Community and Government Roles

Storms, floods, and bushfires are part of the Adelaide Hills landscape and can’t be avoided, but we can reduce our risk by taking simple steps together.

Disaster resilience relies on everyone doing their part to reduce risk.

Residents and business owners can support our community's disaster resilience by taking specific actions including:

• Having a written and practiced emergency plan
• Being psychologically prepared
• Planning for pets and livestock
• Ensuring that your house, garden, and property are adequately prepared

Did you know that 78% of land in Adelaide Hills Council is privately owned? By preparing your property and garden, such as removing flammable materials, clearing gutters, and trimming overgrown vegetation, you significantly help our community's resilience.

Every step you take helps everyone. Together, we can positively impact our landscape.

Visit our Preparation and Recovery page for steps you can take:

Verge (nature strip) maintenance is a shared responsibility between the Council and residents.

While the Council conducts annual maintenance for safety and fire mitigation, it cannot manage all road verges in the district. Residents are responsible for maintaining verges not included in the annual program, including tasks such as mowing, weeding, pruning, mulching, and revegetation.

It's important to note that native vegetation is protected under the Native Vegetation Act 1999, and clearance or pruning may require approval. For more information, please visit our Roadside Vegetation page.

Local governments operate under the State Emergency Management Plan (SEMP) and the Local Government Emergency Management Framework (LGEMF), which are based on the Emergency Management Act 2004 (SA).

Under the Local Government Act 1999 (SA), Councils have the following responsibilities:

• Ensuring the welfare and wellbeing of their community members.
• Implementing measures to protect their areas from hazards.

Councils are guided by the Local Government Functional Support Group Plan and actively participate in Zone Emergency Management Committees.

In-line with the State Emergency Management Plan and the Local Government Emergency Management Framework, the Adelaide Hills Council will contribute to disaster risk reduction by:

• Understanding and sharing information about emergency risks.
• Using risk information in decision-making and planning.
• Building and maintaining infrastructure to reduce risks.
• Collaborating with partners on key emergency risks.
• Strengthening community resilience.
• Enhancing community preparedness through clear communication.
• Complying with the Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005 (SA) and running fire prevention programs.
• Representing community interests and contributing to government decisions on emergency management.

Emergency Management Policy

Council's Emergency Management Policy outlines how we handle emergencies, aligning with local, regional, and state plans.

The policy identifies local risks and outlines strategies to manage them. It details the Council's actions for disaster preparation, response, and recovery, as well as how these actions will be tracked and implemented.

South Australia's Emergency Management follows these key steps:

• Prevention: Reduce or eliminate risks
• Preparedness: Have plans, training, and equipment ready for emergencies
• Response: Activate plans during an emergency
• Recovery: Help the community recover after an emergency.

The State Emergency Management Plan details what different people and organisations should do, including government agencies, communities, and individuals.

South Australia is divided into eleven Emergency Management Zones. Each zone has its own Emergency Management Plan.

This system gives you information about risks from natural disasters and other hazards in your area and helps you understand how to reduce the impact on you and your family.

The Australian Federal Government creates national policies and helps states and territories manage emergencies.

It provides resources, funding, and ensures a unified response to big emergencies. It also supports disaster preparedness and recovery.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) leads these efforts by coordinating plans, working with different government levels, and managing programs to improve emergency response and recovery across the country.