Council's Role in an Emergency

Emergencies like fire, flood and storms can have a huge impact on communities. Colac Otway Shire has a vital role to play, working closely with emergency services and other agencies to keep our community prepared, safe and supported before, during and after emergencies.

To prepare for emergencies, we focus on land-use planning, reducing hazards, fire prevention on private and council-managed land, and identifying bushfire places of last resort. We help the community understand threats and how they can prepare.

In the event of an emergency or disaster, we set up an emergency control centre to coordinate relief and recovery activities. Under instruction from lead agencies, we will open emergency relief centres to support people who have evacuated their homes.

These centres can help with food and clothing, temporary accommodation, personal support, and access to grants or financial aid.

We also help emergency services with tasks like hazard assessment, clearing roads, traffic management, animal welfare, volunteer coordination, and getting warnings and information to the public.

After an emergency, we assist in ongoing recovery activities including clean-up and repairing council buildings and roads. Our other tasks can include building and environmental health assessment, management of recovery centres, and support of community recovery committees and programs.

Colac Otway Shire’s Municipal Emergency Management Plan includes specific sub-plans for fires, floods, heatwaves and pandemics.