House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-10-27 Daily Xml

Contents

OPERATION NOMAD

In reply to Mr HANNA (Mitchell) (8 September 2009).

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT (Lee—Minister for Police, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing): Operation Nomad is a State wide activity with pre-planned activation of policing resources, in support of the SA Country Fire Service, when fire bans are declared. The aim of the operation is: 'Keeping the Community of South Australia safe through policing activities that reduce the incidence and the adverse effects of bushfires during periods of severe, extreme or catastrophic fire danger.'

SAPOL's planning framework is flexible so that it facilitates the most appropriate allocation of resources to any incident or pre-planned event regardless of the organisation's structural boundaries. Operation Nomad is one example of a major corporate operation that has an identified need for the re-allocation of dedicated resources on the basis of a high level of risk to the community. It is not an isolated case and policing operations in support of other community need events such as Clipsal, Royal Show, New Years Eve and the Christmas Pageant are other examples of resource sharing to meet a pre-planned operational need.

All SAPOL Local Service Areas (LSAs), except Western Adelaide, have Fire Ban Districts within their boundaries and all support Operation Nomad. Western Adelaide LSA and other operational support sections provide resources, in a planned support role; to assist LSAs who have Nomad patrols in the near Mt Lofty Ranges where the most significant fire risks often exist.