#GreatNewsThursday – Avenel and Euroa Local Emergency Action Plans (LEAPs) now complete

11 Jan 2024

Two more Strathbogie Shire townships have prepared their Local Emergency Action Plans (LEAPs) as part of the LEAPing into Resilience project.

Euroa and Avenel now have their own LEAP document to follow/refer to in the event of an emergency.

The plans were developed through community steering committees working with various emergency agencies (CFA, VicSES, Ambulance Victoria and Victoria Police) and Council.

Violet Town completed their plan last year and all the three plans can all be found on the Shire website via https://www.strathbogie.vic.gov.au/services/emergency-preparedness/local-emergency-action-plans-leaps/

The LEAPing into Resilience project empowers people to respond and recover from emergencies by highlighting the risks facing their community and ways they can better prepare for emergencies.

Strathbogie Shire Administrator Peter Stephenson said it was a credit to all the volunteers who had put in around 12 months’ work to complete the plans.

“These communities are now better able to respond during times of fire, flood or other emergencies,” he said.

“These towns now have a reference document to direct residents in the event of an emergency. Being prepared is incredibly important – we know it can save lives.”

Strathbogie community members recently signed up to join their local steering committee and Nagambie residents will be encouraged to do the same soon.

Council has collaborated with Murrindindi and Mansfield Shire Councils to deliver the project thanks to a Federal Government grant. The project will eventually result in the production of five LEAPs prepared for each of the above municipalities.

Avenel resident John Thomson said the group worked enthusiastically to prepare the document that would guide residents should the need arrive.

“We worked methodically to identify all the contact details for emergency services and even if there was a flood where we could get sandbags,” he said.

“Included in our pack of information as well, is a document that asks what residents would do in the first 72 hours of an emergency. We will be encouraging residents to consider and make that plan now not during an emergency,” he said.

You can find a copy of the LEAPs on Council’s website. There are a small number of hardcopies available for those who cannot access the documents via the website at:

  • Avenel: The Community Hub, 23 Queen St and The Daily Dose, 2 Queen St
  • Euroa: Euroa Library, 62 Binney St and Council Offices, 109a Binney St
  • Violet Town: Corner Store, 32 Cowslip St and Violet Town Library, 35 Cowslip St

Residents in the townships of Avenel and Euroa can also expect to receive a customised fridge magnet in their letterbox. These magnets will show quick reference numbers and QR codes to use in an emergency and can be kept on the fridge as a handy guide.

For further information about the LEAPing into Resilience Project, visit https://share.www.strathbogie.vic.gov.au/LEAP-resilience