By Callum Ludwig
Yarra Ranges Council’s 2023-2026 Municipal Emergency Management Plan (MEMP), presented at the Wednesday 26 April Council meeting, has now been endorsed by the Regional Emergency Management Planning Committee (RMEPC).
The RMEPC is overseen by Emergency Management Victoria (EMV) and helps to support emergency management planning in regional areas like a fair amount of the Yarra Ranges.
Yarra Ranges Mayor Jim Child said that under the Emergency Management Act 2013, the MEMP must be reviewed and updated every three years.
“We were pleased to see that the updated MEMP was approved in March this year by the RMEPC. These Plans are vital for our communities during an emergency, and they detail what actions will be taken before during and after emergencies,” he said.
“With MEMP now approved on a regional basis this means that it is consistent with regional and state-wide emergency management arrangements and legislation. As we know emergencies do not follow boundaries.”
Council’s MEMP is put together by representatives from Council, SES, CFA, FRV, Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, Melbourne Water, Forest Fire Management Victoria, the Australian Red Cross and the Salvation Army.
Streeton Ward Councillor Andrew Fullagar spoke to the motion and said it is an obviously important administrative issue to ensure our plan is in place.
“We need to make sure this endorsement establishes local emergency planning arrangements, we’ve got a history of emergencies in the Yarra Ranges as we all very well know with our bushfires, storms and floods,” he said.
“It’s a very thorough report and I’m very happy to support this motion.”
The MEMP is largely informed by sub-plans that relate to specific emergency risks faced in the Yarra Ranges: Municipal Fire Management Plan, Municipal Flood Plan, Storm and Flood Plan, Extreme Heat Plan, Pandemic Plan and the Municipal Relief and Recovery Plan.
Deputy Mayor Sophie Todorov seconded the motion and said it’s great to see the endorsement of a plan that is locally informed of our hazards and emergencies.
“It does consider the unique elements of the Yarra Ranges and it’s now presented in a consistent format,” she said.
“Being a sub-delegate on a few of those MEMPC meetings, I’ve heard the feedback and about the great collaboration with other emergency organisations and groups as well.”
The motion was carried unanimously.
