Wollongong City State Emergency Service

WOLLONGONG CITY STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE

STRATEGIC PLAN 2007-2010

Table of Contents

1. Introduction............................................................................................................................2

2. SWOT Analysis......................................................................................................................4

3. Plan Objectives.......................................................................................................................7

4. Strategies................................................................................................................................8

5. Goals....................................................................................................................................11

6. Training................................................................................................................................13

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1. Introduction

Introduction

This, our second strategic plan, aims to guide the development and direction that the Wollongong City SES Unit plans to take over the next four years. The State Emergency Service, as an organization, has undergone a number of significant changes recently, and our Unit too has grown in terms of size, experience and capability.

With that in mind, we feel that it is important that strategic planning guide our future development. This will enable us to realise our maximum potential to be of benefit to both the community and our members. The rest of this section includes a context for the plan.

The SES organisation

The State Emergency Service is an emergency and rescue service dedicated to assisting the community. It is made up almost entirely of volunteers, with more than 232 Units comprising about 10,000 volunteers located throughout New South Wales.

While our major responsibilities are for flood and storm operations, the SES also provides the majority of general rescue effort in the rural parts of the state. This includes road accident rescue, vertical rescue, bush search and rescue and other forms of specialist rescue that may be required due to local threats. The Service's trained rescuers also support the full-time emergency services during major disasters.

Our Unit

The Wollongong City Unit comprises around 90 members (as at June 2006) who provide immediate assistance to the City of Wollongong, which extends from Waterfall in the north to Yallah in the south and is home to around 190,000 people. Our volunteers are available to respond 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Unit is well respected for its participation, performance and achievement in various activities and competitions.

Our Unit is one of the largest Units in the State, and also one of busiest, based on the volume and variety of work we perform. This diversity is due to the unique geography of our area and the good working relationships we have with the other local emergency services, who call on us to support them in many different situations.

Continued on next page

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1. Introduction, Continued

Community Hazards

The City of Wollongong is subject to a number of natural hazards that are directly relevant to our legislated core role.

1. In the past the Illawarra has experienced a number of significant rainfall events. This, together with the runoff from our steep escarpment, can cause flash flooding and result in significant damage to property and threat to life. A good example of this type of event was the August 1998 severe storm.

2. Prolonged heavy rain can also cause generalized flooding, particularly in the low-lying areas to the south around Dapto and the surrounds of Lake Illawarra.

3. Given the high density of trees in the Illawarra, we are affected by the strong, gale-force winds that typically occur in late winter/early spring and those associated with "southerly busters" that can occur at any time of the year.

4. Heavy bushland along the escarpment, particularly in the north of the City poses a significant bushfire risk.

5. The increase in public recreation in the bushlands of our escarpment has seen an increase in the number of accidents and incidents of people becoming lost.

While