Disaster recovery lessons and resources made available for Civil Defence use
The Whakatāne District Council has approved the distribution of a report detailing the learnings from the District’s recovery from ex-tropical Cyclones Debbie and Cook in 2017. The report summarises the outcomes of a Recovery Team debrief and is accompanied by a ‘Toolbox’ including all of the documents and resources used for the District recovery effort.
The debrief document is designed to provide local and national Civil Defence organisations with insights that may help during future disaster recovery efforts. It focuses on the Whakatāne District Recovery Team’s actions, processes and experiences during the recovery phase since the April 2017 storm events.
Recovery Team Leader Julian Reweti said that while Recovery efforts were continuing, it was important to capture and review the actions undertaken while the key agencies and personnel involved were accessible and knowledge remains fresh. He said while the document did not necessarily represent best practice, or a how to guide, it did provide a starting point for others to use and improve on.
The debrief document and toolbox will be presented to the Bay of Plenty Emergency Management Joint Committee in June.
Food Act verification role approved
At its meeting last week, the Council also approved recommendations that it continue to act as an Approved Verification Agency, under the Food Act 2014. Changes to the Act mean food premises either have to work under a Food Control Plan, which is verified by the Council, or work under a National Programme which is verified by Ministry of Primary Industries. The decision to undertake the work required to act as an Approved Verification Agency means that the majority of food premises in the District can have their premises verified by the Council.
To maintain status as an Approved Verification Agency, the Council has committed to developing a Quality Management System, as required under the Act, and have staff assessed by MPI, or rely on MPI or other providers to undertake the services.
Building and Monitoring Manager Barbara Dempsey reported that 46 food premises in the Whakatāne District would benefit from the Council maintaining its verification status. “This means all premises will have one point of contact for registration and verification, that follow-up complaints are handled locally, and that Council will be in a position to assist the wider Eastern Bay with the full range of Food Act Services,” she said.
Estimated training and auditing costs of $5000 per year will be recovered from revenue collected from the verification of premises.