Page 56 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 11 February 2020
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
I heard very positive feedback from our community not only in person but also through the ABC, through their broadcasts in conjunction with the ESA to provide information to the community. They really valued the work that was going on in those centres. I would like to extend my thanks to all of the staff that were involved there and all of the volunteers and community services organisations that worked in them.
There is a lot of work that happens that does not get coverage, for good reason during a time of crisis, but nonetheless needs to be acknowledged. That includes the work of Transport Canberra and City Services during this crisis. In support of the ESA and ACT Policing, Roads ACT implemented and maintained road closures to ensure public safety. Many of these road closures were staffed on a 24-hour basis, often in difficult weather conditions and in remote locations where there was no phone signal.
Unfortunately, some members of the public abused some of these staff for not being able to move around as they wished to do and wanted to have a go at someone playing their part in protecting the community. I want to thank those staff for the work that they did in making sure that our community was safe and also the work that they were doing with message boards, communicating with people on roadways about the traffic conditions and providing guidance at evacuation centres, as well as assisting in relation to temporary changes to road conditions. The quiet work of this team throughout the year in maintaining and upgrading our stormwater system has been critical right at this time in keeping Canberra’s homes and streets from being inundated through the wettest February day on record.
Our domestic animal services have been a critical part of the respite centres, supporting families with pets and providing services to them during the time of the bushfire. Their staff were present at evacuation and relief centres in Erindale, Stirling and Dickson, rotating on 24-hour shifts to provide secure animal housing, bedding and food for pets.
Transport Canberra bus drivers transported key personnel from the ESA and Australian Defence Force as needed during the fires, often at short notice and at all hours of the day. Mechanical staff were on hand to assist the ESA. Bus drivers were available to provide additional services as needed during the Beard and Orroral Valley fires, ready to be stood up to support evacuations, which thankfully did not occur in the southern suburbs of the ACT, with the exception of Tharwa.
During periods of extreme heat, Libraries ACT in Dickson, Woden, and Erindale opened for extended hours. As the ACT entered a state of emergency, additional services were provided by a Libraries ACT team: impromptu story times, colouring sheets and other activities for families spending time in evacuation centres. Library staff further assisted in providing documentation to evacuees, such as financial assistance forms and printing documents.
Our city services staff worked hard to ensure that access to our urban spaces was unimpeded and quick access was available to firefighting crews, and that sports grounds were made available for emergency services command posts. Essential maintenance work to reduce risk was also undertaken, including mowing activities concentrated in key risk areas.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video