MNCJO Collaborates on Future Disaster Preparedness
Published on 07 January 2020
The Mid North Coast Joint Organisation (MNCJO) recently hosted a forum that brought senior Councillors and staff of various mid north coast Councils, NSW Government agencies, schools and other key agencies together. The purpose of the forum was to discuss the issues and priorities needed to achieve future disaster preparedness in our local communities. The coordination of this forum took place several months before the devastating fires that impacted on the mid north coast and north coast of NSW, with the forum taking place towards the end of November, just as local communities were dealing with the aftermath and recovery from the recent fires.
Former NSW Fire and Rescue Commissioner Greg Mullins was invited to share his perspective on the bushfire outlook, with his key message being that bushfire size, speed and intensity has increased. Mr Mullins is a member of the Climate Council and Emergency Leaders for Climate
Action and said that this has been the most dangerous build-up to a fire season he’s seen since 1994, when NSW was previously devastated.
“It’s going to be harder in the future to fight these fires,” said Mr Mullins. Following Mr Mullins presentation, participants discussed the lessons that could be learnt from the recent fire emergencies, including better collaboration and information flow between government agencies and key local organisations such as schools, hospitals, aged care facilities and emergency responders.
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The forum also explored the key concerns around fire response and recovery, issues that were also discussed and identified at a recent risk reduction workshop held in Coffs Harbour. Mayor of Kempsey Shire Council and Chair of the MNCJO, Liz Campbell specifically noted the
outstanding contribution of the Emergency Services and volunteer responders during the recent bushfires, something that was acknowledged by all present, with a commitment that collaboration would continue into the future to improve future disaster preparedness.
In early 2019, the MNCJO (with member Councils being Bellingen Shire Council, Kempsey Shire Council and Port Macquarie-Hastings Council) determined that one of its key projects would be the development of a Community Resilience Program. This program is now under development, with assistance from the NSW Office of Emergency Management, who have announced the placement of a Disaster Preparedness Officer in the mid north coast region for up to two years, who will be hosted by the MNCJO and will work with all Councils along the mid north coast in the development of suitable disaster preparedness programs for the local community.