Local Emergency Management Committee
Emergencies can occur within communities as a result of the impact of a wide variety of man-made and natural events such as storms, building or bridge collapses.
To minimise the consequences of emergencies, it is necessary for a responsible authority to have in place an emergency management structure and set of arrangements designed to assist the community to prevent, respond to and recover from emergencies.
Inner West Council has established a Local Emergency Management Committee to carry out emergency management as the responsible authority for the Inner West local government area.
This committee is responsible for an all-agencies comprehensive approach to emergency planning to prepare the community for disasters. Committee members include Emergency Services and agencies with functional responsibilities.
- Inner West Emergency Management Plan – to be published soon
Emergency Contacts and Help
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is an LEMC needed?
The State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989 NSW (SERM Act) recognises that the involvement of local government in all stages of an emergency is critical (ie. in prevention, preparedness, response and recovery). Therefore, the emergency management structure and arrangements at a local level are based on the Local Government Authority areas (or combined Local Government Authority areas) and requires council to form an LEMC.
What is the structure of the LEMC?
The LEMC consists of:
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A senior representative of Council of the area, or combined local government area who is the chair of the LEMC (the Act requires that the person appointed by Council must have the authority of Council to co-ordinate the use of Council's resources for
- emergency management purposes).
- LEMO – a local emergency management officer, usually a senior executive within the operation coordinates council resources during an emergency event
- The senior local representative of each of the emergency services organisations operating in the local area.
- Representatives of such organisations providing support services in the relevant local government area as the councils of that area may from time to time determine.
- Allowance is made for others to attend to give technical and other relevant advice i.e. Council Officers.
- The Local Emergency Operations Controller (LEOCON). This is currently the Superintendent of Ashfield LAC of the NSW Police Force. The Superintendent attends as the LEOCON with separate representation from the NSW Police Force.
What does the LEMC do?
The LEMC is responsible for the preparation of plans (EMPLAN) in relation to the prevention of, reparation for, response to and recovery from emergencies in the local government area.
The committee has a planning function only. It is specifically excluded from becoming involved in operations. (This planning approach does not replace any one agency's internal responsibilities; rather it is designed to complement them in the event of an emergency).
Councils are required to provide executive support facilities for the LEMC and the Local Emergency Operations Controller in the LEMC area. The principal executive officer is known as the Local Emergency Management Officer (LEMO).
In the exercise of its functions, the LEMC is responsible to the South West Metropolitan Emergency Management Region Committee.
For information on the NSW State Emergency Management Structure visit the Emergency NSW website