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Emergency Management News

Issue 13 - December 2022
WALGA would like to take the opportunity to wish everyone a happy and safe holidays, and thank members for their contributions to WALGA's work over the past year. The Emergency Management Team looks forward to continuing to work with Local Governments and other key stakeholders in 2023 to support the Local Government sector in their endeavours to build resilient and safe communities. 

Community Disaster Resilience Strategy

SEMC has released a draft Strategy for consultation. The aim of the Strategy is to increase capacity of communities to cope and recover from the impacts of hazards and disasters, and identify opportunities for investment. 

WALGA is coordinating a submission on behalf of the Local Government sector. Read the Draft Strategy and WALGA's draft submission here. WALGA is seeking feedback by Friday, 13 January to em@walga.asn.au to support finalising its submission.

State Consultations

Please share any feedback you provide to the below consultations with WALGA.

Emergency Welfare Arrangements

The Department of Communities is reviewing the State Support Plan: Emergency Welfare Interim (now known as, State Support Plan - Emergency Relief and Support) and is seeking feedback from Local Governments via a survey. Read more.

State Capability Framework Review

The Framework supports assessment and development of the State’s capability to manage emergencies. DFES have reviewed the framework to better reflect the current emergency management landscape and are  seeking Local Government feedback via a survey. Read more.

Sector Updates

Seasonal Bushfire Outlook

The upcoming summer will have heightened hot and dry conditions, AFAC reports. Read the DFES media release here. AFAC's full Seasonal Bushfire Outlook contains information about recent and long-term forecasts, climate drivers and jurisdictional summaries. 

Emergency Volunteering Platform Update

Volunteering WA's Emergency Volunteering Platform was developed to support connection between volunteers and organisations during an emergency. 
Read more

Revegetation and Re-fencing in the Wheatbelt

Wheatbelt NRM has secured funding to deliver a program over two years to support protection of remnant vegetation and re-fencing of protected areas that were impacted during fires earlier this year. Read more

National Emergency Management Ministers' Meeting (NEMMM)

A NEMMM was held virtually on 9 December 2022. Read the communique here for updates on Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) review and implementation of the Royal Commission.

Local Government Focus

Environmental Health Disaster Guidance

The Environmental Health Directorate has several resources to support EHOs with disaster management in identifying and reducing risks, and training and development opportunities. Read more.

DFES Cyclone Safety Campaign

Local Governments can support their communities to be better prepared for cyclones by promoting preparedness messaging. DFES has several resources available for Local Government use. 
Read more.

Celebrating Volunteers

Local Governments across WA hosted events to celebrate and thank their community volunteers in conjunction with Thank A Volunteer Day. See examples of events hosted by the Shires of Augusta-Margaret River, and Wyndham East Kimberley, and Town of Claremont.

Mitigation Funding Awarded

$4 million has been allocated to 25 Local Governments through the Mitigation Activity Fund (MAF). Read the media statement here. WALGA's State Budget Submission 2023-34 includes a request for reinstatement of MAF funding and a review of the scope of funding.
Image credit: DFES

Urban Canopy Grant Program

A total of 18 Local Governments were successful grant recipients, delivering over 4,000 new trees with a planned 16 hectares of additional tree canopy cover within the next 10 years. Learn more about the grant program and WALGA's Urban Forest Conference

In Other News...

State of the Climate Report

The biennial report prepared by BOM and CSIRO highlights a number of trends relating to changes in weather and climate extremes. Read more

 

The Conversation: Climate-fuelled Disaster Mitigation Strategies

The Conversation offers technological solutions to a number of hazards with increasing risk across Australia.
Read more.

 

SEMC Annual Report

Read SEMC's 2021-22 Annual Report that was tabled in Parliament on 1 December.

Shire of York Cultural Burning Project

The NDRR funded project will re-introduce Aboriginal mosaic burning on Ballardong Country. Read more


WACOSS Conference Call For Speakers

The overarching theme of the conference is Resilient, Strong and Brave: Collective Power of Community. Read more
 

Annual Climate Change Statement

The first Annual Statement tracks Australia's progress on climate action under the Climate Change Act 2022.
Read more
Read the Latest WALGA COVID-19 Sector Updates

Events and Training

Online Masterclass: Animal Emergency Management Complexities

1, 8, and 15 February | Register here
 

ANU Climate Update 2023

Online and In-person in Canberra
6 February | Register here

 

WALGA Urban Forest Conference 2023 Valuing Canopy

In-person at Curtin University
17 February | Register here

WALGA Emergency Management for Local Government Leaders

20 February | Register here
 

WALGA Emergency Management Foundations for Local Government

7 March | Register here
 

WALGA Community Disaster Recovery

8 March | Register here 

Want to share something with the sector?

 
Want to share your successes, promote a new project, have a key question answered or collaborate with other Local Governments? We want to hear from you about any stories or initiatives to share with the sector.
Submit your content for the next Emergency Management News

WALGA contacts

Susie Moir, Policy Manager, Resilient Communities, 9213 2058
Rachel Armstrong, Senior Policy Advisor, Emergency Management, 9213 2064
Cassandra Mora, Policy Officer, Emergency Management, 9213 2044
Simone Ruane, Project Lead, LEMA Review, 9213 2049

Contact the Emergency Management team via em@walga.asn.au
Join WALGA's Local Government Emergency Management Network
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples hold a special place in our communities and connect the broader population with a wealth of history, tradition and culture which enriches our society.  Our work regularly takes us across the State and as such WALGA would like to acknowledge the many traditional owners of the land on which we work throughout Western Australia. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.
Copyright © WALGA, All rights reserved.

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PO Box 1544, West Perth, WA 6872

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