MADRA June 2023 News
Mallacoota risk and resources assessment
In the voting report of our Recovery Plan, one item that received community support was headed “Conduct an independent fire audit to identify and assess critical infrastructure, risk, emergency resources and other disaster considerations.”
MADRA has received enquiries from the community about how this item is being addressed. Successive committees have focused on the various elements that affect risk and emergency management and how best to address these. We are well aware that our town is surrounded by bush, has one road in/out, and our infrastructure has been lacking. MADRA continues to draw on the expertise and experience of local groups, individuals and the agencies relevant to the issues of risk and emergency management. Some of the resources that we draw on include Inspector-General for Emergency Management Tony Pearce’s independent report: Inquiry into the 2019-20 Victorian Fire Season, which includes direct references to our district and took into account submissions made by community members.
Our focus has been on the practicalities and pushing agencies to respond.
1. Infrastructure: Key issues have been the upgrade of the Main Hall and the Muddie. EGSC assures MADRA that the building of the upgrades will commence in June, this year. Another major project has been the new emergency services facility to accommodate the SES, Coast Guard and the Surf Life Saving Club. Planning is underway for a comprehensive new facility and money is allocated to have this work undertaken.
2. Fuel Management: The Mallacoota Bushfire Fuel Management Group (FMG) is a sub-committee of MADRA. It has met regularly and brings together all the government agencies responsible for bushfire risk – there are many!! This gathering is a unique feature of our district and has real influence on bushfire preparedness strategies. Currently, MADRA is overseeing a study looking at the specific fuel management zone surrounding Mallacoota to assess the best techniques to achieve hazard risk reduction – with the intention that the results inform what occurs around Mallacoota, Gipsy Point and Genoa.
The community has also been provided with a short publication, ‘Safer Forests, Safer Homes’, explaining ways to reduce hazards and the work of the FMG. The FMG’s work is current and continuing – it is highly focussed on the real risks of bushfire and how to keep those risks minimised. The recent mulching behind the Commercial Road area was a direct result of the FMG’s work.
3. Broader agency engagement: MADRA has engaged with Tony Pearce and his superior, Andrew Crisp (Emergency Management Commissioner) for the last couple of years. Mr Crisp has brought together all relevant agencies (Regional Roads Victoria, Parks Victoria, Forest Fire Management, CFA, etc) for frank discussions about fire risk in the broader district – not just fuel management zones – and how that is being addressed. These discussions continue and Mr Crisp has indicated a desire to visit the district later this year to speak to a community gathering MADRA is hosting. These are critical relationships that MADRA has established and supports – for the benefit of the whole community. Visibility of our community and its concerns with these senior leaders in government responsible for the programs that are critical to fire safety is a key strategy to ensure our voices are heard.
4. Mallacoota EGSC Campground Emergency Planning: While not immediately obvious, how the Campground manages visitors is a critical part of how the town responds. For the first time, MADRA has been able to consider the confidential emergency planning document and put forward its views to EGSC about how emergency situations are best handled. These views have been considered and MADRA is satisfied that EGSC has thought through relevant factors when devising its emergency planning procedures including enacting plans to close/move visitors out of the campground at an early stage before a foreseen catastrophic event occurs.
5. Emergency Energy supply: Although it is considered under its own heading in the Recovery Plan, energy availability is also a critical risk issue. Diesel – for vehicles and generators – remains a critical resource issue. MADRA has, as yet, been unable to resolve a potential additional storage facility for diesel, should the road be closed as it was in January 2020 and extant diesel stocks be low. It remains an issue that MADRA is working through.
The community will also be aware of the issues with recent power outages and the availability of the town battery. Having a reliable energy supply in times when the community is cut off for extended periods is a challenging issue. Mallacoota Sustainable Energy Group is also working with agencies to improve the operation of the town battery and to enhance energy security including a microgrid that will power vital commercial businesses (the chemist, for example) should there be power failures. The aim is to structure the microgrid to include community access to facilities for phone charging and food storage.
RediCommunities reminder
Don’t forget the RediCommunities workshops are being held on Thursday 22 and 29 June at the Clubrooms, and it’s recommended that you attend both. These will provide the chance to ask agency representatives any questions you may have about the emergency planning information mentioned here. To register your interest for the two days, please book online through Eventbrite. (Search for Mallacoota and you will easily find both days.)
If you need help with registering, please call Carol Hopkins on 0439 016 103.
Sunday in the Soup
Save the date! Our next ‘Sunday in the Soup’ get-together will be at the Muddie on Sunday 25 June from 4.00-6.00pm. Come along for some more scrumptious home-made soups and a chat in front of the fire. Here are a few photos from our first Sunday Soup venture.
Thanks,
MADRA