In Western Australia (WA), under the Emergency Management Act 2005, Local Governments must maintain Local Emergency Management Arrangements (LEMA) for their local district.

The LEMA Review is a partnership between the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) and WALGA, initiated in response to reports that the current LEMA model is not fit-for-purpose for Local Government. The LEMA Review is an opportunity to develop new LEMA approaches, reshape emergency management procedures and enhance disaster preparedness at the local level.

WALGA received AWARE funding to lead a consultation with Local Government for the LEMA Review to ensure that the outcomes were sector-led and representative of a diverse range of Local Governments.
 
From April to December 2022, WALGA engaged 100 Western Australian Local Governments to identify LEMA strengths, weaknesses, and improvement opportunities in a consultation process that consisted of 10 in-depth interviews, a LEMA Review Survey and 10 interactive workshops that were facilitated by agdots.
 
WALGA’s LEMA Review Consultation with Western Australian Local Governments: Project Summary and Recommendations Report summarises the key findings of this engagement process. A more detailed overview of the consultation process and outcomes are presented in WALGA’s LEMA Review Issues Paper, LEMA Review Survey Report and an independent LEMA Review Workshop Consultation Report prepared by agdots.
 
WALGA’s LEMA Review project will inform a Draft LEMA Improvement Plan developed by DFES that will be tested with the Local Government sector during April and May 2023.
 
A final LEMA Improvement Plan, which will include implementation actions, will be submitted to the State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC) for endorsement in August 2023.

For more information, please contact WALGA's LEMA Review Project Lead, Simone Ruane via SRuane@walga.asn.au or 9213 2049. 

 

LEMA Review Consultation with Western Australian Local Governments: Project Summary and Recommendations Report