BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL
DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN
2013
DISASTER ARRANGEMENTS AND BRISBANE
INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN
CHAPTER 1A – DISASTER ARRANGEMENTS AND BIMS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0
BRISBANE DISASTER MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS ............................................... 1
1.1
Queensland Disaster Management Structure ................................................................... 1
1.2
Brisbane Local Disaster Management Arrangements ....................................................... 1
2.0
BRISBANE INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ................................................................ 2
2.1
2.1.1
2.2
Council Levels of Activation of BIMS ................................................................................. 2
Function of Local Disaster Coordination Centre ............................................................ 2
Structure Framework ........................................................................................................ 2
2.2.1
Strategic - Brisbane Local Disaster Management Group ............................................... 2
2.2.2
Operational: Local Disaster Coordination Centre (LDCC) .............................................. 3
2.2.3
Tactical: Regional Incident Management Teams ........................................................... 3
2.2.4
Lord Mayor’s Recovery Task Group .............................................................................. 4
2.3
Activation of Brisbane City Council Disaster Management Plan ........................................ 5
2.4
Activation of LDMG and the Disaster Management Plan ................................................... 5
APPENDIX 1: BRISBANE INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ............................................ 6
APPENDIX 2: STATE LEVELS OF ACTIVATION .................................................................... 7
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CHAPTER 1A – DISASTER ARRANGEMENTS AND BIMS
1.0 BRISBANE DISASTER MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
1.1 Queensland Disaster Management Structure
Figure 1: Queensland Disaster Management Structure
1.2 Brisbane Local Disaster Management Arrangements
Local government underpins Queensland’s Disaster Management System as the key management
agency at the local level. Council is ideally suited to manage most disaster types at the community
level, based on its understanding of social, environmental and economic issues; and its knowledge
of the city’s infrastructure. Council has comprehensive disaster management plans. Further,
Council can coordinate disaster management through its Brisbane City Local Disaster
Management Group (LDMG) and its underpinning Local Disaster Coordination Centre (LDCC).
Brisbane City Council disaster management arrangements are underpinned by a tiered structure to
ensure effective and efficient event response and compliance to relevant legislative and policy
requirements. These arrangements ensure that sound strategic intent is developed, then effectively
implemented and monitored operationally and tactically to ensure timely and efficient management
of disasters.
Principally, Council’s disaster management arrangements can be grouped into two fundamental
concepts:
1. Concept of Response (Brisbane Incident Management System – BIMS)
2. Concept of Recovery (Lord Mayor’s Recovery Task Group – LMRTG)
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2.0 BRISBANE INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Council has articulated its response and recovery procedures in an endorsed Brisbane Incident
Management System (BIMS). This BIMS details Council’s strategic response and recovery
processes.
BIMS is based upon best practice principles and capabilities contained within incident and crisis
management, and complementary levels of escalation that provide a flexible, scalable, efficient and
effective response to emerging disaster and emergency events.
Please refer to Appendix 1: Brisbane Incident Management System diagram.
2.1 Council Levels of Activation of BIMS
Council adopts a flexible and scalable approach to activation of its response. Activation levels are
based on community impacts or consequences, and the required level of coordination of Council’s
response.
Please refer to Appendix 2 for Council’s Levels of Activations.

Level One - Managed through core business functions and normal incident response
reporting as per corporate policies and procedures.

Level Two - Managed by the key Council business unit. The Local Disaster Coordinator
(LDC) may request an Immediate Action Team (IAT) meeting to determine which Council
business unit takes the lead response and to make decisions regarding Council’s
priorities and management of the situation. The MDO will notify and inform key
stakeholders (both internal and external) of the incident with potential for standby of
possible escalations and activations to Level Three or Four.

Level Three - Events that require an activation of the Local Disaster Coordination Centre
(LDCC). Expanded functions of the LDCC may be put on standby for possible
escalations and activation to Level Four. The LDMG may be activated at this level. The
LDC may request a meeting of an IAT if this level is the initial activation. The decision to
transition from Level Three to Level Four will be made by the LDC following IAT
consultation, a recommendation from the MDO or on direction from the Brisbane LDMG
if established. In most cases the District arrangements would also be activated, closely
followed by the State Arrangements.

Level Four - Events that require a complex response through high level coordination,
resource allocation and forward planning from a range of stakeholders, including a
number external to Council. Level Four would see a full activation of the expanded
LDCC functions, activation of the District arrangements and in most cases activation of
the State arrangements.
2.1.1 Function of Local Disaster Coordination Centre
The LDCC has been established to provide a facility in which the required coordination of
resources and priorities as set by the Brisbane LDMG can be executed. The LDCC provides a
focal point for Council’s response and recovery activities in the event of a disaster or emergency.
Full details of the operations of the LDCC are located in the LDCC Standard Operating Procedure
(SOP), which is an internal document available on Council’s Disaster Management intranet or
through Disaster Operations.
2.2 Structure Framework
2.2.1 Strategic - Brisbane Local Disaster Management Group
The Brisbane LDMG has been established in accordance with Part 2, Division 3, Subdivision 1,
Section 29 of the Disaster Management Act 2003. The functions of the Brisbane LDMG are to:
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a. Ensure that disaster management and disaster operations in the area are consistent
with the State group’s strategic policy framework for disaster management for the
State
b. Develop effective disaster management, and regularly review and assess the disaster
management arrangements
c. Assist the local government for its area to prepare a local disaster management plan
d. Identify and provide advice to the relevant district group about support services
required by the local group to facilitate disaster management and disaster operations
in the area
e. Ensure the community is aware of ways of mitigating the adverse effects of an event,
and preparing for, responding to and recovering from a disaster
f.
Manage disaster operations in the area under policies and procedures decided by the
State group
g. Provide reports and make recommendations to the relevant district group about
matters relating to disaster operations
h. Identify and coordinate the use of resources that may be used for disaster operations
in the area
i.
Establish and review communications systems in the group (and with the relevant
district group and other local groups in the disaster district of the relevant district
group) for use when a disaster happens
j.
Ensure information about a disaster in the area is promptly given to the relevant
district group
k. Perform other functions given to the group under this Act
l.
Perform a function incidental to a function mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (k)
Further information on the structure and processes of the Brisbane LDMG can be found in the
Brisbane LDMG SOP.
2.2.2 Operational: Local Disaster Coordination Centre (LDCC)
The LDCC is the facility which coordinates and prioritises the use of resources and assets to
support Council’s response and recovery operations. The LDCC is responsible to the LDC for the
implementation of Brisbane LDMG priorities.
The primary location is the training rooms, Level 1 Brisbane Square, 266 George Street, Brisbane.
The secondary or alternate location for the LDCC is Green Square, 505 St Pauls Terrace, Fortitude
Valley.
More information can be found in the LDCC SOP.
2.2.3 Tactical: Regional Incident Management Teams
The RIMTs have been established to enable continuous operations at a regional level.
The RIMTs are responsible for:
a.
Managing the implementation of strategic decisions through operational tasks allocated
by the LDCC Operations Group;
b.
The command, control and coordination of Council Officers and other assets within the
respective region;
c.
Managing all operations directly related to the event response within their respective
regions;
d.
The collection, evaluation, dissemination and use of information about the incident and
status of resources; and
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e.
The provision and management of personnel and resources within the region.
More information can be found in the RIMT SOP.
2.2.4 Lord Mayor’s Recovery Task Group
The Lord Mayor’s Recovery Task Group (LMRTG) is established as required to lead Council’s
recovery effort. When established, recovery subcommittees will report back to the LMRTG on
outcomes, risk and identified issues. The LMRTG provides decision-making and direction to the
recovery subcommittees on scope, timeframes and actions required. The LMRTG also provides
decisions on areas of overlap between recovery subcommittees, when these cannot be resolved.
The LMRTG is chaired by the Lord Mayor and consists of Councillors, the CEO and senior
Council officers, supported by recovery subcommittees. These subcommittees report to the
LMRTG on a regular basis and represent the various business areas of Council involved in
recovery activities. Examples of the types of subcommittees established may include:

Community Recovery Subcommittee

Infrastructure Recovery Subcommittee

Town Planning Subcommittee

Finance and Economic Recovery Subcommittee

Ward Recovery Subcommittee

Environmental Recovery Subcommittee
External stakeholder representation may also be required on each of the Council recovery
subcommittees to ensure an efficient information flow, a reduction in duplication of effort and
consistent messaging between and by various agencies and levels of government.
The Lord Mayor will appoint a head of each of the recovery subcommittees. This person will
typically be the Councillor chair of the relevant committees who will appoint the relevant staff and
stakeholders who are required to be on the committee.
Lord Mayor’s
Recovery Task Group
(Chair: Lord Mayor)
Coordination
Executive Manager
Disaster Response &
Recovery
Ward Recovery
Sub-committee
Planning for
Recovery
Sub-committee
Community Recovery
Co-ordination
Sub-committee
Flood Response
Review Board
Finance & Economic
Recovery
Sub-committee
Infrastructure
Recovery
Sub-committee
Environmental
Recovery
Sub-committee
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Figure 2 – Lord Mayor’s Recovery Task Group
2.3 Activation of Brisbane City Council Disaster Management Plan
The Brisbane LDMG is tasked by the Act to identify and coordinate resources in Brisbane City
during a disaster. The timely activation of the Brisbane LDMG is vital to ensure the most efficient
coordination of a response to a disaster or emergency situation.
2.4 Activation of LDMG and the Disaster Management Plan
It is the functional responsibility of the Chair of LDMG (Lord Mayor) to activate the Brisbane LDMG.
The LDMG in consultation with the following stakeholders may activate the Brisbane City Council
Disaster Management Plan:
a. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) (as the Local Disaster Coordinator (LDC) of the Brisbane
LDMG)
b. Manager, Disaster Operations (MDO)
c. Brisbane District Disaster Coordinator
d. Lead Agency (as appropriate)
Note: The Disaster Management Plan, or part thereof, may also be activated by the LDCC Incident
Controller or Disaster Management Duty Officer (DMDO) out of hours with concurrence of either
the LDC or MDO.
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APPENDIX 1: BRISBANE INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
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APPENDIX 2: STATE LEVELS OF ACTIVATION
State Level
of
Activation
Alert
Definition
Brisbane City Council – Activation Response
A heightened level of vigilance due to the possibility of
an event in the area of responsibility. No action is
required however the situation should be monitored by
someone capable of assessing the potential of the
threat.
Disaster Operations – Monitors events and maintains situational awareness
Disaster Management Duty Officer (24/7) – Monitors events, maintains situational
awareness, briefs LDC and key staff
LDC may activate a response as follows:
Level 1- Managed through core business functions
Lean
forward
An operational state prior to ‘stand up’ characterised
by a heightened level of situational awareness of a
disaster event (either current or impending) and a state
of operational readiness. Disaster coordination centres
are on stand by; prepared but not activated.
Disaster Operations – Issues warning orders, provides advice to LDC
Disaster Management Duty Officer (24/7) –issues situation reports, may activate
LDCC
LDC – convenes Immediate Action Team (as necessary), may activate LDCC
LDC may activate a response as follows:
Level 2 – Managed by the key Council business unit
Stand up
The operational state following ‘lean forward’ whereby LDC may activate a response as follows: Level 3 – Event that requires the activation
resources are mobilised, personnel are activated and
of the LDCC
operational activities commenced. Disaster
Level 4 – Events that require a complex response from a range of stakeholders
coordination centres are activated.
Stand down Transition from responding to an event back to normal
core business and/or recovery operations. There is no
longer a requirement to respond to the event and the
threat is no longer present.
Transition to business as usual
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