Complete agenda for October 2009 Council Meeting (pdf, 1610KB)

Northland Regional Council - 21 October 2009 Page 38 Item 7On 8, 9 and 10 September 20 personnel from a variety of organisations attended aLevel Four Coordinated Incident Management course. This was the third and finalCIMS course for this year. A one day Welfare course was also provided at shortnotice on Saturday 26 September for 19 personnel involved in providing welfareservice during an emergency. This course was hosted by Red Cross.On 20 September the health sector carried out a formal debrief of its response to theH1N1 disease outbreak. The debrief highlighted a number of strengths and alsoidentified some areas for improvement.On 30 September at 0648 hours (New Zealand time) an 8.3 magnitude earthquakeoccurred off shore from the Samoan Islands. The earthquake generated a localsource tsunami that impacted parts of Samoa and Tonga within minutes, causingwidespread loss of life and damage. As a result of the earthquake the PacificTsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) issued tsunami warnings for the Pacific areaincluding New Zealand. The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Managementissued a national tsunami warning for all New Zealand shortly afterwards. TheNorthland CDEM Group activated its Group Emergency Operations Centre and theFar North, Whangarei and Kaipara District Councils activated Local EmergencyOperations Centres. Immediate action was taken to alert communities utilising themedia, fax, e-mail, text messages, Meerkat alarm systems, telephone trees andcommunity contacts. Senior representatives from the police, fire service, healthsector, St John Ambulance together with CDEM Controllers held a series ofteleconferences throughout the duration of the warning to ensure that agencies werecoordinated and up to date with the most recent available information. A series ofmedia releases were also made. The Group Controller also provided information liveto a regional radio station. At regional level, information was disseminated in anaccurate and timely fashion in accordance with the Group Warning Plan.Although there were no reports of damage there were reports of strong tidal currentsaround the Tutukaka marina and a retired local seismologist has seen fit to criticisethe timing of the “all clear” provided from a national level. A ministerial review hascommenced to review the national handling of the event. At local and regional levelsdebriefs have been scheduled. A full report will be provided to the CDEM Group.LAND AND RIVERS MANAGEMENTLAND MANAGEMENTConservation and Environment AwardsThe Northland Regional Council’s Events Coordinator and Land Management staffhelped to organise the Northland Conservation Awards ceremony held on17 September 2009 in Kerikeri. Twelve individuals and groups were recognised −one posthumously − out of 19 nominations for a range of work from wetland anddune restoration to fencing bush, coast and pa site enhancement. Recipientsincluded several farmers and community groups with whom Council staff haveworked for a number of years.Hancock Forest Management Northland Consultative GroupHancock Forest Managers, who manage about half the exotic forest estate ofNorthland, called a meeting of stakeholders in September, promoting the concept ofa consultative forum to discuss forestry management issues. Present werepersonnel from Hancock Forests, district councils, NRC, DoC, and the Fish andGame Council. It is planned that this group will meet six-monthly, the next meeting tobe held in February 2010.