Lack of civil defence personnel a disaster waiting to happen?
By Tim O?Connell
?Secret? restructuring of Wellington?s Civil Defence resources has MP fretting for the fate of us all-should disaster strike. In a statement released last week, Ohariu MP Peter Dunne criticised the Wellington City Council?s Emergency Management Office?s reorganisation, which has seen a drop in staff numbers as well as a halt on volunteer training programmes in the region. It is understood that the downturn in numbers and subsequent suspension of volunteer training programmes has come in the wake of restructuring within the organisation. ?Training of civil defence volunteers across Wellington?s suburbs has stopped, and courses scheduled for May have been cancelled,? Mr Dunne said. ?WEMO is effectively at a standstill.? Mr Dunne believes the secrecy which has surrounded this restructure is ?irresponsible? to the people of Wellington, and further endangers the northern suburbs should disaster strike. Mr Dunne?s sentiments have not been shared by the WCC, with emergency hierarchy adamant that any reorganisation was being done in the best interests of the city. Speaking in the Dominion Post last week, WCC civil defence controller Mike Mendonca said that the comments made by Mr Dunne were ?unhelpful?. While two out of five permanent Wellington emergency management office staff had left and had not been replaced and some volunteer training was on hold for the next few months, Mr Mendonca believed there was no compromise being made on services. With over twenty civil defence posts throughout Hutt South, Western Hills and East Harbour, the need to have sufficient personnel on hand to cope with a disaster situation is essential to meet the emergency needs of the Hutt Valley. With the area enduring the ravages of severe flooding and earthquakes throughout its history, the chance of another major disaster occurring appears to be a case of when, not if. Earthquake Commission estimates have placed the total cost of a movement along the Wellington fault-which runs directly along State Highway 2-at around $6 billion. The Petone Herald attempted to contact HCC Emergency Management Officer Peter Walker, but had not heard back from him at the time of going to press.
