The Independent Member for Wollondilly in Parliament has given notice to bring a motion for Parliament to call for Wollondilly Shire Council to publicly release the Hazards Analysis and Emergency Management Study (HAEMS).
Speaking in Parliament Judy Hannan MP gave notice that NSW Parliament should recognise the importance of the document for planning for the risks of emergencies. Giving notice that NSW Parliament, “Notes Wollondilly Shire Council led the Hazards Analysis and Emergency Management Study (HAEMS) funded from disaster relief funding”.
“Recognises Molino Stewarts completed HAEMS presented evidence-based advice to mitigate risk associated with natural and human-made hazards across the Shire, including exit times for villages that will grow from 1 to over 8 hours.”
“Notes Wollondilly Council has to date not released HAEMS to the public or even its own Councillors despite public outcry and over $160,000 spent on the report.”
“NSW Parliament calls on the Mayor to direct the CEO to release HAEMS and it be sent to the Legislative Assembly Committee on Environment and Planning for independent assessment.”
Wollondilly Shire Council has the report on their current delivery plan as an unfunded line, however funds have been paid and the report has been completed. The project was funded from National Bushfire Recovery Agency and Federal Bushfire Recovery funding on 16 June 2020.
According to Molino Stewart in a celebratory post on LinkedIn in January 2023: “Molino Stewart was engaged by Wollondilly Shire Council to produce a shire-wide Wollondilly Hazards Analysis and Emergency Management Study (HAEMS). This integrated study on all hazards impacting the entire LGA focuses on increasing local resilience, informing future growth decisions, and addressing emergency management issues including #evacuation constraints. As a part of this work, a framework was developed to identify and assess key hazards in the Shire using a community-focused approach to #emergency risk management. Data on 50 natural and human-made hazards was synthesised, accounting for future changes due to planned urban development and climate change. Out of the identified high-risk hazards, specific risk mapping and spatial analysis was undertaken for #bushfire, #flood, #heatwave, #earthquake and #drought. Importantly, this study considered compound #risk and cascading events, and the interrelationships between #hazards such as heat and bushfire risk. Evidence-based advice and land use planning recommendations were identified to mitigate risk associated with all of the assessed natural and human-made hazards across the Shire.”
Speaking on the matter as a broader concern, Judy Hannan MP said “there are concerns of exit times for the villages of Wollondilly at present, significant infrastructure will be needed to adequately assess this. Council to date has not stated it is satisfied regarding these and has not had information presented to the Governing body to make comment.”
“While this is a Council document I have not had the chance to even sight it as the CEO has determined this is to be confidential based on advice. My community deserves the truth and deserves this report to be released today by Council with or without ‘agency’ sign off.”
Video link of speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAyXAX7xLQ8
Media: [email protected] or Benn Banasik 0434 832 636