Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan, 2010

4.4 GROUP READINESS: OPERATIONAL PLANNING GROUPSEmergency management operational planning covers a wide field and a number of emergencies that areextremely varied in nature and consequences. Integrated and coordinated planning facilitates consideration of allthe consequences of the threat or impact of an emergency event on a community. In addition to the operationalplanning undertaken by the Northland CDEM Group (sections 4.3 and 4.5) there are a number of other groups andstructures that contribute to operational planning in the Group.4.4.1 CIVIL DEFENCE OFFICERS GROUP (CDO GROUP)This group comprises civil defence and emergency management officers/managers from the local authorities.Chaired by the Northland Regional Council, the officers meet to ensure local authority planning is integrated anddelivering on Group Plan objectives and priorities. The CDO Group is responsible to the CEG.4.4.2 EMERGENCY SERVICES COORDINATING COMMITTEES (ESCCS)ESCCs provide a mechanism for multi-agency planning and the building of relationships between emergencyservices and allied response organisations within each district. Their role is to ensure that readiness, response andrecovery planning at the local level is co-ordinated and consistent with the CDEM Group Plan. ESCCs have nooperational role during an emergency.ESCCs operate in Kaipara and Whangarei districts, led by the NZ Police with membership by the NZ Fire Service,Health and Ambulance. The ESCCs have led a number of exercises over the last few years.4.4.3 HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES TECHNICAL LIAISON COMMITTEE (HSTLC)The Northland HSTLC is chaired and managed by the NZ Fire Service. The HSTLC provides a mechanism for thehazardous substances industry (enforcement agencies and emergency responders) to share information, plan for,and debrief after incidents or emergencies involving hazardous substances.The HSTLC tends to deal with incidents that don’t require CDEM involvement and there is no formal links orreporting requirements between HSTLC and CEG.4.4.4 RURAL FIRE AUTHORITYRural Fire Authorities are a requirement of the Forest and Rural Fires Act 1977. The Northland Rural Fire Authorityis responsible for prevention, restriction, detection and suppression of vegetation fires in the region. A RegionalFire Emergency can be declared by the National Rural Fire Officer should there be either a significant fire hazardor fire occurring in one or more of the five Rural Fire Authorities (FNDC, WDC, KDC, DOC and Ahopouri/Karikari).As with the HSTLC, the Rural Fire Authority is an autonomous organisation and tends to deal with incidents thatdon’t require CDEM involvement. There is no formal reporting to CEG on the activities or work programme.4.4.5 NORTHLAND LIFELINE UTILITIES GROUPRepresentatives from a number of lifeline utility organisations have established a Lifelines Utility Group forNorthland. The Northland Lifeline Utilities Group is linked to and supported by the Northland CDEM Groupthrough shared membership and is funded by the participating organisations. The Group reports to CEG asrequired to share work activities of interest.The objectives of the Lifelines Utilities Group are:1. To encourage and support the work of all lifeline utility organisations in identifying hazards and mitigatingthe effects of hazards on lifeline utilities.Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan, 2010-2015 Page 37