MyallWay Community Emergency Management Plan

Myall Way Community Emergency Management Plan

2023-2024

Contents

Introduction 3

Background 3

Myall Way Community

Boundaries

Primary risks

Geography and Climate 4

Vegetation 7

Built environment 9

Road Access 9

Public Transport 10

Buildings 10

Culturally Significant and heritage sites 11

Table 11

Essential Services 12

Water and sewerage 12 Electricity 12

Energy resilience 13

Telecommunications 13

Social environment 14

Tourism 15

Community groups 15

Sharing information with the community. 16

Healthcare services 16

Economic environment 16

Emergency Services located within the community boundaries 16

Hazards 17

All Hazard 18

evacuation centres 19

Bushfires 22

East Coast Lows 23

Heatwaves 24

Prolonged loss of exit roads 24

Prolonged loss of exit roads with loss of electricity and / or communications 25

Annual MWCEPG Action Calendar 25

Resilience building projects 26

Annual Action Calendar

Incident response and recovery

Resilience building projects

Appendices.

- Community Contact list

- Emergency services contact list

- Membership contact list

- Australian Warning System

- Kyogle LGA Community-Managed Action Plan for an Emergency Evacuation Centre

- Report supporting the Kyogle Community Managed Action Plan for an Emergency Evacuation Centre

Introduction

The purpose of this plan is to identify priority hazards specific to all individuals for whom their path of exit during an emergency is the Myall Way on the Mid-Coast of NSW, and to create a community-focused plan to support resilience, preparation, prevention, response, and recovery from any disaster or emergency event in line with the Mid-Coast Local Emergency Management Plan. It is to be pitched at the general community, and informative for the Local Emergency Management Committee

This plan is to be created and reviewed annually by the Myall Way Community Emergency Planning Group, a sub-committee of the Hawks Nest-Tea Gardens Progress Association. The sub-committee and their meetings are to be open to the general public with active representation and input sought all local emergency services and community groups.

The Community Emergency Planning Group is not an emergency Services organisation and is here to support community emergency preparation and facilitate communication and engagement between the community and Emergency organisations. Emergency advice is always to be in line with the guidance from Lead agencies as identified in the State Emergency Management Plan.

The Community Emergency Planning Group is a support group only and does not undertake to commit responsibility for any individual or property.

Formal approval for the plan is to be sought via submission to the Mid Coast Local Emergency Management Committee: MidCoast Council is to provide the administrative guidance on the process of submission.

Background

Myall Way Community Location and Boundaries

The community is approximately 227 kms from Sydney CBD, 114 kms from Taree CBD, 79 kms from Newcastle CBD, and 79.4 km from Maitland CBD. Road access to other communities is solely via the Pacific HWY which Myall Way merges onto. The nearest towns are Karuah, 25.6km to the south, and Bulahdelah, 41.6km to the north. There are two other paths to the Pacific HWY, Viney Creek Road East from Lions Head Lookout in Tea Gardens and Mungo Brush Road from Hawks Nest via the car ferry at Bombah Point. Both of these paths of egress are unsuited to heavy traffic and both are more vulnerable to flooding and bushfires than Myall Way and thus should not be relied upon as alternative options during a hazard event.

The Myall Way Community area includes 5 towns and villages: Hawks Nest, Tea Gardens, North Pindimar, South Pindimar and Bundabah with a combined population of 6223, as well as scattered rural properties. The community is located on the Southeastern border of the MidCoast LGA and the North Coast ~~ern~~ Regional Emergency Management Area. It shares the Karuah River and Nelson Bay with Port Stephens LGA which resides in the ~~Central Coast~~ Hunter and Central[PH1] Coast Emergency Management Region for emergency management. It is bound by the Pacific ocean to the east, and the Myall National Park to the north. West of the Pacific Hwy is a large area of privately owned natural bushland with interspersed farmland. that is neither National Park nor State Forest. (call Council for clarification)

Primary risks

The area has two hazards of significant concern, being the potential for a large-scale bushfire and for a high intensity storm event / East Coast low. The community would also be particularly vulnerable during the less likely event of a land-based tsunami. A significant risk within the community during a disaster event is that of isolation due to loss of egress, as well as the potential for loss of communications and electricity.

Geography and Climate

The Myall Way Community is a low-lying coastal and tidal riverine community with a warm-temperate climate and an average annual rainfall of 1349mm, with the highest rainfall occurring in June and the lowest in October. The statistics for the 30 years from 1991-2020 remain steady compared to the average of all recorded years, except for the mean minimum temperature which is approximately 1 degree warmer on a consistent basis throughout the year.

The majority of the population resides at sea level with rural properties located along hills up to 60 metres in height. Lions Look Out at Tea Gardens and the ‘Totem Pole’ (the Pindimar Road, Warri St and Clarke St intersection) are both above 40 metres in height.

Yaccaaba headland is the highest point at 218m, while the hills at Fame Cove are greater than 100m. Neither of these are accessible by vehicle, although Yacaaba ~~headline~~ headland has a walking track that is accessible from the southern end of Bennetts Beach.

The waterways of the Myall Way Community are within the bounds of the Port Stephens – Great Lakes Marine Park and comprise of: the Myall River, south of the Myall Lakes; the mouth of the Karuah River; Nelson Bay; and the Pacific Ocean. Smaller tributary creeks are known to result in minor flooding of egress points during heavy rainfalls.

Jimmy’s Beach along Nelson Bay is prone to erosion during high wave activity which can risk subsidence of Winda Woppa’s adjacent Rd: The Boulevarde. The mouth of the Myall River is prone to sedimentation.

There is a lack of deep water access to communities within Pindimar and Bundabah as well as areas of Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest.

Land egress is via ridge tops which are more prone to bushfires potentially affecting early exit capability, although their low height reduces the chances of lightning-initiated fires.

http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av?p_stn_num=061054&p_prim_element_index=0&p_comp_element_index=0&redraw=null&p_display_type=statistics_summary&normals_years=1991-2020&tablesizebutt=normal BOM Climate statistics for Australian locations: Accessed 22/7/2023

NSW Roads and Maritime Services Map 7a Map of Port Stephens and Lower Myall River Area. AUGUST 2017 edition.

https://www.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-06/7a-port-stephens-karuah-broughton.pdf Accessed 28/7/2023

Google maps. Accessed 28/7/2023

Vegetation

Vegetation within the Myall Way community includes significant areas of bushland, both privately and publicly owned which extends down into the communities. The area between Hawks Nest and Bombah Point is part of the Myall National Park. The natural bushland is highly disturbed and has significant patches of radiata pine due to an extensive forestry industry in the area up until the 1980’s.

The dominant vegetation type on the hills consists of dry and wet Sclerophyll forests, while lower areas are a mix of Sclerophyll Forest, Coastal Swamp Forest, Heathlands, Sedge, Mangrove Forest, Coastal Freshwater Wetlands. Remnant Rainforest has been located at South Pindimar, Tea Gardens near Kore Kore Ck, Fame Cove, and the southern base of Yacaaba Headland.

Ref: https://www.treesnearme.app/explore Accessed on the 25/72023

Species of significance within the area include:

Koalas

Dingoes

Powerful Owls

Micro Bats

Echidnas

Bandicoots

Osprey

Falcons

Tawny Frog Mouths

There is strong community action for the protection of the local Koala Population in Hawks Nest supported the Myall Koala Community group.

Built Environment

The Myall Way Community is a mix of low density residential, non-urban blocks and rural properties.

Road Access

This area is noted by being serviced via one point of egress (Myall Way) to the Pacific Hwy, with multiple communities also being serviced by only one point egress to the Myall Way which connects the communities to each other as well as the Pacific Hwy. Myall Way can experience low level flooding during high rainfall periods at points where the road crosses small tributary creeks.

North Pindimar, South Pindimar and Bundabah are serviced only via single points of egress, Warri St, Clarke St and Bundabah Rd Respectively, with each of these connecting to Pindimar Rd, the only connection to the Myall Way. North and South Pindimar are connected by a wooden walkway over Duckhole Creek between Curlew Ave and Myall St.

Egress from Hawks Nest is through Tea Gardens via the Singing Bridge.

In a situation of prolonged inaccessibility there are two other vehicular access points for Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest: Viney Creek Road from Lions Head lookout to the Pacific[PH2] Hwy north of Myall Way and; Mungo Brush Side Road from Hawks Nest to Bulahdelah via the Bombah Point Car Ferry. Both of these egress paths are more vulnerable to closure due to fire or flood than Myall Way, and neither is currently constructed for heavy usage. Thus their viability as alternate exits is limited to circumstances of a road accident or direct physical damage to the Myall Way.

All communities are located adjacent to a tidal river, and/or the Pacific Ocean. In a situation of prolonged road closure and isolation, alternative means of evacuation and resupply could occur via the Myall and Karuah River.

Google Maps Accessed 28/7/2023

Public Transport

The 2021 census highlights the lack of public transport with its absence as a means of travel to work.

There is a limited bus service between Tea Gardens and Newcastle, Tea Gardens and Raymond Terrace, and Tea Gardens and Bulahdelah /Taree.

A regular school bus service exits to Tea Gardens Primary School as well as to Surrounding High Schools in Bulahdelah, Raymond Terrace, Medowie, and Newcastle.

A limited commercial ferry service operates between Tea Gardens and Nelson Bay and is a common day trip for tourists and residents.

Within Teas Gardens and Hawks Nest there is some capacity to walk or ride to the shops, but outside of these towns access to a vehicle is essential for groceries or other shopping needs.

These factors make the community particularly vulnerable during a major petrol shortage.

There is also within the community, members with a distance-restricted licence, who own a vehicle but are limited to the local town and unable to travel on the highway.

Buildings[PH3]

Hawks Nest:

- RSL Lifecare Residential aged care facility

- Hawks Nest IGA

- Hawks Nest Pharmacy

- Hawks Nest Community Hall

- SLS building.

Tea Gardens:

- Estia health Residential aged care facility

- Coles

- Ochre Health Primary health care facility

- Tea Gardens Pharmacy

- Tea Gardens RFS shed

- Tea Gardens industrial complex off Yandala St Tea Gardens

- Caltex Petrol Station

- FRNSW Station

- Ambulance Station

- Tea Gardens Public School

- Myall Veterinary Clinic

- MidCoast Council Office

- Tea gardens Library

Pindimar / Bundabah

- RFS Shed and Community Hall

- Bundabah storage container

Culturally Significant and heritage sites:

Dark Point Aboriginal Site.

More to follow

Built Environment

Essential services

Buildings[PH4]

Cultural/Historic

Transport

Electricity

RSL Lifecare Residential aged care facility

Dark Point Indigenous site.

School Buses service all Communities

Water

Estia Health Residential aged care facility

Limited Bus service from Tea Gardens to Newcastle.

Sewerage

Coles

Limited Ferry service to Nelson Bay

Telecommunications

Hawks Nest IGA

Private Transport

Ochre Health Primary health care facility

Tea Gardens Pharmacy

Hawks Nest Pharmacy

Hawks Nest Community Hall

Pindimar RFS Shed

Tea Gardens RFS shed

Tea Gardens FRNSW shed

Ambulance station

Tea Gardens Public School

Surf Life Saving Building

Caltex Service Station

Tea Gardens Industrial Complex Yandala St.

Tea Gardens Library

Tea Gardens Council Office

Essential Services

Water & Sewerage

Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest are serviced by single Water and Sewerage treatment plants. Loss of functionality of these plants for a prolonged period would render the towns with a lack of drinking water and unliveable due to septic diseases. The other communities have individual onsite water and sewerage for each property.

Electricity

The Community’s electrical supply is provided by Essential Energy.

Electricity passes through the Hawks Nest Substation on Viney Creek Road and is primarily supplied via the Transgrid Tomago to Taree 132kV line (#963) which runs approximately adjacent to the Pacific Hwy.

A partial back up electricity supply comes from the Stroud substation via a 33Kv line from Bulahdelah.

Ref: Essesntial Energy (2021) ASSET MANAGEMENT DISTRIBUTION ANNUAL PLANNING REPORT 2021 December 2021

{map page 50 – print and scan}

Energy Resilience

As electrical failure is a common element of disaster events, community resilience options should be investigated.

A list of generators within the community would be useful within an emergency situation.

Equally a grant may be applied for to fund a community generator, stand-alone power system, and / or solar power + battery for a community building to help power phones and community facilities during an emergency.

The Australian National University is currently conducting a trial on micro-grids for energy resilience (2021-2024), the results of which may be of interest and worth following. https://bsgip.com/research/projects/southcoast-%C2%B5-grid-reliability-feasibility-s%C2%B5rf-project/

Telecommunications[PH5]

Telecommunications is a vital tool in emergency response capabilities, used to issue warnings, and to contact response agencies as well as essential services such police, ambulance, electrical suppliers. It also allows response agencies to communicate between themselves and maintain situational awareness.

Even in areas with good coverage, the telecommunications network is only designed to support 10% of the population accessing the network at any given time, resulting in delays during periods of peak activity such as large numbers of individuals attempting to connect at the same time so as to follow situational updates or contact with family. This may result in telecommunications failure, and the service company may reduce the network to text only communication so as to keep the line available for emergency response.

Within the the Myall Way area, mobile coverage can be patchy, with significant black spots throughout the community of Bundabah, as well as unofficial blackspots in Pindimar and parts of Hawks Nest. The community is currently advocating for a grant to upgrade the towers.

Reception is received from the tower at Nelson Bay: Lighthouse 5A LIGHTHOUSE RD NELSON BAY NSW 2315 (-32.71051°, 152.16138°, 21.8m)[PH6]

The recent addition of the NBN to the area has allowed some members of the community to gain coverage in the homes that they did not previously have, although this availability is dependent on electrical supply and known to be lost during a hazard event.

Access to satellite communications within the community is unknown.

There are multiple ACMA radio sites in Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest, including the RFS Shed, FRNSW, and the local council. There are no sites in North Pindimar or Bundabah, and 1 unallocated site in south Pindimar, although it is presumed the Pindimar RFS would have a radio on site.

Larger boats would be expected to carry a marine radio on the vessel.

Other resilience options include the placement of a community Radio in Bundabah and South Pindimar, as well as the instigation of Community-led Resilience Teams.

Ref: https://www.telstra.com.au/coverage-networks/our-coverage Accessed: 25/7/23

Ref: https://web.acma.gov.au/pls/radcom/site_proximity.main_page/ Accessed: 25/7/23

Social environment

In the 2021 Census Tea Gardens Hawks Nest had the oldest population in Australia with a median age of 65.5 years while Pindimar and Bundabah were not far behind with median ages of 60 and 59 respectively.

The population measured in the 2021 census was 5,804 in Tea Gardens / Hawks Nest, 279 in Pindimar and 140 In Bundabah. The area had 4388 dwellings, approximately 30% of which were unoccupied.

The number of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander’s living in the community who identified in the 2021 census was 301.

Approximately 4% spoke a language other than English at home.

Only 31% of people in Tea Gardens Hawks Nest identified as being in the labour force on the census, while 45% of people in Pindimar and Bundabah did so.

The median income in the community is just over half of the average state income with Tea Gardens Hawks Nest at 57% of the State Average, Pindimar at 59% and Bundabah at 50.5% of the State Average.

The primary areas of employment within the community are aged care services and supermarkets.

The lack of public transport in the area can be noted by its lack of use to travel to work with zero people doing so. 4.5% in Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest chose to walk to work, and 0.9% rode a bicycle. The only other form of transport was by private vehicle.

The median age of the population and the primary industry of employment in the area speak to the specific challenges within the community of limited mobility, and a need for access to ongoing healthcare and support. There are members of the Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest community with drivers licences restricted to 10km from home.

Social venues include the Country Club, The Golf Club and The Tea Gardens Pub, as well as multiple cafes and restaurants.

Tourism

Tourism is an important aspect of the community, with multiple caravan parks, motels, and holiday rentals, as well as camping in the national park. Private holiday homes are also significant within the community and it is assumed that the high rate of non-occupancy noted in the census refers mainly to holiday properties. The holiday season usually runs from October to April, with winter being a quiet time for tourism.

Community Groups

There are several social and volunteer groups within the area including:

Hawks Nest Tea Gardens Progress Association

Pindimar Bundabah Community Association [MF7]

Lions Club

Meals on Wheels

Churches (include the churches and their charities)

Bridge club

Football club

Soccer club

…….

Sharing information with the community.[PH8]

During an emergency combat agencies use multiple methods to share advice, alerts, warning and orders with the public:

ABC radio is used to broadcast current official information regarding the emergency event. In the Myall Way Community this is broadcast on 95.9FM.

The police Megrency services may issue a warning via the national warning messaging system from +61 444 444 444. The Police may also door knock a community with information.

Information can also be found on the Hazard Near Me NSW App.

The Bureau of Meteorology issues weather and heat warnings on their web page: http://www.bom.gov.au/ and via the BoM app

The MidCoast Council delivers emergency information on its website, currently via the emergency dashboard: https://midcoast.disasterdashboards.com/dashboard/overview although the funding for this may not continue in future years. The council can also be phoned on: 02 7955 7777

The SES issue emergency warnings and alerts via the Hazards Near me NSW app and on their website: https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/ Stroud SES maintains situational updates on their facebook page when tactically possible: https://www.facebook.com/NSWSESSTROUD/ The SES will also conduct door knocks to warn people when viable. They can be phoned for information on: 13 25 00.

The RFS issue emergency warnings and alerts via the Hazards Near me NSW app and on their website: https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/ Tea Gardens & Pindimar RFS work together locally and maintain situational updates on their facebook page when tactically possible: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064257626389 The RFS will also conduct door knocks to warn people when viable. They can be phoned for information on the Bush Fire Information Line - 1800 NSW RFS (1800 679 737). Our Local Fire Control Centre is the MidCoast FCC:

Street Address: Great Lakes Office, 5a South Street, Tuncurry 2428
Postal Address: PO Box 172, Tuncurry 2428
Phone Number: 02 6539 7700
Fax Number: 02 6555 8899

Street Address: Mid-Coast Office, 28 Muldoon Street, Taree 2430
Postal Address: PO Box 327, Taree 2430
Phone Number: 02 6591 2900
Fax Number: 02 6591 2990

Local information is shared via the free local newspaper The Myall Coast Nota which is available in print and online. There is also a community radio station for the Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest area: Myall Coast Radio 87.8 FM

Several social media community pages play a significant role in the sharing of community information and events.

Healthcare services.

Ochre Health

Hawks Nest GP

Tea Gardens Pharmacy

Hawks Nest Pharmacy

Psychologists

Economic environment

As stated above the community has a low median income of just above half the state average.

The primary employment in the area is in the aged care sector, with two residential homes: Peter Sinclair Gardens in Hawks Nest and Estia Health as well as retirement villages and in home community support. This is followed by the local supermarkets, Coles in Tea Gardens and, to a lesser extent, Hawks Nest IGA. The area is also a tourist destination with a significant number of private holiday houses as well as a small number of motel rooms and multiple caravan parks. There are multiple cafes and restaurants in the community. Other employment is diverse and ranges from fishing and agriculture to trades and white-collar jobs. It is common to travel out of the area for employment purposes.

There are limited retail services including hardware stores, clothing stores, and a nursery with many community members travelling to Newcastle or Maitland for personal shopping.

Emergency Service Organisations operating within the community boundaries:

Tea gardens RFS

Pindimar RFS

NSWFR

NSW Ambulance

NSW Police – part-time location; operates out of Raymond Terrace.

NSW SES – Area is covered by the Stroud unit, who travel via Rd to the Myall Way, or have the option to travel to Karuah and continue via boat.

Hawks Nest SLS

NSW Marine Rescue Lemon Tree Passage (river system)

NSW Marine Rescue Port Stephens (ocean)

Marine Area Command (NSW Police)

Tea Gardens Red Cross Emergency Services Team

St Johns – representative within the area

Hazards

As stated previously the hazards of highest concern in regards to impact and likelihood are Bushfire and large storm events / East Coast Lows. There is also a significant risk of loss of egress, electricity and telecommunications during any large scale event. Below is a list of potential hazards.

***This to be revised with access to the 2023 MidCoast Local EMPLAN

Hazards and Risks[PH9]

Hazard

Responsible Agency

Prioritise the hazard [MF10] [PH11]

Agricultural Disease

Department of Primary Industries

Medium

Bridge Collapse

LeoCon (Note Water Based Rescue services for the community are located in the Hunter Zone, ie MRNSW, Maritime NSW, Maritime Area Command (MAC))

Unlikely but major impacts

Medium

Building Collapse

FRNSW

Leocon

Low

Unlikely + Low rise buildings

Communicable Disease

Department of Health

High

Earthquake of considerable strength

LEOCON

Unlikely, but likely to have significant consequences in relations to road access.

Fire (Bush or Grass)

NSW RFS

FRNSW

High

Building fire

FRNSW

NSWRFS

Low

Flash Flood

NSW SES

Low

Flood Riverine

NSW SES

Low

Hazardous release

FRNSW

Low

Heatwave

SEOCON

Medium

Landslip

LEOCON

Unlikely, major impact if affecting Myall Way.

Storm

NSWSES

East Coast Low Likely.

High

Transport emergency (air)

LEOCON

Low

Transport emergency (Road)

LEOCON

High

Transport emergency (Sea)

Marine Area Command (Hunter Zone responsibility probable)

Medium

Transport emergency (Riverine / Bay)

Marine Area Command (Hunter emergency management zone responsibility probable)

Maritime NSW

Marine Rescue NSW

Medium

A water based emergency involving large numbers of passengers.

Tsunami

NSWSES

medium

Utilities Failure

LEOCON

High

Loss of Egress + Energy and Telecommunications Failure

Radio Communications can be readily established between community members and Marine Rescue NSW.

Marine Rescue lemon Tree Passage, Stroud SES, Maritime NSW would be involved in water based evacuations / resupply, working under MAC?

Not Hazard Specific but high impact, and significant in a community with single points of egress and unreliable communications.

Loss of Egress without energy and telecommunications failure

All Hazard

Preparation

Prepare your property for Bushfires / Storms

Prepare your evacuation plan

Response

[MF12] [PH13]

[MF14]

[MF15]

‘Hold the Fort’ Remotely run Community evacuation centres. [MF16] [PH17]

In 2022 Kyogle received State WELFAC approval for the creation of Emergency Community Action Teams with the responsibility of establishing and operating a Community-Managed Evacuation Centre under the direction of FACS during such times as when the community becomes isolated and access by some or all of the Welfare Services Functional Area Agencies required to manage an evacuation centre is prohibited. These teams require pre-training to ensure the appropriate management of the evacuation centre until such time as FACS and their community Partners are able to attend.

The Myall Way community has noted that not all of the agencies designated under the Welfare Services Functional Area Supporting Plan currently reside within the community and that during the event of isolation from support services they wish to have pre-determined response plan to ensure the care of vulnerable community members is not dangerously delayed until such times as FACS organisations are able to get through. They have noted the below alternative services that already exist within the area, and wish to create an evacuation centre plan for periods of isolation based on the Kyogle Community-Managed Action Plan for an Emergency Evacuation Centre, and the established training program for community managed evacuation centres.

Agency/Organisation

Service provided

Potential local option

Department of Communities and Justice

- Centre Management

- Immediate financial assistance grants

- Emergency Housing Booking

Department of Primary Industries

- Animal/pet welfare and registration

NSW Health

- Covid-safe set up and health screening

- Link people to health services

St John’s Ambulance

- First Aid

Red Cross

- Registration

- Psychological First aid

Salvation Army

- Food and Drink

Anglicare

- Material Goods (e.g. toiletries, clothing)

Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network (DRCN). Coordinator – The Uniting Church in Australia

Chaplains

-Personal and Spiritual support

Combat Agencies

SES, RFS, Police

- Provide updates and briefings

- Bedding[PH18]

Security

- Provides supervision and safety of centre

Small Community emergency planning cards[MF19] .

CALD

Social Media Page

RediPlans workshops

· Support the establishment of Community-led Resilience Teams to provide enhanced support and communication.

Vulnerable person register

· Apply for funding to establish a Community Emergency Radio in Bundabah and South Pindimar in case of isolation and telecommunication s failure.

AED Project

Emergency management information seminar

Emergency Services fair

Gain funding for community first aid courses.

Bushfires[PH20]

This plan aims to provide comprehensive information and support to the community on bush-fire hazard mitigation, communication, evacuation and recovery in line with the MidCoast EMPLAN-~~coast LEMP~~, the local Bush Fire Risk Management and Operations Co-ordination Plan, and RFS advice.

The RFS is the lead agency for bushfires in the Myall community, with sheds in both Tea Gardens and North Pindimar, and their guidance has been sought in the creation of this plan.

Like all communities with significant areas of bushland, there is a high risk of bushfires and the potential for catastrophic outcomes. The combination of forest communities with single-exit roads creates a high risk of isolation and loss of egress early on in the development of a large-scale fire. In the period of time between an evacuation order and a shelter-in-place order, a water-based evacuation may be suitable. Marine Rescue Lemon Tree Passage is responsible for water rescues in the Karuah and Myall Rivers under the direction of NSW Police Marine Area Command. The unit is contactable by phone, App, VHF or UHF and is located a short distance across Nelson Bay from the Myall Community.[MF21]

Myall Way Emergency Planning Group Actions

· Support the distribution of RFS educational materials on bushfire safety measures.

· Organise and support Mid Coast 2 Tops Landcare Group eco-burn workshops.

· Organise a SIMtable workshop presented by Mid Coast 2 Tops Landcare Group

· Organise RFS / Red Cross Get Ready / Redi-Plan workshops for the local community.

· Provide education on the Australian Warning System

· Distribute the Community All-Hazard Card magnets to every property (Template in appendix)

· Apply for funding to establish a Community Emergency Radio in Bundabah and South Pindimar in case of isolation and telecommunication s failure.

· Provide community awareness regarding evacuation plans and local Community Safer Spaces.

· Support the establishment of Community-led Resilience Teams to provide enhanced support and communication.

· Establish a community communication point in the Hawks Nest Community Hall and / or the Pindimar Community Hall that the community can access prior to and after a bushfire.[MF22]

· Establish Emergency Community Action Teams that can support a remotely run Community Evacuation Centre during a period of isolation[MF23] .

· Facilitate the sharing of community resources as needed and offered following an event.

East Coast Lows (ECL)

This plan aims to provide comprehensive information and support to the community on bush-fire hazard mitigation, communication, evacuation and recovery [PH24] in line with the MidCoast EMPLAN -~~coast LEMP~~ and SES advice. The community is supported by the Stroud SES unit, and their guidance has been sought in the creation of this plan.

East Coast lows are a common occurrence off the Coast of NSW and may occur at any time of the year, however are most common in late summer and Autumn.

ECLs can reach a strength of up to a cyclone 2 category rating, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds and flash flooding. In the Myall Way community this can result in significant damage to property as well as closed roads due to flooding, debris and damage. At Winda Woppa there is the potential for Jimmy’s Beach to erode causing destabilisation of The Boulevarde.

Myall Way Emergency Planning Group Actions

· Support the distribution of SES educational materials on storm preparation

· Share Warning information from the Bureau of Meteorology and Stroud SES.

· Organise SES / Red Cross Home Emergency Plan / Redi-Plan workshops for the local community.

· Provide education on the Australian Warning System

· Distribute the Community All-Hazard Card magnets to every property (Template in appendix)

· Apply for funding to establish a Community Emergency Radio in Bundabah and South Pindimar in case of isolation and telecommunication s failure.

· Provide community awareness regarding evacuation plans and evacuation centres[MF25] [PH26] .

· Support the establishment of Community-led Resilience Teams to provide enhanced support and communication during an ECL.

· Consider establishing a community communication [PH27] point in the Hawks Nest Community Hall and / or the Pindimar Community Hall that the community can access prior to and after a large storm event.

· Establish Emergency Community Action Teams that can support a remotely run Community Evacuation Centre during a period of isolation.

· Facilitate the sharing of community resources as needed and offered following an event.

Heatwaves[PH28]

The Myall Way Community is fortunate in having a temperate climate with proximity to natural waterbodies, a pool, regular afternoon breezes, and large areas of green parks for the community.

However around the world there has been an increase in heatwave events and the higher age of the Myall Way community suggests an increased vulnerability to the impacts of heatwaves.

Myall Way Emergency Planning Group Actions

· Work with St Johns to distribute information on Heat stroke prevention, recognition and management.

· Share Warning information from the Bureau of Meteorology.

· Provide education on the Australian Warning System

· Engage with the Council and local community groups about the use air-conditioned community halls as a heat respite centre for vulnerable people.

· Establish Emergency Community Action Teams that can support a remotely run Community Evacuation Centre during a period of isolation.[MF29]

Prolonged loss of exit roads.

Myall Way Emergency Planning Group Actions

· Distribute the Community All-Hazard Card magnets to every property (Template in appendix)

· Establish a community communication point in the Hawks Nest Community Hall and / or the Pindimar Community Hall.

· Establish Emergency Community Action Teams that can support a remotely run Community Evacuation Centre during a period of isolation.[PH30]

· Facilitate the sharing of community resources as needed and offered following an event.

· Have a designated representative that can liaise via phone with the LEOCON and / or lead agency.[MF31] [PH32]

Loss of egress with loss of electricity and telecommunications

Myall Way Emergency Planning Group Actions

· Distribute the Community All-Hazard Card magnets to every property (Template in appendix)

· Have a designated representative that can liaise via phone with the LEOCON and / or lead agency.[MF33]

· Apply for funding to establish a Community Emergency Radio in Bundabah and South Pindimar in case of isolation and telecommunication s failure.

· Apply for funding for a designated satellite phone

· Identify local generators and back up power supplies.

· Apply for a grant fund a community generator, stand-alone power system, and / or solar power + battery on the local community halls to support basic energy supply.

· Establish a community communication point in the Hawks Nest Community Hall and / or the Pindimar Community Hall.

· Establish Emergency Community Action Teams that can support a remotely run Community Evacuation Centre during a period of isolation[PH34] .[MF35]

· Facilitate the sharing of community resources as needed and offered following an event.

· Provide education on the Australian Warning System

· Provide community awareness regarding evacuation plans and evacuation centres.[MF36]

· Support the establishment of Community-led Resilience Teams to provide enhanced support and communication.

Annual MWCEPG Action Calendar

January

February

Quarterly Meeting

March

Assist SES distribute Storm preparation advice

Rediplan / SES Get Ready community workshop first weekend in March

April

May

AGM

Emergency plan review and update

June

Help facilitate communication and engagement between the RFS and landholders re: backburning

Engage eco-burn workshops

July

Emergency management information seminar

August

Quarterly Meeting

Emergency services fair

Rediplan / RFS Get Ready community workshop last weekend in August

September

October

Quarterly Meeting

Assist surf lifesavers with water safety information dissemination

November

Heatwave / heat stroke management information dissemination with St Johns

December

Resilience building projects

Resilience building project

Lead organiser

Funding / Grant Required?

Timeline

Create and distribute individual town and village level emergency cards / magnets

Create an online social page and connection point via which people can receive information and /or communicate questions or suggestions.

Set up Community teams / contact lists

Organise community engagement to create support plans for vulnerable members.

Establish Emergency Community Action Teams (ECAT) to support a remotely managed evacuation centre[MF37]

Position a community emergency radio in vulnerable areas

AED project

Annual Emergency Services Fair[PH38]

[PH1]Central

[PH2]Pacific

[PH3]Consider including Council buildings/depots

[PH4]Consider including council assets/buildings

[PH5]Consider adding comment relating to loss of area communications and the effect this has on emergency responders in time of emergency as well as loss of communications to essential services (eg: Police Ambulance) in non response capabilities.

[PH6]Consider inclusion of What 3 Words addressing for all addresses/locations

[MF7]What are these groups? Perhaps expand to full titles.

[PH8]Consider adding combat agency response arrangements In times of emergency (Floodstorm - SES, Fire - RFS/FRNSW)

[PH9]Needs to align with revised EMPLAN risk assessment matrix

[MF10]How were these risk ratings attained? Are they consistent with the EMPLAN?

Could be worth including the risk Likelihood and Consequence matrix in this document.

The group could also decide to exclude risks that fall below a medium rating if it so chooses. This is consistent with other EMPLANs across the state. Though the current MidCoast Plan I think includes them all. This plan is however currently under review.

It is also important to note that the context of the EMPLAN considers an Emergency to be an Event that requires a significant co-ordinated multi agency response.

[PH11]Great point …. Needs to align with the risk matrix review that forms part of our new EMPLAN update/review.

[MF12]Advice below is problematic and may not be consistent with combat agency advice.

In the first instance evacuation to family and friends is preferred. However if it has been left to late to and isolation has occurred then evacuation should be to the combat designated Evacuation Centre.

[PH13]Agreed …………… Emergency Management is responsible for nominating evacuation points and centres ………….. Pre nomination could like to directing the communities into danger.

[MF14]Regarding contacting Marine Rescue – is this a local arrangement that has been agreed upon by Marine Rescue?

There is also the potential for 112 to be accessible.

[MF15]I’m unclear what this means?

[MF16]This concept is not generally supported by DCJ/WELFAC. Discussions would need to be held with that agency. I note that arrangements are currently in train to facilitate those discussions.

[PH17]Agreed …………… needs DCJ comments and clarity

[PH18]Are these local arrangements already in place ?

[MF19]I’d like to know more about these?

[PH20]Include refence to EMPLAN CMG's.

[MF21]I have concerns that this is outside of current emergency arrangements (000). Refer to my comment above.

[MF22]Love the idea of community information centres but also note that it is important not to create a reliance. Official information channels should be promoted.

[MF23]Note previous comments

[PH24]Appears to be a copy and paste from previous comment ………….. needs amendment

[MF25]Problematic. Evacuation Centres are determined at the time of the event. Even though a centre is listed in the EMPLAN that does not mean it will be activated. This risks people turning up to a location that is not open.

Education around how an evacuation centre is stood up should be considered.

[PH26]Strongly agree

[PH27]Consider establishing …...

[PH28]Reference EMPLAN consequence management guide (CMG)

[MF29]Refer previous comments

[PH30]As commented previously …………… requires DCJ clarity

[MF31]Discussions required.

[PH32]Not LEMC supported ………. Communication conduits are already in place with appropriate LEMC agency members.