IGEM asked to investigate 2013-14 fire season and East Gippsland fires

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Risks spanning across multiple hazard types and across the emergency management system.

Biosecurity

Exotic animal and plant disease outbreaks and pest incursions can have significant economic, community and environmental impacts.

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Bushfire and other fires have potential consequences including loss of life and property, and damage to infrastructure and environment.

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Risks include more days of extreme heat, harsher fire weather, less rainfall and rising sea levels.

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Communications services are crucial in keeping communities safe, connected and informed before, during and after emergencies.

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Energy supply disruption

Reliable energy supplies are critical to many social and economic activities.

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Major flood events have occurred in Victoria every 10 to 20 years, with much of the increasing risk created by human settlement.

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Potential risks relate to many places where Victoria’s hazardous materials are manufactured, stored, transported, used and disposed.

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Heatwaves are considered to be the ‘silent killer’ of extreme weather events and are the leading cause of weather-related deaths in Australia.

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Risks may relate to the delivery of public health services, with impacts on community health and wellbeing and potential for loss of life.

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Geopolitical, environmental, economic, societal and infrastructure-related shocks can expose supply chains to wide ranging consequences.

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Attacks carried out by individuals or non-state groups with ideological, political or religious goals can result in loss of life, severe injury and/or material damage.

Water supply disruption

Risks include collection, storage, treatment, delivery, availability and allocation of water for consumption and environmental, recreation and cultural uses.

Workforce and resourcing

Risks may relate to human resource supply and skills to support emergency management operations.

The Inspector-General for Emergency Management has been asked to investigate 2013-14 fire season and East Gippsland fires

Read a summary of the Victorian Government media release below.

Thursday 7 August 2014

Inspector-General for Emergency Management (IGEM) Tony Pearce, has been asked investigate a number of matters identified through the Emergency Management Commissioner’s statewide 2013-14 fire season operational debrief reports, and community reports for the Goongerah/Deddick Trail fire and Mt Ray/Boundary Track fire.

The Emergency Management Commissioner’s reports highlight the following key issues that require further investigation:

Statewide

Road traffic management
Safe early return of residents
Access for appropriate people to ensure animal (livestock) well-being and management
Where long duration road closures are required, provide for appropriate discussion with the community and appropriate access levels consistent with the needs of the affected community.

East Gippsland

Community involvement – to address concerns around planning, preparedness and management of local fire events
Initial attack/utilisation of resources – claims regarding misuse of those resources, including the use of private contractors
Cross border fire arrangements – ase of NSW (and other jurisdictions) volunteers assisting Victorian firefighters.

Mr Pearce will investigate and lead a compliance assurance process with the aim of addressing the identified key issues and ensuring systemic changes that are sustainable in the long term.

Mr Pearce’s report will be completed by end of September.

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