Information for Local Governments

Webinar: WHS Legislation and Local Government Bushfire Brigades

On Tuesday, 31 August WALGA and LGIS hosted a webinar to inform Local Governments about the new Work Health and Safety legislation and the implications for the management of Bush Fire Brigade volunteers. Presentations covered the changes resulting from the new Work Health and Safety Act 2020, ways to reduce the level of risk and meet your legislative obligations, as well as a Local Government best practice case study and update from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services on their training program.

The webinar presentations are available here. 
The webinar recording is available here. 

Bushfire Centre of Excellence Training Schedule for 2021
LGIS Work Health and Safety resources and publications

Local Government Animal Welfare In Emergencies Webinar

WALGA hosted a webinar on Local Plans for Animal Welfare in Emergencies on 22 June 2021. The webinar foccused on the role of Local Governments in safeguarding animal welfare during an emergency, as well as acitivation of the State Support Plan on Animal Welfare in Emergencies. 

Local Governments had the opportunity to hear presentations from the City of Swan, Shire of Mundaring and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development about their experience during the Wooroloo Bushfires earlier this year. This was to provide Local Governments with insight into considerations for their LPAWE's.

The webinar recording is available here. 

Australian Fire Danger Rating System

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) is leading Western Australia’s participation in a national program through the Australian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) to design and implement a new Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS).
DFES are currently developing a State implementation plan to identify the governance requirements, resourcing needs and change management processes required to enable the effective implementation of the new AFDRS scheduled for release in June 2022. This will include extensive engagement with stakeholder groups including Local Governments, to understand impacts and support structures that need to be put in place to support this significant change.

DFES in consultation with WALGA administered an online survey to all Local Governments, providing the opportunity to help inform on the impacts that the new AFDRS may have on their specific Local Government. The survey was sent out to all Local Government CEOs for consultation in late 2020.

 

Bush Fire Risk Treatment Standards for residential and public buildings

In November 2020, the Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner published new Bush Fire Risk Treatment Standards for Western Australia. The Standards provide owners and occupiers of land within specified areas of the State the ability to undertake specific vegetation management activities around residential and public buildings without breaching State or local law. To read the Standards, open the PDF here

Information about the Standards will be available from the DFES website under the Managing Vegetation tab.

WALGA hosted a webinar to provide information on using the Standards in November 2020. The webinar can be viewed here

For further information about the Bush Fire Risk Treatment Standards, please email the DFES Rural Fire Divison.

Emergency Management Engagement: Before - During - After

WALGA's Emergency Management Team is carrying out an engagement process to determine emergency priorities across the Local Government sector, and establish how WALGA can best represent Local Government through advocacy, member representation and capacity building. A workshop held in August 2019 captured the views of more than 30 Local Governments.


Community Resilience - Position Statement

WALGA advocates that the Commonwealth Government should commit to continued funding of the Natural Disaster Resilience Program (NDRP) as a fund to assist Local Governments to undertake community resilience building projects to reduce the impacts of identified natural disaster risks on communities. Read more...
 

Disaster Mitigation - Position Statement

WALGA advocates that the Commonwealth and State Governments should commit to specific funding programs to enable Local Governments to undertake essential physical mitigation programs to further reduce the exposure of communities to the impacts of natural disasters and to ensure the protection of essential community infrastructure. Read more...
 

Emergency Services Levy - Position Statement

In Western Australia, Local Governments responsibilities in regard to emergency management are outlined in the Emergency Management Act 2005 (EM Act), the Emergency Management Regulations 2006, and the Bush Fires Act 1954 (BF Act).

WALGA advocates for full review of the Emergency Services Levy, its administration, fee structure and distribution mechanism to facilitate funding back to Local Government to support their Emergency Management responsibilities as legislated in the Emergency Management Act 2005. Read more...