Guidelines for Safer Communities

No Australian community – large or small – is immune from the personal, social or economic hardship that happens when a disaster strikes. But we can prepare for emergencies and we can reduce the impact they have on us as individuals and as a community.

That’s the message from the Federal Attorney General at the recent launch of Planning Safer Communities: Land Use Planning for Natural Hazards guidelines, which have been prepared by Emergency Management Australia (EMA).
The guidelines show how integrated land use planning strategies can be used to reduce the impact of natural hazards and, importantly, to reduce the risk to life, property and the environment.

The aim is to build safer communities and to improve the sustainability of areas that are prone to hazards such as flooding, severe storms, fire, landslides, earthquake, strong wind and coastal erosion.

The guidelines also highlight that any planning process must take into consideration the impact a disaster can have on infrastructure such as water and sewerage, electricity, gas, communications, transport, and hospital facilities.

In developing the guidelines, EMA consulted widely with emergency management organisations such as the Fire and Emergency Services Authority in Western Australia, professional bodies such as Planning Institute of Australia (WA Division), and local government authorities.

If you would like a copy of these guidelines in PDF format just send us an e-mail to probono@probonoaustralia.com.au