By MELISSA MEEHAN
EMERALD’S Emergency Support Team (EST) is leading a pilot program in Gembrook that would provide a unique small-scale resilience program in case of a bushfire or natural disaster.
Meeting tonight (Tuesday), the Community Assessment workshop will be held in Gembrook from 7.30 at the Community Complex.
Cardinia Shire manager Community, Risk and Emergency Management Myles O’Reilly said safety for the community after a disaster was the shared responsibility between State-based organisations and agencies, municipal councils and most importantly the at-risk community themselves.
But residents must not remain complacent, as the group is ready for the aftermath of an emergency – not protecting the town from fire, flood, wind or any other disaster.
“Dealing effectively with an emergency in an ‘all agencies, all hazards’ philosophy requires everyone to work together,” he said.
“The EST model provides a vehicle for community involvement, where the community can lead its own recovery process.”
Emerald EST chairman Wayne Collins said recovery was usually the responsibility of the council, and the EST was set up after Ash Wednesday.
“We looked at the response of the town and how we would deal with it if it were to happen again,” he said.
“So emergency services came together, service groups too and it’s just grown from there, now we have police, ambulance, schools and the community house.”
“It means we as a town have a plan for the worst.”
Mr Collins said Mr O’Reilly worked with the community to ensure everyone was on the same page.
“He’s really championing us as a pilot program that can be rolled out to other towns,” he said.
The Community Risk Assessment workshop for Gembrook will be held tonight (Tuesday 12 August) at 7.30pm at the Gembrook Community complex.
