❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses the suitability of the Nullagine Police Station as an evacuation center during Tropical Cyclone Lua, highlighting issues like leaks, lack of resources, and overcrowding. The Minister's response deflects responsibility for facility maintenance and health services, but commits to addressing concerns through emergency management channels.
AnsweredQoN 7645Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Will the Minister detail what role her portfolio agency played in arranging for the Nullagine Police Station to be used as the appointed Evacuation Centre during the passage of Tropical Cyclone Lua through the Central and Eastern Pilbara, and have the following issues been drawn to the attention of the Minister for Community Services, or relevant State Government Agency:
(a) the major leaks in the Police Station roof, in particular the cell areas, facility rooms and station area;
(b) the lack of forms made available for registration of those who attended on the day, and will the Minister advise
whose responsibility is it to have these registration forms available in such situations;
(c) the lack of facility for the treatment of the sick at the Police Station, as all rooms were taken up by the evacuees;
(d) the need for nursing staff to treat the following cases in the cell area: diabetes, toothache, foot injury, vomiting, an infection and a baby suffering high temperature, and will the Minister take these health issues on board when planning alternative locations for future emergency evacuations;
(e) the housing of evacuees in three separate areas and the inability to treat and feed people at the height of the cyclone;
(f) the shortage of mattresses available meaning evacuees had to sleep on the concrete floor in overcrowded conditions;
(g)
overcrowding of the Police Station passages, making access to toilets difficult;
(h)
the lack of ventilation in the cells and facility area, causing distress to some evacuees;
(i)
the overuse of the toilet facilities in all three cell areas which resulted in blockages and people were left having to use the facilities in the view of others with no privacy;
(j)
the cyclonic driven rain which was forced under the doors and into the passageway wetting bedding and
people sleeping in that area;
(k)
the toilet that overflowed into the passage in the facility area soiling peoples' bedding;
(l)
that evacuees had to remain at the centre after the passage of the cyclone due to flooding and continue to sleep on wet concrete, including young children and babies;
(m)
that the facility did not meet the needs of the disabled and one person had to be housed elsewhere;
(n)
that the school could not be used as a back-up shelter as it has no inside toilet facilities or food preparation areas;
(o)
that food items supplied were not appropriate; and
(p) will the Minister advise what steps are being taken by the Western Australian Government to ensure these issues and concerns are addressed?
(a) the major leaks in the Police Station roof, in particular the cell areas, facility rooms and station area;
(b) the lack of forms made available for registration of those who attended on the day, and will the Minister advise
whose responsibility is it to have these registration forms available in such situations;
(c) the lack of facility for the treatment of the sick at the Police Station, as all rooms were taken up by the evacuees;
(d) the need for nursing staff to treat the following cases in the cell area: diabetes, toothache, foot injury, vomiting, an infection and a baby suffering high temperature, and will the Minister take these health issues on board when planning alternative locations for future emergency evacuations;
(e) the housing of evacuees in three separate areas and the inability to treat and feed people at the height of the cyclone;
(f) the shortage of mattresses available meaning evacuees had to sleep on the concrete floor in overcrowded conditions;
(g)
overcrowding of the Police Station passages, making access to toilets difficult;
(h)
the lack of ventilation in the cells and facility area, causing distress to some evacuees;
(i)
the overuse of the toilet facilities in all three cell areas which resulted in blockages and people were left having to use the facilities in the view of others with no privacy;
(j)
the cyclonic driven rain which was forced under the doors and into the passageway wetting bedding and
people sleeping in that area;
(k)
the toilet that overflowed into the passage in the facility area soiling peoples' bedding;
(l)
that evacuees had to remain at the centre after the passage of the cyclone due to flooding and continue to sleep on wet concrete, including young children and babies;
(m)
that the facility did not meet the needs of the disabled and one person had to be housed elsewhere;
(n)
that the school could not be used as a back-up shelter as it has no inside toilet facilities or food preparation areas;
(o)
that food items supplied were not appropriate; and
(p) will the Minister advise what steps are being taken by the Western Australian Government to ensure these issues and concerns are addressed?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 May 2012
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Child Protection
Response time
34 days
The selection of specific Welfare Centres for disasters are determined by the Hazard Management Agency (in the local community), in a consultative process which includes the Department. It is believed that in considering all available information relating to the expected impact of Cyclone Lua, the community requirements, and facilities available within Nullagine, the local Police determined that the Nullagine Police Station met the requirements to provide emergency shelter for this event. Although the Nullagine school had been previously identified as a potential Evacuation Centre, it was not considered suitable by local Police. Where local facilities are deemed unsuitable to provide emergency shelter for an emergency event, the Hazard Management Agency is responsible for determining whether evacuation from the community is required. The Fire and Emergency Services Authority is the Hazard Management Agency for Cyclone.
(a) The Department for Child Protection has no authority for ensuring maintenance or building standards of other agency facilities.
(b) Forms were found to be missing from this specific kit, and it is not known how or by whom they were removed. A copy of the form has been provided to local Police and further hard copy stocks have been placed back into the kit.
(c) & (d) The Department for Child Protection has no responsibility for providing health services.
(e) The Department for Child Protection has no authority for ensuring maintenance or building standards of other agency facilities, however, the Department did provide fresh and canned food provisions.
(f) Short term emergency evacuation centres provide shelter from disasters, and the Department for Child Protection's emergency kits provide a limited supply of basic items for use by evacuee's. Where possible further supplies are provided (in longer term situations) however in events where the time is considered short, and evacuees are able to return home safely, resupply of Evacuation Centres is not deemed essential. In media releases leading up to the cyclone evacuees were advised Nullagine Police Station would be the emergency relocation centre and sleeping bags, pillows, towels, special foods for babies or allergy sufferes should be taken.
(g),(h),(i),(j),(k),(l),(m) & (n) The Department for Child Protection has no authority for ensuring maintenance or building standards other agency facilities.
(o) Fresh food was provided and volunteers made sandwiches with the fresh food provisions. Tinned food, baby formula, tea, coffee, biscuits and bottled water were all provided, and appropriate for the short duration of the event.
(p) Issues identified have been referred to the Emergency Services Unit of the Department, and these will be addressed through the State Emergency Management Committee, Emergency Services Sub Committee, where a response from the District Emergency Management Committee will be sought. Advice will also be provided to the Local Emergency Management Committee to ensure Local Emergency Management Arrangements are suitable and meet the requirements of that community.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
(a) The Department for Child Protection has no authority for ensuring maintenance or building standards of other agency facilities.
(b) Forms were found to be missing from this specific kit, and it is not known how or by whom they were removed. A copy of the form has been provided to local Police and further hard copy stocks have been placed back into the kit.
(c) & (d) The Department for Child Protection has no responsibility for providing health services.
(e) The Department for Child Protection has no authority for ensuring maintenance or building standards of other agency facilities, however, the Department did provide fresh and canned food provisions.
(f) Short term emergency evacuation centres provide shelter from disasters, and the Department for Child Protection's emergency kits provide a limited supply of basic items for use by evacuee's. Where possible further supplies are provided (in longer term situations) however in events where the time is considered short, and evacuees are able to return home safely, resupply of Evacuation Centres is not deemed essential. In media releases leading up to the cyclone evacuees were advised Nullagine Police Station would be the emergency relocation centre and sleeping bags, pillows, towels, special foods for babies or allergy sufferes should be taken.
(g),(h),(i),(j),(k),(l),(m) & (n) The Department for Child Protection has no authority for ensuring maintenance or building standards other agency facilities.
(o) Fresh food was provided and volunteers made sandwiches with the fresh food provisions. Tinned food, baby formula, tea, coffee, biscuits and bottled water were all provided, and appropriate for the short duration of the event.
(p) Issues identified have been referred to the Emergency Services Unit of the Department, and these will be addressed through the State Emergency Management Committee, Emergency Services Sub Committee, where a response from the District Emergency Management Committee will be sought. Advice will also be provided to the Local Emergency Management Committee to ensure Local Emergency Management Arrangements are suitable and meet the requirements of that community.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.