Biosecurity (Animal and Plant) Emergency Sub Plan

Biosecurity (Animal and Plant) Emergency Sub Plan V5 REF OUT16/34588 of 28

Biosecurity (Animal and Plant)

Emergency

Sub Plan

A sub plan of New South Wales State Emergency Management Plan

Version 5

Biosecurity (Animal & Plant) Emergency Sub Plan V5 REF OUT16/34588 of 28

AUTHORISATION

NSW Biosecurity (Animal and Plant) Emergency Sub Plan is prepared as a sub plan to NSW State Emergency Management

Plan to detail control and coordination arrangements for response to, and initial recovery from, a biosecurity emergency

in New South Wales relating to animals and plants (not humans). This sub plan is consistent with Commonwealth

biosecurity emergency plans.

This sub plan is authorised in accordance with provisions of State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989.

ENDORSED by State Emergency Management Committee

Dated: 2017

VERSION CONTROL

Proposals for amendments to content of Biosecurity (Animal and Plant) Emergency Sub Plan are to be forwarded to:

Director Emergency Operations, Intelligence & Programs

NSW Department of Primary Industries

Locked Bag 21, ORANGE NSW 2800

Version history

Version Date

One 8 March 1996

Two – complete review 6 December 2001

Three – complete review 15 December 2005

Four – complete review, including name change from

NSW Animal Health Emergency Sub-Plan

1 December 2012

Five - complete review January 2017

DISTRIBUTION

This plan is not distributed in hard copy. Organisations and individuals should confirm they have the latest copy by

checking the current version at www.emergency.nsw.gov.au.


Contents AUTHORISATION ...................................................................................................................................................... 2

Contents .................................................................................................................................................................. 3

Part 1 - Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 5

General ................................................................................................................................................................ 5

Aim ...................................................................................................................................................................... 5

Scope ................................................................................................................................................................... 6

Animal biosecurity ............................................................................................................................................... 6

Aquatic biosecurity .............................................................................................................................................. 6

Plant biosecurity .................................................................................................................................................. 7

Invertebrate and invasive species ....................................................................................................................... 7

Part 2 – Prevention and preparedness .................................................................................................................... 7

Biosecurity awareness ......................................................................................................................................... 8

Planning ............................................................................................................................................................... 8

Governance ......................................................................................................................................................... 8

Training and exercises ......................................................................................................................................... 8

Part 3 – Response .................................................................................................................................................... 9

Roles and responsibilities .................................................................................................................................... 9

Control ............................................................................................................................................................... 11

Command .......................................................................................................................................................... 13

Coordination ...................................................................................................................................................... 13

Communications ............................................................................................................................................... 14

Plague locust operations ................................................................................................................................... 14

Part 4 - Recovery.................................................................................................................................................... 15

Local .................................................................................................................................................................. 15

Region ................................................................................................................................................................ 15

State .................................................................................................................................................................. 15

Part 5 - Administration .......................................................................................................................................... 16

Finance .............................................................................................................................................................. 16

Supply of goods (logistic support) ..................................................................................................................... 16

Role of volunteers ............................................................................................................................................. 17

Biosecurity emergencies in another State ........................................................................................................ 17

Annex 1 Governance and legislation ..................................................................................................................... 18

Governance ....................................................................................................................................................... 18

Legislation.......................................................................................................................................................... 19

Annex 2 Executive Emergency Management Committee ..................................................................................... 20


Annex 3 Definitions ............................................................................................................................................... 21

Annex 4 Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................................... 27

Annex 5 Emergency management organisational structure ................................................................................. 28


Part 1 - Introduction

General

State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989 (SERM Act) defines a combat agency 1

as the agency identified in New South Wales State Emergency Management Plan

(EMPLAN) as the agency primarily responsible for controlling the response to a particular

emergency.

Appointed agencies (of emergencies), and roles and responsibilities, are detailed in 2

EMPLAN.

New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI), an office of NSW 3

Department of Industry, Skills and Regional Development (NSW Department of Industry), is

appointed combat agency for animal and plant pests and disease, and insect, invertebrate

and invasive species under EMPLAN. Combat functions include, along with national and

other state authorities and industry, actions to prevent, prepare for, respond to and

recover from biosecurity emergencies.

Biosecurity (Animal and Plant) Emergency Sub Plan is prepared as a sub plan to EMPLAN to 4

detail control and coordination arrangements for animal and plant (excluding humans)

biosecurity emergency management in New South Wales (NSW).

This sub plan must be read alongside other industry biosecurity plans and national plans 5

such as:

Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan (AUSVETPLAN)

Australian Emergency Plant Pest Response Plan (PLANTPLAN)

Australian Aquatic Veterinary Emergency Plan (AQUAVETPLAN)

National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement (NEBRA)

Aim

This sub plan details responsibilities of NSW DPI for control and coordination regarding 6

prevention of, preparedness for, response to, and recovery from, impacts and effects of

any biosecurity emergency in NSW.


Scope

This sub plan applies to: 7

Protection of the economy, environment and community from negative impacts of

pests, diseases and weeds (biosecurity).

Biosecurity emergencies where NSW DPI is combat agency and which requires a

significant and coordinated response.

Roles and responsibility for prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.

Provision of immediate relief, ensuring animal welfare and support to primary

producers during an emergency until such time as continuing recovery processes can

be managed by local authorities or relevant agencies (refer to NSW Recovery Plan).

This sub plan does not apply to: 8

Commonly occurring biosecurity incidents which are within capacity of NSW DPI to

manage.

Events in which NSW DPI plays a supporting role to another combat agency (refer to

Agriculture and Animal Services Functional Area Supporting Plan).

Animal biosecurity

Australia is threatened by risk of pest and disease outbreaks in livestock and other animals. 9

Outbreaks threaten viability of industries, cause serious financial hardship and social

disruption, or place human health and the environment at risk.

Aquatic biosecurity

Australia’s aquatic environments are at risk from aquatic pests, diseases and saltwater 10

weeds. Aquatic biosecurity includes measures that protect fish farming including molluscs,

crustaceans and ornamental fish, recreational and commercial fishing and the marine

environment.


Plant biosecurity

Plant biosecurity aims to protect primary production and the environment, including parks, 11

gardens and native fauna from exotic plant pests (including freshwater weeds) and

diseases.

Invertebrate and invasive species

Plague locusts (three declared species in NSW) have potential to inflict significant damage 12

to agricultural industries. Emergency management of plague locusts is detailed in NSW

Plague Locust Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (administered by NSW DPI).

Exotic animals, plants or invertebrates such as exotic mosquitoes and Red Imported Fire 13

Ants have potential to impact agricultural industries and inhibit daily life. NSW DPI aims to

protect primary production and the environment, including parks, gardens and native

fauna through sustained surveillance, reporting and emergency preparedness.

Part 2 – Prevention and preparedness

NSW DPI is appointed combat agency for biosecurity emergencies in NSW and is primarily 14

responsible for ensuring adequate prevention and preparedness.

NSW DPI coordinates with Commonwealth Government, other States/Territories and 15

industry through a national prevention and preparedness program.

NSW Biosecurity Strategy 2013-2021 prescribes biosecurity as a shared responsibility 16

involving government, industry and community working together to protect the economy,

environment and community from the negative impacts of animal and plant pests,

diseases and weeds for the benefit of all people in NSW. The strategy describes

management of biosecurity threats across NSW including:

a) Preventing entry of biosecurity threats

b) Rapidly identifying new or emerging biosecurity threats

c) Containing and eradicating new or emerging biosecurity threats

d) Maintaining capacity to manage biosecurity within NSW.


Biosecurity awareness

Biosecurity management includes education and awareness programs for prevention, 17

preparedness, response and recovery. NSW DPI delivers a broad range of information on

best management practice, technical and social support and aids data gathering for

biosecurity management.

Planning

AUSVETPLAN provides systematic, integrated and national approach to emergency animal 18

pest and disease planning and response, linking diagnosis, policies, control strategies,

operational procedures and plans into a national framework of documents.

PLANTPLAN is a technical response plan that describes the Australian approach to 19

responding to Emergency Plant Pests (EPP) incursions. PLANTPLAN describes management

and administrative arrangements and roles and responsibilities of decision-making bodies.

AQUAVETPLAN is a series of manuals outlining Australia’s approach to national disease 20

preparedness and proposes technical response and control strategies to be activated in a

national aquatic animal disease emergency.

NEBRA sets out emergency response arrangements, including cost-sharing arrangements, 21

for responding to biosecurity incidents that primarily impact the environment and/or social

amenity and where the response is for the public good.

Supporting these plans are numerous industry plans that deal with specific biosecurity 22

threats.

Governance

Strategic and legislative governance of biosecurity emergency management in NSW is 23

outlined in Annex 1 Governance and legislation.

Training and exercises

NSW DPI will ensure personnel receive emergency management training and are available 24

for immediate mobilisation for emergency operations.


NSW DPI will plan for and conduct exercises to rehearse implementation and effectiveness 25

of this and related plans.

NSW DPI will assist other agencies and Participating and Supporting (P&S) Organisations to 26

conduct exercises to rehearse implementation and effectiveness of related plans.

Part 3 – Response

Roles and responsibilities

NSW Department of Primary Industries

NSW DPI is appointed combat agency for biosecurity emergencies. Within NSW DPI: 27

Executive Emergency Management Committee (EEMC) maintains oversight of

emergency control. EEMC consists of relevant members of NSW DPI Executive. EEMC

is responsible for policy and resource allocation at State level. Refer to Annex 2.

NSW Chief Veterinary Officer (NSW CVO) ensures effective coordination of all animal

(including aquatic) disease or pest response and recovery operations, unless a ‘state

of emergency’ is declared. NSW CVO is responsible for providing advice to EEMC on

technical matters relating to management of animal diseases or pests.

NSW Chief Plant Protection Officer (NSW CPPO) ensures effective coordination of all

plant disease or pest response (includes freshwater weeds) and recovery operations,

unless a ‘state of emergency’ is declared. NSW CPPO is responsible for providing

advice to EEMC on technical matters relating to management of plant diseases or

pests.

NSW DPI Emergency Management Unit coordinates actions, agencies and individuals

and establishes structures, systems and processes to ensure effective control of

emergency management activities.

Local Land Services

Local Land Services enhance the capacity of all landholders to plan and prepare for, 28

respond to, and recover from biosecurity emergencies and provide resources to organise


and coordinate emergency management activities including field operations, incident

management and recovery activities.

Emergency Operations Controller(s)

Emergency Operations Controllers (EOCONs) activate Emergency Operations Centre(s) 29

(EOCs) and coordinate provision of support and resources for resolution of biosecurity

incidents.

Government agencies and functional areas

In fulfilling emergency management plans, NSW DPI may request Commonwealth, State 30

agency and/or functional area assistance.

State agencies and functional areas will provide technical expertise, staff and resources in 31

provision of services outlined in EMPLAN Annexure 10 – Detailed PPRR Roles and

Responsibilities.

Commonwealth agencies will provide technical expertise, staff and resources in provision 32

of services outlined in AUSVETPLAN, PLANTPLAN, AQUAVETPLAN and NEBRA.

Requests for assistance can be made to an EOCON through an EOC or from an Incident 33

Controller/Director State Coordination Centre (SCC) to other agencies.

Participating and Supporting Organisations

NSW DPI maintains agreements with Participating and Supporting (P&S) Organisations. 34

Agreements outline terms under which each organisation has agreed to participate.

P&S Organisations have agreed to provide technical advice, human resources or 35

equipment for support during biosecurity emergencies.

An Incident Controller/Director SCC with agreement of P&S Organisations has the 36

authority to commit resources of those organisations.

Industry

Participate in development and implementation of industry standards, guidelines and 37

codes of practice. Identify, report and manage biosecurity risks that may threaten their or

other businesses, comply with regulations, participate in responses to biosecurity


incursions and fund or co-fund educational programs to develop or improve biosecurity

skills.

Control

Depending on event complexity and impact, NSW DPI will establish management 38

structures sufficient and scalable to resolve an incident.

EEMC (with advice from CVO or CPPO) may appoint Incident Controller(s) and if necessary, 39

a Director to run SCC.

NSW DPI will establish and maintain response plans detailing objectives and execution of 40

incident control.

In a plague locust event, NSW Plague Locust Commissioner is responsible for interacting 41

with Australian Plague Locust Commission (APLC) on strategic planning and resourcing

issues. The Commissioner will also liaise with Plague Locust Management Group.

Incident Controller

Incident Controller(s) manages all aspects of incident resolution including: 42

Appointing an Incident Management Team.

Establishing a control centre.

Establishing structures, systems and processes to ensure effective control of

activities.

Incident Management Team

Incident Controller(s) appoints an Incident Management Team sufficient and scalable to 43

resolve an incident.

Incident Management Team structure aligns to Australasian Inter-Service Incident 44

Management System (AIIMS) and Biosecurity Incident Management System.

Director State Coordination Centre

Director SCC provides structures, systems and processes to ensure effective coordination 45

of activities that supports incident control including logistics support, and provision of inter

and intra agency and ministerial liaison.


CVO/CPPO will form part of the State Coordination Centre. 46

Response plans

Response plans are a requirement of Commonwealth agreements relating to management 47

of biosecurity emergencies.

CVO and CPPO in consultation with EEMC and relevant stakeholders will develop response 48

plans sufficient to meet agreements and establish parameters for incident resolution.

Response plans are implemented by an Incident Controller.

Control Centres

NSW DPI maintains various levels of control centres for incident control. Event complexity 49

and impact will determine level of control centre(s) required.

Virtual Control Centre

When complexity and impact of an incident is low a Virtual Control Centre (VCC) may be 50

established. Managed by an Incident Controller, a VCC is (virtually) frequented by an

Incident Management Team using technology to manage both incident control and

coordination.

Local Control Centre

When complexity and impact of an incident requires an Incident Management Team to 51

have an established centre, a Local Control Centre (LCC) is established. An LCC is

established as close as practical to field operations to control incident response.

In an extensive emergency, more than one LCC might be established, each with an 52

individual Incident Controller.

State Coordination Centre

When complexity of an incident requires additional coordination beyond the Incident 53

Management Team at a VCC or LCC, SCC may be established to strategically coordinate

actions on a state-wide basis in support of incident control at VCC/LCC.

Forward Command Post

Where complexity of an incident requires significant field operations support Forward 54

Command Posts (FCPs) may be established (under LCC’s) within a LCC area of operation.


FCPs may be established as close as practical to field operations and support the LCC. In an 55

extensive emergency, more than one FCP might be established. The LCC Incident

Controller will appoint Officers in Charge (OIC) for FCPs. The LCC Incident Controller and

the OIC of an FCP will consider the needs of the FCP.

Command

Agencies, functional areas and P&S Organisations will maintain direction of members and 56

resources of an agency/organisation in performance of the agency/organisation's roles and

tasks as delegated by an Incident Controller or EOCON.

Coordination

An Incident Controller or Director SCC may require additional coordination in resolving an 57

incident.

An Incident Controller or Director SCC may request agency or functional area Liaison 58

Officers attend a control centre, or request an EOCON to establish an EOC in support of the

Incident Management Team.

An EOCON may request agency or functional area Liaison Officers attend an EOC. 59

Emergency Operations Controller(s)

An Incident Controller or Director SCC may request an EOCON establish additional 60

coordination arrangements in support of the combat agency.

An EOCON may establish and Emergency Operations Centre and request Liaison Officers 61

from agencies and functional areas attend to coordinate and provide specialised support

to the combat agency.

Liaison Officers

The principal role of a Liaison Officer is to: 62

a) Maintain and operate communications links.

b) Provide advice on capabilities and characteristics of an agency, functional area or P&S

Organisation.

c) Keep control/operations centre staff informed of actions taken by, and requirements of the

agency, functional area or P&S Organisation.


d) Convey directions/instructions to relevant agency, functional area or P&S Organisation.

Communications

Nominated agency controllers, Functional Area Coordinators and authorities are 63

responsible for providing:

Internal communications

Communication facilities in respective control/operation centres

Communication links to SCC and LCC

Communication between state and inter-state government and industry

Communication links to various participating and supporting agencies.

Public information

NSW DPI is responsible for providing accurate information to the media and public in 64

accordance with the Public Information Functional Area Supporting Plan. NSW Health

and/or NSW Food Authority will provide information where there are human health

implications.

Coordinated use of all electronic media is undertaken by NSW DPI. Use of the Public 65

Information Coordination Centre is a consideration.

Plague locust operations

Each season (approximately August-September) an annual plague locust response plan will 66

be developed outlining seasonal forecast and response needs. In seasons of significant

impact, this plan must be approved by Plague Locust Consultative Committee and Plague

Locust Management Group.

During plague locust response a Concept of Operations and Communications Plan will be 67

developed.


Part 4 - Recovery

Recovery is the process of returning an affected community to its proper level of 68

functioning after an emergency. It will generally commence simultaneously with the

response phase. NSW recovery arrangements are outlined in NSW State Recovery Plan.

The need for a formal recovery structure may be considered which aims as far as possible, 69

to assist the affected community to manage its own recovery, while recognising that there

may be a need for external technical, physical and financial assistance.

Local

As soon as possible following a biosecurity emergency, a Local Emergency Management 70

Committee will meet as the basis of a Local Recovery Committee. NSW DPI and Local

Emergency Operations Controller will attend the early meetings to provide an overview of

the situation.

Region

In the event that a biosecurity emergency affects several local government areas, a 71

Regional Recovery Committee may be formed to coordinate the recovery effort. The

affected Regional Emergency Management Committee will meet to determine the

composition of the recovery committee.

State

In the event a biosecurity emergency has State wide impacts, Director SCC may request 72

State Emergency Recovery Controller assist with establishment of planning and

management arrangements which are coordinated across government and accepted and

understood by recovery agencies and the community.


Part 5 - Administration

Finance

Cost sharing agreements

A cost sharing deed of agreement between Commonwealth Government, State/Territory 73

Governments and Industry groups recognises that major animal, and plant health and

environmental emergencies are of national importance. These deeds provide mechanisms

for participating jurisdictions to share costs associated with eradication of specified

incursions.

The amount contributed by each participating jurisdiction will vary according to 74

categorisation of disease or pest. Categories consider whether the emergency animal or

plant disease or pest concerned affects human health or causes major national socio-

economic or environmental consequences, or will only cause production losses.

Governments contribute a greater amount for those diseases and pests affecting human

health and those having a major national socio-economic or environmental effect. The cost

borne by the individual jurisdiction may also be influenced by the value of affected

industry in the jurisdiction.

For plague locusts, a cost sharing agreement exists between the Australian Government 75

and the eastern States (NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria) to fund APLC. NSW

responses are generally funded through Pest Insect Destruction Fund (PIDF). APLC and

NSW collaborate to control locusts.

The types of expenditure which may be reimbursed by participating jurisdictions for 76

controlling an animal, aquatic or plant health emergency are set out in deeds of

agreement.

Supply of goods (logistic support)

Procedures within each agency are to be used for acquisition and supply of goods for 77

emergency response and recovery. If requirement for goods is beyond normal resources,

the matter is to be referred to State Emergency Operations Centre in accordance with

arrangements detailed in EMPLAN.


Role of volunteers

In the initial stages of control of a biosecurity emergency, volunteers may assist in 78

controlling the outbreak.

Biosecurity emergencies in another State

The existence of a biosecurity emergency on or near a NSW border and/or in another part 79

of Australia may result in movement controls being applied to livestock, animal or plant

products, vehicles and certain other effects entering NSW, and extensive surveillance and

testing to ensure that NSW remains free of the threat. These controls will be initiated by

CVO, CPPO or person with appropriate authority.


Annex 1 Governance and legislation

Governance

Commonwealth Government and States/Territories coordinate disease control policies and 1

activities through Standing Council on Primary Industries, National Management Group,

High Level Management Group (relief and recovery) and various committees under

Primary Industries Ministerial Council.

National Management Group (NMG), which consists of Secretary of Commonwealth 2

Department of Agriculture, Chief Executive Officers of State/Territory Departments of

Agriculture (or equivalent) and national industry leaders, is responsible for overall

management and coordination of response to an emergency pest or disease including

determination of policy and resources needed to combat the pest or disease.

Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases (CCEAD) consists of Chief 3

Veterinary Officers (CVOs) from States/Territories, Commonwealth Government and

representatives from industry. It provides technical support during response to any

Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) incident.

Consultative Committee on Aquatic Emergency Animal Diseases consists of CVOs from 4

States/Territories and Commonwealth Government. It provides technical support during

response to an Aquatic EAD incident.

Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests consists of Chief Plant Protection 5

Officers from States/Territories, Commonwealth Government and representatives from

Industry. It provides technical guidance during response to any Emergency Plant Pest (EPP)

incident.

Consultative Committee on Introduced Marine Pest Emergencies consists of relevant 6

biosecurity staff from Commonwealth and State/Territory governments. It provides

technical support during response to any marine pest emergency response.

Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement (EADRA), Emergency Plant Pest Response 7

Deed (EPPRD) and National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement (NEBRA) are


contractual arrangements that bring together Commonwealth, State/Territory

governments and Industry groups to prepare for, and respond to, EAD or EPP incursions.

Strategic management of plague locusts lies with Plague Locust Management Group. 8

Generally, costs associated with control of plague locusts are funded through Pest Insect

Destruction Fund, a levy on NSW primary producer ratepayers. Operational management

of plague locusts lies with Plague Locust Consultative Committee. NSW also contributes to

funding Australian Plague Locust Commission (APLC), along with other eastern states. APLC

assist states with control programs, forecasting, research, development and training.

Legislation

NSW has legislation in place that is able to assist in prevention, preparedness, response and recovery

in relation to a biosecurity emergency.

NSW State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989 (SERM Act) governs

response to and recovery from an emergency in NSW.

Biosecurity Act 2015 when enforced will supersede:

I. Animal Diseases and Animal Pests (Emergency Outbreaks) Act 1991 provides for

detection, containment and eradication of certain diseases affecting livestock and

other animals. Also includes the Animal Disease (Emergency Outbreaks) Act 2008.

II. Plant Disease Act 1924 makes provisions to prevent introduction into NSW of

diseases and pests affecting plants or fruit; provides for eradication of such diseases

and pests and to prevent their spread.

Local Land Services Act 2013 contains provisions for preparedness, response and

recovery for animal pest and disease and plant pest and disease emergencies and

other emergencies impacting on primary production or animal health and safety, and

for reporting and control of plague locusts by private and public land managers.

Fisheries Management Act 1994 and Fisheries Management Amendment Act

2015 contain provisions for detection and reporting, emergency declaration,

quarantine, containment and eradication or destruction of noxious fish and marine

vegetation and declared diseases. Also includes Fisheries Management (General)

Regulation 2005 and Fisheries Management (Aquaculture) Regulation 2002.


Annex 2 Executive Emergency Management

Committee NSW Department of Industry, Skills and Regional Development (NSW Department of Industry)

establish an Executive Emergency Management Committee (EEMC) to provide oversight of

emergency response situations. Members of EEMC will be chaired by Director General NSW

Department of Primary Industries and made up of members of NSW Department of Industry

Executive. Membership will be determined by size, scale and nature of the emergency.


Annex 3 Definitions

Agriculture/Aquaculture

Agriculture and aquaculture is production and primary processing of foods, fibres and by-products

from plants and animals. Agriculture and aquaculture involves cultivation of crops including

horticultural products, raising of livestock or aquatic species and planting of trees for wood products.

For the purposes of emergency management is also include aquatic/marine systems, like aquaculture

and fisheries.

Animal

All animals including livestock (sheep, cattle, goats, pigs, horses etc.), companion animals (dogs, cats,

aviary birds etc) and wildlife (terrestrial, aquatic and marine).

Aquatic animal

Includes fish, molluscs, invertebrates, crustaceans and ornamental fish that may be found in the NSW

aquatic environment or aquaculture facilities, aquarium facilities, whole and retail and seafood

outlets.

Australian Plague Locust Commission (APLC)

Commonwealth department, funded by eastern states and Commonwealth. Assists with research,

forecasting and control in large plague locust outbreaks that may impact on a number of states.

Biosecurity

Protection of economy, environment and public health from negative impacts associated with pests,

animal and plant diseases (not human) and weeds.

Chief Plant Protection Officer

Director Plant Biosecurity of NSW DPI with prime responsibility for plant pest and disease control in

NSW.

Chief Veterinary Officer

Senior Veterinary Officer or designated officer of NSW DPI with prime responsibility for animal pest

and disease control in NSW.


Combat agency

The agency identified in EMPLAN as the agency primarily responsible for controlling response to a

particular emergency.

Command

Direction of an agency/organisation in performance of roles and tasks. Authority to command is

established by legislation or by agreement with the agency/organisation. Command relates to

agencies/organisations only, and operates vertically within the agency/organisation. People are

commanded.

Control

Overall direction of activities, agencies or individuals concerned. Control operates horizontally across

all agencies/organisations, functions and individuals. Situations are controlled. (As per SERM Act and

EMPLAN)

Coordination

Bringing together of agencies and individuals to ensure effective emergency or rescue management,

but does not include control of agencies and individuals by direction. (As per SERM Act and EMPLAN)

Cost sharing agreement

Refers to Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement (EADRA), Emergency Plant Pest Response

Deed (EPPRD) or National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement (NEBRA) (NOTE: there

maybe others that relate to other biosecurity emergencies).

Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement (EADRA)

Australian Government/States/Territories and Industry cost sharing agreement for eradication of

certain emergency animal diseases.

Emergency Operations Controller (EOCON)

Police Officer appointed by Commissioner of Police, as the Emergency Operations Controller for

State, region or local emergency management area.

Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD)

Australian Government/State/Territories and Industry cost sharing agreement for dealing with

emergency plant pests.


Executive Emergency Management Committee (EEMC)

Manages overall response by NSW DPI to an animal, aquatic or plant disease or pest emergency and

consists of relevant members of NSW Department of Industry executive. The Executive Emergency

Management Committee is responsible for policy and resource allocation at State level.

Eradication

Refers to elimination of pest or disease and its causative agent from Australia.

Emergency animal disease (EAD)

An infectious disease of animals (including mammals, birds, aquatic animals and bees) which does not

normally occur in Australia. Examples include foot and mouth disease, Whitespot disease of

crustaceans, rabies, equine and avian influenza.

Emergency plant pest (EPP)

A foreign or exotic emergency plant pest which meets definition as outlined in the Emergency Plant

Pest Response Deed. Examples include fireblight of Apples, Pierce’s disease, Karnal Bunt and Plum

Pox Virus.

EMPLAN

State Emergency Management Plan (EMPLAN) has been prepared with a comprehensive approach to

emergency management. The aspects of prevention, preparation, response and recovery all must be

considered and are essential to reducing the impacts of emergencies on communities in New South

Wales.

Functional area

Categories of services involved in the preparations for an emergency (as per EMPLAN), including the

following:

a. Agriculture and Animal Services

b. Telecommunications Services

c. Energy and Utility Services

d. Engineering Services

e. Environmental Services

f. Health Services

g. Public Information Services

h. Transport Services

i. Welfare Services


Functional Area Coordinator

The nominated coordinator of a functional area, tasked to coordinate the provision of functional area

support and resources for emergency response and recovery operations, who, by agreement of

Participating and Supporting Organisations within the functional area, has the authority to commit

the resources of those organisations.

Incident

Occurrence or suspected occurrence of a biosecurity threat.

Local Control Centre (LCC)

Control centre from which all field operations aimed at controlling the particular emergency are run.

Invertebrate

An animal lacking a backbone, such as an arthropod, mollusc, annelid, coelenterate, etc.

Movement control

Restrictions placed on movement of animals, animal products, plants, plant products, fodder, fittings,

vehicles, machinery or people to prevent spread of pest or disease.

National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement (NEBRA)

Commonwealth Government/States/Territories cost sharing agreement for a nationally significant

biosecurity incident where there are predominantly benefits to public, environment and social

amenity.

National Management Group (NMG)

Responsible for overall management and coordination of animal and plant health emergency at

national level.

Pest Insect Destruction Fund (PIDF)

A fund established for use in plague locust responses raised by a levy imposed on NSW primary

producer ratepayers and collected by Local Land Services.

Plague locusts

Refers to those locusts declared as a pest insect under the Local Land Services Act 2013 being the

Migratory locust, Australian plague locust and Spur throated locust.


Plant

A species in the taxonomic kingdom Plantae. In this plan means species that are native or introduced,

commercially cultivated or weed species.

PLANTPLAN

PLANTPLAN is the technical response plan that describes the Australian approach to responding to

Emergency Plant Pest (EPP) incursions.

Plague Locust Management Group (PLMG)

Strategic senior management group that oversees all aspects of plague locust responses.

Plague Locust Commissioner (PLC)

Represent NSW on Australian Plague Locust Commission.

Plague Locust Consultative Committee (PLCC)

Senior operational group that oversees all aspects of plague locust responses.

Quarantine

Legal restrictions imposed on a premises or area of land or water by serving of a notice and limiting

movement in or out of specified animals, animal products, plants, plant products, equipment, fodder,

fittings, aquatic infrastructure, machinery, vessels and vehicles.

Recovery

In relation to an emergency includes process of returning an affected community to its proper level of

functioning after an emergency.

Region Emergency Management Committee (REMC)

The committee constituted under State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989, which at

region level is responsible for preparing plans in relation to the prevention of, preparation for,

response to and recovery from emergencies in the region for which it is constituted. In the exercise of

its functions, any such Committee is responsible to the State Emergency Management Committee.

State Coordination Centre (SCC)

Operations centre from which State-wide emergency pest or disease coordination actions are

coordinated, and in which all policy decisions are taken or confirmed.


State of Emergency

A state of emergency declared by the Premier under Section 33(1) of the State Emergency and Rescue

Management Act 1989.

Supporting plan

A plan detailing role, type and extent of resources committed, and internal procedures for a

supporting functional area or agency.

Surveillance

A program of investigation, designed to establish presence, extent of, or absence of a specified pest

or disease, or presence, abundance and distribution of specified species of interest.


Annex 4 Abbreviations

APLC Australian Plague Locust Commission

AUSVETPLAN Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan

CPPO Chief Plant Protection Officer

CVO Chief Veterinary Officer

EAD Emergency Animal Disease

EADRA Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement

EMPLAN State Emergency Management Plan

EOCON Emergency Operations Controller

EPP Emergency Plant Pest

EPPRD Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed

FCP Forward Command Post

LCC Local Control Centre

NSW DPI New South Wales Department of Primary Industries

OIC Officer In Charge

PIDF Pest Insect Destruction Fund

PLANTPLAN Australian Emergency Plant Pest Response Plan

PLCC Plague Locust Consultative Committee

PLC Plague Locusts Commissioner

PLMG Plague Locust Management Group

SCC State Coordination Centre


Annex 5 Emergency management organisational

structure

Minister

EEMC

PLC

Forward Command Post

(if necessary)

Local/Virtual Control Centre

State Coordination Centre (if necessary)

CPPO CVO

Plague Locust

Management

Group

Consultative

Committees

Biosecurity (Animal and Plant) Emergency Sub Plan

Documents

Transcript of Biosecurity (Animal and Plant) Emergency Sub Plan