Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee (MEMPC)
Community Emergency
Risk Assessment
INTRODUCTION:
As part of the Emergency Management Planning Process, Council is required through the Emergency Management Act and the Emergency Management Manual Victoria to
undertake a Community Emergency Risk Assessment (CERA).
Moorabool’s Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee has appointed a CERA Sub Committee which consists of members of the SES, VicPol, CFA both
regional and local members and Council staff. The Committee worked through the Statewide SES CERA Template to review the community emergency risk profile and risks
for Moorabool.
Key documents used in the development of the Moorabool risk assessment include the Community Emergency Risk Assessment Planning Guide available on the SES
website and the Emergency Risks in Victoria Report released in April 2014 and available on the Department of Justice website. Data of recent events included in Council’s
Municipal Emergency Plan were detailed and assessed.
CONSULTATION AND FEEDBACK:
The Community Emergency Risk Assessment (CERA) process has been established by the State to identify and prioritise emergency risks within a local municipality. The
output of the assessment process can be used to ensure communities are aware of and better informed about hazards and the associated emergency risks that may affect
them. In accordance with the framework, this process is undertaken every three years by a working group consisting of hazard specific experts in the identified hazard areas
and local emergency service personnel. It then gives the community an opportunity to provide localised input into impacts and the existing mitigation controls they have
developed and any improvement opportunities that they are undertaking in their local areas i.e. localised Community Emergency Planning.
The following information on the priority risks for Moorabool Shire Council is detailed below and includes a definition of the risk, current impacts and existing mitigation
controls and improvement opportunities that agencies and the Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee will assess over the coming years.
The Committee would like to include any local emergency plans or community resilient measures that are currently being undertaken or have been developed within the
Shire. Feedback can be provided to info@moorabool.vic.gov.au or through the haveyoursay community engagement portal until Friday 17 October.
The following Risks are listed in priority order:
1. Flood – Moderate
2. Flood - Major
3. Bushfire – Large Regional
4. Bushfire – Small, isolated
5. Human Epidemic / Pandemic
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Transport Incident – Road
Transport Incident – Aircraft/Rail
Storm
Landslip
Extreme Temperatures –
Heatwave
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Earthquake
Exotic Animal Disease
Fire Incidental
Fire Residential
Structural Failure Dam
Risk 1 – Flood (moderate)
Flooding is mainly caused by heavy rainfall that exceeds the capacity of normal water courses and bodies of water. Most floods are classified as riverine (where rivers,
streams or lakes overflow) or stormwater flooding that occurs when the capacity of drainage systems is exceeded and water can flow in normally dry and often impervious
urban areas
Impacts and Existing Mitigation Controls
Improvement Opportunities
(Dependent on funding and resource availability)
Impact
No.
Who/What
1.
Property
Owners
Property
Owners
Council
Infrastructure
2.
3.
4.
Property
Owners
Vulnerability/
Exposure
Properties
Inundated
Properties
Inundated
Roads, Bridges,
Culverts, Walking
Tracks, Council
Properties
Inundated
Existing Controls
Owner
Opportunity
Impac
t No.
Owner
Land Use Planning
Overlays and Zonings
Municipal Flood
Emergency Plan
Municipal Flood
Emergency Plan
Council Planning
Development of Flood Warning Systems
2.
SES
SES
Signage at Flood Prone Areas
3.
Council
Council
Engineering
Bureau of Meteorology Weather Stations
2.
MEMPC
Sandbagging Machine
and Procedure
Council/SES
Risk 2 – Flood (major)
Most floods are classified as riverine (where rivers, streams or lakes overflow) or stormwater flooding that occurs when the capacity of drainage systems is exceeded and
water can flow in normally dry and often impervious urban areas. Flood waters can often rise rapidly and flow with high velocity, thus posing the greater threat to human life,
particularly for stormwater flooding or riverine flooding in the upper catchments. Such flooding is often called flash flooding because warning times are very short.
Impacts and Existing Mitigation Controls
Improvement Opportunities
(Dependent on funding and resource availability)
Impact
No.
Who/What
1.
Property
Owners
Property
Owners
Council
Infrastructure
2.
3.
4.
Property
Owners
Vulnerability/
Exposure
Properties
Inundated
Properties
Inundated
Roads, Bridges,
Culverts, Walking
Tracks, Council
Properties
Inundated
Existing Controls
Owner
Opportunity
Impac
t No.
Owner
Land Use Planning Overlays
and Zonings
Municipal Flood Emergency
Plan
Municipal Flood Emergency
Plan
Council Planning
Development of Flood Warning Systems
2.
SES
SES
Signage at Flood Prone Areas
3.
Council
Council
Engineering
Bureau of Meteorology Weather Stations
2.
MEMPC
Sandbagging Machine and
Procedure
Council/SES
Risk 3 – Bushfire – large, regional
The high bushfire risk in Victoria is the consequence of a combination of factors including: • large areas of highly flammable eucalypt forest, • expanses of highly flammable
grassland, • a climatic pattern of mild, moist winters followed by hot dry summers, • protracted droughts, • agricultural practices that include the use of fire, • increasing
population density in bushfire-prone areas, such as in the rural-urban fringe. The reason that the potential consequences of the rarest bushfires are so severe is the high
possibility that major bushfires will lead to loss of life and injury, damage key State infrastructure such as electricity transmission lines, water supply assets including mature
forests in water catchments, transport links such as roads, bridges and railways and cause permanent environmental damage.
Impacts and Existing Mitigation Controls
Improvement Opportunities
(Dependent on funding and resource availability)
Impact
No.
Who/What
1.
Community
2.
Infrastructure
3.
7.
Community
Awareness
Homes and
Infrastructure
Residents
and Visitors
Loss of Life,
Property,
Environment
Community
8.
Infrastructure
9.
Road
Closures
4.
5.
6.
Vulnerability/
Exposure
Loss of Life,
Property,
Environment
Loss of Property
and Essential
Services
Education
Property Loss
Unable to leave
early
Destruction of
homes,
businesses, etc.
Loss of Life,
Property,
Environment
Loss of Property
and Essential
Services
Roads/Bridges
Existing Controls
Owner
Opportunity
Impact
No.
Owner
Fire ignition controls, including Total Fire
Ban, electricity, etc.
All Agencies
Community Warning Sirens
3
State/CFA/Council
Municipal Fire Management Plan and
Victorian Fire Risk Register
All Agencies
Community Info Guides, Fire Awareness
Week, Community Warnings & Advice
Planning Overlays in BMO
CFA
Shelter Options Community Fire Refuges &
Neighbourhood Safer Places
Municipal Fire Management Plan – Planned
Slashing /Burning Treatments
State, CFA,
Council
MFMPC
Midlands Fire Operations Plan
DEPI
Midlands Fire Operations Plan
DEPI
Road Closure information published on
website
VicRoads
State
Risk 4 – Bushfire – small, isolated
The high bushfire risk in Victoria is the consequence of a combination of factors including: • large areas of highly flammable eucalypt forest, • expanses of highly flammable
grassland, • a climatic pattern of mild, moist winters followed by hot dry summers, • protracted droughts, • agricultural practices that include the use of fire, • increasing
population density in bushfire-prone areas, such as in the rural-urban fringe. The reason that the potential consequences of the rarest bushfires are so severe is the high
possibility that major bushfires will lead to loss of life and injury, damage key State infrastructure such as electricity transmission lines, water supply assets including mature
forests in water catchments, transport links such as roads, bridges and railways and cause permanent environmental damage.
Impacts and Existing Mitigation Controls
Improvement Opportunities
(Dependent on funding and resource availability)
Impact
No.
Who/What
1.
Community
2.
Infrastructure
3.
7.
Community
Awareness
Homes and
Infrastructure
Residents
and Visitors
Loss of Life,
Property,
Environment
Community
8.
Infrastructure
9.
Road
Closures
4.
5.
6.
Vulnerability/
Exposure
Loss of Life,
Property,
Environment
Loss of Property
and Essential
Services
Education
Property Loss
Unable to leave
early
Destruction of
homes,
businesses, etc.
Loss of Life,
Property,
Environment
Loss of Property
and Essential
Services
Roads/Bridges
Existing Controls
Owner
Opportunity
Impact
No.
Owner
Fire ignition controls, including Total Fire
Ban, electricity, etc.
All Agencies
Community Warning Sirens
3
State/CFA/Council
Municipal Fire Management Plan and
Victorian Fire Risk Register
All Agencies
Community Info Guides, Fire Awareness
Week, Community Warnings & Advice
Planning Overlays in BMO
CFA
Shelter Options Community Fire Refuges &
Neighbourhood Safer Places
Municipal Fire Management Plan – Planned
Slashing /Burning Treatments
State, CFA,
Council
MFMPC
Midlands Fire Operations Plan
DEPI
Midlands Fire Operations Plan
DEPI
Road Closure information published on
website
VicRoads
State
Risk 5 – Human Epidemic / Pandemic
A Human epidemic/pandemic occurs for example; when a highly infectious new strain of influenza emerges for which humans have little or no immunity -resulting in severe
social and economic disruption. History has shown that pandemics tend to occur every 10-50 years. It is estimated that up to 40% of the workforce may withdraw from work at
any one time due to illness, the need to care for family members, or the fear of contracting the virus in the workplace or on public transport. Businesses need to be conscious
of this possibility for their continuity planning, as well as exercising their duty of care to employees under occupational health and safety to take all reasonably practicable
steps to protect their health and safety at work.
Impacts and Existing Mitigation Controls
Improvement Opportunities
(Dependent on funding and resource availability)
Impact
No.
Who/What
1.
Community
2.
Moorabool
Community
Council Staff
3.
Vulnerability/
Exposure
Illness or death
Existing Controls
Owner
Opportunity
Impact
No.
Owner
Vaccination
Business Continuity Plan
3
Council
Illness or death
Municipal Influenza Pandemic Plan
Health
Services
Council
Agency Business Continuity
Plans
3.
All agencies
Unable to operate
business
Municipal Influenza Pandemic Plan
Council
Risk 6 – Transport Incident - Road
There is a risk that damage caused by failure of or within the transport system infrastructure would impair the operations of the road networks, as well as causing death and
injury. Economic consequences through repair costs and disruptions to normal flows of people and goods could be high.
Impacts and Existing Mitigation Controls
Improvement Opportunities
(Dependent on funding and resource availability)
Impact
No.
Who/What
Existing Controls
Owner
Opportunity
Impact
No.
Owner
People
Vulnerability/
Exposure
Death or injury
1.
Education and awareness and testing
State,
VicPol
1
Council/VicRoads
2.
Road Closures
Roads, Bridges
Road Closure Information published on website
VicRoads
Advocacy for Blackspot funding for
known impact areas.
Ongoing monitoring of speed zones
1.
Council/VicRoads
3.
VicRoads
Infrastructure
Death or Injury
Monitoring of crash stats and funding
submissions
VicRoads
Maintenance on roads, ie: potholes,
regulating, linemarking etc.
1.
Council/VicRoads
4.
VicRoads
Infrastructure
Death of Injury
Ice warning devices on Western Freeway and
Midland Highway
VicRoads
Risk 7 – Transport Incident – Aircraft/Rail
As above.
Impacts and Existing Mitigation Controls
Improvement Opportunities
(Dependent on funding and resource availability)
Impact
No.
Who/What
1.
Community
or
Passengers
Vulnerability/
Exposure
Death or injury
Existing Controls
Owner
Opportunity
Impact
No.
Owner
Emergency Plans
State or
Operator
Completed Emergency
Management Plan for Bacchus
Marsh Aerodrome
1
BMAM
Risk 8 – Storm
Thunderstorms are most likely to occur during the period October to April. Only about 10% of thunderstorms are severe. However they all produce lightning which can cause
death, injury and damage. Wind storms can occur at any time of year although are more common in the winter and spring. Heavy rainfall is mostly a winter-spring
phenomenon in Victoria. However some major events have occurred in the summer half-year as systems of tropical origin extend or move south.
Impacts and Existing Mitigation Controls
Improvement Opportunities
(Dependent on funding and resource availability)
Impact
No.
Who/What
1.
Community
2.
Trees and
Roads
Trees over
Roads
Community
3.
Vulnerability/
Exposure
Damage to homes
and buildings
Trees over roads or
powerlines
Trees over road
Existing Controls
Owner
Opportunity
Impact
No.
Owner
Community Education –
Stormsafe
Emergency Occurrence
Procedure
SES
SES
Appropriate Trees for planting
education
2.
Council
Loss of Life
5.
Road
Closures
Roads, Bridges
Community Education –
Stormsafe
Road Closures
6.
Trees over
Roads
Trees over road
Trees over Roads
4.
Council Emergency
Management
SES and Relevant
Road Authority
SES
VicRoads
VicRoads
Risk 9 – Landslip
Landslips occur when the stability of the slope changes from a stable to an unstable condition. A change in the stability of a slope can be caused by a number of factors.
Impacts and Existing Mitigation Controls
Improvement Opportunities
(Dependent on funding and resource availability)
Impact
No.
Who/What
1.
Road
Closures
Road
Closures
2.
Vulnerability/
Exposure
Road Closures
Road Closures
Existing Controls
Owner
Road Closure Information
published on website
Regular monitoring of slip
sites and areas of geotech
instability
VicRoads
Opportunity
Impact
No.
Owner
VicRoads
3.
Road
Closures
Road Closures
Traffic Management plan
for Melton West - Bacchus
Marsh Road
VicRoads
4.
Road
Closures
Road Closures
Geotech Reports in areas
Council
Risk 10 – Extreme Temperatures – Heatwave
For consistent community understanding in Victoria, a heatwave is generally defined as a period of abnormally and uncomfortably hot weather that could impact on human
health, community infrastructure and services.
Impacts and Existing Mitigation Controls
Improvement Opportunities
(Dependent on funding and resource availability)
Impact
No.
Who/What
1.
2.
Community
Community
Vulnerability/
Exposure
Death or injury
Death or injury
3.
Community
4.
Flush seals
Existing Controls
Owner
Council
Ambulance Victoria
Death or injury
Cooling Centres
Resource Management –
internal process
Awareness Campaign kit.
Low Skid
Resistance
Monitoring during period of
heatwave
Council – Home and
Community Care
(HACC)
VicRoads
Opportunity
Impact
No.
Owner
Risk 11 – Earthquake
Earthquakes have the potential to cause catastrophic losses. Victoria is considered to have a comparatively low earthquake risk compared to more seismically active areas of
the world. However, it is still possible to have a major earthquake located under a heavily developed and populated area that causes widespread damage. While there is a low
likelihood such an event will occur in the foreseeable future, it is important to recognise the potential for catastrophic consequences.
Impacts and Existing Mitigation Controls
Improvement Opportunities
(Dependent on funding and resource availability)
Impact
No.
Who/What
1.
Community
2.
Road
Closures
Road
Closures
3.
4.
Road
Closures
Vulnerability/
Exposure
Loss of life or
property
Road Closures
Road Closures
Road Closures
Existing Controls
Owner
VICSES Quakesafe
program
Road Closure Information
published on website
Regular monitoring of slip
sites and areas of geotech
instability
SES
Traffic Management plan
for Melton West - Bacchus
Marsh Road
VicRoads
Impact
No.
Opportunity
Owner
VicRoads
VicRoads
Risk 12 – Exotic Animal Disease
Emergency animal diseases are diseases of animals (including bees and fish) that pose a serious risk to the economy, public health or the environment. An emergency
animal disease outbreak could result in: serious socioeconomic effects on farming and associated industries and communities (through international trade losses, production
losses and market disruptions), risks to public health in the case of zoonosis, environmental impacts where wildlife are also affected.
Impacts and Existing Mitigation Controls
Improvement Opportunities
(Dependent on funding and resource availability)
Impact
No.
Who/What
1.
Animals
Vulnerability/
Exposure
Death or
destruction
Existing Controls
Owner
Opportunity
Impact
No.
Owner
Animal Emergency Welfare
Plan
Council
Ongoing education and training and exercising of
Emergency Services Agencies and Staff.
1.
MEMPC
Risk 13 – Fire Industrial
A fire occurring within an industrial area within the municipality can result in property damage, environmental damage, injuries or death to people, stock or wildlife and loss of
employment.
Impacts and Existing Mitigation Controls
Improvement Opportunities
(Dependent on funding and resource availability)
Impact
No.
Who/What
1.
Business
Community
Vulnerability/
Exposure
Loss of life or
property
Existing Controls
Owner
Opportunity
Impact
No.
Owner
Municipal Fire Management
Plan – Structural Risk
MEMPC
Private Business (Business
Continuity Plans)
1.
Property Owners
Risk 14 – Fire Residential
A fire occurring within a residential property within the municipality can result in property damage, environmental damage, injuries or death to people, stock or wildlife.
Impacts and Existing Mitigation Controls
Improvement Opportunities
(Dependent on funding and resource availability)
Impact
No.
Who/What
1.
Residents
2.
Community
Vulnerability/
Exposure
Loss of life or
property
Loss of life or
property
Existing Controls
Owner
Opportunity
Impact
No.
Owner
Single Incident House Fire
Procedure
Municipal Fire Management
Plan – Structural Risk
Council / DHS / VicPol
Community Awareness Program
2.
CFA
MEMPC
Risk 15 – Structural Failure – Dam
Although dam failure maybe relatively rare, preparation for their occurrence is necessary. Two forms of failure are possible: flood overtopping, and “sunny day” (non-flood)
event. An overtopping failure may occur if a flood overtops the dam embankment because the spillway cannot pass the flood flow. Before this form of failure occurs, it is likely
that considerable areas of the downstream valley will already be inundated by river flood flow and emergency response organisations would be on standby or in action due to
flood warning systems. A non-flood failure may occur due to an incident when the reservoir is at normal operating level. Downstream inundation will be solely due to failure of
the dam. “Piping” erosion through the embankment or its foundations, fracturing of the dam’s clay core, an earthquake, slide, or settlement, are possible causes of a non-flood
failure. .
Impacts and Existing Mitigation Controls
Improvement Opportunities
(Dependent on funding and resource availability)
Impact
No.
Who/What
1.
2.
3.
Properties
Roads
Road
Closures
Vulnerability/
Exposure
Flood inundation
Structural Damage
Road/Bridges
Existing Controls
Owner
Opportunity
Impact
No.
Owner
Dam Emergency Plans
Road Authority Inspections
Road Closure information
published on website
DEPI
Council
VicRoads
Education and Awareness
1
DEPI