Brisbane City Council

BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN

CHAPTER 9 – MORETON ISLAND SUB-PLAN (V2.0)

Brisbane City Council

DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN

2013

MORETON ISLAND SUB-PLAN

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BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN

CHAPTER 9 – MORETON ISLAND SUB-PLAN (V2.0)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 AMENDMENTS AND REVIEW 1

2.0 ADMINISTRATION AND GOVERNANCE 3

2.1 References 3

3.0 INTRODUCTION 4

3.1 Audience 4

3.2 Approval 4

3.3 Custodian 4

3.4 Purpose 4

3.5 Authority 4

3.6 Activation 4

3.7 Moreton Island stakeholders 5

4.0 SCOPE 6

4.1 Assumptions 6

4.2 Definitions 6

5.0 MORETON ISLAND QUICK FACTS 7

6.0 HOW TO USE THIS SUB-PLAN DURING OPERATIONS 8

7.0 RISK MANAGEMENT 10

7.1 Tangalooma Resort specific plans 10

8.0 EVACUATION PROCESS 11

8.1 Chain of Command / Control of agencies on Moreton Island 13

9.0 WARNING 14

9.1 Set up & Pre-position 14

10.0 WITHDRAWAL 15

11.0 EXTRACTION 16

12.0 RECEPTION & RELOCATION 17

13.0 RETURN 18

APPENDIX 1 – ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS 20

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BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN

CHAPTER 9 – MORETON ISLAND SUB-PLAN (V2.0)

This Brisbane City Council Moreton Island Sub-plan is an operational plan sitting under the Evacuation Plan of the Brisbane City Council Disaster Management Plan and has been endorsed by the Brisbane City Local Disaster Management Group (Brisbane LDMG).

1.0 AMENDMENTS AND REVIEW

This Moreton Island Sub-plan will be reviewed, practiced and updated annually in accordance with the procedures mandated by the Brisbane LDMG.

It shall be reviewed at least once each year by a committee of appropriately qualified and experienced personnel. The committee shall, as a minimum, consist of senior members of Disaster Operations and representatives from external agencies as needed.

1.  Proposed amendments to this sub-plan are to be forwarded in writing to the Manager, Disaster Operations (MDO), who may approve minor amendments.

1. Proposed amendments that affect the intent of this sub-plan, roles and responsibilities or external agencies must be endorsed by the Local Disaster Coordinator (LDC) and/or the MDO and may be forwarded to the Brisbane LDMG for approval if required. This type of amendment is referred to as a major amendment.
2. Endorsed amendments are to be listed in the table below.
3. Version control of this sub-plan is managed by Disaster Operations. Reissue of this sub-plan following amendment or review will be recorded in the table below and advice of reissue will be distributed throughout the disaster management network. Recipients should take all appropriate action to ensure they are in possession of the most recent version, and that previous versions in both hard copy and electronic forms are archived accordingly. Further information can be requested by contacting Disaster Operations.

Moreton Island Sub-plan Version Control

Version / Date / Reviewed by / Endorsed by / Comments
1.0 / September 2012 / Coordinator, Disaster Operations / Manager, Disaster Operations / Initial draft prepared by Disaster Operations
1.1 / February 2013 / Coordinator, Disaster Operations / Manager, Disaster Operations / Revisions following exercise debrief
2.0 / May 2013 / Manager, Disaster Operations / Chair, Brisbane LDMG
District Disaster Officer / 2013 official version

1. This sub-plan is to be reviewed:

·  On activation of an event requiring the use of this sub-plan

·  On activation of similar disaster management plans in other states, territories or overseas where considered possible

·  Upon annual review of Council’s Disaster Management Plan in accordance with the Disaster Management Act 2003 (Qld)

1. This sub-plan, together with its supporting standard operating procedures (SOPs), is to be tested annually. The MDO is to brief relevant stakeholders and the Brisbane LDMG on the results of testing this plan.
2. In accordance with legislation, the Brisbane Local Disaster Management Plan and all its underpinning sub-plans will be approved by the Chair of the Brisbane LDMG annually.

2.0 ADMINISTRATION AND GOVERNANCE

2.1  References

Table 1 summarises a comprehensive, but not exhaustive, list of the many interrelated documents that provide authority for this Plan.

Table 1: Moreton Island Plan reference list

A. / Disaster Management Act 2003 (Qld), reprint 3D effective 11 December 2012 (the Act)
B. / Queensland Disaster Management Planning Guidelines
C. / Australian Emergency Manuals Series, Part III, Emergency Management Practice, Volume 2 – Specific issues. Manual 1 – Evacuation Planning
D. / Emergency Management Queensland, Queensland Evacuation Guidelines for Disaster Management Groups, Version 1 August 2011
E. / Public Safety Preservation Act 1986
F. / Brisbane City Council Evacuation Plan 2013
G. / Brisbane City Council Evacuation Standard Operating Procedure 2013
H. / Emergency Response Procedure, Action Plan for Emergencies – Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service 2011
I. / Wildfire Response Plan – Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service 2011
J. / Department National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing website: http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/moreton-island/index.html

3.0 INTRODUCTION

The Brisbane City Council Moreton Island Sub-plan is an operational level sub-plan that sits within Brisbane City Council’s Disaster Management Plan, prepared under the terms of the Disaster Management Act 2003 (Queensland). It is supported by standard operating procedures (SOPs) that outline the procedures to be followed when the Moreton Island Sub-plan is activated. These SOPs are internal documents and are available on Council’s Disaster Management intranet or through Disaster Operations.

This sub-plan is designed to be a guide for the evacuation, shelter and support services for people affected by an emergency or disaster event on Moreton Island.

3.1  Audience

This sub-plan has been prepared for Council, the Lord Mayor, Brisbane LDMG, Council Business Units, and key external stakeholders.

3.2  Approval

This Moreton Island Sub-plan is approved by the Brisbane LDMG under the terms and provisions of the Act.

3.3  Custodian

The MDO, on behalf of Council, is the custodian of this plan. The custodian has the responsibility for implementing, evaluating, testing, reviewing and updating this plan. The custodian is also to ensure proper quality, security, integrity, consistency, privacy, confidentiality and accessibility of the plan.

The Custodian’s contact details are:

Title: Manager, Disaster Operations

Contact: (07) 3403 8888

GPO Box 1434 Brisbane Qld, 4001

3.4  Purpose

The purpose of evacuation is to ensure people at risk during a disaster event can be moved to a location of relative safety and provided with emergency human services, including short-term accommodation if necessary.

3.5  Authority

This plan forms a sub-plan of the Brisbane City Council Disaster Management Plan, and is developed under the authority of the Act.

The Brisbane Local Disaster Coordinator (LDC), the CEO Brisbane City Council, is the Authority for this plan. The Brisbane LDC may elect to activate this plan in consultation with, or under direction from, the State or Brisbane District Disaster Coordinators.

3.6  Activation

The Moreton Island Sub-plan will be activated by the LDC where the nature of risk to the community will require the movement of at risk persons to a safer location.

3.7  Moreton Island stakeholders

The Moreton Island stakeholders consist of the following agencies:

·  Brisbane City Council – Disaster Operations (DISOPS)

·  Brisbane City Council –Compliance and Regulatory Services (CARS)

·  Brisbane City Council – Corporate Communications (Crisis Communications)

·  Brisbane City Council – Brisbane Lifestyle (BL)

·  Brisbane City Council – Brisbane Transport (BT)

·  Brisbane City Council – Field Services Group (FSG)

·  Queensland Police Service – Redcliffe District Disaster Management Group (Redcliffe DDMG)

·  Queensland Police Service (QPS)

·  Department of Community Safety - Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ)

·  Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services (DCCSDS)

·  Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport & Racing (DNPRSR) (Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service – QPWS)

·  Red Cross

·  State Emergency Service (SES)

·  Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS)

·  Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS)

·  Tangalooma Island Resort

4.0 SCOPE

This plan provides a strategic overview of the process of coordinating and tasking agencies to facilitate the evacuation of persons at risk on Moreton Island and its shoreline waters to the mainland or other safe havens within the island communities of Moreton Bay.

This plan will focus on five phases of coordination and tasking which are:

1.  Preliminary

2.  Withdrawal

3.  Extraction

4.  Reception and relocation

5.  Return

Moreton Island is susceptible to various risks. For this reason an all hazards approach will be used.

This plan will not cover evacuation centre management. See Evacuation Plan and SOP for further details.

This plan does not cover recovery planning.

4.1  Assumptions

·  Brisbane City Council is the lead agency for this plan with support from the Redcliffe DDMG, Queensland Police Service, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and other agencies as required.

·  Relocation is defined as the relocation of evacuees to designated areas within the geographical boundaries of Moreton Island and its shoreline waters due to a disaster event or predicted disaster event.

·  Extraction is defined as the extraction of evacuees from Moreton Island and its shoreline waters to the mainland or other island communities within Moreton Bay.

·  A disaster event will be as defined in the Disaster Management Act (Qld) 2003.

·  Evacuation may be required without a declaration of a Disaster Situation.

·  Evacuees may include local residents, campers, day tourists and resort staff and patrons found within the geographical boundaries of Moreton Islands and its shoreline waters.

·  The magnitude and methodology for evacuation will be determined by the impact (or potential impact) of the event.

·  Queensland Police Service, supported by QPWS and SES staff, will provide the resources necessary to ensure the safe passage of evacuees from their location on the Island to the muster point for extraction.

4.2  Definitions

See evacuation plan for definitions relevant to evacuation.

5.0 MORETON ISLAND QUICK FACTS

Moreton Island is located in Moreton Bay approximately 40km from Brisbane. Moreton Island is 37km long and 10km wide at its widest and is a wedge shaped island covering over 185 square kilometres.

It is the third largest sand island in the world and has no town services, sealed roads, electricity, town water, sewerage or complete phone coverage.

Over 98% of Moreton Island is designated National Park with a unique combination of flora and fauna. *See Moreton Island Map figure 1.

There are 4 townships at Bulwer, Cowan Cowan, Tangalooma and Kooringal with the majority of people on the island living or staying at the Tangalooma Island Resort.

There is a permanent population of approximately 380 people. There is also one permanent QAS member stationed on the island currently at Tangalooma Resort and approximately 8 rangers at any one time stationed at the National Parks and Wildlife base at Ben-Ewa.

Township numbers do increase during holiday and weekend periods by approximately 100 to 250.

There is no service station, doctor, dentist or school on the island.

There are a number of persons at risk during events, including:

·  visitors camping on the Island with vehicles;

·  visitors camping on the Island without vehicles;

·  residents who reside on Moreton Island;

·  staff and patrons of Tangalooma Resort complex; and

·  QPWS staff.

6.0 HOW TO USE THIS SUB-PLAN DURING OPERATIONS

This sub-plan should be utilised to guide the conduct of the evacuation and should be used in conjunction with the Evacuation Sub-plan and SOP. This plan has been developed as an operational guide with pre-determined strategies able to be adapted to the specific circumstances of the event.

This plan is broken into 5 phases as indicated in the diagram below. These 5 phases will determine the planning considerations when evacuation is deemed necessary.

STAGES OF EVACUATION
Hazard threat/ impact
/ Preliminary / Withdrawal
Phase 1 / Extraction
Phase 2 / Reception & Relocation
Phase 3 / Return
Phase 4

Moreton Island Figure 1

Source: Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing website: http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/moreton-island/pdf/moreton-isl-np-rec-area.pdf

7.0 RISK MANAGEMENT

Risk Management Plans (RMP): The RMP is to cover all phases and facets of the Moreton Island Evacuation Operation:

·  The RMP is to be reviewed and refined by Council’s Disaster Operations;

·  The CEO is to approve the RMP.

Risks for Moreton Island include:

·  Bushfire

·  Tsunami

·  Storm surge

·  Oil spill

·  Severe storm

·  East Coast low

·  Isolation

·  Heat wave

·  Economic loss/loss of tourism

·  Events during high season for tourism

·  Communications – lack of phone reception, language barrier for tourists

·  Risk to other islands e.g. support and resources stretched

Future Phases of the production of the Moreton Island Sub-plan will include a risk management plan, risk matrix and risk template in the appendices.

7.1  Tangalooma Resort specific plans

Tangalooma Resort has a suite of plans for the resort (not for the whole of Moreton Island). These plans include:

·  Emergency plans

·  Tsunami plan

·  Asset register

·  Risk management

·  Communications plan

·  Transport plan

·  Business continuity planning

Further information on these plans and the activation of these plans is through the Tangalooma Resort Manager. (See Moreton Island SOP for contact details.)

8.0 EVACUATION PROCESS

Evacuation may be either:

·  immediate; or

·  pre-warned.

It may involve:

·  internal evacuation on the island; or

·  external evacuation from the island.

It may be:

·  voluntary; or

·  mandatory in nature

Voluntary evacuation will normally involve persons self-evacuating, however, some transport assistance may be required for people with disabilities, the homeless, disadvantaged and aged members of the community who do not have access to appropriate transport.

Mandatory evacuation occurs when a police officer who is authorised by relevant legislation, either the Disaster Management Act 2003 or the Public Safety Preservation Act 1986, makes a decision to execute specific powers under that legislation and orders people to evacuate a designated area.

The decision to evacuate should take into account the following factors:

·  A vulnerability analysis which considers whether, for the hazard and conditions, sheltering in place may be preferable;

·  The potential for risk to evacuees during movement from the islands;

·  Available lead time;