Justice and Community Safety
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
1
2
3
4
5 INNOVATION KEY TO OUR BUSHFIRE DEFENCE On the 27 September the Minister for Police and Emergency Services Mick Gentleman launched the ACT Strategic Bushfire Management Plan – Version Four (SBMP). Darren Cutrupi sat down with ACT Rural Fire Service Chief Officer Joe Murphy to find out whit the SBMP is more than just another government document. The 2019 Winter in the ACT was the driest recorded in 37 years. Canberra has experienced less than average rainfall for consecutive years now as the 2019/20 Official Bushfire Season commences in the ACT. We’re faced with hotter and drier conditions as we head into summer. Our bushfire seasons are expected to be longer and more dangerous on average as the effects of climate change are felt across the country. This is the time of year we plead with Canberrans to get prepared for the threat of bushfire approaching at a time when people are starting to wind down for the Christmas New Year break. “People living in Bushfire Prone Areas should download a Bushfire Survival Plan from the ESA website, fill it in and have a discussion with their family about what they will do in the event of a fire,” ACT Rural Fire Service Chief Officer Joe Murphy told the assembled media last Friday at the top of Black Mountain. Above - Some of those involved in the updating of the ACT Strategic Bushfire Management Plan over the past 18 months at the formal launch at Black Mountain. Photo by Alison Hattley. This is a familiar process the ESA follows year in year out. We’ve been very lucky post January 2003 that we have not had too many big bushfire incidents to deal with here in Canberra. In any case we are so much better prepared in each service, as a whole ESA, the wider ACT Government and the community but there has to be more to it than that. Of course and that is the ACT Strategic Bushfire Management Plan or SBMP for short. It was first published in October 2004 and over the years has gained international recognition.
6 “Version Four of the Plan will cover from 2019 to 2024. This is a legislative requirement, under the Emergencies Act, but it's so much more than that,” Chief Officer Murphy told THE SNAPSHOT. “It's the way we take on one of the highest threats to the Territory, and that is bushfire,” he said. “This is really the blueprint for all of us, government and the community. It sets the framework. It's a strategic, high level document. It's not the doing document. It just simply indicates we have some work to do. Now, let's get out there and do it. We then need to report on it, and make sure we've done it correctly, or to the best of our ability. “We’ve put a governance committee over the top of the document, and that's formed up from the various directorates. We'll bring the ACT Bushfire Council in to that governance committee, as well, because they represent the community. So, we're really being very transparent about the way we do this. “The next five years, people will be able to see the community, people will be able to see how we're tracking, how it's going, and that'll be, "What does this mean to me?" They'll be able to come look at that. “It's shared responsibility. Nobody owns the Territory. It's there for all Canberrans, and it's about how we come together, it's about how we share this responsibility between ourselves, so that we undertake this, for the community, to make sure that this... how would I say it... So, make sure... can I say, this parkland. This asset. So, we make sure this natural asset, that sits out there, beyond Canberra's borders, is still there for future generations to look after, and to enjoy. I really think that that's the crux of some part of the SBMP. It's the future state of the ACT. “The SBMP is about how we come together. It's about how the directorates come together. It's about how we work with our partners. As an example the ESA and EPSDD. We are the two main players inside the Plan. We have the most to gain, simply because EPSDD look after pretty well, all the rural land in the ACT. But, then there's the landholders, as well. They have their part to play in it, as well. “Working in partnership with EPSDD, working with the others, we have this fantastic, all of ACT government document, that brings us all together, and ensures that we all work together for a single outcome, to keep the community safe from the threat of bushfire. “So, from their perspective, they've got a whole research arm, which deals with ecological threats, and how we need to balance the need to burn and remove fuel in the forested areas, and heavily maintain our ecological values, as well. That's an important part of the two... two very distinct parts of EPSDD. You've got your land management of burning and grazing, alike. But then, the ecological values, which says to the community, we still value our bush, but we need to maintain it in its current, and natural, state.” How do we do those two together? “That's really important. The ESA is responsible for the suppression of any fire that's out there, any unplanned fire. But, we still need to make sure that any suppression efforts we undertake, is in conjunction with EPSDD’” Chief Officer Murphy said.
7 “Where we can, we try and maintain those ecological values, that we contribute to the broader good of looking after that fantastic park area,” he said. “There are some aspirational targets in there, as well. We're going to aim high. That's what the document's about, as well. It is reaching for the sky. “I think the one we're going to really struggle to tackle head on is climate change, because it is so... I think Canberra understands and accepts climate change as reality, but the big issue is, what does it really mean to us? What does it mean to a future of bushfire threat? What does it mean to the way in which we conduct our prescribed burns into the future? We're getting narrow windows to conduct the burns. So, we need to think of more innovative ways to do it. We need to change our methods by which we do landscape, and fuel management. That is going to be a significant challenge, and change, to those who look after the fuel management. “What we do is we also ask the scientists what their science is telling them. We reach out nationally, and internationally for our information, but it's also about trying some new ideas out there, being brave, trying some ideas, and seeing where they take us. Consider one of those might be... we've got some large blocks out there. We might put some new trails in, and so we might have to cut up a bit of the forest, but that might be necessary so we can conduct smaller burns, so we keep the community safe. Now, that is a challenge to those who have conservation as the leading part of their thinking. We'll talk with them, we'll negotiate with them, and we'll explain to them. Hopefully, they'll come around to us, understanding that actually it's about keeping them safe in a changing climate around the ACT. “As the Commissioner has already stated, we need to be innovating to get the results that we're after. I think the change... as science said, accelerates into climate change. As climate change starts to bite even harder in the ACT, and the surrounding New South Wales, we will be forced to think differently. We will be forced to respond and react differently, and we need the community on side with that, as well. They need to understand that we just...we're not going to be able to keep doing things the way we do them now. We will need to do things differently in the future. I don't know what those things are, but that's what the SBMP going to tease out, is what those things are.” Updating the Plan has not been a small task. Countless people in the ESA and many others have worked very hard on conducting the review of Version Three and producing an updated document. “This has been 18 months of solid work, of meeting with the community, negotiation with all our partners, like EPSDD, and the like. It's been out there about putting a draft out there and seeking the feedback, considering what that feedback might look like, and making sure the document does reflect everybody's concerns, as best as we can, to make sure it's achievable, as well. A lot of people have put a lot of work into this. I don't think anybody can be single out here. This was a genuine team effort. Had a fantastic team working here at ESA, a very small team. Very tight knit team who pulled everything together for us, who pulled the community consultations together, but then pulled together the stakeholder consultations, as well. Arranged all the meetings, captured all that feedback. I mean, we captured thousands of lines of feedback, and then to have two awesome writers who then brought that together into a document. I can’t them enough.”
9
ESA Comings and goings…. ACTSES members gather to
listen to Graham and get their
ACT Fire & Rescue
Superintendent Richard Maloney starts photo taken
long term leave on 5 October. A large number of ACTSES members
SUPT Chris Zeitlhofer will take over converged on the ESA Training Centre at
responsibility for Operations. Hume on the weekend for a range of
On 4 October A/g Superintendent Paul activities.
Flynn will move to look after Training and A/g Chief Officer Jeff Butler explains in
Superintendent Pat Jones will return from the video below
leave to Operational Capability.
ACT Rural Fire Service
Zoe Hannah has temporarily transferred
into the ACTRFS as A/g Community
Support Officer.
Govenor-General presents
First interstate deployments
Queens Birthday honours to
almost wrapped up
ESA personnel The ACT’s first set of interstate
Congratulations to Megan Davis (ACTAS), deployments have almost concluded
Steve Perry (ACTF&R), Rohan Scott following the return of our final
(ACTRFS) and Andrew Gradie (ACTSES) personnel.
who were presented with Queens “A total of 78 people made up the several
Birthday Honours at Government House taskforces we sent into northern NSW and
earlier this month. up to Queensland,” ACT Rural Fire Service
Chief Officer Joe Murphy said.
“This included 72 firefighters from the
ACTRFS volunteer brigades and Parks,” he
said.
“We also deployed ACTRFS Operations
Manager Rohan Scott and ACT Fire &
Rescue Superintendent Paul Flynn to the
IMT to Glen Innes, ESA Media Manager
Kaylee Rutland to NSWRFS HQ in Sydney,
ESA Manager Spatial Services Steve
Forbes to Port Macquarie.”
Our firefighters ended up as far north as
Rockhampton and Caloundra in QLD and
Grafton, Dorrigo on the NSW Mid North
Coast.
10
The last of our fire crews arrived back Mitchell. The recruits were selected
home safely on the weekend,” Chief earlier this year from 284 applications.
Officer Murphy said. 59 completed training at night and on
weekends over the past five months while
the remaining 23 completed a new nine-
day intensive storm and water damage
training course.
During training, the recruit volunteers
developed their skills in storm water
damage remediation, land-based
floodwater rescue, safety and first aid.
The newest batch of recruits bring the
total number of ACTSES volunteer
numbers to 359.
"Just when we thought things had come
to an end we recievced a request to send
two of of MAPS volunteers up to Glen
Innes so they have now headed off to
provide their expert skills.
“The feedback I’ve received so far is the
deployment provided some great
experience ahead of our bushfire season,”
he said.
“There were also some great lessons
learnt around operating within an incident
management room (IMR) and setting up a
GEORGE TALKS - Episode 01
base camp.
One thing that is very important to me as
“Thank you to everyone who went away.
your Commissioner is keeping you up to
You did a great job! It was very much
date with activities occurring across the
appreciated by our interstate
ESA.
counterparts.”
Based on feedback and viewing stats from
my previous efforts....many of you seem
The number of ACTSES to prefer watching a video rather than
read a long email. So with that in mind
members rises
here is my first video update on things
The ACT State Emergency Service
happening across the ESA, which I'm
(ACTSES) has received a major boost to
calling GEORGE TALKS.....LOL!
their capability for the storm season
In this first episode of GEORGE TALKS I
following the graduation last Thursday
cover:
night (26 Sept 2019) of their latest recruit
- the launch of SBMP v4 and our
college.
preparedness across the agency;
82 new volunteers were recognised in the
- transitioning from the BluePrint for
official ceremony at Thoroughbred Park in
Change;12 program solar panels are being installed September 2019, and will be launched by on trailers to assist in charging radios, etc. the Minister on Friday, 27 September New Personal Protective Clothing for CFU 2019, at 11:30am. The event will be held volunteers will be available soon. In the on top of Black Mountain. interim, test results have indicated that The Australian Fire Danger Rating System the current PPC is safe and can still be is being reviewed. It is anticipated that the used. six ratings will be reduced to four. An CFU rep Jacinta Cortese advised that every education campaign will inform the unit will be have some involvement in CFU community on what the four ratings will Saturday this year, depending on be called, what colours they are, what availability. they mean, and what action to take. She also praised the quick action to Work is scheduled to commence next organise a defibrillator on the Uriarra CFU week on the Hall Brigade’s privacy and trailer, noting the remote location of the dignity upgrades. unit. Mr Murphy also advised that a cross Mrs Cortese also advised that CFU border briefing has been conducted with members were getting ready for season all the fire agencies surrounding the ACT. including running drills and training. Dave Tunbridge from the ACTRFS ESA MAPS President Group advised a bush firefighter Giovanna Lorenzin advised that since the course is scheduled for October 2019 last meeting with the Minister in May which will see another 24 members join 2019, MAPS volunteers had been involved the ACTRFS. These new recruits will in two deployments for a search and commence prior to the peak of the ACT rescue. bushfire season. A series of training events had also been ACTRFS members are currently going conducted including search and rescue through a fitness process to ensure they mapping and a search and rescue are fit enough to respond. Mr Tunbridge exercise. advise that over 90% of members are at MAPS currently has 50 members made up the arduous fitness level. of 20 females and 30 males. A number of Mr Tunbridge also spoke about how potential new recruits had also recently inclusive the Molonglo Brigade was, and been interviewed. that they were proud to have the rainbow Arrangements to organise a ESA MAPS artwork on the Molonglo 10 tanker. honours and Awards ceremony were also Mr Tunbridge spoke of the Chief Officer’s raised. recent direction to place conditions on the ACT Rural Fire Service use of Urgent Duty Driving (UDD), Chief Officer Joe Murphy advised that the including the prohibition of proceeding ACT bushfire season will commence on 1 through red lights. It was noted that October 2019. The recent rain was volunteers do not undertake UDD on a welcomed and has provided a reprieve for regular basis, and the direction was few weeks. required to better regulate its use, and to The Strategic Bushfire Management Plan spell out the circumstances when it can be Version 4 will be tabled in the ACT used. Legislative Assembly on Thursday, 26 Mr Tunbridge advised that while there
13 may be strenuous objections from a small Review 100 Women of Influence Award. section of members but that the broader Dr Bendrups was also acknowledged for membership support the approach. the presentation of the Women in SES Ms Whelan advised that the safety and paper at AFAC, which was well received. wellbeing of our volunteers and the Representing ACTSES Commanders, community were at the forefront of the Joshua Hawkey advised that the Majura Chief Officer’s direction. Unit was being upgraded, and he ACT State Emergency Service appreciated the work of ESA staff in A/g Chief Officer Jeff Butler advised that keeping members informed of the following the ACTSES Recruit Graduation, progress. ACTSES would have approximately 360 The Majura and Woden Units are piloting members, made up for 116 females and the ACTSES Cadets Program with students 244 males. There is a good spread of age from Dickson College and Canberra demographic with 40 members under 25 Grammer. The pilot aims to give students years of age, and 100 members over 50 a taste of what emergency services and years of age. volunteering is all about and teaches them The ACTSES Recruit Graduation ceremony all the different competencies across the on Thursday, 26 September 2019, will see ESA. 82 new recruits graduate. Mr Hawkey acknowledged the assistance Work has been done to support 83 legacy of all the Services within the ESA. widows through the Gutter Cleaning Graduation ceremonies for the students Program, which is an increase from 60 the will be held in the coming weeks. previous year. All six ACTSES storm response units are all The recruitment process has commenced working to engage with the community as for a number of staff positions in ACTSES. part of the Storm Ready campaign. It is anticipated that these vacancies will ACT Emergency Services Agency be filled in the back half of this year. Commissioner Georgeina Ms Whelan Mr Bulter and the ACT Ambulance Service advised that ACTF&R Chief Officer Mark (ACTAS) Chief Officer are working Brown was participating in Exercise Boss together to clarify the expectations of Lift with the Australian Defence Force. ACTSES ambulance volunteers, so that Ms Whelan reminded members of the ESA they can provide better assistance to Open Day on Sunday, 3 November 2019. ACTAS. The ESA was approached by Marymead Doreen McEncroe (SESVA) advised the and is working through the logistics of SESVA Fun Day is scheduled for Sunday, conducting the quiet hour aimed at 22 September 2019, to thank volunteers autistic children, the elderly and frail, the and their families. disabled, and their families. It will be a low SESVA sponsored two members to attend sensory experience for attendees, with the recent Australasian Fire and training to be provided to volunteers on Emergency Service Authorities Council how to deal with these groups. There will (AFAC) Conference in Melbourne. From a be no public advertising of the quiet hour, national perspective, Ms McEncroe with specific interest groups to be acknowledged Dr Faye Bendrups who was approached through their channels. Ms presented with the Australian Financial Whelan advised that she would like the
16
One guy ate at least six They came, we talked, we
sausages at fundraising BBQ demonstrated and
A fundraising BBQ was conducted at collaborated!
Bunnings Fyshwick recently by the ACT The ESA Precinct has been a hive of
Fire & Rescue Capital Climbers to raise activity with the 2019 Pre-Season
money for research into motor neurone Preparedness Briefing conducted today.
disease. As you will see in this video......the day
I just caught up with senior firefighter involved a series of presentations to and
Matt Buchtmann to find out how it all from some of our key stakeholders,
went. followed by practical demonstrations,
Watch the video tour of the ESA HQ and a media
conference.
The video features Commissioner
Georgeina Whelan and some snippets of
each of our chief officers discussing
capabilities during the briefing session
ACT Weather Outlook for the
season ahead
One of the speakers from the ESA Pre-
Season Preparedness Briefing was Ann
Farrell the NSW/ACT Manager from the
Bureau of Meteorology.
Here is a video of her presentation with a Warm up for Pre-Season
comprehensive look at the likely weather
conditions in the ACT for the months
Preparedness Briefing and
ahead. Demonstration
Watch her presentation A number of the ESA's key stakeholders
came to Fairbairn in September for a
presentation on our SIG chopper
capability.
The presentation was a warm up to the
ESA’s annual Pre-Season Preparedness
Briefing and Demonstration the following
day.
As Steve Forbes explains in this video from
the day, the SIG chopper comes with a
few enhancements for the busier months
ahead. This includes sharing content
captured from the air during incidents17
with the community and an upgraded crew. You will be invited to train with your
higher spec camera. crew before the big day.
Watch the video The event celebrates wellness, fitness, fun
and camaraderie for regatta participants,
breast cancer survivors and their
supporters. Funds raised from the event
will allow Dragons Abreast Canberra and
Dragons Abreast Australia to continue
their work in promoting dragon boating to
breast cancer survivors and enabling their
participation in the sport.
Registrations are open now at
http://www.dbact.com.au/events/42673/
Gather your mates for a If you’d like to join the ESA team, choose
dragon boat race!!! ‘Standard Registration’ and enter
By Jeannie Cotterell – ESA Training ‘ACTESA’ in the team name field.
ESA staff and volunteers are all invited to Please feel free to circulate this
join in a special fundraising event for information to any other sports or social
Dragons Abreast. groups. The more the merrier!
The regatta is an excellent opportunity for If you have questions email
team building or just a great day out with dragonsabreastregatta@gmail.com or
your mates. chat with me next time you’re at Hume
Dragon Boat ACT (DBACT) supports for training.
Dragons Abreast Canberra by conducting
this special regatta where you can
experience the thrill of dragon boat racing
ACT F&R College 41 Structural
while supporting Dragons Abreast in Fire fighting Training
Canberra and across the country. By Chris Zeitlhofer - Superintendent, ACT
Fire & Rescue
ACT F&R College 41 is nearing the
completion of their training program and
in week ten commenced the structural
fire fighting component.
This covered off all aspects of fire
behaviour, hazards, safety and
extinguishment.
A full crew consists of 20 paddlers plus a
In providing this practical understanding
drummer and a sweep to steer the boat.
of fire behaviour and extinguishment the
DBACT will provide a drummer and an
Recruits experience in a controlled
accredited sweep for your crew.
environment the development of a fire
Don’t have 20? No worries! Register
from ignition to full involvement of the
yourself or a small group and we’ll match
contents of the structure.
you up with other teams to make a full19 ACTRFS Chief Officer’s report to Bushfire Council — 2 October 2019 Executive The ACT Bushfire Season officially begins on 1 October. The NSW Zones of Southern Ranges and Southern Slopes will also begin 1 October. The Bureau of Meteorology outlook continues to predict dry conditions with higher than average daytime temperatures, the flipside to this being the overnight temperatures will be slightly lower than average due to clear skies. The recent rain was welcome but had little effect on the landscape. The latest BoM outlook is available at http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/outlooks/#/overview/video. ACT has sent volunteers and staff to assist with the fires in Qld and NSW. To date 70 volunteers have heled out across the border with deployments currently on hold. Rohan Scott (RFS) and Paul Flynn (F&R) spent time at the Glen Innes IMT and Dorrigo staging area where an accommodation camp servicing 240 has been setup. We will continue to send people to Glen Innes while the opportunity is available. The RFS held its annual cross border operational briefing during the month with the NSW zone managers all coming together with ACTRFS, ACTF&R, ACTPCS and ACT Policing. The meeting is an opportunity to confirm cross border arrangements and understanding, renew relationships and meet new people in their roles. We all agreed that people resources are currently strained with early activity and that we need a joined up understanding of our combined capability. The RFS Ops team join the NSW regions teleconference on weekly basis to discuss all matters regional. I had the opportunity observe the exercise day for the recent incident management level 2 course for Control, Operations, Planning and Logistics. The course was cross jurisdictional with attendees from NSW Parks and ACT. The course is 5 days long, intensive and rewarding. We have begun the discussions with business unit heads on SBMP Actions and which directorate owns the reporting. I look forward to Councils advice to ESA on improvements to the Governance Plan. On Friday 27 September we launched the SBMP along with announcing the start of the bushfire season. This was a terrific opportunity to thank everyone involved in the development of the SBMP. Community Bushfire Protection Team The work of the Fire Zoning Working Group continues, with good progress being made on reviewing current APZ, with the major focus the urban interface. Field inspections have been undertaken to check the validity of current zonings, and to check mapped vegetation classification matches the site vegetation. As part of this project, analysis of APZs around infrastructure are being undertaken, and utilities are being consulted for the importance of installations. This work should indicate whether the mapped APZs give adequate protection or can be revised at some sites. This working group will ensure that the fire management zones are reviewed and adopted by December 2020. The Manager Community Bushfire Protection was able to assist with presenting IMT Level 2 training of the Operations stream at the recent week of training at ESAT. Once again, this course was an excellent opportunity for multi-agency candidates to be instructed and then assessed working within an IMT for a full day of scenarios. The candidates were a mix of ACT agencies and NSW National Parks staff.
20
Farm FireWise implementation recommences with the return of Chris Condon from leave. As usual
this program balances the priority of implementing FFW within the BAZ, and completion of FFW for
Land Management Agreements being completed by EPSDD.
Membership and Training
Pre-season preparedness activities are well underway with the Membership database being thoroughly
reviewed and updated to ensure Member fitness records, Working With Vulnerable People clearances
and personal contact information is up to date. With interstate deployments already occurring, it is
particularly important for the Service to ensure it is holding and maintaining accurate Membership
records and related supporting evidence.
ESA Training has recently released the new ACT Emergency Services Agency Student Handbook. This is
a very worthwhile and informative document which provides an in-depth explanation of the
requirements for participating in the Nationally Recognised Training opportunities provided by ESA.
It is a busy time for Learning & Development over the next two months with the full review of the Bush
Firefighter course currently underway. There are four highly skilled and experienced Members from
three Brigades who have generously agreed to contribute their expertise to the review, and it is
expected that a much improved program will be delivered to new Members in October/November.
There are two key factors which prompted the review.
1. The new version of the Public Safety Training Package (PSTP) was released on 16 July
2019. The majority of all ESA qualifications, Skill Sets and Units of Competency are from the
PSTP and must be transitioned to the new version within 12 months from the release
date. The Rural Fire Service (RFS) Bush Firefighter (BF) course has not been reviewed for
several years.
2. Ongoing feedback from volunteer members has been provided in relation to the quality of the
training which prompted an After Action Review following the completion of the April/May
course. Several opportunities for improvement were identified.
Further review will occur following delivery of the revised course to ensure a continuous improvement
cycle is implemented and maintained.
Public Events/Community Awareness
The Emergency Services Open Day is fast approaching, and the timing is perfect to push out key bushfire
preparedness information Membership and Training.
Operations
Season preparations are well and truly on track. The ESA preparedness is a combination of all services
jointly working together to prepare the agency for fire and storm season. Members of the ACT Rural
Fire Service and greater ESA are prepared and ready to respond to any incident that may occur.
Brigades have conducted their annual equipment’s checks and are also completing their pack (fitness)
testing. Many of the brigades are now moving into weekly training.
The recent rain and snow whilst welcome, didn’t record levels high enough to reduce or delay fire
dangers to the ACT / NSW region. The slight green tinge will quickly change as the annual grass curing
circle starts and the heavier fuels are still very dry. ACT has already assisted fire services in QLD and NSW
as their fire season are in full swing. Both states have experienced large incidents and the community is
counting the cost of lost grazing land, livestock and structures.21 Over the past four weeks the ACT has deployed 76 members to Rockhampton, Gold Coast, Glenn Innes, Grafton and Dorrigo. A variety of positions were filled by deploying members from ground crews, public information, mapping, aviation and IMT. Ground crews have all returned safe and with a level of excitement to have assisted fellow colleagues and gain new skills. Ground crews whilst deployed have conducted over 100km of back burning. Deployed crews were housed in the NSWRFS base camps. The base camps are a modern form of ‘glamping’. Each tent accommodates approx 16 ppl and are kept at a comfortable 23 degrees with heating and cooling. The tents are sound, and light insulated with many charging points for devices (a major bonus for camper). Base camps have toilets, showers, 24/07 catering and recline/recreation areas for members to relax and enjoy others company when not tasked to the fires. Most camps have a population on 220 firefighters and support personal. Deployed crews have been reporting very dry and changed fire behaviour not normally experienced. Rainforests that would usually been used as a containment option are carrying fire and burning very well. Not a good sign for the remainder of the fire season. Rohan Scott and Paul Flynn (ACTF&R) deployed to the Incident management team located in Glenn Innes. They have bought back many observations and suggested changes that will benefit the way ACT manages incidents. The scale and size of the complex of incidents was staggering and the personal behind the scenes to manage the incidents all work seamlessly to assist the ground crews. When in Glenn Innes the IMT was managing 9 separate fires that had consumed 200000Ha and had a fire perimeter in excess of 1800km.
22
23 Bushfire Council Field Trip – Thursday 3 October 2019 Proposed itinerary NOTE: Timing of stops may be adjusted, but it is anticipated return to Fairbairn will be 1600hrs. Don’t forget to wear comfortable clothing, bring a hat, and comfortable shoes. ACTRFS staff have organised catering for the day. 0900 - Depart RFS HQ Fairbairn in RFS 4wd vehicles, commentary and questions via radio. 0930 - Mt Stromlo summit: discussion & overview of land management, BOPs 1000 - depart Mt Stromlo for Uriarra Rd 1025 - arrive vantage point overlooking Denman Prospect for discussion of development and required mitigation measures 1130 - Depart for Cotter Rd 1150 - arrive Riverview area to discuss FFW property & grant actions 1205 - depart for toilet stop at Casurina Sands 1210 - Casurina Sands picnic area 1220 - depart for Bullen Range 1240 - view of Murrumbidgee Corridor to urban edge from Bullen Hill 750m 1250 - depart for Murrays Corner 1300 - arrive Murrays Corner lunch stop at picnic area 1330 - depart for Mineshaft SA 1340 - Arrive Mineshaft SA 1350 - depart for Pierces Ck FG inspection and discussion 1400 - arrive PC FG for discussion on fire behaviour and control strategies utilised 1430 - depart for Tidbinbilla RFS Station 1445 - arrive Tid Station for inspection and cuppa 151 5 - depart for Fairbairn HQ 1600 - arrive Fairbairn ESA HQ
24
25
ACT Bushfire Council – Performance Checklist
Elements of effective Checklist Risks to full Impact Level Mitigation
meetings for current effectiveness of risk
meeting
Agenda – clear, concise Loss of focus on Council Low • Use annual business
and focussed on the important issues inadequately plan to direct
right matters prepared to carry agendas
out its functions • Chair active in
agenda setting
Preparation – papers Loss of focus on Poor decisions Med • ESA encourage
are relevant and enable important issues, papers to be
appropriate analysis poor analysis strategic and make
evidence transparent
Preparation – papers Inadequate Poor decisions Med • ESA convey the
are available at least 3 preparation importance to staff
days prior contributors
Council-members - have Meeting time Poor decisions Med • Keep members
read the papers and pre- taken up in engaged
prepared questions or repeating
comments provided material,
inadequate
debate
Council members – Absenteeism • Failure to Low • Chair monitor
attend meetings achieve a engagement and
regularly quorum take early action to
• Poor decisions encourage
due to failure to attendance
include full range • Encourage absent
of views members to read
papers and provide
comment
Chair – is effective in Insufficient time • Poor decisions Med • Use of this checklist
guiding the meeting for most • Biased decisions at each meeting to
(keeps to time, deals important (if conflict of provide feedback to
with conflicts of interest, matters, members interest not dealt Chair and all
encourages inclusive overlooked, with) attendees
debate, is constructive, disengaged, • Disengagement • Review Council
gathers consensus, future direction effectiveness
summarises issues and not clear annually in March.
actions)
Minutes - accurately Confusion, time • Poor progress of Med • Secretariat provide
record information and wasted in re- business draft minutes
decisions checking, risk of • BFC advice not promptly, Chair
inaccurate clear to review promptly,
minutes on the stakeholders and Members review
public record the public carefully.
Actions – followed up Loss of • Poor progress of Med • ESA support the
promptly momentum on business Secretariat in
issues completing actions
promptly.
• Council members act
promptly on items
they’ve committed
to.
In-camera sessions – Members take • Council seen as Low • Provide for in last 15
held regularly unresolved issues ineffective minutes of every
outside Council meeting.26 How to join Sharepoint Using your personal email address choose “Use Microsoft Account” Create new account Enter your Personal email address in the placed provided Follow the prompts moving forward You will need to provide some personal information – name, DOB You will be sent a verification email to your personal email account which will contain a code that you will need to enter You will need to enter a phone number (choose mobile for convenience so you can receive texts). You will receive a verification text that you need to enter. That should be it. There might be a popup on the sharepoint site. You can either follow that rabbit hole or not. Once in the folders choose BFC documents from the left menu
27
ACT Parks and Conservation Service (PCS)
Land Managers update – September 2019
1. 2019/20 BOP Preparation
EPSDD provided a final copy of the EPSDD BOP 19/20 to the Commissioner ESA for formal
endorsement and approval. In the meantime, staff are delivering the draft BOP.
2. Prescribed burns
PCS continue to look for opportunities to deliver burns whenever the weather is suitable. A small burn
in Pialligo was undertaken in mid-September.
3. Capital Works
The upgrade of Clear Range fire trail (as identified in the SBMP v3) continues with work progressing
well. This project will complete the Capital works package of strategic trails which has included Naas
Valley Firetrail, Old Boboyan Rd and Caloola Crossing. Other projects have been investigated including
Booth Range Trail and Fishing Gap to Cotter River, noting funding for these would be subject to future
successful budget bids.
4. RFMP
Ongoing – all public consultation has been finalised. PCS is working with ESA to identify future asset
protection zones. A joint working group has been established to go through the process of identifying
the future zones and associated works.
5. Seasonal Recruitment
The PCS seasonal fire fighters commenced work on the 2nd September. So far they have been subject
to intensive training and have completed:
• Basic Firefighter
• Asbestos Awareness
• Manual Handling
• Chemcert
• Chipper training
• Sharps
• White Card
• Various internal EPSDD / PCS mandatory training
They will complete fire tower operations, first aid and 4WD Operation before joining our crews in a full
time capacity.28
6. FFMG and RLM
Scott Farquhar represented EPSDD in Melbourne at the biannual Forest Fire Managers Group and the
Rural Land Managers Group, both sub-groups of AFAC. These meetings coincided with a Prescribed
Burning Centre of Excellence workshop that Scott was also able to attend.
7. Pre-season Preparedness
EPSDD has completed fire fitness assessments and has commenced the Preparedness Days. These are
mandatory for all staff to attend and participate.
8. Deployments
15 PCS Firefighters were deployed to Queensland in mid-September as part of the ACT deployments
providing assistance in the South-West and South-East Regions. These personnel represented the
organisation well and showed exceptional skill and resolve in tackling some challenging tasks.
Queensland RFS identified a desire to embed some of their firefighters with PCS RAFT and Arduous
Hand Crew teams to build skills and experience to meet their evolving fire landscape.
9. Training
In addition to the training listed against the seasonal staff, PCS provided basic firefighter training to 10
district staff.
EPSDD staff attended recent multi-agency Level 2 IMT training with two staff members completing
Logistics and one staff completing Planning. In addition, a number of staff assisted in the delivery of
the training.
PCS has Divisional Commander training scheduled for October 2019.You can also read
