Page 1187 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 2 April 2019
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The 2018-19 summer was the warmest summer on record, well ahead of the previous hottest summer on record in 2013. Australia’s summer disaster season gave us bushfires, heatwaves and dust storms, and this year’s bushfire season has run for eight months. In northern Australia we had unprecedented bushfires followed by floods and cyclones so devastating that the ACT sent two teams of social recovery experts to assist.
We acknowledge that climate change will increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. It is important that Canberrans, the ACT government and Canberra businesses and organisations prepare for more extreme weather in future years. It is the responsible thing to do because climate change is already happening and the effect on us will continue into the future.
The 2003 bushfires are still the thing most Canberrans think about when it comes to extreme events. The devastation and heartbreak still impacts people today. Since then the ACT government has upgraded and updated our approach to managing extreme weather events. We are ever vigilant as the frequency and severity of disasters will continue to increase. The ACT’s territory-wide risk assessment looks at the strategic hazards facing the ACT. Not surprisingly bushfire is listed as our highest risk.
Less well known is the other extreme risk facing the ACT—heatwaves. Heatwaves kill more people than other natural disasters. When temperatures rise to unbearable conditions, so does the demand on our health system. This summer the ACT government activated its extreme heat plan to help Canberrans cope. While presentations to hospital emergency departments increased our actions to help Canberrans keep cool worked. These included extended opening hours at libraries and a focus on helping vulnerable Canberrans, including the homeless.
Following major emergencies the ACT government coordinates relief and recovery services for affected individuals and communities in the ACT. This involves bringing together government agencies and community organisations to ensure that Canberrans are protected and recovery services are effectively delivered.
The ACT government is currently updating its disaster recovery planning. The Justice and Community Safety Directorate is leading a whole-of-government effort to more closely integrate the different elements of recovery: community, environment, infrastructure and economy.
Our recovery planning is based on the national principles for disaster recovery. These principles put the community at the centre of successful recovery. The ACT government works with and supports the community by embracing a community-led, community-centred approach. Recovery is an integral part of the emergency management system.
While our emergency services are at the front line in responding to extreme weather events they are supported by a large community recovery network. The network is led by the Community Services Directorate and includes partners across the ACT government. Together with 13 non-government organisations and charities CSD delivers the recovery services people need.
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