Page 2255 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 4 August 2021
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New South Wales RFS Carwoola brigade, identified an opportunity to exercise and practice the capabilities of their compressed air foam system appliances in an ongoing capacity through participating in hazard reduction burns in the Carwoola area each year. Whilst this is considered a valuable cross-border training opportunity, it also provides members with the ability to exercise the capabilities of their communication systems in a controlled scenario, should they be required in an operational incident.
The ESA has recently undertaken to reinvigorate the cross-border working group for emergency management, to enhance cross-border preparedness and liaison for emergency incidents that occur close to or across the border between the two jurisdictions. The work program for this group is being developed to build scenario-planning activities into an all-hazards preparedness program and is jointly led by New South Wales Police and ESA.
As recommended in the McLeod Inquiry into the Operational Response to the January 2003 Bushfires, the ACTRFS regularly attend Bushfire Management Committee—BFMC—meetings as cross-border liaisons. Held four times a year, the BFMC’s objective is to ensure closer collaboration between ACTRFS and the surrounding New South Wales zones in relation to training, operational response, communication systems, hazard reduction strategies and seasonal conditions. These meetings are also attended by the relevant land managers, government authorities and response agencies with a planning and strategic interest in the relevant zones.
Since 2001 the ACTSES have participated in the national disaster rescue challenge (NDRC), which is an opportunity for state and territory emergency service volunteers from across Australia to display their skills in the spirit of friendly competition. The NDRC is an integral part of training and development for ACTSES volunteers and provides opportunities to build stronger working relationships with their cross-border counterparts.
Following the events of the Orroral Valley fire, the ESA has undertaken a secondment arrangement by embedding a New South Wales RFS public information officer into the ESA public information team for 12 months. This arrangement has facilitated cross-border knowledge sharing and assisted in enhancing public information and warnings coordination between the agencies. In October 2020, the ESA invited New South Wales RFS to mentor the ESA public information team during a two-day incident management exercise. This exercise was valuable in better aligning processes and knowledge sharing.
The ESA is also participating in a number of national projects to enhance and further standardise the delivery of emergency warnings and information right across Australia. The ESA aims to deliver the Fires Near Me ACT mobile application, integrated and cohesive with the Fires Near Me New South Wales app, by November 2021. This will enhance cross-border information access for New South Wales and ACT residents.
In the ACT, arrangements have long been in place for the ADF to be accommodated as part of our emergency coordination centre. The ESA regularly meets with appropriate representatives of the ADF through the joint operational support service and, more recently, the joint task group responsible for the coordination of support
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