On 5 December 2024, the State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC) endorsed a revised Heatwave Subplan.
The Subplan delivers on Recommendation 27 of the Heat Smart City Plan which called for improvements in emergency arrangements including a dedicated combat agency, expanding the Subplan to include prevention and preparedness, as well as guidance for practical response.
Key updates in the 2024 Heatwave Subplan include:
Appointment of NSW Ambulance as combat agency.
NSW Ambulance has been appointed as the state’s first combat agency for heatwave emergency. This brings heatwave more in line with other hazard like flood and fire, for which NSW SES and NSW RFS are the combat agencies respectively.
It is hoped that appointing NSW Ambulance as a dedicated combat agency will allow specialist focus on heatwave as a hazard.
Inclusion of heatwave prevention and preparedness
Previous iterations of the Heatwave Subplan specifically omitted heatwave prevention and preparedness measures.
The 2024 Subplan articulates the importance of urban planning, building and infrastructure design in preventing heatwave emergencies. It also specifies the role of the NSW Reconstruction Authority, state and local planning authorities, and infrastructure providers in mitigating heatwave risks. While urban planning is not within the remit of the Subplan, articulating a clear connection between planning decisions and emergency response is an important step towards addressing heatwave hazard mitigation through mechanisms such as the NSW Disaster Adaptation Plans, state and local planning policies, and infrastructure planning.
The preparedness chapter reinforces the need for agencies and functional areas to regularly update and exercise heatwave plans including consequence management guides and business continuity plans.
Adoption of Australian Warning System
The new Subplan introduces for the first time the Australian Warning System (Advice, Watch and Act, Emergency) and maps BOM heatwave categories to this.
Pathways for development of heatwave management guidance and protocols
The Subplan as a policy instrument is not designed to provide detailed guidance to organisations delivering practical support to communities, however the new Subplan does address calls for such guidance. It states that the State Emergency Management Committee will develop materials to support agencies and functional areas deliver their roles and responsibilities under the Subplan. In essence, this means, work towards Heat Smart City Plan Recommendations 28, 29 and 30.
The Taskforce looks forward to working with NSW Ambulance and the State Emergency Management Committee on the next stages.
The Heatwave Subplan delivers on Recommendation 27 of the Heat Smart City Plan.
More information:
NSW Heatwave Sub Plan (December 2024)
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