannot be demonstrated by any agency – appropriate advice is communicated to the relevant Minister, departmental/agency head and State Emergency Response Coordinator; and – an action plan is developed and implemented to address the relevant capability or capacity deficiency in both the short and longer term. |
REC199-0410 | 17 - Assets and technology | the state take the necessary measures to upgrade existing manual stream and rain gauges and ensure that all future gauges provide a seamless transfer of data from the gauges to the Bureau of Meteorology. |
REC199-0462 | 16 - Training and behaviour | the state introduce a joint emergency management leadership training program that will deliver critical core competencies for all levels of management of major emergencies. Future appointments to senior operational emergency management positions should require successful accreditation at the appropriate level. |
REC199-0426 | 35 - Business and Industry in relation to industry | the state require that dam owners and operators inform people situated downstream of water storages if the owners/operators become aware of an immediate threat arising from the dam to the safety of those people. The owner/operators should provide this information as soon as the owner/operators become aware of the threat. |
REC199-0481 | 24 - Govt responsibility | the state (consistent with recommendation 46) develop a model for determining the capability and capacity of departments and agencies with roles and responsibilities in large scale or protracted emergencies. The issues of capability and capacity should be addressed at all levels of emergency management planning. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC198-2904 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The CFA, in collaboration with the other agencies develop a case study of the response to and recovery from the TriTech fire as a training and development opportunity. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC197-1757 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The CFA, in consultation with the VFBV and volunteers, examine options to enable the engagement of an adequate instructor strength to serve the training needs of volunteers. Those options should include making more use of volunteers as instructors. |
REC197-1741 | 9 - Community education | A. The CFA further develop community education programs to specifically engage culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities to address the importance of ethnic diversity. |
REC197-1765 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The CFA continue the development of Vector Command Training and its availability and utilisation by volunteers. The feasibility of this training being provided online be explored by the CFA as part of the consideration of the use of the NBN. |
REC197-1751 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The CFA ensure that there is transparency with respect to training budgets and, in particular, with respect to what relates to volunteer training and what relates to career staff training. |
REC197-1756 | 16 - Training and behaviour | CFA develop an individual training pathway for operational volunteers to enable volunteers to be able to better identify their career and training options and pursue a pathway that meets their expectation. |
REC197-1733 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | That a review of the Country Fire Authority Act 1958 and the Country Fire Authority Regulations 2004 be undertaken. |
REC197-1764 | 16 - Training and behaviour | A. The CFA, in consultation with volunteers, employees, the VFBV and the UFU, examine the feasibility of utilising the TAFE system for training delivery. |
REC197-1750 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The CFA ensure that there is transparency with respect to the identification and meeting of training demand, and plans to meet such demand. |
REC197-1755 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The CFA examine options to enable sufficient training materials to be available to ensure effective training delivery. As part of this examination, the CFA explore the feasibility of utilising the TAFE system. |
REC197-1763 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The CFA, in consultation with the VFBV and volunteers, review the process for RCC and RPL with the view to making that process transparent, efficient and fair. |
REC197-1749 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The CFA proceed with a review of the Minimum Skills training program. |
REC197-1754 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The CFA proceed with the update of facilities and infrastructure at Fiskville to enable its better utilisation by volunteers and employees for training. Where necessary, the Government support this update when determining CFA funding. |
REC197-1762 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The CFA provide greater opportunities for leadership training for volunteers at all levels but particularly at the brigade level. The CFA, as far as practicable, endeavour to ensure that persons appointed to positions of leadership have the necessary capability. |
REC197-1748 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The CFA establish forward strategic planning initiatives for training with resource allocation covering short term, mid term, and long term. |
REC197-1768 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The CFA, in consultation with the VFBV and volunteers, explore and develop initiatives whereby more volunteers are qualified to participate in Incident Management Teams. |
REC197-1753 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The CFA continue the Mobile Training Infrastructure Project and the Fixed Training Infrastructure Project. Where necessary, the Government support these initiatives in determining CFA funding. |
REC197-1761 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The CFA continue the development of key principles in relation to training, in consultation with volunteers and paid personnel. In the development of those principles, account should be taken of matters raised by volunteers to this Inquiry and the comments that I have made about training delivery. Account should also be taken of principles contained in any statement of Vision, Mission and Values adopted by the CFA. |
REC197-1747 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The CFA, in consultation with the VFBV and volunteers, review its arrangements with respect to First Aid training and maintenance of currency of qualifications, with a view to the delivery of such training and maintenance best meeting brigade needs. |
REC197-1767 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Consideration be given to the establishment of a dedicated CFA training academy. |
REC197-1752 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The CFA take initiatives to improve the accessibility of Field Training Grounds, including Fiskville, to volunteers for training. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC196-0232 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Increase the regularity of training for ICC Information Section staff and encourage pre-season drilling and trials in the use of OSOM and Emergency Alert particularly under critical capacity conditions. |
REC196-0230 | 9 - Community education | Explain the meaning of ‘timely, relevant and tailored’ community bushfire warnings through training and meetings particularly of Information Section staff and Incident Controllers. |
REC196-0233 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Further train Incident Controllers in the management of the Information Section and its roles. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC195-0326 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The Fire Services recognise the specialised role of Information Sections and enhance training and resources accordingly. |
REC195-0337 | 9 - Community education | DSE enhance community engagement programs in East Gippsland to ensure that local communities are more informed about the complexities and interdependencies of prescribed burning and encourage local input. |
REC195-0314 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The Fire Services enhance and increase joint training and exercise programs at all levels of command and control, including the State Control Centre. (These programs need to enable volunteer participation.) |
REC195-0335 | 10 - Infrastructure | Energy Safe Victoria ensures that the standards for vegetation clearance around power lines consider the impact of fire on electrical infrastructure and the risk of loss of electricity supply to the community. |
REC195-0310 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The Fire Services Commissioner ensures that there is a comprehensive understanding of the State Command and Control Arrangements for Bushfires in Victoria across the Fire Services. |
REC195-0334 | 4 - Fire season preparation | The Fire Services Commissioner leads a task force to: a. identify legislation, policies and guidelines that impact on vegetation management and recommend necessary changes b. develop a set of risk-based standards for vegetation management with respect to strategic firebreaks and the assets being protected c. integrate maintenance standards across all areas of responsibility and tenure. |
REC195-0333 | 9 - Community education | The Fire Services identify opportunities for the community to learn about, engage with and influence local emergency management planning. |
REC195-0332 | 9 - Community education | The Fire Services, in consultation with the community, develop a methodology for measuring community preparedness. They should also develop tailored education and information sharing opportunities to improve community understanding of bushfire risk, mitigation and preparedness. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC183-0110 | 16 - Training and behaviour | DEC should emphasise the principle of foresight by adopting an appreciation and decision making process and training staff in that process. |
REC183-0109 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | It is sensible that, in considering planning development proposals on land adjacent to the DEC estate, that development authorities invite comment from DEC on the fire management consequences of development proposals. |
REC183-0122 | 16 - Training and behaviour | A staff recognition and reward framework for service to fire management should be considered for DEC fire staff. |
REC183-0120 | 17 - Assets and technology | Maintaining the DEC fleet of tankers, bulldozers and low loaders is crucial to DEC’s fire management and control capability. |
REC183-0119 | 17 - Assets and technology | The development of a three year aerial firefighting strategy for W.A. would ensure optimal development of a joint air capability. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC182-0132 | 9 - Community education | FESA implements an education and awareness campaign to promote the purpose and utility of community information systems. |
REC182-0134 | 17 - Assets and technology | FESA reviews its air reconnaissance capability and determines if multiple multi-sensor air reconnaissance aircraft or unmanned aerial vehicles are required for managing concurrent and/or complex incidents. |
REC182-0127 | 9 - Community education | FESA strengthens its planning process to ensure learnings are incorporated and communicated, levels of preparedness are linked to threat analyses and public awareness and education activities are sustained. |
REC182-0126 | 9 - Community education | FESA promotes a whole-of-community approach, involving FESA, Local Governments and the community, in fire prevention functions, activities and planning. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC181-0179 | 10 - Infrastructure | The State (through Energy Safe Victoria) require distribution businesses to review and modify their current practices, standards and procedures for the training and auditing of asset inspectors to ensure that registered training organisations provide adequate theoretical and practical training for asset inspectors. |
REC181-0189 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The State amend the Victoria Planning Provisions relating to bushfire to ensure that the provisions give priority to the protection of human life, adopt a clear objective of substantially restricting development in the areas of highest bushfire risk—giving due consideration to biodiversity conservation—and provide clear guidance for decision makers. The amendments should take account of the conclusions reached by the Commission and do the following: ■ outline the State’s objectives for managing bushfire risk through land-use planning in an amended state planning policy for bushfire, as set out in clause 15.07 of the Victoria Planning Provisions; ■ allow municipal councils to include a minimum lot size for use of land for a dwelling, both with and without a permit, in a schedule to each of the Rural Living Zone, Green Wedge Zone, Green Wedge A Zone, Rural Conservation Zone, Farming Zone and Rural Activity Zone; ■ amend clause 44.06 of the Victoria Planning Provisions to provide a comprehensive Bushfire-prone Overlay provision. |
REC181-0211 | 4 - Fire season preparation | The State and Commonwealth provide for municipal councils adequate guidance on resolving the competing tensions arising from the legislation affecting roadside clearing and, where necessary, amend environment protection legislation to facilitate annual bushfire-prevention activities by the appropriate agencies. |
REC181-0182 | 10 - Infrastructure | The State (through Energy Safe Victoria) require distribution businesses to do the following: ■ disable the reclose function on the automatic circuit reclosers on all SWER lines for the six weeks of greatest risk in every fire season; ■ adjust the reclose function on the automatic circuit reclosers on all 22-kilovolt feeders on all total fire ban days to permit only one reclose attempt before lockout. |
REC181-0196 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The State develop and implement a retreat and resettlement strategy for existing developments in areas of unacceptably high bushfire risk, including a scheme for non-compulsory acquisition by the State of land in these areas. |
REC181-0201 | 9 - Community education | The Victorian Building Commission, in conjunction with the Country Fire Authority, develop, publish and provide to the community and industry information about ways in which existing buildings in bushfire-prone areas can be modified to incorporate bushfire safety measures. |
REC181-0178 | 10 - Infrastructure | The State (through Energy Safe Victoria) require distribution businesses to change their asset inspection standards and procedures to require that all SWER lines and all 22-kilovolt feeders in areas of high bushfire risk are inspected at least every three years. |
REC181-0188 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The State implement a regional settlement policy that: ■ takes account of the management of bushfire risk, including that associated with small, undeveloped rural lots; ■ includes a process for responding to bushfire risk at the planning stage for new urban developments in regional cities, the process being similar to that used for new developments in Melbourne’s Urban Growth Zone. |
REC181-0210 | 4 - Fire season preparation | The State amend the exemptions in clause 52.17-6 of the Victoria Planning Provisions to ensure that the provisions allow for a broad range of roadside works capable of reducing fire risk and provide specifically for a new exemption where the purpose of the works is to reduce bushfire risk. |
REC181-0194 | 9 - Community education | The Country Fire Authority produce for community guidance material on fire-resistant landscape and garden design, including a list of fire-resistant species. |
REC181-0157 | 9 - Community education | The Commonwealth lead an initiative through the Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management, facilitated by Emergency Management Australia, to develop a national bushfire awareness campaign. |
REC181-0200 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | Standards Australia move expeditiously to develop a standard for bushfire sprinklers and sprayers. |
REC181-0177 | 10 - Infrastructure | The State amend the Regulations under Victoria’s Electricity Safety Act 1998 and otherwise take such steps as may be required to give effect to the following: ■ the progressive replacement of all SWER (single-wire earth return) power lines in Victoria with aerial bundled cable, underground cabling or other technology that delivers greatly reduced bushfire risk. The replacement program should be completed in the areas of highest bushfire risk within 10 years and should continue in areas of lower bushfire risk as the lines reach the end of their engineering lives; ■ the progressive replacement of all 22-kilovolt distribution feeders with aerial bundled cable, underground cabling or other technology that delivers greatly reduced bushfire risk as the feeders reach the end of their engineering lives. Priority should be given to distribution feeders in the areas of highest bushfire risk. |
REC181-0207 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | The Department of Sustainability and Environment report annually on prescribed burning outcomes in a manner that meets public accountability objectives, including publishing details of targets, area burnt, funds expended on the program, and impacts on biodiversity. |
REC181-0192 | 4 - Fire season preparation | The Department of Sustainability and Environment develop and administer a collective offset solution for individual landholders who are permitted to remove native vegetation for the purpose of fire protection. |
REC181-0217 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The State consider the development of legislation for the conduct of inquiries in Victoria —in particular, the conduct of royal commissions. |
REC181-0156 | 9 - Community education | Victoria lead an initiative of the Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs to ensure that the national curriculum incorporates the history of bushfire in Australia and that existing curriculum areas such as geography, science and environmental studies include elements of bushfire education. |
REC181-0199 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The State modify its adoption of the Building Code of Australia for the following purposes: ■ to remove deemed-to-satisfy provisions for the construction of buildings in BAL-FZ (the Flame Zone); ■ to apply bushfire construction provisions to non-residential buildings that will be occupied by people who are particularly vulnerable to bushfire attack, such as schools, child care centres, hospitals and aged care facilities; ■ other than in exceptional circumstances, to apply a minimum AS 3959-2009 construction level of BAL-12.5 to all new buildings and extensions in bushfire-prone areas. |
REC181-0175 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The Country Fire Authority and the Department of Sustainability and Environment require without exception that all relevant staff be trained in the need for Incident Controller approval to be obtained before a back-burn is lit. |
REC181-0184 | 10 - Infrastructure | The State amend the regulatory framework for electricity safety to strengthen Energy Safe Victoria’s mandate in relation to the prevention and mitigation of electricity-caused bushfires and to require it to fulfil that mandate. |
REC181-0206 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | The State fund and commit to implementing a long-term program of prescribed burning based on an annual rolling target of 5 per cent minimum of public land. |
REC181-0191 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The State: ■ amend the Victoria Planning Provisions to require that, when assessing a permit to remove native vegetation around an existing dwelling, the responsible authority and the Department of Sustainability and Environment, as referral authority, take into account fire hazard and give weight to fire protection purposes; ■ develop guidelines for determining the maximum level of native vegetation removal for bushfire risk mitigation, beyond which level the application would be rejected. |
REC181-0216 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The State appoint an independent monitor or the Victorian Auditor-General to assess progress with implementing the Commission’s recommendations and report to the Parliament and the people of Victoria by 31 July 2012. |
REC181-0198 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The Australian Building Codes Board do the following: ■ amend the performance requirements in the Building Code of Australia to ensure that they incorporate reducing the risk of ignition from ember attack; ■ work with Standards Australia to effect expeditious continuing review and development of AS 3959, Construction of Buildings in Bushfire-prone Areas, and other bushfire-related standards referred to in the Building Code of Australia; ■ negotiate with Standards Australia and SAI Global Ltd an arrangement for free online access to AS 3959-2009, Construction of Buildings in Bushfire-prone Areas, the other Australian standards referred to in AS 3959-2009, and any other bushfire-related Australian standards referred to in the Building Code of Australia; ■ amend the Building Code of Australia to remove deemed-to-satisfy provisions for the construction of buildings in BAL-FZ (the Flame Zone); ■ include in the Building Code of Australia bushfire construction provisions for non-residential buildings that will be occupied by people who are particularly vulnerable to bushfire attack, such as schools, child care centres, hospitals and aged care facilities. |
REC181-0152 | 9 - Community education | The State revise the approach to community bushfire safety education in order to: ■ ensure that its publications and educational materials reflect the revised bushfire safety policy; ■ equip all fire agency personnel with the information needed to effectively communicate the policy to the public as required; ■ ensure that in content and delivery the program is flexible enough to engage individuals, households and communities and to accommodate their needs and circumstances; ■ regularly evaluate the effectiveness of community education programs and amend them as necessary. |
REC181-0171 | 17 - Assets and technology | The State, in conjunction with Emergency Management Australia and the Department of Defence, develop an agreement that allows Commonwealth aerial resources that are suitable for firefighting and support activities to be incorporated in preparedness plans and used on days of high fire risk. |
REC181-0205 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The State initiate the development of education and training options to improve understanding of bushfire risk management in the building and planning regimes by: ■ providing regular training and guidance material to planning and building practitioners; ■ providing regular training and guidance material to planning and building practitioners. |
REC181-0180 | 10 - Infrastructure | The State amend the regulatory framework for electricity safety to require that distribution businesses adopt, as part of their management plans, measures to reduce the risks posed by hazard trees—that is, trees that are outside the clearance zone but that could come into contact with an electric power line having regard to foreseeable local conditions. |
REC181-0190 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The Country Fire Authority amend its guidelines for assessing permit applications for dwellings, nondwellings and subdivisions in the Bushfire-prone Overlay in order to accommodate the amendments to the Wildfire Management Overlay that are implemented as a result of recommendation 39 and make the guidelines available to municipal councils and the public. The revised guidelines should do the following: ■ substantially restrict new developments and subdivisions in those areas of highest risk in the Bushfire-prone Overlay; ■ set out the CFA’s guidelines for assessing permit applications for dwellings, non-dwellings and subdivisions—including the minimum defendable space requirements for different risk levels; ■ clarify that the CFA will approve new developments and subdivisions only if the recommended bushfire protection measures—including the minimum defendable space—can be created and maintained on a continuing basis; ■ clarify that the CFA will approve new developments and subdivisions only if the recommended bushfire protection measures—including the minimum defendable space—can be created and maintained on a continuing basis; ■ emphasise the need for enduring permit conditions—in particular, conditions for the creation and maintenance of minimum defendable space to be maintained for the life of the development. |
REC181-0212 | 4 - Fire season preparation | VicRoads implement a systematic statewide program of bushfire risk assessment for all roads for which it is responsible, to ensure conformity with the obligations in s. 43 of the Country Fire Authority Act 1958 and with the objectives expressed in the VicRoads 1985 Code of Practice. |
REC181-0197 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | Standards Australia do the following: ■ amend the objective of AS 3959-2009, Construction of Buildings in Bushfire-prone Areas, to ensure that it incorporates reducing the risk of ignition from ember attack; ■ review, and amend as appropriate, the testing methods prescribed in its standards for Tests on Elements of Construction for Buildings Exposed to Simulated Bushfire Attack (AS 1530.8.1 and AS 1530.8.2) to ensure that, so far as is possible, the methods provide a reliable predictor of the performance of construction elements under bushfire conditions. |
REC181-0170 | 17 - Assets and technology | The Country Fire Authority and the Department of Sustainability and Environment amend their policies on aerial preparedness and standby arrangements, their dispatch protocols and the management of aircraft in order to do the following: ■ require that at locations that attract the risk assessment or preparedness level A on code red days all personnel needed for air operations must be on standby by 10.00 am; ■ establish a system that enables the dispatch of aircraft to fires in high-risk areas without requiring a request from an Incident Controller or the State Duty Officer. |
REC181-0183 | 10 - Infrastructure | The State (through Energy Safe Victoria) require distribution businesses to do the following: ■ fit spreaders to any lines with a history of clashing or the potential to do so; ■ fit or retrofit all spans that are more than 300 metres long with vibration dampers as soon as is reasonably practicable. |
REC181-0203 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | The State amend s. 32 of the Sale of Land Act 1962 to require that a vendor’s statement include whether the land is in a designated Bushfire-prone Area, a statement about the standard (if any) to which the dwelling was constructed, the bushfire attack level assessment at the time of construction (where relevant) and a current bushfire attack level assessment of the site of the dwelling. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC179-2976 | 41 - Emergency Management exercises | The Department of Human Services should regularly test recovery plans with partner agencies. |
REC179-2983 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The Department of Human Services should work with the State Emergency Recovery Planning Committee, regions, and other partners to facilitate understanding and ownership of roles and responsibilities for common recovery services. |
REC179-2980 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The Department of Human Services should work with regions and partner agencies at the state level to create consistent, streamlined impact assessment processes and systems. |
REC179-2979 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The Department of Human Services should communicate strategic priorities to achieve state and regional level alignment in building recovery capacity and capability. |
REC179-2978 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The Department of Human Services should make sure relevant senior staff complete recovery training. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC173-0101 | 4 - Fire season preparation | The prioritisation, by the State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC), of bushfire preparedness activities including updating WESTPLAN - BUSHFIRE and coordinating bushfire exercises prior to the 2009/10 bushfire season. |
REC173-0104 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | That FESA assess the cost and other implications of proposed changes to bushfire prone zone declarations which would allow the whole State to be declared bushfire prone. |
REC173-0103 | 24 - Govt responsibility | That the Minister for Emergency Services consider the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer, Department of Environment and Conservation as a member of the State Emergency Management Committee. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC172-0044 | 4 - Fire season preparation | Pre-season arrangements to provide high quality food should be encouraged in all emergency management plans |
REC172-0023 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Pre-season multi- agency refresher training for Ground Controllers should be undertaken each year. |
REC172-0019 | 17 - Assets and technology | A centralised, regional, multi-agency resource coordination and tracking system/facility be established to accommodate and coordinate the movement of resources from all agencies within and between regions. |
REC172-0041 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Media liaison personnel are needed to ‘ride’ shotgun’ on media personnel to facilitate them getting their stories without imposing on the effectiveness of operations. |
REC172-0048 | 4 - Fire season preparation | A standard for signage at fire incidents be developed and caches of this equipment be established at DEC and Local Govt facilitates to enable its rapid and effective deployment by Ground Support Unit at fires. |
REC172-0047 | 17 - Assets and technology | There is an established need to develop mobile accommodation and accommodation facility support solutions that allows an acceptable standard of accommodation to be provided to fire fighters in close proximity to the incident. |
REC172-0028 | 17 - Assets and technology | Ensure the S61 helicopter has all appropriate channels for water bombing operations throughout the State by including this requirement on a pre-deployment checklist. |
REC172-0029 | 17 - Assets and technology | Provide a photocopier in the Mobile Communications Facility or the mobile equipment cache that is capable of large volume production of collated documents. |
REC172-0031 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Pre-season refresher training to include an emphasis on check in/out procedures |
REC172-0046 | 4 - Fire season preparation | Perishable food should be ‘stamped’ with an expiry date. |
REC172-0026 | 17 - Assets and technology | At large incidents a communications bus should be provided for the use by Air Ops and a designated work space should be provided for the Air Ops management group. |
REC172-0045 | 4 - Fire season preparation | Food storage should be a design consideration in all fire ground appliances |
REC172-0025 | 17 - Assets and technology | Suppression resources should be ordered and mobilised as 2 truck Strike Teams with a STL and consistently deployed to the fire ground as a unit. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC171-0069 | 17 - Assets and technology | That in any consideration being given to the allocation of responsibility for control of operations in respect of major fires, consideration be given to the availability of technology and other resources, particularly when particular skills are required to make best use of such technology or resources. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC170-0049 | 24 - Govt responsibility | SEMC and EM WA should: formally and regularly assess which hazards the state should prepare for |
REC170-0065 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Agencies should: train their staff who will be involved in emergencies in incident management. |
REC170-0062 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | Agencies should: annually assess their capability to respond to emergencies and take measures to address any shortfalls |
REC170-0050 | 24 - Govt responsibility | SEMC and EM WA should: assess the state’s level of preparedness at least annually, identifying gaps and significant risks |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC169-2991 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The Department of Premier and Cabinet should provide definitive guidance on identifying essential services for declaration to better inform relevant departments in discharging their responsibilities under Part 6 of the Act. |
REC169-2990 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The Department of Premier and Cabinet should clarify the roles and responsibilities of departments and agencies under Part 6 of the Act and CIP framework to reduce confusion and gaps. |
REC169-2995 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The Department of Premier and Cabinet, in consultation with Victoria Police, should develop clear guidance to distinguish between declared essential services and critical infrastructure to assist departments, Victoria Police and industry in implementing Part 6 of the Act and the CIP framework more effectively. |
REC169-2994 | 24 - Govt responsibility | Representatives of lead departments should obtain necessary security clearances so appropriate officers can access information relevant to their sectors. |
REC169-2993 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The Department of Premier and Cabinet should clarify the requirements in relation to establishing Security and Continuity Networks in designated sectors, so that there is a shared understanding of those requirements. |
REC169-2992 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The Department of Premier and Cabinet should identify risks arising from the joined-up nature of the approach to protecting essential services and critical infrastructure, and to assist departments and agencies to develop associated risk management arrangements at the whole-of-government level. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC158-3433 | 24 - Govt responsibility | That Harbour Masters are employed by a government body and remain geographically located at the port. |
REC158-3432 | 17 - Assets and technology | That port/channel managers are required to ensure, through service agreements, licensing, direct acquisition or other means as appropriate, the availability of the critical Level 1declared assets. |
REC158-3431 | 17 - Assets and technology | That port/channel managers are required to identify in the declared asset system (in conjunction with the emergency services) critical Level 1 declared assets and other Level 2 declared assets, that may be required in support of a marine emergency within the port, and that identified resource availability, accessibility and call out time is recorded. |
REC158-3454 | 24 - Govt responsibility | That the Department of Transport ensures that key stakeholders are engaged during the implementation of the approved Review recommendations. |
REC158-3430 | 17 - Assets and technology | That the nominated marine safety authority is responsible for development of a declared asset system and is required to ensure that port/channel managers utilise and maintain the declared asset system. |
REC158-3452 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | That the nominated marine safety authority undertakes a further assessment to determine the recommendations from this Review that may also be applicable to State waters outside commercial port waters. |
REC158-3448 | 24 - Govt responsibility | That the Director of Marine Safety works with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority to ensure that State and port emergency arrangements interface appropriately with the National Maritime Emergency Response Arrangements. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC156-3502 | 35 - Business and Industry in relation to industry | The Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority in partnership with Telstra should develop testing regimes that will ensure the integrity of the call queue arrangements and correct configuration of the Recorded Voice Announcements. |
REC156-3487 | 10 - Infrastructure | Electricity distribution businesses develop and implement alternative arrangements for monitoring fallen powerlines. |
REC156-3500 | 10 - Infrastructure | The Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority, in partnership with Telstra, consider technological solutions to streamline the handover process for Triple Zero calls. |
REC156-3486 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The emergency management arrangements include the development of partnerships between the public and private sectors, in particular the involvement of government departments and essential services. |
REC156-3495 | 16 - Training and behaviour | The Department of Primary Industries should work through the appropriate Ministerial Councils to seek alignment of competency standards for line workers across jurisdictions. |
REC156-3518 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The Department of Premier and Cabinet, the Office of the Emergency Services Commissioner and other relevant departments conduct further work to determine the need for a power to appoint a coordinator of essential services restoration. |
REC156-3494 | 10 - Infrastructure | Energy Safe Victoria finalise the development of the passport system to improve interstate mutual aid arrangements allowing operator access to qualified interstate power restoration personnel. |
REC156-3517 | 9 - Community education | The Victoria State Emergency Service work with the electricity distribution businesses, Department of Primary Industries and Energy Safe Victoria to develop and implement a joint community education program for public safety during and after storms and power outages. |
REC156-3493 | 35 - Business and Industry in relation to industry | The electricity distribution businesses and retailers work with the Department of Human Services and hospitals to review the registration, notification and removal process for those on life support machinery. |
REC156-3514 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The State Government endorse the establishment of the Victorian Emergency Information Line and it is developed with appropriate protocols to ensure linkages and information flows to the energy sector. |
REC156-3490 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The Department of Human Services improve its communication with councils to enhance delivery of recovery services. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC155-3474 | 24 - Govt responsibility | That the Victorian Government consider all available means, consistent with conservation values, for substantially increasing the access of apiarists to the public land estate. |
REC155-3473 | 24 - Govt responsibility | That the Victorian Government expedite the implementation of its 2006 election commitment to provide four wheel drive clubs with access to management vehicle only tracks. |
REC155-3466 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | A comprehensive review of the effectiveness of the increased prescribed burning target in meeting ecological and bushfire suppression needs should be conducted every three years. |
REC155-3483 | 9 - Community education | That the Department of Sustainability and Environment and its partner agencies continue to develop a proactive approach to engagement with the local and wider media to achieve continuous improvement in the standard of community information and education. |
REC155-3465 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | That in order to enhance the protection of community and ecological assets, the Department of Sustainability and Environment increase its annual prescribed burning target from 130,000 hectares to 385,000 hectares. This should be treated as a rolling target, with any shortfalls to be made up in subsequent years. |
REC155-3480 | 1 - Land-use and building regs | That the Integrated Fire Management Planning framework establish zones in the interface between public and private land in which bushfire risk management is the shared responsibility of the Victorian Government and private landholders. |
REC155-3464 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | That the Department of Sustainability and Environment implement remote sensing imagery as a routine part of its pre-burn and post-burn assessment process for prescribed burning. Maps of every prescribed burn should be produced in a similar format to those used in Western Australia, indicating the boundary of each burn and the varying fire intensities achieved within the burn area. The boundaries of all Fuel Management Zones within each burn should also be indicated. |
REC155-3475 | 9 - Community education | That in relation to Fire Operations Plans, the Department Sustainability and Environment extends the number of community meetings during the public consultation period to a minimum of one meeting for each Fire District, with the possibility of repeat visits to particular areas. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC154-3462 | 41 - Emergency Management exercises | DPI should formalise the approach and framework for evaluating simulation exercises and response to Emergency Animal Disease incidents with guidelines to define the nature of the review process. This should include: |
REC154-3461 | 24 - Govt responsibility | DPI should develop an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Human Services that capitalises on and strengthens the current good working relationship to support joint forward planning and risk management and mitigates against relationship failure in the event of leadership change. The MOU should clarify: |
REC154-3459 | 41 - Emergency Management exercises | To improve response preparedness, DPI should clearly link the selection of simulation exercises to the risk management framework to target coverage of high risks. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC143-3579 | 9 - Community education | That FESA develop comprehensive internet-based information including but not limited to detail of WANDRA objectives, assistance measures, administering agencies, eligibility criteria (where applicable) and application forms. |
REC143-3580 | 17 - Assets and technology | That FESA investigate the use of new technologies such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) for supplementing the dissemination of WANDRA information in cases where landlines have been disrupted. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC125-3893 | 35 - Business and Industry in relation to industry | That Melbourne Water ensures that stakeholders (and especially local councils) are fully consulted before and during the development of drainage strategies and plans. These plans should consider councils’ drainage systems. |
REC125-3892 | 35 - Business and Industry in relation to industry | That Melbourne Water ensures stakeholder expectations are fully considered when setting flood risk reduction targets. |
REC125-3898 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | That agencies develop a detailed improvement plan and commit resources to its implementation. |
REC125-3897 | 17 - Assets and technology | That agencies assess the cost-effectiveness of establishing a dedicated and proven asset management information system which is integrated with the other information systems used to manage drainage assets. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC124-3890 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Update education and training programs relating to prescribed burning to reflect revised organisational priorities including year round (365 day) fire management program: |
REC124-3885 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | Align policies and processes, within the year round 365 day focus on fire management, to provide consistency in the approach to fire regardless of its origins,- that is fuel reduction burning, regeneration and ecological burning or unplanned fire; |
REC124-3884 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | Develop new prescriptions for prescribed burning to accommodate local conditions in those areas where standard prescriptions are assessed to be inappropriate: |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC123-3882 | 41 - Emergency Management exercises | The Office of the Emergency Services Commissioner convene a working group of key emergency services and emergency management agencies to develop a flow chart based on scenario testing, to support decision making and the assessment of response requirements to medical, hazardous materials and CBR emergencies including their transition from one type to another. |
REC123-3877 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | All agencies review formal and informal incident notification processes to ensure they support the earliest possible reporting of emergencies to all stakeholders involved in the Airport Emergency Plan and in so doing, ensure early access to specialist advice and support. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC113-3905 | 16 - Training and behaviour | Firefighting organisations should: address their key training and development issues |
REC113-3904 | 39 - Disaster Risk Management | FESA should: in addition to its current initiatives, develop and implement structured programs (with clearly identified objectives, target groups and time lines for achievement) aimed at: |
REC113-3906 | 10 - Infrastructure | Firefighting organisations should: resolve existing telecommunication problems and work with other emergency service organisations to establish compatible telecommunications systems. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC112-3918 | 35 - Business and Industry in relation to industry | That DPI effectively communicates to all sectors of the industry their responsibilities to report new threats, and how to report them. |
REC112-3930 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That DPI provides plant incursion-specific AIIMS training for anyone who might be involved in, or providing resources for, an incursion response. This includes senior management, field and research staff, contractors and industry participants. |
REC112-3916 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That DPI reviews the work of entry level graduates to ensure career paths are clear and encourage the retention of staff. |
REC112-3929 | 35 - Business and Industry in relation to industry | That DPI develops a comprehensive strategy for communicating to industry their rights and responsibilities in relation to threats, incursions, outbreaks and post-outbreak; and also for communicating internally. |
REC112-3913 | 35 - Business and Industry in relation to industry | That DPI works with industry to develop a training module on the certification and verification system for inclusion in industry quality assurance programs. |
REC112-3922 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | That DPI maintains ISO 9000 accreditation for at least one laboratory and seeks NATA accreditation for key diagnostic tests. This should be done in combination with Plant Health Australia’s laboratory accreditation project. |
REC112-3912 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | That DPI, as part of the development of the Victorian plant biosecurity strategy, undertake a strategic review of its plant health planning framework so that: • corporate and business unit plans at all levels of the department align to each other and to government policy so that staff have a coherent frame of reference to guide their work • performance indicators are developed, used, reported against and evaluated regularly • all plans (including service agreements with other parts of DPI) are communicated to staff and implemented in their day-to-day activities and responsibilities. |
REC112-3921 | 17 - Assets and technology | That the recommendations of the 2000 DPI report into the reference collection’s storage facility be implemented, to secure the collection in a purpose-built facility. |
REC112-3932 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | That DPI conducts and documents debriefs after all incursions, and adopts any improvements that are identified through debriefs. |
REC112-3907 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | That Department of Primary Industries (DPI), in partnership with the Department of Sustainability and Environment, reviews all legislation relating to plant biosecurity with a view to streamlining the legislative framework. |
REC112-3919 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | That the model for state funding be reviewed to ensure that DPI can confidently build and maintain a core level of diagnostic expertise and research capability. |
REC112-3931 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That DPI ensures that AIIMS training includes information to ensure that everyone understands their role, and how information will be managed internally and externally, in the event of an incursion. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC104-2214 | 9 - Community education | That CFA, recognising the value of the Community Fireguard Group program, undertake a review by June 2004 to identify opportunities to further develop the program to ensure its continuing appropriateness in preparing communities for fire into the future. |
REC104-2260 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That VICSES, with the support of the CFA, includes basic fire safety training as one of the competencies for the VICSES Volunteers. |
REC104-2325 | 39 - Disaster Risk Management | That CFA, DSE and MFESB continue to develop the partnership approach for fire safety with Local Government, industry and communities. |
REC104-2197 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | That a review of the fuel management zones be implemented with a view to reducing the number of zones so as to focus clearly on (i) asset protection (especially at the Public/Private land interface), and (ii) ecological burns. |
REC104-2230 | 24 - Govt responsibility | That DSE investigates whether such agreements should exist with other government Departments and agencies, particularly those with officers located in rural Victoria who may be involved in fire response and support operations in the future, based on their expertise and experience. |
REC104-2281 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | That DSE and CFA work cooperatively to review the management and application of bulldozers in fire suppression operations to ensure that they are used effectively, appropriately and are adequately supervised. |
REC104-2335 | 41 - Emergency Management exercises | That the fire agencies develop a program to significantly increase the amount of joint training and exercises undertaken. |
REC104-2208 | 9 - Community education | That CFA and MFESB encourage householders to review their fire safety plan annually. |
REC104-2249 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That DSE and CFA ensure that: |
REC104-2293 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | That aviation contractors be required to submit a copy of their annual independent regulatory compliance audit prepared for Civil Aviation Safety Authority to the State Aircraft Unit. |
REC104-2213 | 9 - Community education | That CFA provides technical advice to Community Fireguard Groups in the selection and purchase of appropriate equipment and protective clothing for use on their own land. |
REC104-2259 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That the MFESB continue to give priority to appropriate bushfire training for its firefighters. |
REC104-2321 | 24 - Govt responsibility | That Government confirms that the Model of Fire Cover/Fire Safety Victoria strategy should be a seamless model for the whole of the State and include both private and public land. |
REC104-2228 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | That the Government identifies an appropriate body, or bodies, to undertake the audit of the Municipal Fire Management Plans. |
REC104-2277 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | That DSE and CFA review methods of gathering and processing fire information to ensure all methods are pursued to greatest effect. |
REC104-2333 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | That in doing so, this Review must consult with the agencies mentioned above, and others such as VICSES and the Departments of Human Services and Primary Industries. |
REC104-2192 | 24 - Govt responsibility | That, according to available scientific evidence, a decision regarding cattle grazing in the High Country should not be based on the argument that ‘grazing prevents blazing.’ |
REC104-2207 | 9 - Community education | That the Coordinator-in-Chief of Emergency Management directs that all emergency management agencies review, by June 2004, terminology and language in current communication and public education material to ensure it is clear, easily understood and consistent, particularly with regard to fire. |
REC104-2247 | 24 - Govt responsibility | That an appropriately resourced, national aerial firefighting strategy is urgently required, and that the Victorian Government make representations to the Commonwealth to support the Australasian Fire Authorities Council recommendations |
REC104-2292 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | That a systematic performance audit of State Aircraft Fleet contractors be conducted jointly by agency and SAU personnel. |
REC104-2212 | 9 - Community education | That Community Fireguard Group co-ordinators’ names are supplied to their local municipality for the 2003-2004 fire season, and are updated annually for use in information exchange should a Municipal Emergency Co-ordination Centre or Incident Control Centre be established. |
REC104-2256 | 24 - Govt responsibility | That the State Emergency Operations Centre develop and maintain strong and close links with the State Emergency Response Coordination Centre, if collocation is not possible. |
REC104-2317 | 39 - Disaster Risk Management | That DSE, with adequate resourcing, moves to a 12-month cycle of fire management to establish and maintain a more appropriate and balanced work program of prevention/mitigation and suppression. |
REC104-2225 | 24 - Govt responsibility | That the Victoria Emergency Management Council establish a sub-committee by June 2004 to ensure an all-agency and appropriate industries’ policy framework is developed and agreed in respect to the planning for fire prevention, mitigation and suppression. |
REC104-2268 | 9 - Community education | That CFA and DSE include agreed Fire Control Priorities in community awareness and education material provided to the community before each fire season. |
REC104-2332 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | That the Review of emergency operations centres by the Departments of Premier and Cabinet and Treasury and Finance and the Office of the Emergency Services Commissioner: |
REC104-2189 | 39 - Disaster Risk Management | That DSE and CFA as part of their long term planning, and in conjunction with the Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology, consider ways in which evidence for climate change and El Niño–Southern Oscillation cycle impacts on the likelihood of unplanned fire, can be better incorporated into preparedness and response planning. |
REC104-2206 | 9 - Community education | That CFA and MFESB: |
REC104-2239 | 24 - Govt responsibility | That any local level agreements developed to address geographically specific risks or issues must be consistent with State-level arrangements. |
REC104-2286 | 17 - Assets and technology | That CFA, having regard to terrain, continue to review the mix of firefighting appliances currently in service. In particular, consideration should be given to the number and distribution of smaller ‘slip-on’ type equipment. |
REC104-2211 | 9 - Community education | That CFA clarifies and restates the roles and function of existing Community Fireguard Groups (including their relationship to the Municipal Fire Prevention Plan) to members, co-ordinators, Incident Controllers and Municipal Emergency Resource Officers, prior to the 2003-2004 fire season. |
REC104-2255 | 24 - Govt responsibility | That the options of collocating the State Emergency Response Coordination Centre with the new State Emergency Operations Centre |
REC104-2315 | 24 - Govt responsibility | That the Privacy Commissioner be asked for advice in the development of this model. |
REC104-2223 | 10 - Infrastructure | That Government review legislation for utilities operating within the State to ensure their involvement in regional fire preparedness and mitigation planning. |
REC104-2264 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That CFA and DSE provide media training to all Level 2 and Level 3 Incident Controllers. |
REC104-2331 | 24 - Govt responsibility | That a State Emergency Operations Centre be established to replace the existing separate fire agency centres. This could, if necessary, be initially confined to being a State Fire Operations Centre as recommended in Chapter 18, Part D. |
REC104-2205 | 9 - Community education | That CFA should remain the lead agency in delivering the community education and information program to rural Victoria. |
REC104-2235 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That DSE and CFA review selection and training programs for Incident Controllers and Incident Management Team members to ensure that they include all necessary competencies in recognition that technical skills are only one component of the required attributes. |
REC104-2284 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | That DSE and CFA review the management of personnel deployed ensuring that: |
REC104-2210 | 9 - Community education | That CFA reports to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services on recommended solutions and implementation strategies for isolated small communities by June 2004. |
REC104-2254 | 24 - Govt responsibility | That a single state-of-the-art all hazards State Emergency Operations Centre be established for Victoria. This could, if necessary, be implemented in stages, initially incorporating DSE, CFA, MFESB and the State Aircraft Unit. |
REC104-2303 | 24 - Govt responsibility | That Interstate Agreements prepared by the fire agencies be reviewed to include protocols for the joint release of consistent and appropriate information relating to fires burning across State borders. |
REC104-2221 | 35 - Business and Industry in relation to industry | That CFA and the Plantation Industry jointly develop and agree on Fire Prevention Guidelines for Plantations by June 2004, to be then promoted and distributed by the Industry. |
REC104-2263 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That the person appointed by DSE or CFA as Incident Controller for any incident should have formal qualifications and accreditation in the Incident Control System, be fully aware of the Victorian emergency management arrangements and have access to local fire prevention and response planning, including the Municipal Fire Management Plan |
REC104-2327 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That all fire agencies include a formal mentoring scheme as part of their workforce development programs; and that consideration be given to the use of suitably competent and experienced individuals (such as retired staff), to act as coaches or mentors with inexperienced Incident Controllers. |
REC104-2204 | 9 - Community education | That the three fire agencies (CFA, DSE and MFESB) develop and implement a joint Statewide fire awareness education and information program aimed at encouraging a higher degree of personal and household self-reliance. |
REC104-2232 | 24 - Govt responsibility | That Government in the development of its statewide water policy includes appropriate consideration of access to water for firefighting. |
REC104-2282 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | That quality control or performance assessments are routinely completed post fire season, to ensure that contractors who have not performed to an agreed standard are not re-engaged for the consequential rehabilitation works. |
REC104-2209 | 9 - Community education | That CFA, in conjunction with isolated small communities, develop and promote a suite of appropriate fire readiness and fire management strategies to meet their needs. |
REC104-2250 | 41 - Emergency Management exercises | That DSE and CFA work in cooperation with the Municipal Emergency Response Coordinators to develop and conduct joint exercises that practise the skills and test procedures for operations of the Municipal Emergency Coordination Centre, Municipal Recovery Centre and Incident Control Centres. |
REC104-2294 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That training and competency programs for Incident Controllers should include aircraft firefighting capability training. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC061-3422 | 9 - Community education | The Committee recommends that the FireVision concept used by the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board be extended through the Directorate of School Education's Interactive Television Program to all emergency services and in particular to rural fire and emergency services. |
REC061-3250 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The Committee recommends that the Bureau of Emergency Services Telecommunications Centre extend its services as a commercial venture to smaller government agencies who could not develop such a dedicated system. |
REC061-3415 | 24 - Govt responsibility | The Committee recommends that the Bureau of Emergency Services Telecommunications Centre extend its services as a commercial venture to smaller government agencies who could not develop such a dedicated system. |
REC061-3242 | 24 - Govt responsibility | It is inappropriate for an emergency services provider to develop its own standards, core objectives and functions. The Committee recommends that these be the responsibility of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. |
REC061-3408 | 24 - Govt responsibility | It is inappropriate for an emergency services provider to develop its own standards, core objectives and functions. The Committee recommends that these be the responsibility of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. |
REC061-3258 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The Committee recommends that the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board be reviewed five years from the tabling of this report in Parliament. |
REC061-3257 | 9 - Community education | The Committee recommends that the FireVision concept used by the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board be extended through the Directorate of School Education's Interactive Television Program to all emergency services and in particular to rural fire and emergency services. |
REC061-3423 | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | The Committee recommends that the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board be reviewed five years from the tabling of this report in Parliament. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC019-4152 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | The Forests Department make every endeavour to improve and extend the practice of control burning to ensure that the forests receive the maximum protection practicable consistent with silvicultural requirements. |
REC019-4133 | 9 - Community education | The Bush Fires Board take a more active part in enlightening the public generally and the local communities in particular to their responsibilites on fire control. |
REC019-4149 | 10 - Infrastructure | A sub-committee of telecommunication officers and representatives of the Bush Fires Board be appointed to investigate and encourage the development of a modern system of radio equipment for bush fire brigades. |
REC019-4148 | 10 - Infrastructure | The Commonwealth Government be asked to complete as far as practicable, the connection of telephones to outlying country centres before the end of 1961. |
REC019-4144 | 16 - Training and behaviour | No opportunity be lost of encouraging the formation of bush fire brigades and the maintenance of enthusiasm and that the Bush Fires Board assist the brigades in any way possible to obtain adequate training and equipment. |
REC019-4158 | 16 - Training and behaviour | That needs in the direction of a fire emergency service be met as far as practicable by the Bush Fires Board in its training programme and in the tactical organisation of existing brigades for use as reserves in districts other than their own. |
REC019-4143 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | It be made clear to all fire control officers that the conditions for burning prescribed in the Bush Fires Act are minimal only, and that it is their duty to prescribe such further conditions as will ensure that should unfavourable weather conditions un-expectedly develop a situation would not arise which the local bush fire control organisation could not reasonably be expected to handle. |
REC019-4153 | 17 - Assets and technology | No opportunity be lost by the Forests Department to improve the efficiency of their fire fighting gangs, radio and other equipment in the light of the latest practical and scientific developments. |
REC019-4142 | 5 - Hazard reduction burns | Landowners desiring to carry out developmental burns be required to inform the local authority sufficiently early to enable that body to direct them or request the local bush fire brigade to carry out protective burning around the area before the prohibited season starts. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC016_3945 | 16 - Training and behaviour | It is recommended that a large proportion of men employed in and about the open-cut be systematically trained in the use of equipment and in the tactical disposition of it. |
REC016_3952 | 4 - Fire season preparation | It is recommended that the question of the future responsibility be made certain and that the body so made responsible keep the grounds of the hospital free from undergrowth and trees wherever their presence may be a possible source of future danger. |
REC016_3944 | 10 - Infrastructure | It is recommended that the water pressure be improved so that a greater volume and jet may be available for the suppression of fires on the faces and also for the purpose of wetting the berms more widely and thoroughly when necessary. It is suggested that there should be variable control of the pressure so that production need not be adversely affected in times of normal danger. |
REC016_3951 | 10 - Infrastructure | It is recommended that the State Electricity Commission adopt a policy of conciliation and good will towards its closer neighbours. It is not suggested that its policy has been essentially otherwise. In future that policy can best be assured of success by time conferring of material benefit upon its neighbours at some monetary cost to the Commission. It is suggested, with conviction, that it would prove to be of great advantage to time Commission if it were to take an active part in the clearing and bettering of its neighbours’ scrub and timber country at time cost of the Commission. The settler whose land is fully cleared and in production, or who knows that his land will be cleared for him, has no incentive to burn illegally or carelessly. If this suggestion should he adopted, it would be necessary that it should be carried out in all cases in accordance with the settler’s convenience, that he himself should take an active part in the operations, and that he should be left, not with a financial obligation, but with a definite material advantage. |
REC016_3943 | 10 - Infrastructure | It is recommended that a more constant, running revision of the main and sprinkler system be maintained in future so that the service which it is intended to convey shall be closely and efficiently available to all parts of the berms and faces. It is emphasized that the reticulation system in the berms is fixed and stationary, whereas the faces are continually receding as their surfaces are scraped away by the dredges. |
REC016_3950 | 4 - Fire season preparation | It is recommended that on days of abnormal danger loads of briquettes be not kept in the station yard. The real danger, which transcends in gravity the danger of time destruction of loads of briquettes, is that the prevailing wind or a change of wind might carry showers of burning embers to the town, which is but the width of a road away, and thereby cause material damage in the town. It is further recommended that the yard and its surroundings be kept clear of scrub and growth; and that special provision be made for quelling fire which may break out in the deposits of inflammable dust which lie in time yard. |
REC016_3949 | 17 - Assets and technology | It is recommended that the A.R.P. dams or earth tanks be kept filled during possible danger periods. |
REC016_3948 | 16 - Training and behaviour | It is recommended that workers and volunteers generally be instructed in accordance with a pre-arranged plan, as to what they should do in future times of emergency. Since the fighting of fires is for the greater part a matter of voluntary action, some estimate could perhaps be made, after investigation, of the numbers of men in each department who would be willing to volunteer. It would be necessary that each department should become a component part of an over-riding scheme and that it and its members should be fully instructed in the matter of whistle or siren warnings, places of assembly, reception of messages from the director of proceedings, use of equipment, and the various details which would necessarily be parts of an effective scheme. The training need not be onerous. If given once or twice at the beginning of possible danger periods, it would make for some degree of order and efficiency instead of a probable state of confusion. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC015_3954 | 24 - Govt responsibility | It is recommended that each public department or body which may now or hereafter control forest areas be allowed to pursue its own policy of fire prevention and suppression. As each such body is responsible directly or indirectly to Parliament it must be allowed to carry its responsibility in its own manner. It is strongly recommended that no such department be given authority over any other body in matters relating to fire prevention or suppression. If it is ultimately shown that a department is unfit to discharge the duty involved other measures may be taken. |
REC015_3962 | 35 - Business and Industry in relation to industry | It is recommended that the matter be submitted to experts, of which there are many in the Public Service; and that such experts determine the best manner of construction. |
REC015_3956 | 24 - Govt responsibility | It is strongly recommended that no public department of possible combination of public departments interested in forests should be permitted to gain control of this authority. |
Rec-ID | Code | Recommendation |
---|---|---|
REC004-3996 | 17 - Assets and technology | That the standard pattern of cinder arrester be affixed to the ash-pans in all locomotives during the summer months. |
REC004-3994 | 17 - Assets and technology | That the Railway Department, while gradually reducing the number of different types of locomotives, should steadily keep in view the adoption of English and American railway practice, by providing engines with larger boilers, fire boxers, and smoke-boxes, and with wide blast-pipes, in order to insure ample steaming power with a minimum of forced draught. |
REC004-3992 | 17 - Assets and technology | That the use of a spark-arrester and cinder-arrester by the Railway Department shall not constitute a defence to an action for damage caused by fire escaping from a locomotive, unless the Department proves that such spark-arrester and cinder-arrester were in a thoroughly efficient condition when the fire took place. |
REC004-3999 | 10 - Infrastructure | That, in view of the fact that along many of the lines, between the road-bed and the fences, there are numbers of dry inflammable stumps, which, when they catch fire, are very difficult to extinguish, and that the surface of the ground surrounding these stumps is usually chipped by the permanent-way men every summer, thus causing considerable expense without removing the risk of fire, the Railway Department should remove this source of danger, by grabbing them out and burning them as early as may be found practicable. |