Brimbank

Municipal

Emergency

Management

Plan

2023-26

December

2

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

The land that Brimbank now occupies

has a human history that began with

Aboriginal traditional custodians, the

Kulin Nation, including the Wurundjeri

and Bunurong, more than 40,000 years

before European settlement. For the

Traditional Owners, the lands in the

City of Brimbank have always been a

significant trading and meeting place. We

recognise the Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander communities continuing spiritual

connection to the land and renew our

commitment to respect Indigenous

beliefs, values and customs, as together

we build a cohesive future.

The Brimbank Municipal Emergency

Management Planning Committee

acknowledges the member agencies and

individuals for the work and commitment

in developing this plan, along with the use

of the photographs in this publication.

Special thanks go to Brimbank City

Council’s The Emergency Managment

team for their ongoing support and

contribution to this plan.

The development of this plan was

supported by consultants from

ResilientCo.

Front cover image:

The sculptural form of man lifting cow, alludes to the physicality of

hard work and labour which is a subtle reference to the industrial history of Sunshine,

where it is located. The cow acknowledges the areas connection to Australia’s

agricultural industry |

Artist:

John Kelly - Johnkellyartist.com

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

3

Contents

Acknowledgment of Country

2

Acknowledgements

3

7

8

1.1 Plan Assurance and Approval

9

1.1.1 Assurance

9

1.1.2 Approval

9

1.1.3 Plan Review

9

1.2 Planning Context

9

1.2.1 Municipal Emergency Management Functions

9

1.3 This Plan

10

1.4 Plan Aim and Objectives

10

1.4.1 Aim

10

1.4.2 Purpose

10

1.4.3 Objectives

10

12

2.1 Social Environment

13

2.1.1 Community Register

13

2.1.2 Facilities Register – Vulnerable People

13

2.2 Cultural Environment

14

2.2.1 Brimbank Aboriginal Culture and History

14

2.3 Natural Environment

15

2.3.1 Climate Projections

16

2.4 Built Environment

18

2.4.1 Transportation Networks

18

2.4.2 Essential Infrastructure

18

2.4.3 Major Hazard Facilities

19

2.5 Economic Environment

21

2.6 History of Emergencies

22

4

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

24

3.1 Victoria’s Emergency Management Planning Framework

25

3.2 The Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee (MEMPC) 25

26

4.1 Hazard, Exposure, Vulnerability and Resilience

27

4.2 Risk Assessment

27

4.3 Risk Summary Table

28

30

5.1 Introduction

31

5.2 Risk Treatment Plans

31

5.2.1 Sub-Plans

31

5.2.2 Complementary Plans

31

5.3 Community Planning and Resilience

32

34

(including Relief)

36

7.1 Introduction

37

7.2 Command, Control, Coordination

37

7.3 Local response arrangements and responsible agencies

37

7.3.1 Public Awareness, Information and Warnings

38

7.4 Municipal Emergency Coordination

38

7.4.1 Council Emergency Operations Centre

38

7.4.2 Emergency Relief Centres (ERC)

38

7.5 Financial Considerations

39

7.6 Neighbourhood Safer Places (Places of Last Resort) and

Community Fire Refuges

39

7.7 Planning for cross boundary events

39

7.8 Resource sharing protocols

40

7.9 Debriefing arrangements

41

7.10 Transition to Recovery

41

42

8.1 Introduction

43

8.2 Objectives of Recovery

43

8.3 Activation of Recovery

43

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

5

8.4 Management structure

43

8.4.1 Structure and categories of recovery environment functional areas 43

8.4.2 Municipal Recovery Committee Composition of recovery service team Roles 44

8.5 Community Recovery Committee

45

8.5.1 Community Recovery Committee membership

45

8.5.2 Community Recovery Committee functions

45

8.6 Government assistance measures

45

46

48

50

Appendix A

: Definitions and Acronyms

50

Appendix B: Useful Support Materials

52

Appendix C: Special Plans

54

Sub-plans

54

Complementary Plans

54

Appendix D: History of Emergencies

55

Appendix E: Principal Emergency Risks

56

1. Extreme Temperatures (High)

56

2. Storm / Flood (High)

57

3.Transport Incident – Road (High)

58

4. Essential Services Disruption (High)

59

5. Human Disease / Pandemic (Medium)

60

6. Transport accident – Aircraft (Medium)

61

7. Bushfire / Grassfire (Medium)

62

8. Hazardous Release – Land (Low)

63

Appendix F: Locations for potential Emergency Relief Centres (ERCs)

64

Appendix G: Multi Agency Exercises

65

Appendix H: Contact Directory

66

Appendix I: MEMPC Terms of Reference

66

Appendix J: Other relevant organisations

67

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

7

This is the first Brimbank Municipal

Emergency Management Plan (the

Plan) developed under new legislation

designed to provide greater cohesion

through integrated arrangements for

emergency management planning

in Victoria at the state, regional and

municipal levels.

Through the development of the Plan,

the Municipal Emergency Management

Planning Committee (the Committee)

undertook a process to explore

municipality-specific challenges, risks

and opportunities to apply a coordinated

approach to managing those risks.

This Plan takes an integrated approach

to the identification and management

of risks within the municipality across

agencies, stakeholders, and the

unique communities that makeup the

municipality. It recognises the shared

responsibility between government,

agencies, businesses, and community in

reducing those risks.

The experience and knowledge of the

committee members, partner agencies

and communities within the municipality

was integral in confirming the focus of

the strategies and the actions to be

undertaken. The Plan will be monitored,

and identification of improved treatments

or activities will be a key deliverable in

achieving the objectives in the Plan.

Tom Razmovski

Chair

Brimbank Municipal Emergency

Management Planning Committee

8

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

1.

Introduction

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

9

1.1.1 Assurance

A Statement of Assurance (including

a checklist and certificate) has been

prepared and submitted to the North

West Metro Regional Emergency

Management Planning Committee

(REMPC) pursuant to the Emergency

Management Act 2013 (S60AG).

1.1.2 Approval

The Brimbank Municipal Emergency

Management Plan has been prepared

by the Brimbank Municipal Emergency

Management Planning Committee and

was approved by the North West Metro

Regional Emergency Management

Planning Committee (REMPC) on the

6 March 2024.

1.1.3 Plan Review

To ensure the plan provides for a

current integrated, coordinated, and

comprehensive approach to emergency

management and is effective, it is to be

reviewed at least every three years or as

required:

-

Annually in full or part at each

Committee meeting

-

After each major event where the plan

had been activated

-

Where the Plan has been exercised

This complies with Section 60AN, section

6.1 of the Emergency Management Act

2013 (EM Act 2013).

Urgent updates of this Plan are

permitted if there is significant risk that

life or property will be endangered if

the Plan is not updated (EM Act 2013

section 60AM). Updates come into

effect when published on the municipal

council website and remain in force for a

maximum period of three (3) years.

This Plan will be reviewed not later than

December 2026. It is current at the time

of publication and remains in effect until

modified, superseded or withdrawn.

1.2.1 Municipal Emergency

Management Functions

The Emergency Management Legislation

Amendment Act 2018 amended the

Emergency Management Act 2013 (‘the

Act’) to provide for new integrated

arrangements for emergency

management planning in Victoria at

the State, Regional and Municipal levels,

starting in December 2020.

In the establishment of this plan the

Committee has a role in enabling

community participation in emergency

preparedness, including mitigation,

response and recovery activities

(Emergency Management Act 2013

section 59F(b)).

A summary of the planning reform

can be found at the Emergency

Management Victoria website.

State Emergency

Management

Plan

- including

sub-plans

North West

Metro Emergency

Management

Plan

- including

sub-plans

Brimbank

Municipal

Emergency

Management

Plan (this plan)

- including

sub-plans

CEMP/s

(if applicable)

CEMP/s

(if applicable)

CEMP/s

(if applicable)

Plan Hierarchy

The Brimbank MEMPC has been established under Sections 59 and 59F of the The Act.

It functions as a multi-agency collaboration group comprising members with diverse

organisational, industrial and personal expertise. The primary goal is to create a

comprehensive emergency management plan for the municipality.

The Committee promotes shared responsibility by mandating relevant agencies’

participation in the planning process and directly reports to the North West Metropolitan

Regional Emergency Management Planning Committee (REMPC). It has the power

to include additional representatives as per its Terms of Reference and the Act. The

Committee is authorised to form working groups and sub-committees to support plan

development or engage in activities aligned with the plan’s objectives.

Appendix

I

contains further information on the Brimbank Municipal Emergency

Management Planning Committee Terms of Reference.

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Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

4. Risk Management

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27

The established international and

Australian risk management standard

, supported

by a range of supplementary materials

(including the

),

provide risk managers with principles

and general guidance to be considered

when developing risk management

frameworks and programs. The risk

management process underpins all

emergency management planning,

including this Plan.

The committee follows the follow process

in managing its risk:

-

establishing the scope, context and

criteria

-

Risk assessment

-

risk identification

-

risk analysis

-

risk evaluation

-

risk treatment

-

monitoring and review

-

communication and Consultation

-

recording and reporting.

The Committee in conducting its

emergency risk management process

has considered:

-

a broad range of hazards from across

the municipal district,

-

the exposure of these hazards to

people, property, systems, or other

elements that are subject to potential

losses,

-

the vulnerability of the characteristics

and circumstances of a community,

system or asset that make it

susceptible to the damaging effects of

the hazard, and

-

the level of resilience which can be

defined as the capacity of individuals,

communities, institutions, businesses

and systems to survive, adapt and

thrive no matter what kind of chronic

stresses and acute shocks they

experience.

The Committee recognises it has a key

role in undertaking a risk assessment

process through identifying potential

hazards and their associated risks,

including current and future treatments

that reduce the risk or minimize the

effects of emergencies.

The Community Emergency Risk

Assessment process:

-

Identified the risks that pose the most

significant threat to community.

-

Assisted in Identifying, describing

and understanding the exposure and

vulnerability of key community assets,

values and functions essential to the

normal functioning of the community.

-

Discuss and understand the

consequence and likelihood, causes

and impacts for each risk.

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Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

-

Identify opportunities for

improvement to prevention,

control, mitigation measures

and collaboration.

-

Inform emergency

management planning.

The Community Emergency

Risk Assessment process was

enhanced through a series

of risk assessment workshops

undertaken by the Municipal

Emergency Management

Planning Committee Working

Group from April – August

2023, based on the National

Emergency Risk Assessment

Guidelines (NERAG) 2020.

The outcome of the workshops

was the identification of a list

of prioritised risks, relevant to

Brimbank, as described the Risk

Summary table (Table 3).

The committee also undertook

an additional review of risks

in the preparation for the

development of this Plan.

Extreme

Temperature

High

Department of Health

Flood

High

Victoria State Emergency

Service

Transport Incident

- Road

High

Victoria Police

Essential Services

Disruption

High

Utilities provider

Human Disease

(Pandemic)

Medium

Department of Health

Transport

accident - Aircraft

Medium

Airservices, Fire Rescue

Victoria,

Victoria Police

Bushfire / Grassfire

Medium

Fire Rescue Victoria

Hazardous

Material Release -

Land

Low

Fire Rescue Victoria

Risk Summary Table

Extreme

Temperature

High

Department of Health

Flood

High

Victoria State Emergency

Service

Transport Incident

- Road

High

Victoria Police

Essential Services

Disruption

High

Utilities provider

Human Disease

(Pandemic)

Medium

Department of Health

Transport

accident - Aircraft

Medium

Airservices, Fire Rescue

Victoria,

Victoria Police

Bushfire / Grassfire

Medium

Fire Rescue Victoria

Hazardous

Material Release -

Land

Low

Fire Rescue Victoria

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Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

5. Mitigation Arrangements

Community event in Brimbank

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

31

Mitigation activities, taken in

advance of a disaster, aim

to decrease or eliminate the

disaster’s impact on society

and the environment (National

Emergency Risk Assessment

Guidelines (NERAG) 2020).

This Plan recognises that

mitigation activities occur

across a broad range of

organisations, including

business and industry.

Government & non-government

organisations, commercial

enterprises and community

members are all expected

to maintain mitigation

measures within their areas of

responsibility. Examples include:

-

Private businesses prepare

business continuity plans

-

Aged care and health

facilities have emergency

management plans

-

Farmers have appropriate fire

management measures in

place

-

Landholders and fire agencies

conduct fuel reduction

programs to mitigate fire risk

-

Council implements relevant

planning, prevention and

mitigation measures within its

authority, responsibility and

policies

-

Community members have

personal emergency plans

-

Organisations and individuals

have appropriate levels of

insurance

Proactive risk treatment plans and actions

help reduce risk, creating safer and more

resilient communities. Whilst many treatment

plans are developed at the National, State

and Regional levels, this Plan highlights those

that are significant at the municipal and local

community levels.

5.2.1 Sub-Plans

The Committee has capacity to establish

sub-committees to develop sub-plans where

the consequences are likely to be significant.

Hazard-specific sub plans have been

developed which contain mitigation, response

and or recovery arrangements specific to that

risk, for example the Fire Management Plan.

More information on Brimbank’s Sub Plans can

be found in Appendix C.

5.2.2 Complementary Plans

Complementary plans are prepared

by industry/sectors or agencies for

emergencies. They are often prepared under

other legislation, governance or statutory

requirements for a specific purpose. These

plans are often developed and informed by the

member agencies of the Committee, however

complementary plans do not form part of

this Plan and are not subject to approval,

consultation and other requirements under the

Emergency Management Act 2013.

A list of complementary plans that have

significance in Brimbank is included in

Appendix C.

Community level treatments through agencies

Agency led treatments include:

-

Fire Planning Workshops (FRV)

-

The VICSES website provides an overview of

flooding within the municipality.

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Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

There is a limit to the capacity of agencies

and emergency planning to effectively

mitigate all risk. It is therefore important

that everyone that lives, works and plays in

Brimbank consider the risks and work to build

resilience.

Community understanding of individual,

family and neighbourhood risks, and

participation in risk management is integral.

Resilient communities have high levels of

social cohesion and social capital founded

on core characteristics. Our experience has

shown that embedding outcomes linked to

these characteristics support communities to

have strong coping capacity to prepare for

and bounce back from disasters.

Communities know their challenges better

than anyone. By helping them access the

right skills, connections, resources and

support, they have the greatest chance at

withstanding and adapting to disruptions like

natural hazards and societal stresses over

the long term.

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

33

More resilient communities:

-

are mindful of the risks that may impact

them, and their vulnerabilities

-

use their abilities, experience and

resources to prepare for, and manage the

consequences of emergencies

-

work together to support emergency

service organisations before, during and

after emergencies

The Committee has a role to support

communities to build capacity and

resilience. In the development of this Plan the

Committee has been cognisant of ensuring

that community can access relevant

information to assist in building knowledge

and therefore help inform their own planning

and preparation.

To assist with having a community

focus there is a permanent community

representative position on the Committee.

The community representative has also

assisted in the development of this Plan

along with input from community groups

through the MEMP workshop conducted in

collaboration with the MEMPC.

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Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

6. Principal Emergency Risks

Extreme Temperature

A heatwave is when the maximum and minimum temperature are

unusually hot over 3 days compared to the local climate and past

weather.

Flood

Riverine flooding occurs when relatively high-water levels overtop the

natural and artificial banks of a stream or river, while flash flooding occurs

when soil absorption, runoff or drainage cannot adequately disperse

intense rainfall.

Transport Incident - Road

The City of Brimbank encompasses freeways, major arterial road and

passenger and freight railway lines resulting in an increase risk of fatal

collisions and disruption incidents.

Essential Services Disruption

A sustainable loss of utilities for a period greater than 12 hours that results

in widespread impacts on multiple properties.

Human Disease (Pandemic)

Infectious diseases are viral illnesses that attacks the respiratory tract in

humans.

Transport accident - Aircraft

The City of Brimbank municipality boundary is adjacent to Tullamarine

Airport and is under the flight path resulting in greater risk of transport

accidents involving an airplane.

Bushfire / Grassfire

Brimbank has a recorded history of structural, open space, commercial

and industrial fires mainly associated with isolated incidents.

Hazardous Material

Release - Land

An accident involving a hazardous material transport vehicle or storage

facility resulting in a chemical spill or toxic vapour release could cause

property damage, temporary displacement of people and significant

traffic disruption, casualties and/or fatalities.

The following emergency risks were identified as part of Brimbank’s Community Emergency Risk

Assessment process. More detailed information on each hazard can be found in Appendix E.

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

35

Extreme Temperature

A heatwave is when the maximum and minimum temperature are

unusually hot over 3 days compared to the local climate and past

weather.

Flood

Riverine flooding occurs when relatively high-water levels overtop the

natural and artificial banks of a stream or river, while flash flooding occurs

when soil absorption, runoff or drainage cannot adequately disperse

intense rainfall.

Transport Incident - Road

The City of Brimbank encompasses freeways, major arterial road and

passenger and freight railway lines resulting in an increase risk of fatal

collisions and disruption incidents.

Essential Services Disruption

A sustainable loss of utilities for a period greater than 12 hours that results

in widespread impacts on multiple properties.

Human Disease (Pandemic)

Infectious diseases are viral illnesses that attacks the respiratory tract in

humans.

Transport accident - Aircraft

The City of Brimbank municipality boundary is adjacent to Tullamarine

Airport and is under the flight path resulting in greater risk of transport

accidents involving an airplane.

Bushfire / Grassfire

Brimbank has a recorded history of structural, open space, commercial

and industrial fires mainly associated with isolated incidents.

Hazardous Material

Release - Land

An accident involving a hazardous material transport vehicle or storage

facility resulting in a chemical spill or toxic vapour release could cause

property damage, temporary displacement of people and significant

traffic disruption, casualties and/or fatalities.

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Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

7. Response Arrangements

(including Relief)

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

37

The following section outlines the

arrangements in place for the

activation and implementation of

response activities for emergency

events impacting in Brimbank, including

regional collaborative arrangements

to facilitate an effective response to

emergency events that impact an area

larger than the municipality.

Command, Control and Coordination

are traditional mechanisms in

emergency and incident management

in Victoria, and Emergency Management

systems have been built on these over

the past several years. The response

arrangements (including relief) for this

Plan are focused on these and other

mechanisms (Consequence, Control and

Community Connection), collectively

known as the Six C’s.

Victoria Police is responsible for the

coordination function at the regional and

municipal tiers, whilst the Emergency

Management Commissioner is

responsible for response coordination at

the state tier for Class 1 and 2 supported

by the Senior Police Liaison Officer.

Further information of the Six C’s can be

found at EMV’s website.

This section details EM agency roles and

responsibilities for: Mitigation, Response

(including Relief), and Recovery that are

relevant for municipal level planning.

It also maps agency roles for core

capabilities and critical tasks under the

Victorian Preparedness Framework for

the management of major emergencies.

Municipal level roles and responsibilities

are outlined in the State Emergency

Management Plan (SEMP):

-

SEMP Table 8 lists mitigation activities

and agencies for managing Victoria’s

significant emergency risks, by

emergency.

-

SEMP Table 9 lists response control

agencies. The control agency is

the primary agency responsible

for responding to the specified

emergency. Where multiple control

agencies are listed for the same

emergency type in the table, the

control agency responsibility is

delineated through legislation or

administrative arrangements.

-

SEMP Table 10 lists response support

agencies by functional area.

The roles and responsibilities outlined

in this plan are contained in either the

State Emergency Management Plan

and/or the North West Metro Regional

Emergency Management Plan. As such

no additional Roles and Responsibilities

have been identified at a Municipal level.

7. Response Arrangements

(including Relief)

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Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

7.3.1 Public Awareness, Information and

Warnings

Public information and warnings should be a

focus where community action is necessary,

primarily to protect lives, and for the

protection of property and the environment.

The Control Agency has the responsibility

to issue warnings to potentially affected

communities, and other agencies.

Information will be disseminated using a

range of mechanisms including:

-

Vic Emergency website, App, information

line and social media channels

-

Emergency broadcasters (Particularly ABC

774 and local providers)

-

Television news and media outlets

-

Council website and social media channels

Special considerations will be given to

warn persons with a disability and/or non

English speaking groups. In the case where

information or communication is required

with persons unable to speak English, an

interpreter service such as the Telephone

Interpreter Service may be able to assist.

Incident management and control within

Brimbank will be set up and activated by

the control agency at a pre-determined

Incident Control Centre. In some cases, it

may be initially set up from a police station or

predetermined municipal facility.

The Emergency Management Team

communicates through this Incident

Control Centre when an alert is issued. The

team comprises the Municipal Emergency

Response Coordinator (MERC), Control

Agencies, and the Municipal Emergency

Management Officer (MEMO). The main role

and function of the team is to assess agency

readiness, which includes their capacity for

deployment and determine the extent of

resources available locally.

The nearest Incident Control Centre for

Brimbank is located at 239 Proximity Drive

Sunshine West

7.4.1 Council Emergency Operations Centre

The Council Emergency Operations Centre

(CEOC) is established by Council in the

response phase of an emergency. Its main

function is to coordinate Council resources in

response to the emergency event.

Brimbank’s CEOC locations are:

Brimbank City Council

Council Chambers

Municipal Offices &

Community Hub

301 Hampshire Road,

Sunshine

Brimbank City

Council –

Operations Centre

72 Stadium Drive

Keilor Park

The choice of CEOC to be used will be the

decision of the MERC and may be based on

proximity to the emergency. The CEOC can

operate in either a virtual or physical state.

The key software utilised in the activation

of the CEOC component during an event is

Crisisworks.

7.4.2 Emergency Relief Centres (ERC)

As defined in the State Emergency

Management Plan, Local Government

(Council) is the lead agency for local

emergency relief and recovery. Agencies with

regional recovery responsibilities are listed in

the SEMP.

Council Emergency Operation Centre Locations

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

39

An Emergency Relief Centre (ERC) is a

building or place that has been activated to

support people affected by, or responding

to an emergency event, to cope with the

immediate needs of those impacted by the

emergency.

Brimbank has adopted the Emergency

Relief Centre Standard Operating Guidelines

that was developed in partnership with the

NWMR Collaboration, which is made up of

14 councils in the North West Metro footprint

(refer to Table 5 over the page).

The Brimbank MERC will consult with MEMO /

Municipal Recovery Manager (MRM) or that

of another Municipality MERC and their MEMO

/ MRM before deciding to activate an ERC.

Emergency Relief can also be provided at the

site of the emergency.

In the event of an emergency, the Council

has arrangements in place to utilise staff and

facilities from outside the municipality where

appropriate.

Brimbank has designated appropriately

assessed buildings as Primary Relief Centres

and Secondary Relief Centres. Council has a

Memorandum of Understanding with other

North West Municipalities for the sharing of

facilities and resources. Information on the

potential ERC locations within Brimbank is

provided in Appendix F.

As described in the SEMP all agencies are

responsible for all costs incurred in fulfilling

their role and responsibilities.

The use of municipal resources in

emergencies must be authorised by the

MEMO or the MRM and be in accordance

with the normal financial arrangements of

Brimbank City Council. An account number

for emergencies should be allocated, with

a work order number created for each

emergency.

In instances where certain financial

thresholds are met the State and

Commonwealth Governments will make

funding available through the Disaster

Recovery Funding Arrangements to cover

costs for response (inc. relief) and recovery

activities. These schemes are administered

by Emergency Management Victoria on

behalf of the Department of Treasury and

Finance.

There are no Bushfire Place of Last Resorts or

Community Fire Refuges in Brimbank due to

the lack of bushfire risk.

Planning for emergencies at the regional

level, through Brimbank’s participation in

the North West Metro Regional Emergency

Management Planning Committee, is a

key way to manage emergency events

that cross multiple council boundaries.

Many emergencies cross municipal

boundaries, requiring response (including

relief) and recovery activities from multiple

municipalities. When this occurs, the Regional

Emergency Response Coordinator (RERC)

will liaise with the Regional Controller to

determine the impact on the relevant

councils and what level of support is required.

Brimbank is also part of the North

West Metropolitan Region Emergency

Management Collaboration which consists

of 14 councils. The NWMR purpose is that

‘Councils will collaborate to provide a

consistent and best practice approach to

Emergency Management resulting in safer

and more resilient communities.

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Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

Banyule

Melton

Brimbank

Moonee Valley

Darebin

Merri-bek

Hobsons Bay

Nilumbik

Hume

Whittlesea

Maribyrnong

Wyndham

Melbourne

Yarra City

The Municipal Association of Victoria sets

out an agreed position between councils

regarding the provision of resources to

assist other municipalities with response and

recovery tasks during and after emergencies.

Brimbank City Council is invested to the

protocol via a strong financial commitment.

The protocol is consistent with the concepts

and policy guidelines articulated in the

Emergency Management Act 2013 and the

State Emergency Management Plan. Further

information on the protocol for inter-council

resource sharing can be found on MAV’s

website. Version 3 of the protocol came into

effect in October 2023.

Assistance may be sought from other

councils in the NWMR through the

Collaboration’s MOU.

Members of the NW Metro Region Emergency

Management Collaboration

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

41

The control agency is responsible for

conducting an operational debrief. The MERC

is responsible for ensuring the control agency

organises the debrief. A debrief is expected

to take place as soon as practicable after

an emergency and all agencies who

participated should be represented with a

view to assessing the adequacy of the plan

and to recommend any changes. It may

also be appropriate to conduct a separate

recovery debrief to address recovery issues.

This may be convened and chaired by the

MRM.

The activation process for relief and recovery

staff, facilities and services are guided

by the North West Metro Regional Relief

and Recovery Plan in addition to the State

Emergency Management Plan.

The Municipal Recovery Manager in

consultation with the Incident Controller and

Municipal Emergency Response Coordinator

will be assessing information to further

determine the recovery needs of the affected

community.

The response phase of an emergency is

not deemed concluded until several key

elements are identified. They are:

-

Response handover

-

Financial handover

-

Response data

-

Initial Impact Assessment data

-

Validate information

-

CEOC function

-

Needs Analysis completed, and

-

Transition to Recovery documentation

signed

8. Recovery Arrangements

42

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

The (North West Metro Relief and

Recovery Plan) complements each

of the individual Committee’s Plans.

This Regional Relief and Recovery Plan

records the municipal level emergency

relief and recovery arrangements

that may be utilised in supporting a

community impacted by an emergency

event.

As defined in the State Emergency

Management Plan, Local Government

(Council) is the lead agency for local

emergency relief and recovery.

Recovery within Brimbank is based

on managing locally, closest to the

community and with the ability to scale

up to deal with more widespread and

complex issues and support needs.

This recognises the importance of non

government organisations, community

groups, businesses and others, in

supporting the recovery process

within Brimbank. Further details on the

objectives of Recovery, including context

around events and communities, can

be found in the EMV’s Resilient Recovery

Strategy (2018).

The Municipal Recovery Manager will be

requested for recovery services by one

of the following:

-

Municipal Emergency Management

Officer (Council)

-

Municipal Emergency Response

Coordinator (VICPOL)

-

Regional Recovery Coordinator (ERV)

The Municipal Recovery Manager will

manage recovery process within council,

although this may be escalated to

Emergency Recovery Victoria at the

regional level, if required.

At the municipal level, the focus of

recovery planning and management is

on the impacted community. Within their

emergency planning responsibilities,

local arrangements incorporate recovery

planning to deliver a range of services.

These arrangements should provide

for the co-ordination of local agency

activities.

8.4.1 Structure and categories of recovery

environment functional areas

The following diagram over the page

(Figure 8) represents the structure and

categories of sub committees (working

groups) from the designated recovery

environment functional areas.

The five environments and their

functional areas as described in the

SEMP can be adapted to meet the needs

of people and communities affected,

such as consideration for Aboriginal

Culture and Healing.

8. Recovery Arrangements

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

43

44

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

Brimbank City Council Community Recovery arrangements - structure chart.

8.4.2 Municipal Recovery Committee

Composition of recovery service team

Roles

The recovery service teams (as identified

above in Figure 8) include representatives

of key organisations involved in the recovery

process. Both infrastructure and human

service agencies are represented.

Roles

The roles of recovery service teams include:

-

Prepare and maintain a recovery service

Operational Procedures Plan;

-

Meet regularly to maintain liaison between

agencies, enhance understanding

of agency roles, update contact

arrangements and ensure the currency of

local arrangements;

-

Review sub-committee membership in

consultation with MRM;

-

Conduct regular familiarisation and

training programs to fit into overall recovery

exercise planning in consultation with MRM;

-

Establish arrangements for the conduct of

municipal secondary impact assessment

and for collation, evaluation and use of

information gathered;

-

Manage the provision of recovery services

at the local level;

-

Identify resources to supplement local

government resources, which may be

exhausted by an emergency, e.g. building

inspectors, environmental health officers,

human services staff, etc., to ensure that an

adequate recovery program is provided;

-

Formalise links with regional plans and

recovery agencies;

Executive Management

Team (Council)

Municipal

Recovery Manager

(Council)

Municipal Emergency

Response Coordinator

(VicPol)

Municipal Emergency

Management Officer

(Council)

Built Environment Economic Environment Social Environment Natural Environment

Aboriginal Culture and

Healing Environment

Business Continuity

Team (Council)

Communications Public

Information (Council)

Recovery Environments

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

45

-

Consider all aspects of a local community’s

recovery, including both the restoration of

physical infrastructure and the provision of

human services;

-

Activate and co-ordinate service delivery;

-

Identify responsibility for the establishment

and maintenance of contact and resource

listings

The Brimbank City Council community

recovery service team comprises a series of

functional areas (working groups) each with

a team leader.

Where the magnitude of the event requires

community input into the recovery

process one or more Community Recovery

Committees may be established within the

affected area.

8.5.1 Community Recovery Committee

membership

The composition of the committee will

vary depending on the affected area.

The membership of the committee will

be determined by Council and include

community leaders and representatives such

as:

-

Municipal Recovery Manager and deputies;

-

Councillor;

-

Government agencies; (ERV, DET as

required);

-

Community groups; (Lions/Rotary Clubs,

Community Health Service as required);

-

Affected persons;

-

Non-government agencies; (Red Cross,

Salvation Army, Family Life, Religious

Leaders as required).

-

Control Agency for the initial meetings, then

Community Education from the Control

Agency ongoing as required

8.5.2 Community Recovery Committee

functions

The functions of the Community Recovery

Committee are as follows:

-

Represent community needs after an event.

Monitor the overall progress of the recovery

process in the affected community.

-

Identify community needs and resource

requirements and make recommendations

to appropriate recovery agencies,

municipal councils and the State’s recovery

management structure.

-

Undertake specific recovery activities as

determined by the circumstances and the

committee.

The use of municipal resources in

emergencies must be authorised through the

Municipal Emergency Management Officer

or the Municipal Recovery Manager and be

in accordance with the normal financial

arrangements of Brimbank. An account

number for emergencies should be allocated,

with a work order number created for each

emergency. See the State Emergency

Management Plan for further information on

government assistance measures relevant to

this Plan.

46

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

9. Roles and Responsibilities

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

47

The State Emergency Management

Plan and the North West Metro

Regional Emergency Management

Plan outline agreed agency roles and

responsibilities, noting that existing

duties, functions, power, responsibility or

obligation conferred on an agency by

law, licence, agreement or arrangement

prevail to the extent of its inconsistency

with this Plan. (EM Act 2013 s60AK).

The organisations that are listed as

additional service applicable to the

Brimbank and are not listed within the

State and Regional Plans can be found

in Appendix J.

9. Roles and Responsibilities

48

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

10. Monitoring and Review

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

49

A critical factor in emergency

management is to establish ongoing

processes for monitoring and review

across the emergency management

systems and processes.

The committee regularly undertakes

a review process to improve risk

assessments, analysis of lessons

learned from events, changes to

exposure and vulnerability, and

changes in the nature (frequency and

severity) of hazardous events.

Currently the review process involves a

regular standing agenda item during

the quarterly Committee meetings to

review the Community Emergency Risk

Assessment to see if any additional risks

are required to be added.

In addition, it is the intent of the

Committee to learn through multi

agency exercises, After Action Reviews

(AAR), and other appropriate forums,

to learn from emergency events. This

will lead to continual improvement,

in accordance with the Lessons

Management Framework. Appendix

G: Multi Agency Exercises details the

multi-agency exercises undertaken

recently, including learnings from each

(if recorded).

Finally, emergency management plans

and subplans, including this Plan, will be

reviewed at least every three years or as

required:

-

Annually in full or part at each

Committee meeting

-

After each major event where the plan

has been activated

-

Where the Municipal Emergency

Management Plan has been exercised

10. Monitoring and Review

50

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

Appendices

Whilst the Committee aims to minimise the number of acronyms used within this plan, the

following terms and definitions are used extensively within the Emergency Management sector.

AAR

After Action Review

CERA

Community Emergency Risk Assessment

CFA

Country Fire Authority

DEECA

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

DET

Department of Education and Training

DFFH

Department of Families, Fairness and Housing

DJSIR

Department of Jobs, Skills, Industries and Regions

DTP

Department of Transport and Planning

DTF

Department of Treasury and Finance

EM ACT 2013

Emergency Management Act 2013

EMCG

Emergency Management Coordination Group

EMT

Emergency Management Team

EMV

Emergency Management Victoria

ERC

Emergency Relief Centre

FRV

Fire Rescue Victoria

IAP

Incident Action Plan

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

51

ICC

Incident Control Centre

IEMT

Incident Emergency Management Team

MAV

Municipal Association of Victoria

MECC

Municipal Emergency Coordination Centre

MEMO

Municipal Emergency Management Officer

MEMP

Municipal Emergency Management Plan

MEMPC

Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee

MERC

Municipal Emergency Response Coordinator

MRM

Municipal Recovery Manager

NERAG

National Emergency Risk Assessment Guidelines

REMP

Regional Emergency Management Plan

REMPC

Regional Emergency Management Planning Committee

RERC

Regional Emergency Response Coordinator

SEMP

State Emergency Management Plan

VicPol

Victoria Police

VICSES

Victoria State Emergency Service

Appendices

52

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

North West Metropolitan

Regional Emergency

Management Plan

https://files.emv.vic.gov.au/2021-05/North%20West%20

Metro%20Regional%20Emergency%20Management%20Plan_

Redacted.pdf

North West Metropolitan

Region Environmental Scan

https://www.emv.vic.gov.au/em-planning-resource-library/

regional-level-resources/north-west-metro-environmental

scan

State Emergency

Management Plan

https://files.emv.vic.gov.au/2021-05/Victorian%20State%20

Emergency%20Management%20Plan%20SEMP%20_0.pdf

Emergency Management

Legislation Amendment Act

2018

https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/as-made/acts/emergency

management-legislation-amendment-act-2018

Emergency Management Act

2013

https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/emergency

management-act-2013/019

National Emergency Risk

Assessment Guidelines

https://www.aidr.org.au/media/7600/aidr_

handbookcollection_nerag_2020-02-05_v10.pdf

AS ISO 31000:2018 Risk

management - Guidelines

(ISO 31000:2018),

https://www.iso.org/iso-31000-risk-management.html

Guidelines for preparing

State, Regional and Municipal

Emergency Management

Plans

https://www.emv.vic.gov.au/responsibilities/emergency

management-planning/emergency-management-planning

resource-library-0/resources-for-all-levels-state-regional

and-municipal/guidelines-for-preparing-state-regional-and

Victorian Preparedness

Framework

https://www.emv.vic.gov.au/how-we-help/emergency

management-capability-in-victoria/victorian-preparedness

framework-0

Community Resilience

Framework for Emergency

Management

https://www.emv.vic.gov.au/how-we-help/resilience/

community-resilience-framework-for-emergency

management

Assurance Framework for

Emergency Management

https://www.igem.vic.gov.au/our-work/assurance-framework

for-emergency-management

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

53

Community Emergency Risk

Assessment

https://www.ses.vic.gov.au/about-us/emergency

management-training/community-emergency-risk

assessment-cera

Disaster Recovery Funding

Rearrangement

https://www.emv.vic.gov.au/how-we-help/disaster-recovery

funding-arrangements-drfa#:~:text=The%20DRFA%20

is%20a%20cost,activities%20following%20an%20eligible%20

disaster.&text=A%20high%2Dlevel%20overview%20of,align%20

to%20the%20Commonwealth%20DRFA.

Resilient Recovery Strategy

(2018)

https://files.emv.vic.gov.au/2021-08/Resilient%20Recovery%

20Strategy.pdf

Lessons Management

Framework

https://www.emv.vic.gov.au/how-we-help/reviews-and

lessons-management/lessons-management-framework

em-learn

VICSES – Brimbank Flood

Guides

https://www.ses.vic.gov.au/plan-and-stay-safe/flood-guides/

brimbank-city-council.

Vic Emergency site

https://www.emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/

Brimbank Council Emergency

Information

https://www.brimbank.vic.gov.au/emergency-information

Brimbank Community Profile

https://www.brimbank.vic.gov.au/council/about-brimbank

council-and-community/brimbank-community-profile

EM-COP

https://emcop.zendesk.com/hc/en-us

DELWP FloodZoom

https://www.floodzoom.vic.gov.au/FIP.Site/Identity/Login

eMAP

https://emap.ffm.vic.gov.au/emapLauncher/index.html

Emergency Management

Victoria Website

https://www.emv.vic.gov.au/

Municipal Association of

Victoria – Resource Sharing

Protocol

https://www.mav.asn.au/what-we-do/policy-advocacy/

emergency-management/protocol-for-inter-council

resource-sharing

54

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

The following sub plans have been developed by the committee to guide arrangements

associated with the municipalities highest risks.

Further information about these is available through contacting the Brimbank Municipal

Emergency Management Officer.

The following is a list of subplans to Brimbank’s Municipal Emergency Management Plan:

-

Brimbank Relief and Recovery Plan

-

Brimbank Heat Health Plan

-

Brimbank Pandemic Plan

-

Brimbank Fire Management Plan

-

Brimbank Municipal Storm and Flood Emergency Plan

The following complementary plans are not available to the public due to having personal and/

or sensitive information. Further information about these is available through contacting the

Municipal Emergency Management Officer at Brimbank.

The following is a list of complementary plans to Brimbank’s Municipal Emergency Management

Plan:

-

North West Metro Emergency Relief Centre Standard Operating Guidelines- Council

-

North West Metro Municipal Secondary Impact Assessment Guidelines- Council

-

Emergency Management Evacuation Maps- Victoria Police

-

Brimbank Climate Emergency Plan

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

55

Heatwave Heatwave

January 2009

Public Health

Influenza Pandemic Swine Flu (H1N1) virus

September 2009

Flood

Kororoit Creek - Pedestrian bridges damaged in Deer

Park and Ardeer, and factory natural surface inundated

in Fourth Ave

March 2009

Flood

Maribyrnong River - Keilor market gardens & lower

levels of Brimbank Park

October 2011

Industrial

Large factory fire in Braybrook

January 2011

Storm

Major weather event hail storm damage in Taylors

Lakes, Keilor Downs, Sydenham and Keilor

December 25, 2011

Storm

Wild weather, trees down, short power outages

June 2014

Heatwave Two Heatwaves

January 2014

Grassfire

Large grass fire Keilor and around Melbourne Airport

February 2014

Aircraft

Passengers evacuated a Tiger Airline after threats

made

January 2015

Grassfire

Large grass fire at Bob Jane site Calder Hwy, Taylors Lakes

February 2016

Public Health Thunderstorm Asthma

Spring 2017

Aircraft

Bomb threats made on a Malaysian Airline

June 2017

Waste fire Sunshine landfill, Kealba underground fire

October 2019

Bushfire/public

health smoke

Smoke plumes impact air quality – Black Summer fire

January 2020

Human

Epidemic /

Pandemic

COVID-10 Worldwide Pandemic

January 2020 -

2022

Grassfire

Bob Jane Site Calder Highway, burning property timber

fences. Homes evacuated. Taylors Lakes

January 2021

Storm

Extreme weather

October 2021

Flood

Major storm , flash flooding

November 2021

Extreme

Weather event

Maribyrnong River flood impacting residential

properties, roads and destruction of historical bridge –

Keilor

October 2022

Grassfire

Robertsons Road, Taylors Lakes

January 2023

Criminal

Activity

Keilor Village – shooting incident

September 2023

56

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

Risk description

In Brimbank, the possibility of a heatwave can lead to adverse effects on

health, potentially resulting in deteriorating health conditions and even

facilities. Heatwave impacts extend beyond individual health concerns,

as disruptions to public transport and other infrastructure can further

strain community resources and services.

Consequences

Consequences of heatwave, include:

-

Loss of life or serious illness

-

Disruption to services

-

Disruption to utilities, including employee absenteeism

-

Disruption to business

-

Loss of parks and gardens

-

Increased demand on health services

Locally relevant

examples

Heatwaves often lead to an increased risk of death, particularly from

conditions such as cardiac issues, respiratory illnesses (including

asthma), kidney disease, diabetes, nervous system diseases, and

cancer. The 2009 heatwave report by the Chief Health Officer noted

a significant rise in cardiac arrest cases during that period. Climate

change is contributing to more frequent heatwave events, as evidenced

by an increase in Health Heat Alerts from seven to eight between the

2012-2013 and 2013-2014 summers.

Control agencies Department of Health

Supporting

agencies

Cohealth, IPC Health, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing,

Western Health, Victorian Council of Social Service, Municipal Association

of Victoria.

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

57

Description

Severe storm events and riverine flooding can lead to widespread

damage, including residential and commercial property damage,

transportation disruptions, localised displacement and casualties. The

municipality contains various creeks and rivers, some of which are no

underground drains, managed by Melbourne Water. The topography

is generally flat to undulating, with natural water flows areas, making

it susceptible to storm-related incidents. Storm damage can obstruct

transportation networks, leading to traffic congestion and increased

accidents, while service disruptions may displace community members.

Additional risks include fallen trees, damaged roofs, infrastructure issues,

flash flooding, power failures, communication problems and electrical

wire hazards.

More information can be found in the City of Brimbank’s Storm and

Flood Emergency Plan.

Consequences

Consequences of flood are potentially significant and varied including:

-

Loss of life or serious injury

-

Damage or loss of key infrastructure

-

Damage or loss of utilities

-

Damage or loss of private property

-

Damage to environment

Locally relevant

examples

Within the past 40 years the Municipality has been impacted by the over

30 major flood events. Larger storm events include:

-

2011 Christmas Day hailstorm, 1500 requests for assistance (RFAs) to

SES mainly for flash flooding and hail damage. This impacted many

suburbs within the municipality and had a prolonged effect on the

residents.

-

Oct 2013 - Windstorm event which saw 224 RFAs and

-

October 2016 - Flood and Storm event saw 318 RFAs.

Control agencies Victoria State Emergency Service

Supporting

agencies

Melbourne Water, Department of Transport (including Head, Transport

for Victoria), Bureau of Meteorology, Emergency Recovery Victoria,

Victoria Police, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing,

Department of Health, Fire Rescue Victoria, Community Groups,

Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, Ambulance Victoria and

Council.

58

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

Risk description

City of Brimbank contains freeways, major arterial roads, and passenger

and freight railway lines. There are also several level crossings within the

municipality. Incidents involving various modes of transport, e.g. road

or rail can result in loss of life or serious injury, infrastructure damage,

affect environment, loss of economy, congestion, disruption to transport

network and cause inconvenience to its users.

Consequences

Transport accidents can impact individuals who are living and

moving through the city, industry and businesses, as well as the wider

community. Consequences of transport incident, include:

-

Death and serious injury

-

Emotional distress and psychological impact to family, friends and the

community

-

Financial cost of medical care and rehabilitation

-

Disruption or loss of services due to traffic congestion and delays

-

Loss of property and/or income

-

Damage or loss of transport infrastructure

Locally relevant

examples

From April 2022 to March 2023 there have been 91 Serious Injury

Collisions with the majority relating to rear end collisions, which is a

reduction from the previous 12-month period.

-

2022 - there were 12 fatal collisions in Brimbank

-

2023 - there have been 2 fatal collisions in Brimbank

Control agencies Victoria Police, Fire Rescue Victoria

Supporting

agencies

Department of Transport (including Head Transport for Victoria),

Transport Safety Victoria, Environment Protection Authority, VicRoads,

Victoria State Emergency Services, Fire Rescue,

Ambulance Victoria, Council

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

59

Risk description

A sustained loss of utility for a period greater than 12 hours that is

widespread and impacts multiple properties. Protracted disruption to

lifelines could result in stress and disruption to the community. Lifelines

include: Water, gas, electricity, communications or service delivery in

relation to sewerage removal and drainage. Cables and pipelines are

also vulnerable.

Consequences

The consequence of essential services disruption, include:

-

Loss of life or injury

-

Psychological impacts and emotional distress

-

Public health issue

-

Disruption to business and industry

-

Increased demand for health services and/or disruption

-

Increased demand for council service and/or disruption

-

Disruption to transport

-

Unable to disseminate information

Locally relevant

examples

Historical events in Brimbank include the 1998 disruption of gas supply

to Melbourne for two weeks and electricity disruption in Sunshine Easter

2010 following flooding to Anderson Rd electricity sub station. Events

in other municipalities that could apply to Brimbank include a power

outage for 8 hours at Southland Shopping Centre that resulted in 8

tonnes of food being destroyed.

Control agencies Utilities provider, Telstra, Telcos, Aust Energy

Supporting

agencies

Council, DFFH, Western Health

60

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

Risk description

Infectious diseases are categorised as a viral illness that attacks

the respiratory tract (nose, throat, and lungs) in humans. Worldwide

pandemics of influenza occur when a novel virus capable of person to

person transmission, emerges to which the population has little or no

immunity. When the next pandemic will occur, how rapidly it will emerge

and how severe the illness will be are all unknown. It can overwhelm

our health systems and in more severe scenarios, cause significant

disruption to our economy and to society. Potential for significant staff

absence. Communities unable to function without significant support -

significant economic loss, major disruption to schools.

Consequences

Potential consequences of pandemics include:

-

fatalities and high levels of absence from work

-

disruption to essential services, particularly health and education

-

economic disruption, including disruption to business and tourism.

-

physical / psychological casualties

-

economic damage, particularly to the agricultural sector and via lost

trade

-

loss of tourism revenue

Locally relevant

examples

The 20th century experienced three pandemics, with the 1918 Spanish

influenza being the most severe, causing 20-100 million deaths globally.

In 2009, the H1N1 outbreak affected over 37,000 people in Australia, with

significant impacts in Victoria, particularly in the north west metropolitan

area of Melbourne. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to widespread

lockdowns in Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne, with Brimbank City

having the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in Victoria drungin the

first four months of the year.

Control agencies Department of Health

Supporting

agencies

Western Health, IPC Health, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency,

Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Co

Health, MyCare, Migrant Resource Centre, food relief agencies, Places of

worship, and Bi-cultural workers

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

61

Risk description

The City of Brimbank’s municipal boundary is adjacent to Tullamarine

Airport and is under the flight path. Incidents involving aircraft

(away from the airport) can result in significant loss of life or serious

injury, infrastructure damage, affect environment, loss of economy,

congestion, disruption to transport network and inconvenience to its

users. The incident could also result in a building collapse, road closures

and injuries and death to people. It may also force the temporary

evacuation of nearby residents.

Consequences

The consequences of a transport accident involving an aircraft, include:

-

Death and/or serious injury

-

Emotional distress / psychological

-

Loss of structures / goods

-

Loss of tourism revenue

-

Loss of critical infrastructure and/or reputation

-

Damage or loss of transport infrastructure

-

Overwhelmed health system

-

Reduced capacity to respond

Locally relevant

examples

There have been no recorded incidents of an aircraft accident within

Brimbank. In the three-year period 2020-2023 there were a total of

seven incidents within Tullamarine Airport that invoked the Airport

Emergency Plan. All these incidents did not escalate to accidents with nil

injuries reported.

Control agencies Airservices, Fire Rescue Victoria, Victoria Police

Supporting

agencies

Ambulance Victoria, Department of Health, Department of

Transportation, Red Cross, Airlines, Immigration Service

62

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

Risk description

Brimbank has a recorded history of structural (residential), open

space commercial and industrial fires mainly associated with isolated

incidents. These have generally been controlled with local resources.

Large fires including grassfires occurring in Brimbank could cause

some injury and loss of life, damage and loss to property/assets and

inhibit road access/egress. They may require short term recovery of

the Built, Economic, Social and Environmental values. They could inflict

major stock and agricultural losses. Structural fire- urban residential

fires occur regularly within the City of Brimbank and while events are

usually localised, multiple displacements of residents can be possible.

The number of vulnerable persons in the municipality can also lead to a

multi-agency response.

Consequences

Consequences of bushfires, including grassfires, are also potentially

significant and varied, including:

-

Business interruptions

-

Environmental impacts (direct and indirect)

-

Loss of assets and infrastructure

-

Loss of life

-

Loss of tourism revenue

Locally relevant

examples

Brimbank has experienced some Grass Fires in the past. Ignition sources

have included arson, machinery causes, power lines down due to

high winds or trees over power lines. Brimbank still has a substantial

rural area with small hobby farms to larger holdings, market gardens

and numerous parks of open grassland. Known history of large fires

- Calder Park a known hotspot for grassfires, spreading rapidly in the

open grasslands. They can be difficult to contain due to fencing and

topography. Past grass fires have occurred in grasslands and parkland

within the municipality and on the outer urban fringes. Dollar losses can

be excessive. Climate change creates the potential for longer and drier

fire periods. Impacts can be stock and farm fence losses together with

structure and machinery losses and disruptions to roads and traffic. In

the 2018/2019 Fire Danger Period, Brimbank had 35 separate house/shed

fires.

Control agencies Fire Rescue Victoria

Supporting

agencies

Victoria Police, Council, Parks Vic, DFFH, Red Cross, VECC, ERV Salvos, and

Insurance Council of Victoria

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

63

Risk description

An accident involving a hazardous material transport vehicle or storage

facility resulting in a chemical spill or toxic vapour release could cause

property damage, temporary displacement of people and significant

traffic disruption, casualties and/or fatalities. There may also be a

significant impact on the environment. A hazardous substance is a

substance as listed on the national Hazardous Substances Information

System and the concentration of the substance or its ingredients equals

or exceeds the listed concentration cut-off levels that has the potential

to harm people’s health. These substances can be solids, liquids or

gases, which often are in the form of fumes, dusts, mists and vapours.

Consequences

The potential consequences of hazardous materials being accidently

released, include:

-

Loss of life or injury

-

Increased demand on health services

-

Displacement of people

-

Disruption to at least one industry sector, resulting in economic impact

-

Significant impact on air, land, water or groundwater ecosystems and

/ or cultural heritage area

-

Disruption to essential services

-

Persistent and widespread effect of toxic materials extending over a

couple of months

Locally relevant

examples

The City of Brimbank has two Major Hazard Facilities (MHFs) and many

industrial areas located in and around the municipality. Melbourne

Airport, located nearby in the City of Hume also store hazardous

materials. There have been recorded incidents of hazardous materials

release in Brimbank involving MHFs, dangerous goods storage facilities

and transport related incidents. Council do not operate a transfer

station for household waste though do operate a Resource Recovery

Centre. There are also several aquatic facilities with water treatment

chemicals. The considerable volume of dangerous goods transported

through the municipality along the major arterial freeways and railways

is another factor to be considered.

Control agencies Fire Rescue Victoria

Supporting

agencies

Environment Protection Authority, WorkSafe Victoria, Department of

Families, Fairness, and housing, Victoria Police, Ambulance, Council, Vic

Roads, Vic Rail

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Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

The locations of potential Emergency Relief Centre are not available for public viewing. The

public will be advised of the location and details of an emergency relief centre when it is

opened during an emergency event. Please refer to Council’s website for more information.

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

65

MHF Hexion PTY LTD Safety case Site/Safety Inspection, Deer Park

2017, 11 May

MHF Hexion Pty Ltd, Desktop Exercise for Orica Deer Park Site, all agencies 2017, 20 June

MHF - Ixom ChlorAlkali Plant Annual Emergency Exercise at 180 Dohertys

Road Laverton North

2017, 24 August

MHF - ELGAS Deer Park Emergency Management Exercise

2017, 25 October

MHF - Orica Site Deer Park – Gate 3 Emergency Evacuation Drill

2017, 10 Nov.

MHF Hexion PTY LTD Safety case Site/Safety Inspection

2018, 11 May

MHF - Ixom ChlorAlkali Plant Annual Emergency Exercise

2018, 13 July

Council’s & Emergencies Workshop; host Maribyrnong City Council

2019, 2 May

MHF - Ixom Exercise, Deer Park - MHF

2019, 21 August

Exercise PAEN Part 1 – Sunshine ICC; host NWMR Collaboration

2019, 28 August

Emergency Management Desktop Exercise Brimbank City Council MEMPC 2019, 5 Sept

Emergency Management Information, City Of Melbourne

2019,15 October

Exercise PAEN Part 2 – MWMR Collaboration; host Whittlesea Council

2019,30 October

Exercise Delta NWMRC Collaboration; host Hobsons Bay Council

2021, 20 October

Exercise Inceptus – Sunshine ICC; NW REMPC; host VICSES

2021, 16 November

Exercise Trigger- BCC in conjunction with Banyule, Darebin Merri-Bek and

Hume Councils Host Banyule Council

2023, 27 June

MHF - Ixom Chemical Company, Deer Park

2023, 14 July

Exercise 7700, Airplane crash NW REMPC exercise; host Hume City Council 2023, 2 November

Full details of all emergency management exercises are available by contacting Brimbank’s

Executive Officer Operations Projects Coordinator.

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Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

The Contact Directory contains restricted information and as such as available to agencies

only. To access, please contact the Municipal Emergency Management Officer at Brimbank City

Council.

The MEMPC Terms of Reference contains restricted information and as such is available to

agencies only. To access, please contact the Municipal Emergency Management Officer at

Brimbank City Council.

Brimbank Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2023 -2026

67

The following organisations are listed as additional service applicable to the Brimbank

Municipality that are not listed within the State and Regional Plans.

CoHealth

Health and support services - Community health,

advocacy, research, prevention and health promotion.

The Orange Door

Provides help for people experiencing family violence,

or who need assistance with the care and wellbeing of

children and young people.

Society of St Vincent de Paul Centre

Aid includes food parcels, clothing, furniture and

financial assistance for paying household bills

IPC Health

Provides counselling, support and referral for children,

young people and adults for a range of personal and

family problems including stress, anxiety, depression,

postnatal depression, loss and grief, relationship

difficulties, health problems and domestic violence.

Headspace Sunshine

Provide counselling & support, information & referral

and opportunities for children and young people 12 to

25 years old to talk with someone about their feelings

or concerns.

West Justice

Provides free legal help. They can assist with a range of

everyday legal issues including tenancy and assistance

for victims of family & domestic violence.

Queerspace

Queerspace provides a safe and supportive space

to obtain information and access services aimed

at improving the health and well-being of LGBTIQA+

communities.

Brimbank

Municipal

Emergency

Management

Plan

December 2023-26