Invitation to share emergency preparedness ideas

Residents of Nagambie and district are invited to provide their ideas for community emergency preparedness at an interactive session soon.

The development of a Local Emergency Action Plan (LEAP) for Nagambie will be the fifth Strathbogie Shire community to document what is important to them when responding and recovering from emergency events.

The meeting is to be held on Monday June 17 at the Mechanics Institute Hall from 6-8pm and will be facilitated by John Beresford.

Strathbogie Shire Council Administrator Peter Stephenson said this will be an opportunity for the Nagambie community to have a say about what is important to them at a time of dealing with an emergency especially with the recent flooding in mind.

“We thank the members of the emergency services who will attend and give their expertise when working through the components of dealing with an emergency from their perspective.

“Already three of our townships Violet Town, Avenel, and Euroa have developed their plan that outlines the actions and responsibilities of the community, agencies and Council during an emergency event through to recovery.

“Locals possess valuable knowledge, such as escape routes and identifying vulnerable community members, which is essential in crafting effective emergency action plans tailored to each community’s needs,” Mr Stephenson said.

The plans will remain dynamic, subject to annual amendments, ensuring their relevance and efficacy.

Mr. Stephenson acknowledged how important it was for community members to volunteer their knowledge and contribute to the Nagambie LEAP document, underscoring the ongoing commitment to community resilience.

The community steering groups have received guidance from Danna Lezcano, the project’s Resilience Planning Officer, and Mark Leitinger, the Emergency Management Officer for Strathbogie Shire Council.

The LEAPing into Resilience project stands as a testament to this joint initiative, driven by the shared goal of enhancing community preparedness and resilience.  It is a

joint initiative between Mansfield, Strathbogie and Murrindindi Shire Councils, funded by the Australian Government.