The community-led Eden Disaster Preparedness project bounded forward after a committee was formed recently with the first meeting taking place last week.
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Disaster Preparedness Coordinator, Jodie Stewart said the response had been fantastic with the group able to forge a strong and broadly representative committee.
"Membership is really diverse, we have representation from across the geographic community and the surrounding villages as well as representation from community groups, emergency response agencies, the community service sector, business and tourism and community groups," Ms Stewart said.
The committee are hoping to provide a comprehensive and coordinated approach to preparation for all kinds of disaster.
"They call it an all-hazards approach to disaster management - It assumes the activities and functions and processes can be applied to a range of events, flooding, storms, extreme heat and drought, pandemics and bushfires," Ms Stewart said.
Ms Stewart said that the Disaster Preparedness project also ties in with other community development plans in Eden to ensure its strength and longevity.
"It's not alone as a satellite - but tied into a bigger ecosystem of projects currently being developed by the Eden Community Access Centre," she said.
Ms Stewart said she was excited to see the eagerness and enthusiasm of the committee to push the project forward as a community-led group.
She said a major take away from the opening meeting was the planning of working groups to tackle smaller issues than the broad spectrum of disaster planning.
Ideas included mental health, communication, fire and land management as well as small business and tourism.
"One of the members indicated that tourism and business had been particularly impacted by cascading events," Ms Stewart said.
Drought, then fires, the pandemic and finally storms and flooding had all compounded in the last two years, she said.
Ms Stewart said the working groups will form the engine room of the project over the next couple of years, which she said "may seem like a long time, but it will go quickly".
If you have an idea for a working group or wish to participate contact Jodie Stewart at Jodie.accesscentre@gmail.com or 0488 079 853. The Eden Community Access Centre have also created a Projects page on their website where community members can find information about ECAC projects and follow their development at https://www.eden.nsw.au/our-projects/
Jacob McMaster
I am passionate about amplifying people's stories and trying to do them justice in the written word. I find pressure washing videos soothing. email me jacob.mcmaster@austcommunitymedia.com.au or 0406 212 845.
I am passionate about amplifying people's stories and trying to do them justice in the written word. I find pressure washing videos soothing. email me jacob.mcmaster@austcommunitymedia.com.au or 0406 212 845.
