Page 2838 - Week 09 - Thursday, 26 August 1993

MINISTER FOR URBAN SERVICES

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

QUESTION NO 866

Disaster Plan

Mrs Carnell - asked the Minister for Urban Services:

(1) Does the ACT have a Disaster Plan; if so (a) how recently was it updated; (b) are copies

available and (c) how are copies distributed.

(2) Are regular training sessions for disaster workers (paid and volunteer) held.

(3) What is the retention rate of volunteers in the disaster/search and rescue area.

(4) Has this rate declined over the past six months.

Mr Connolly - the answer to the Members question is as follows:

(1) Yes. (a) The Disaster Plan was updated in 1991 and distributed as photocopies. As

indicated in the interim report on the review of Fire and Emergency Services, which I

tabled in the Assembly on 11 May 1993 the Emergency Management Committee are

currently revising the plan. (b) Yes. (c) Yes, by, ACT Emergency Service.

(2) Yes. These are conducted by the Central Exercise Writing Team from all emergency

services in the ACT, The volunteer units train each Thursday evening and at least one

weekend each month.

(3) Emergency Service volunteers operate on a regional basis. The retention rates over the

past year have been 95% for the South region and 100% for the North region.

(4) There have been no losses in either the North or South, region over the past six months.

Registered volunteers number around 300. Active membership has increased from 120 to

160 over the past six months.