2018-11-06 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                           6 NOVEMBER 2018


The EOT have undertaken a number of reviews across Council’s disaster response capability
over the past year.
   Improvement work undertaken in line with the State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery
     Arrangement (NDRRA) program involved working in close collaboration with Queensland
     Reconstruction Authority (QRA). QRA conducted a training session with Council staff
     regarding the information required for the submissions. Improvements to ensure that the
     photographic evidence contained location data is under consideration.
     NDRRA reverts to a new system on 1 November 2019 called Disaster Recovery Funding
     Arrangements (DRFA) introducing a new state-wide management and reporting system
     (MARS).
   The implementation of new flood indicators providing front line information, through the
     Enviromon system, directly to BoM to assist with reporting for the Noosa Shire. Further
     flood indicators are required to meet the large catchment areas located in the Noosa Shire.
   Considering the Guardian upgrade from the Control Platform to IMS resulting in a
     recommendation to move forward with the new system. Neighbouring shires already use
     the new platform. The new system requires additional training for relevant LDCC cells.
   Initiating the use of Get Ready Funding for the development of a Noosa specific Disaster
     Dashboard using the QITPlus platform. The new Disaster Dashboard, due for launch in late
     November 2018, provides a single source of truth for all Noosa Shire residents and visiting
     tourists. The platform will provide live and current information across multiple sources
     providing the LDCC and LDMG with a way to communicate with the community during a
     disaster. It is important to note this is a technology tool reliant on power and internet
     capacity.

7.   LDCC & Disaster Management Training

An annual training exercise was held over two days in November 2017, which tested evacuation
procedures and readiness on the first day and then a desktop exercise with the Local Recovery
Group.

A series of three half day mini exercises took place between May and September 2018 as part of
the new Local Disaster Coordinator’s induction. These exercises were designed to simulate the
establishment of a Local Disaster Coordination Centre, the development of Situation Reports, the
running of an emergency LDMG meeting and the handover from response to recovery
operations.

Rainfall and storms in October 2018 provided a further opportunity for internal staff across the
Local Disaster Coordination Centre, the Forward Command Centre and the Local Recovery
Group functions to test processes, prepare and build capability.

8.   Engagement & Collaboration

The Project Officer - Disaster Management and Special Projects is taking extended leave for a
period of 14 months (to November 2019). Following a recruitment process, the new officer
commenced in September 2018.

Over the past year, the Project Officer has participated in a number of regional networks and
activities, including:
     Disaster Management Engagement Group – SE Queensland disaster management officers
     Council 2 Council – Wide Bay and North Burnet areas disaster management officers
     Sunshine Coast Emergency Services Capability Development and Exercising Committee



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