Fire or life threatening emergencies: 000
Emergency Information: 13 3337
SES Emergency Assistance: 132 500
Fire or life threatening emergencies: 000
Emergency Information: 13 3337
SES Emergency Assistance: 132 500
Emergency risk management is the process of determining what impacts a hazard might have on a community and then developing actions or controls to minimise those impacts. Hazard Management Agencies and District Emergency Management Committees, should work with local governments to understand the level of risk and support planning for hazards relevant to local communities.
Local emergency management arrangements must include a description of emergencies that are likely to occur in the local government district (s41.2(d)).
The State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC) is responsible for developing risk management strategies to assess community vulnerabilities to emergencies. The SEMC has delegated this work to state agencies and local governments (s3.2).
Local governments are responsible for developing local scale Emergency Risk Management (ERM) plans for hazards that may occur within their jurisdiction, in consultation with the LEMC.
Local emergency management arrangements (LEMA) must be informed by an understanding of emergency risk in the local government area and should include plans and actions to manage those risks.
The SEMC recommends that local governments follow the ERM methodology described in the State Emergency Risk Management Guideline. This process requires local government to consider how hazards and other uncertainties could result in emergencies that impact community assets, values and function, including community safety, service continuity, and recovery capacity.
It is recommended local governments undertake a risk workshop to assess emergency risks, determine possible impacts to the community and identify controls and management strategies. Noting that risk and emergency management is a shared responsibility, the workshop should involve local government staff and elected members, LEMC members, local industry groups, essential service providers, service organisations representing people at higher risk, community organisations and other community leaders to ensure a broad and representative understanding of community assets, values and vulnerabilities and therefore a comprehensive risk assessment.
Local governments can seek advice from their District Emergency Management Advisor (DEMA) about risk workshops or might obtain expert assistance to facilitate a workshop.
In addition to informing the LEMA, the risk management actions identified in the risk workshop should also be incorporated into all business areas of the local government, such as land use planning, strategic asset management, waste management and community development plans.
The State Emergency Risk Management Guideline (Appendix E) has advice on how to facilitate the workshop, while the SEMC Risk Toolbox has templates and other tools that will assist throughout the process.
Related plans and functions of local government including but not limited to:
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A Bushfire Risk Management Plan assists a local government to identify, assess, prioritise, treat and monitor bushfire risk throughout its local government area.
Hazard Management Agencies (HMAs) may assign specialised Emergency Risk Management planning requirements within their respective State Hazard Plans.
Local governments identified in Appendix G as having high or extreme bushfire risk must maintain an endorsed Bushfire Risk Management (BRM) Plan that applies to the entire local government area (s2.2.1).
Bushfire risk management is a shared responsibility across the community. A BRM Plan applies to the entire local government area to encourage a coordinated approach to bushfire mitigation between local and State governments, industry, private landowners, and other community members.
While local government leads the planning process, they do so on behalf of all stakeholders and are not solely responsible for managing the risks outlined in the plan.
Local government have a responsibility to manage fuel on local government managed land and play an important role in encouraging bushfire preparedness and enforcing mitigation on privately managed land.
DFES Rural Fire Division and regional offices are available to support local governments to identify and assess bushfire risks and treat risks through the development of BRM Plans.
Local governments required to develop a BRM Plan are listed in the State Hazard Plan - Fire.
It is recommended that other local governments with significant bushfire risk also develop and implement a BRM Plan.
BRM Plans require endorsement by DFES, through the Office of Bushfire Risk Management (OBRM), to be eligible to apply for the Mitigation Activity Fund Grant Program (MAFGP).
Guidelines and resources to assist local government with all aspects of Bushfire Risk Management.
The Bushfire Risk Management Planning Portal has been developed by OBRM to assist local governments prepare, develop, maintain and review their BRM Plans. Access to the portal can be requested by contacting OBRM@dfes.wa.gov.au
Guidance has been developed to support fire management personnel in understanding and upholding their responsibilities to protect Aboriginal heritage during fire management. This guidance is available through OBRM and the DFES Volunteer Hub.
Related functions of local government:
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