REC324-4317

Flood rescue capability: That, to help improve the protection of life across NSW in flood events:
• the NSW State Rescue Board enforce adherence with current functions for flood rescue as specified in its current NSW State Rescue Policy
• the NSW State Rescue Board commences a review into flood rescue to bring it into line with all other rescues. All other rescues are currently coordinated through Triple Zero VKG NSW Police in an agreement with all other emergency services agencies. The Inquiry heard from the heads of combat agencies and aligning unions on this matter and found a consensus that the coordination of and response to flood rescue must change. The Inquiry acknowledges that this will necessitate implementation activities for a number of agencies
• aviation rescue is coordinated, in line with all other types of rescue, by NSW Rescue Coordinator (RAO), acknowledging RFS will maintain an Air Desk for firefighting activities
• the Flood Inquiry Secretariat remain in place to: — conduct an independent audit of NSW rescue capability across the state to inform which agency is best placed to respond to individual flood rescue requests — facilitate the transition from Resilience NSW to Recovery NSW. This scope of work could take up to 12 months. Further, to support effective flood rescue capabilities, appropriate training facilities are required. Accordingly, the Inquiry would support the NSW Cabinet Expenditure Review Committee:
• considering the NSW Marine Rescue bid to enhance the Cronulla Marine Rescue Centre to include a Flood Rescue Operational Centre
• approving funding for a NSW state multi agency ‘Flood Rescue Training Academy’ in a regional location to support and enhance the multiagency response needed for large scale events.