The Municipal Emergency Management Plan (MEMP) outlines how the City of Stonnington and its emergency management partners work together to reduce risk, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies.

The plan addresses emergencies and hazards relevant to Stonnington, including:

• Storm and flood
• Extreme heat
• Human disease
• Other identified local risks

The MEMP guides emergency management arrangements, including coordination, communication, resource allocation, and community support across all phases of an emergency.

Developed and maintained by the Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee (MEMPC), the plan reflects the shared responsibilities and collective commitment of member agencies.

In addition to the legislated three-year review and assurance process the MEMP is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains current, effective, and aligned with community needs and legislative requirements.

The Stonnington Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee (MEMPC) brings together:

• Victoria Police
• Fire Rescue Victoria
• Ambulance Victoria
• VicSES
• government departments
• Stonnington City Council
• community representatives.

All members are equal partners in developing, owning, and implementing the MEMP. The Committee is coordinated through Stonnington City Council and includes a permanent community representative position ensuring community voice is central to the process.

The MEMP is being redeveloped to align with current legislation, emergency management arrangements, and best practice. The review ensures roles, responsibilities, and coordination arrangements remain clear and effective. It also reflects current local risks, community needs, and organisational capabilities.

A plan which is clear, accessible, and community-centred will:

• Help more people understand the risks in their neighbourhood.
• Enable residents to prepare more effectively for emergencies.
• Build stronger connections between community members and emergency services.
• Ensure that the needs of everyone including people who may face extra challenges during emergencies, are properly considered.

Stonnington is a diverse municipality. With suburbs including Prahran, South Yarra, Malvern, and Toorak, the municipality is home to residents from many different backgrounds, ages, and circumstances. All of these factors shape how people experience emergencies and they should shape how we plan for them.

This plan sits within Victoria's broader emergency management framework and should be read alongside the State Emergency Management Plan and Southern Metropolitan Regional Emergency Management Plan. It does not conflict with or duplicate other current emergency management plans. Communities can also develop their own local plans and connect them to the state framework.

There are statutory and legal obligations that the MEMP will cover, however your feedback will help:

• Better understand community experiences, expectations, and preparedness before, during, and after emergencies.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen communication, information sharing, and community engagement during emergency events.
• Ensure emergency management arrangements reflect local needs, priorities, and community perspectives.
• Support continuous improvement of emergency preparedness, response, relief, and recovery planning.

All feedback received through this consultation will be reviewed and considered by the MEMPC.

The Committee will:

• analyse the themes and priorities raised by the community
• use your input to guide how the plan is communicated and how we reach and inform the community
• provide a summary of what we heard and how it informed our approach to communicating the plan that will be published on the City of Stonnington website
• explore opportunities for further community involvement as the plan develops.

This consultation is one step in building community resilience, which takes time, trust, and genuine partnership.