Division 3Division 3 Emergency management at local level
27 Combination of local government areas
If the councils of 2 or more local government areas agree (with the approval of the Minister) to combine their emergency management arrangements under this Part, a reference in this Part:(a) to a local government area is a reference to the combined local government areas concerned, and(b) to the council of that combined local government area is a reference to the principal council nominated in the agreement.
28 Local Emergency Management Committees
(1) There is established by this Act a Local Emergency Management Committee for each local government area.(2) Each such Committee is to consist of:(a) the General Manager of the council of the relevant local government area, who is to be the Chairperson of the Committee, and(b) a senior representative of each emergency services organisation operating in the relevant local government area, and(c) a representative of each organisation that:(i) provides services in a functional area or areas in the relevant local government area, and(ii) the council of that area determines from time to time is to be represented on the Committee, and(d) the Local Emergency Operations Controller for the relevant local government area.(3), (4) (Repealed)(5) The representative of an organisation is to be nominated by the organisation.(6) (Repealed)(7) Schedule 2 has effect with respect to the members and procedure of a Local Emergency Management Committee.
29 Functions of Local Emergency Management Committees
(1) A Local Emergency Management Committee is responsible for the preparation and review of plans in relation to the prevention of, preparation for, response to and recovery from emergencies in the local government area for which it is constituted.(1A) Without limiting subsection (1), any such Committee may:(a) give effect to and carry out emergency management policy and practice, consistent with information on that policy and practice disseminated by the State Emergency Management Committee, and(b) review and prepare plans in respect of the relevant local government area that are, or are proposed to be, subplans or supporting plans established under the State Emergency Management Plan, and(c) make recommendations about and assist in the co-ordination of training in relation to emergency management in the relevant local government area, and(d) develop, conduct and evaluate local emergency management training exercises, and(e) facilitate local level emergency management capability through inter-agency co-ordination, co-operation and information sharing arrangements, and(f) assist the Local Emergency Operations Controller for the relevant local government area in the Controller’s role under section 31, and(g) such other functions as are:(i) related to this Act, and(ii) assigned to the Committee (or to Local Emergency Management Committees generally) from time to time by the relevant Regional Emergency Management Committee or by the State Emergency Management Committee.(2) In the exercise of its functions, any such Committee is responsible to the relevant Regional Emergency Management Committee.
30 Local Emergency Operations Controller
(1) The Regional Emergency Operations Controller is to appoint a Local Emergency Operations Controller for each local government area.(2) The person appointed:(a) must be a police officer stationed within the region (established under section 21) in which the local government area is located, or, if that is not reasonably practicable, within a region that is, in the opinion of the Regional Emergency Operations Controller, nearby, and(b) must be a person who, in the opinion of the Regional Emergency Operations Controller, has experience in emergency management.(3) (Repealed)
31 Functions of Local Emergency Operations Controller
(1) The Local Emergency Operations Controller for an area is, subject to this section, responsible for controlling in accordance with this Act the response to an emergency that affects only that area.(1A) The Local Emergency Operations Controller is not responsible for controlling the response to an emergency if there is a single combat agency primarily responsible under the State Emergency Management Plan for controlling the response to the emergency, unless the Controller assumes that responsibility in accordance with subsection (1B).(1B) The Local Emergency Operations Controller may assume responsibility for controlling the response to an emergency from the combat agency primarily so responsible under the State Emergency Management Plan if:(a) the State Emergency Operations Controller is satisfied that it is necessary to do so in the particular circumstances of the case, and(b) the combat agency has requested or agreed to the Local Emergency Operations Controller assuming that responsibility.(1C) The Local Emergency Operations Controller is not responsible for controlling the response to an emergency for which the State or Regional Emergency Operations Controller has assumed responsibility.(2) The Local Emergency Operations Controller may, if responsible for controlling the response to an emergency, issue directions to agencies who have functions in connection with responses to the emergency.(2A) The Local Emergency Operations Controller may, at the request of the combat agency that is primarily responsible for controlling the response to an emergency, carry out such functions as may be specified by the agency for the purposes of controlling the response to the emergency.(3) The functions of the Local Emergency Operations Controller may be exercised without the need for a declaration of a state of emergency, but during a state of emergency the exercise of those functions is subject to Division 4.(4) The Local Emergency Operations Controller is to establish and control a local emergency operations centre.(5) The Local Emergency Operations Controller is subject to the direction of the relevant Regional Emergency Operations Controller.
32 Councils to provide executive support for Local Emergency Management Committee and Operations Controller
(1) A council is to provide executive support facilities for the Local Emergency Management Committee and the Local Emergency Operations Controller in its area.(2) (Repealed)