Published on Wednesday, 30 September 2026 at 10:20:28 AM
The Shire of Ravensthorpe has adopted new emergency management and recovery arrangements to strengthen the district’s preparedness, coordination and recovery capability.
Council adopted the Shire of Ravensthorpe Local Emergency Management Arrangements 2026 and Local Recovery Plan 2026 at its September Ordinary Council Meeting. An updated Incident Support Handbook was also endorsed for use by Shire officers and emergency management partners.
The documents follow a comprehensive review of the Shire’s emergency management framework and reflect updated Western Australian emergency management guidance released in August 2026.
The new approach separates the Shire’s strategic emergency management arrangements from operational information that can change frequently, such as emergency contacts, resources, facilities, maps and checklists.
The Local Emergency Management Arrangements establish an all-hazards approach tailored to the Shire of Ravensthorpe and recognise the unique characteristics of our district.
These include extensive bushland and the Fitzgerald River National Park, dispersed rural and coastal communities, agricultural and mining industries, long road and freight networks, a seasonal visitor population and limited access routes to some communities.
The arrangements consider a range of potential hazards and disruptions, including bushfire, severe weather and heavy rainfall, coastal erosion and storm surge, extreme heat, biosecurity events, hazardous materials and industrial incidents, road and transport emergencies, marine and search and rescue incidents, earthquakes, essential service disruptions and aerodrome emergencies.
Planning for recovery
The Local Recovery Plan 2026 has been comprehensively rewritten and replaces the Shire’s August 2024 Local Recovery Sub Plan.
The Plan recognises that recovery begins during the response phase of an emergency and sets out the Shire’s recovery governance arrangements. It also covers community engagement, communications and financial management.
Recovery planning is structured around four key environments:
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Social — people, health, housing, education, wellbeing and community support
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Built — infrastructure, roads, utilities, telecommunications, buildings, water and waste
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Economic — agriculture, mining, tourism, businesses, employment and supply chains
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Natural — land, water, biodiversity, coastal systems, cultural values and environmental health
Under the Emergency Management Act 2005, local governments are required to prepare and maintain Local Emergency Management Arrangements, including recovery arrangements and the nomination of a Local Recovery Coordinator.
The Local Emergency Management Arrangements 2026 and Local Recovery Plan 2026 are available for viewing on the Shire’s Local Emergency Management webpage.
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