Tania Gibson, CDEM chairperson and mayor of Greymouth, said there was no doubt that in every community there were the right people and they would come forward.
“I think West Coasters are very good, strong practical people with resourceful skills – when they need them,” she said.
West Coast CDEM had “certainly learned” from gaps in response coordination during the February weather event that hit Buller and Westland.
Ms Gibson said CDEM was clear that ties between the regional Emergency Control Center in Greymouth and each of the district-based Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) could be improved through streamlining.
This specifically related to the coordination and supply of resources during the February emergency at the Greymouth base and what was immediately needed at Buller.
This emergency also affected the Westland.
“Weapons were sent and we were also preparing for the arrival of people. That didn’t happen in the end,’ said Mrs. Gibson.
Meanwhile, the need for more local EOC volunteer controllers remained crucial.
Following the February event, West Coast co-opted CDEM and recruited six other local controllers in the South Island to support the region in giving it some breathing room. It also followed last year a major internal investigation into the internal structure of the organization.
Ms. Gibson said CDEM has now started implementing most of the 42 recommendations from that review.
Consultant Chris Walker, who conducted the study, also helped put the recommendations into effect.
“It is easy to follow. Many action points have been completed… most of them have. I can’t talk specifically about the report, but the team is building,” she said.
Ensuring a good base of locally based EOC controllers in each district took a lot more work.
“We need to build more resilience into that chain and be ready — and make sure there’s more training.”
The reality was that every district EOC needed many volunteers to cover 12-hour shifts over a 24-hour period during an emergency, Ms Gibson said.
The formal appointment of four new voluntary controllers yesterday was a step in the right direction.
However, it came with a condition, as outlined at yesterday’s meeting: that the new controllers had varying levels of experience with the further CDEM training required.
Simon Bastion, chief executive of the Westland District Council, who was himself a group controller for the past five years, told the committee that he had never been formally trained.
Ms Gibson said there was an urgent need to tap into the private sector on the West Coast.
“It certainly looks better… but the recruitment is definitely underway. We need more because of those day-night shifts… We just have to throw everything at it.”
Until now, the controllers tended to be in the role because of their previous employment with the municipality.
Ms Gibson said the mining sector, where workers had already received specialized training, was an example where the private sector could be tapped.
It had people who could be used immediately in the CDEM context because of their specialized industry training, she said.
“I think we need to look more at the industry. I think there are people who have those skills but don’t know anything about them.”
It was a big commitment.
“It’s a big responsibility to take on… it’s volunteer positions. People are busy in their daily lives.”
Controllers had to be able to handle stress, be able to handle media attention during an emergency, and handle high public expectations.
“There is always criticism of whatever you do.”
– By Brendon McMahon
Local Democracy Reporter
*Public interest journalism funded by NZ On Air
* Disclosure: Te Runanga o Makaawhio chairman Paul Madgwick is also the editor of the Greymouth Star. He did not participate in the commissioning, writing or editing of this LDR story.