The last three years have been tough for councils across Australia. Bushfires, heatwaves, floods and then a pandemic have forced many councils think differently about how they support their communities to recover.
Councils are often the first-place people go to ask for help when an emergency happen. While councils are clearing roads blocked by fallen trees or organising town hall meetings, they are expected to function as normal and provide regular services.
The impacts of emergencies on people and communities can be long-lasting. Recovery can continue for weeks, months or even years as they rebuild and restore their lives and environment.
As part of the LGA’s “Council Ready” program, URPS and experienced recovery manager Anne Leadbeater recently helped the LGA prepare a “Local Government Recovery Toolkit”.
The Recovery Toolkit provides guidance and templates to help councils understand their roles and responsibilities in the complex recovery environment. It includes the steps to preparing a Recovery Manual and, for when an emergency does occur, a Recovery Action Plan. Councils can access the toolkit via the LGA’s website.
We hope that councils don’t need to use this toolkit often. We also know that the more prepared they are, the better they can help themselves and their communities when disasters occur. Careful preparation is part of any good recipe.
