From today (Monday 31 July), Aucklanders can have their say on Auckland Council’s plan for preparing Tāmaki Makaurau for potential civil defence emergencies and hazards, and how they are managed.
The Auckland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Plan presents the vision and goals of the Auckland Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) Group.
It is a five-year strategic plan for the Tāmaki Makaurau CDEM Group, key partners and stakeholders as well as the public. It not only outlines how Auckland will achieve this vision but also includes a framework for measuring progress.
“The aim of the group plan is to facilitate a coordinated and an integrated approach to the way significant risks and hazards are managed in Auckland,” says Adam Maggs, Auckland Emergency Management Head of Capability & Public Awareness.
“It is designed to empower communities before, during and after an emergency. We know that when a disaster strikes, it is often community members who are the first to respond and offer help. No one knows your community better than you and the people in it.”
What is the purpose of the CDEM Group Plan?
Each CDEM group in Aotearoa is required to have a group plan. This plan is a statutory requirement under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002.
The group plan is not intended to be a tactical response plan. It sets out the key priorities to focus on to improve the Emergency Management system over the next five years.
Developing detailed operational plans for different types of hazards and events is included as an action within the group plan but is not the purpose of the plan itself.
The current plan was prepared by the Auckland CDEM Group and came into effect in August 2016.
Chair of the council’s Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group Committee Sharon Stewart says the committee has endorsed the draft plan and welcomes the opportunity for Aucklanders, our partners and community groups to have their say.
“This plan guides our approach to emergency management – from this strategic overview, the council and Auckland Emergency Management have the direction they need to bring together a comprehensive and action-oriented work programme to deliver the ‘four R’s’ – reduction, readiness, response and recovery.
“If you’re at all interested in – or affected by – how we do this, I urge you to have your say,” she says.
When will consultation open?
Consultation opens on 31 July and closes 31 August 2023.
You can provide your feedback on the draft on AK Have Your Say, by filling in a feedback form available at all council libraires or by providing written feedback.
To find more information about whether you live or work in an area impacted by hazards, visit the interactive map ‘Hazard Viewer’ on the Auckland Emergency Management website.
