The ACT Emergency Services Agency (ACTESA) celebrated 15 years of support from its mapping and planning volunteer program on Tuesday (12 October) with the release of a new video.
Marking the occasion, Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Mick Gentleman said the volunteer Mapping and Planning Support Program (MAPS) had played a pivotal role in supporting day-to-day incident and major emergencies since its establishment following the 2003 Canberra fires.
“The MAPS volunteer Program was developed to enhance the delivery of professional geographic systems and location technology support during large scale emergencies,” Mr Gentleman said.
He said MAPS volunteers had provided support for large-scale emergencies across Australia, including the 2009 Black Saturday Fires in Victoria; 2010-12 Queensland Flooding; 2011 Cyclone Yasi; major bushfires across ACT and NSW; and recently the COVID-19 disaster response.
ACTESA Commissioner, Georgeina Whelan said mapping and location technologies underpinned almost every incident response, from everyday navigation, to tracking a major bushfire or flood impact.
“Within the ACTESA there is a dedicated team of volunteer geo-spatial professionals that give their time and expertise behind the scenes, to support services on the front line,” Commissioner Whelan said.
“Fifteen years ago, two of the founding MAPS volunteers embedded themselves into the ACTESA’s pre-emptive Incident Management Team (IMT) managing three days of consecutive Total Fire Bans (TOBANs),” she said.
“Their knowledge and support capability resulted in MAPS becoming a vital part of ACTESA’s emergency management team.”
Commissioner Whelan expressed her gratitude to all ACTESA MAPS volunteers.
“Your ongoing commitment and dedication over the last 15 years has resulted in a well-developed and professional volunteer service, providing much needed support to our frontline personnel,” she said.
ACTESA’s 15 Years of MAPS video can be accessed at this PS News link.
