24 November 2023
The communities of Eden and surrounding areas now have an emergency preparedness guide, all thanks to the work done by a passionate team of locals who came together at the Eden Project Lab this year.
Eden Community Access Centre Manager, Carina Severs said the Eden 2551 Emergency Preparedness Guide was produced by a small group of people who recognised the need for better information about emergency preparedness.
“It’s a simple two-page flyer designed to inspire people to plan, prepare and act.”
Ms Severs said the guide was being distributed to letterboxes throughout Eden and surrounding localities ahead of the peak summer holiday season. She said it was also being made available to holiday accommodation businesses including caravan parks and motels.
“We’re very proud of this guide because it was designed by locals who came to our Eden Project Lab this year, determined to make a difference. It was their idea to create something that would better prepare our community for the next disaster.”
Ms Severs said before and during the 2019-2020 fires there was a sense that people lacked adequate information about preparing and about what to expect from authorities.
“Our Disaster Preparedness Project ran from mid-2021 through to the middle of 2023 to address the community’s concerns. Through extensive community engagement, the project team heard the community would value more information and education, better communication and improved social connection to help them be better prepared.
“In response to those needs we started a Project Lab as a way for people to come together to work on solutions.
“One project team focused on improved information and guidance. Their research found that simple preparedness guides existed in other parts of Australia. They were particularly inspired by guides used in the East Gippsland shire to support the community in times of emergency.
“The team worked together to create a guide specific to the needs of our town and outlying areas.”
Project team member Sue Horton said during the design process, which included working with emergency services representatives, the group learnt a lot about how emergencies are managed.
“We found out that the Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC) is the body responsible for coordinating emergency response in the Bega Valley shire. It has representatives from all of the agencies, police and Council.
“They are the ones who have their fingers on the pulse about every emergency and make decisions about things like evacuation and evacuation centres. All of this is dependent on the kind of emergency and, with fires for example, how they are behaving and in what direction they are traveling.”
“It’s a good feeling to know we have created something that helps clear up some misunderstandings and lack of information about local emergency management and being prepared.”
Ms Severs said anyone wanting a copy of the Guide can pick one up at the Eden Community Access Centre on the corner of Imlay and Mitchell Streets Eden or by downloading a copy from the Access Centre’s website https://www.eden.nsw.au/the-project-lab/
The Project Lab meets at the Eden Log Cabin every second Thursday. Sessions are now on pause over the summer period and will continue in 2024 from Thursday 1 February at 5.30pm. All members of the community are very welcome to attend.
Photo: Eden Project Lab participants pictured with their localised emergency preparedness guide for residents and visitors of Eden and surrounding areas.
Please direct media enquiries to Eden Community Access Centre Inc : admin@eden.nsw.au