Ipswich City Council will provide funding of up to $90,000 a year to assist the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services to appoint a local SES controller.
Infrastructure and Emergency Management Committee Chairperson Cr Cheryl Bromage said previously Council’s Principal Officer (Emergency Management) was appointed SES local controller.
“This arrangement regarding the dual appointment has the potential to lead to conflict,” she said.
Cr Bromage said an internal audit looked into the matter, including what happened at other councils, and found the appointment of a person who was not a Council employee to undertake the role of SES local controller has “significant merit”.
“The role of the Principal Officer (Emergency Management) during an emergency event is to assist Council to discharge its obligations pursuant to the Disaster Management Act 2003. At the same time however the local controller is expected to manage and coordinate all SES response for the City of Ipswich. The dual appointment presents an obvious risk when responding to emergency events,” she said.
The audit found potential conflicts in dealing with the media during a disaster, following respective but different codes of conduct, and any subsequent investigation arising from an alleged breach.
Cr Bromage said Council would assist in the appointment of the new SES local controller and still have a close relationship during any major incidents.
“Council invests significant capital and operating expenditure into the Ipswich City SES Unit to support the community following disaster events and in recognition of the vital activities that SES volunteers undertake,” she said.
“To ensure that the Council’s resources are appropriately safeguarded and the community has access to a capable and supported voluntary emergency service, it would not be feasible for an individual to undertake this in a pure honorary capacity.”
The annual funding from Council would allow for the QFES to have the SES local controller in a full-time role.
