DRAFT MINUTES
THE HILLS SHIRE
LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING
MONDAY 3
RDJULY 2017 COMMENCING AT 1.00PM
THE HILLS SHIRE COUNCIL
3 COLUMBIA COURT, BAULKHAM HILLS (NEXT TO NOVOTEL HOTEL)
MEETING ROOM 6
All correspondence to be addressed to the:
Local Emergency Management Officer
The Hills Shire Council, PO Box 7046, Baulkham Hills BC 2153 Telephone: (02) 9843 0205 Fax: (02) 9843 0409
1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBERS/OBSERVERS Michael Lathlean (The Hills Shire Council – Chair, LEMO)
Jeanine Jay (Infrastructure Planning Group Support) Rob Critchlow (NSW Police Force – LEOCON)
Jamie Horsfield (REMO) Phil Bow (Rural Fire Service) Alex Scott (Fire & Rescue NSW)
Evelyn Lester (State Emergency Service) Paul Turner (Ambulance Service NSW)
Martin Horwood (Greater Sydney Local Land Services)
Caren Friend (Western Sydney Local Health District Counter Disaster Unit) Jonathon Pallot (Endeavour Energy)
John Le (Endeavour Energy)
Diane Anderson (St Johns Ambulance) Dave Wood (Castle Hill RSL Club Ltd) Craig Samuel (Transurban)
Pat Hobday (Transurban)
David Screen (Metro Trains Sydney)
2. APOLOGIES
Steve Coleman (The Hills Shire Council – Alt. LEMO) Glen Streat (Australian Red Cross)
Matthew Harris (NSW Police Force, The Hills LAC) Steve Egginton (NSW Police Force, Hawkesbury LAC) Heather Gwilliam (Anglicare)
Ciaran O’Reilly (Transurban)
3. LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP LIST
The list of the Committee’s current members and observers was circulated at the meeting for updating.
4. ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON MONDAY 6th MARCH 2017
A copy of the Minutes was attached to the Agenda. It was noted that the meeting date was incorrectly identified in the Minutes as 6th November 2017. The Minutes have been corrected accordingly.
Resolved: The Committee adopt the Minutes of the LEMC Meeting of 6th March 2017 as amended.
Moved by Phil Bow and Seconded by Alex Scott
5. OUTSTANDING MATTERS FROM PREVIOUS MEETING No matters outstanding
6. PRESENTATION BY METRO TRAINS SYDNEY
David Screen from Metro Trains Sydney provided a presentation to the Committee on the Sydney Metro Northwest project. The focus of the presentation was on Metro Trains Sydney’s role in operating the railway including emergency management planning. David offered to investigate the possibility of hosting the next meeting at the project’s offices at Rouse Hill.
Resolved: The presentation be received.
Moved by Michael Lathlean and seconded by Rob Critchlow
7. REGIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING
The Regional Emergency Management Committee (REMC) was held at the RFS Head Office at Homebush on Friday 2nd June 2017.
The Chair and REMO will provided a verbal report to the Committee on several matters discussed including the Sydney Metro Northwest project, the Parramatta Light Rail Project, EMPLAN implementation progress, and training.
Resolved: The information be received.
Moved by Evelyn Lester and seconded by Rob Critchlow
8. ORANGE BLOSSOM FESTIVAL 2017
Council’s annual Orange Blossom Festival is to be held at Bella Vista Farm Park on Sunday 27th August 2017 from 10am to 7pm.
Subject to interest from the Committee Members and Observers and their respective emergency service and support agencies, it is proposed to again participate in the Orange Blossom Festival activities.
Resolved: The Committee’s Member and Observer agencies agree to participate in the 2017 Orange Blossom Festival at Bella Vista Farm Park on Sunday 27th August 2017.
Moved by Phil Bow and seconded by Alex Scott
9. FURTHER UPDATE OF EMPLAN
At its meeting on 6th March 2017 the Committee endorsed amendments to the EMPLAN to reflect changes to the boundaries of The Hills Shire following the NSW Government’s proclamation of 12 May 2016.
As part of the LEMOs ongoing review of the EMPLAN, the Woodbury School in the Balcombe Heights Estate has been added to the list of Primary Schools in Annexure E – Vulnerable Facilities List.
This change will be made to the Master Copy of the EMPLAN but a further copy of the amended EMPLAN will not be distributed to Members and Observers unless requested.
The LEMO is also aware of several retirement village complexes currently under construction on Fairway Drive at Kellyville. These will also be added to the EMPLAN once they are fully opened for occupation
Given the level of new development across the Shire, the Committee is requested to endorse this approach to the updating and review of the EMPLAN on an ongoing basis. Any proposed changes will however be reported at future meetings of the Committee.
It was also agreed to distribute a copy of the current Vulnerable Communities and Facilities spreadsheet to Members and government agency observer members.
Resolved: The Committee endorse the approach detailed by the LEMO to the updating and review of the EMPLAN.
Moved by Phil Bow and seconded by Michael Lathlean
10. HORNSBY-KURINGAI EMPLAN
Members of the REMC have been forwarded a copy of the Draft Hornsby-Kuringai (HK) EMPLAN for comment.
The LEMO has noted that the HK EMPLAN nominates different Evacuation Centres in the Wisemans Ferry and Glenorie villages to those listed in The Hills Shire EMPLAN. In both villages the two evacuation centres are within about 100m of each other.
The LEMO has raised this issue with the REMO suggesting that a common evacuation centre for each village should be included in the two EMPLANs. This is particularly relevant given that bushfires in both villages and flooding at Wisemans Ferry are managed by The Hills RFS and The Hills SES respectively.
This is regardless of the fact that the local government boundary runs down the centre of Old Northern Road.
It is anticipated that the REMO may be able to provide some verbal feedback on this issue at the meeting.
Resolved: The Committee note the LEMOs comments regarding the nominated evacuation centres at the Wisemans Ferry and Glenorie villages and agree that it would be preferable to have a single evacuation centre for each location.
Moved by Rob Critchlow and seconded by Phil Bow
11. THE HILLS SES UNIT – PROPOSED NEW HEADQUARTERS
At the Council meeting on 11 April 2017, Council considered a report on the establishment of a new headquarters for The Hills SES Unit. After considering that report Council resolved:
1. Council support the construction of a new headquarters for the Hills State Emergency Service Unit
2. A further report be submitted identifying the suitability of other potential sites for a new headquarters in comparison to the area of land adjoining Cropley House that is nominated in this report.
3. Funds totalling $300,000 for the design and planning approval process, be allocated in the April budget review.
4. Council approach State and Federal Members of Parliament seeking financial assistance toward the cost of a new headquarters for The Hills State Emergency Service Unit.
In accordance with Part 2 of Council’s resolution, investigations are currently underway to identify a suitable site for the new SES Headquarters including the availability of NSW State Government owned land.
A further report with a list of potential sites will be referred to Council as soon as a response is received from the NSW State Government. However the timing of this report may be impacted upon by the caretaker period before the September Local Government elections.
Resolved: The information be received
Moved by Evelyn Lester and seconded by Michael Lathlean
12. TRAINING
As Members and Observers are reminded at all LEMC meetings, details on all emergency management training courses can be found on the Ministry for Police and Emergency Services website www.emergency.nsw.gov.au. Nominations for attendance at any of the courses can also be made through the website.
Recommendation: The information on training be received.
Moved by Michael Lathlean and seconded by Alex Scott
13. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HEALTH CHECK TOL FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
The Sydney Coastal Councils Group (SCCG) recently completed a project, on
‘Implementing and Embedding an Emergency Management Health Check for Local Government’. This project was funded through the State Emergency Management Projects Program, and endorsed by the State Emergency Management Committee.
The SCCG engaged consulting firm Janellis, to develop and deliver an online Emergency Management Health Check Tool (‘the Tool’) and resource toolkit for local councils in NSW. Council staff, REMOs and staff from State combat agencies participated in six workshops held across NSW to input into the process of developing the online Tool. Over 100 stakeholders including the LEMO took part in this engagement process highlighting the interest in and need for the Tool.
The Tool has been developed to enable Councils to better review and assess their preparedness, planning capability, resilience and resourcing in emergency management. The Tool covers four areas including; i) managing risks; ii) planning for emergencies and disasters; iii) building capability to respond effectively; and iv) providing assurance of capability and capacity. There are twenty capabilities identified across the four areas.
On completion of the Tool a report was generated enabling both Council and the LEMC to identify areas of high performance and areas for improved capability in readiness for emergency situations. The Tool is designed to be undertaken every 12 months, and therefore, once a baseline is established, can be used to demonstrate Council’s continuous improvement in emergency readiness and resilience over time.
After completing the survey, Council’s results (out of 5) were:
• Overall readiness outcome – 3.75
• Managing risks – 4.23
• Planning for emergencies and disasters – 3.7
• Building capability to respond effectively – 3.33
• Providing assurance of capability and capacity – 3.4
The LEMO can provide Members and Observers a copy of the detailed report generated by the Tool on request.
The Tool has identified several areas where improvements can be made to Council’s emergency management readiness and the LEMO will work on these areas over the next 12 months before undertaking the Tool questionnaire again.
The REMO indicated that he was unaware as to whether other Council’s in the Region had completed the Health Check.
Resolved: The report be received.
Moved by Michael Lathlean and seconded by Rob Critchlow
14. REPORTS FROM MEMBER AND OBSERVOR ORGANISATIONS REMO
discussed the different Courses available for Emergency Management
EMOS training program is progressing NSW Police Force
nothing to report Fire and Rescue NSW
despite increasing numbers of house fires, the have been no fatalities to report however they are raising safety awareness
a new fire engine had arrived to replace an older appliance at Kellyville station
cladding issues were raised and buildings were under review Rural Fire Service
Glenhaven and Sackville North received two new appliances
Worked with NSW Police during Vivid NSW SES
there are still properties with tarps on their roof in Kellyville due to the tile shortage with the potential to last until December.
In total there have been more than there been 2500 jobs due to the February hail storm
new members are being trained
replacement of several older SES vehicles has been delayed Endeavour Energy
nothing to report
Greater Sydney Local Land Services
nothing to report
Western Sydney Local Health District
the increase of Flu has started to spike however it’s in line with this time of year
they have practised pandemic exercises and performed well
Westmead Children’s Hospital has undergone power outages which required the use of the backup generator
Tollaust Pty Limited
work proceeding on Northconnex project with tunnelling and M2 widening works
sadly there was one workplace fatality to report on the project which resulted in some delays to the construction program
the project is planned to be open in 2019 St John Ambulance
nothing to report Castle Hill RSL
nothing to report
Resolved: The reports be received.
Moved by Rob Critchlow and seconded by Michael Lathlean 15. GENERAL BUSINESS
Phil Bow raised an issue regarding an enquiry he has received from the consultant involved in a design for the upgrades of Withers Rd and Annangrove Rd. Michael Lathlean agreed to forward the enquiry on to Council’s Infrastructure & Transport Planning Team.
16. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Local Emergency Management Committee will be held on Monday 6th November 2017 commencing at 1.00pm and preceded by lunch at 12.30pm. A venue will be conformed closer to the date.
