Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery Plan

Supporting emergency preparedness to minimise impacts on biodiversity and agricultural natural capital

Southern Tasmania is facing increasing challenges from natural disasters and extreme weather events, ranging from bushfires to flash floods, and emergency biosecurity incursions. These events not only threaten human lives, property, and food supply, but also have significant impacts on biodiversity and agricultural natural capital assets. It is crucial that we enhance our preparedness and response to mitigate these risks effectively.

NRM organisations play a critical role in supporting emergency preparedness and response and have developed an Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery Plan that serves as a strategic blueprint to enhance preparedness, response, and recovery measures pertaining to emergency events impacting biodiversity and agricultural natural capital assets.

The plan aims to provide information to assist integration of these crucial assets into emergency frameworks, and to mitigate risks, minimise damage, and expedite recovery processes for natural assets in the face of natural disasters.

Priority Events

  • Priority bushfire: Proactive measures such as fuel reduction programs, community awareness campaigns, and effective emergency response strategies are essential to mitigate risks and ensure effective management of bushfire events.
  • Priority flood: Tasmania’s topography means our experience with floods is very different from the mainland. Tasmania mainly experiences flash flooding rather than long periods of flooding with several weeks of inundation.
  • Priority drought: Proactive planning and collaboration between government agencies, stakeholders, and community groups are key to minimising drought impacts and building resilience in our region. This includes implementing water conservation strategies, promoting drought-resistant crops, enhancing monitoring and early warning systems, and supporting affected communities.
  • Priority biosecurity incursion: Tasmania’s unique environmental conditions and geographic isolation means the introduction of invasive species or diseases can have profound and far-reaching consequences. Given the severity of potential impacts, early detection and rapid response are crucial in addressing biosecurity incursions effectively. This involves coordinated efforts between government agencies, industry stakeholders, and the broader community to prevent, detect, and manage biosecurity threats in the Region. Proactive measures such as surveillance programs, quarantine protocols, and public awareness campaigns play a vital role in safeguarding the region’s environmental and economic interests against biosecurity risks.

Recognising the critical role of NRM organisations in supporting emergency preparedness and response, the Australian Government invited NRM South to develop a ‘Biodiversity and Agricultural Natural Capital Emergency Preparedness and Response and Recovery Plan’. The Plan is informed by lessons learned from past disasters and guided by relevant strategic frameworks.

OVERVIEW

Objectives

This Plan marks a pivotal moment in NRM South’s approach to emergency preparedness, response, and recovery concerning biodiversity and natural capital assets in southern Tasmania. It lays the foundation for future initiatives, highlighting the need for collaborative approaches, funding, and resources to bridge existing gaps and implement actions. Through future funding and strategic implementation of the recommendations of this Plan, we envision a future where our objectives are achieved, bolstering our resilience, and safeguarding our natural values.

Enhancing Preparedness

  1. Outline proactive actions that identify, assess, and reduce risks posed by potential emergency events to biodiversity and agricultural natural capital assets.
  2. Foster collaboration and information sharing to ensure a comprehensive understanding of vulnerabilities and effective preparedness measures.

Strengthening Capabilities

  1. Support clear communication that facilitates swift and coordinated responses to emergency events affecting biodiversity and agricultural natural capital assets.
  2. Identify training and resources required to equip NRM South and our stakeholders with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively address crises.
  3. Plan, develop and implement strategic actions tailored to the unique needs of biodiversity and agricultural natural capital assets, with a focus on restoring ecosystems and enhancing resilience.
  4. Bring together and coordinate on-ground efforts with state and federal governments and local stakeholders to expedite the recovery process for natural assets, leveraging available resources and expertise to maximise outcomes.
  5. Facilitate the inclusion of biodiversity and agricultural natural capital assets in existing emergency planning frameworks, fostering a holistic approach to risk management and mitigation, and promoting long-term resilience and sustainability.

Collaboration

  1. Identify and engage with key agencies responsible for emergency preparedness and response, fostering collaboration and coordination to achieve shared objectives.
  2. Identify partnerships and cooperative agreements to leverage resources and expertise for more effective management of priority natural assets during and following emergencies.

The establishment of this report on 18 June 2024 was funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust in 2023-24 and delivered by NRM South, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.