Role statement - Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) brings together Victoria’s energy, environment, water, agriculture, forestry, resources, climate action and emergency management functions into a single department to maximise connections between the environment, community, industry and economy. DEECA aims to improve Victoria’s liveability with a population that is expected to almost double by 2050, while responsibly taking climate action and protecting the natural environment, infrastructure and heritage for future generations.

Mitigation

Activity	Critical task alignment / activity source
Participating agency for the following bushfire mitigation activities: landscape fuel management including legislative requirements fire ignition controls including fire danger period determination, total fire ban days and arson programs community education, awareness and engagement to prevent and respond to bushfire and bushfire smoke seasonal arrangements to ensure capability restricted access to public land	Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation
Participating agency for the following earthquake mitigation activities: critical infrastructure (engineering) vulnerability assessments and maintenance regimes (essential services, dams, buildings, transport infrastructure, mine quarry and petroleum sites)	Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation
Participating agency for the following electricity supply disruption mitigation activities: legislative framework, e.g. Electricity Industry Act 2000, Electricity Safety Act 1998, associated regulations, national electricity laws and rules and critical infrastructure resilience requirements under the Emergency Management Act 2013 public awareness load management strategies including energy efficiency and demand management programs to minimise community impacts public communication and engagement industry forums, including regular emergency exercises community microgrids and sustainable renewable energy programs coal mine regulation and emergency preparedness	Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation
Participating agency for the emergency animal disease mitigation activity: regulated control of native wildlife rehabilitation and licensing	Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation
Participating agency for the following flood mitigation activities: legislative policy framework including floodplain management strategy, reform (lessons learnt) flood emergency planning including readiness flood data/intelligence and mapping Total Flood Warning System as per Victorian Floodplain Management Strategy dam safety management to mitigate risks from potential dam failure (as a dam owner and/or operator)	Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation
Participating agency for the following gas supply disruption mitigation activities: legislative and regulatory framework, including Gas Industry Act 2001, Gas Safety Act 1997 and associated Gas Safety Cases, National Gas Law and National Gas Regulations, critical infrastructure resilience requirements under the Emergency Management Act 2013 public awareness industry forums, including regular emergency exercises	Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation
Participating agency for the hazardous materials (including industrial waste) incident mitigation activity: regulate and process facility/residential/commercial development designs	Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation
Participating agency for waste service disruption: formulate policy and regulation for waste, resource recovery and recycling services continuity, including Co-ordinated Prevention and Response Framework for High Risk Waste Sites	Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation
administer legislative and regulatory framework, including Circular Economy (Waste Reduction and Recycling) Act 2021 and Environment Protection Act 2017 public awareness, including communication and engagement, and industry forums to promote resilience to waste service disruptions	1.1, 1.3
Participating agency for the following liquid fuel disruption mitigation activities: legislative and regulatory framework, including Fuel Emergency Act 1977, critical infrastructure resilience requirements under the Emergency Management Act 2013 public awareness industry forums, including regular emergency exercises	Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation
Participating agency for the following water supply disruption mitigation activities: system resilience (e.g. desal plant, grid connectivity, social (particularly human health), economic (including irrigation raw water and recycled water) and natural environments critical infrastructure resilience legislative framework and regulations including Water Act 1989, Water Industry Act 1994 and Safe Drinking Water Act 2003 (risk management plans and audits).	Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation
Participating agency for the following emergency animal disease mitigation activities: legislative and regulatory framework, including Livestock Disease Control Act 1994 and Livestock Management Act 2010 national Ministerial agreements under the Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement and National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement effective engagement with Commonwealth, government, industry and community stakeholders to support biosecurity planning and preparedness plans monitoring and surveillance to support early detection of biosecurity threats regulated control of native wildlife rehabilitation and licensing provision of technical advice to the relevant Minister(s) plan and deliver programs to mitigate priority biosecurity risks including traceability of livestock and agricultural products awareness raising, education and training State border control	Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation
Participating agency for the following emergency plant pest mitigation activities: legislative and regulatory framework, including Plant Biosecurity Act 2010 national Ministerial agreements under the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed and National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement effective engagement with Commonwealth, government, industry and community stakeholders to support biosecurity planning and preparedness plans monitoring and surveillance to support early detection of biosecurity threats provision of technical advice to the relevant Minister(s) plan and deliver programs to mitigate priority biosecurity risks including traceability of agricultural products awareness raising, education and training State border control	Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation
Participating agency for the following mine, quarry and petroleum (exploration or production site) emergency mitigation activities: legislation, regulation and enforcement of legislation including, but not limited to, the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 and regulations (licensing and approvals process for operators of mines, quarries and coal mines), Emergency Management Act 2013, Emergency Management (Critical Infrastructure Resilience) Regulations 2015, Country Fire Authority Act 1958 and Regulations 2014, Energy Safe Victoria Act 2005, and Petroleum Act 1998 approval of and compliance to risk-based work plans, risk management plans and emergency preparedness plans for mines, quarries and petroleum sites addressing specific mine stability, fire, tailings dam safety, flooding, blasting etc. controls detailed audits and inspection program focussing on key risks work plan approvals (initial and variations to account for operational changes) and implementation of licence conditions to ensure operators address key risks	Table 8: Participating agencies for mitigation
Working with commonwealth, state government, industry, primary producers and community groups on the management of threats (including high risk biosecurity threats and natural disasters) to mitigate economic impacts.	1.1, 1.3
Maintain ICC and RCC facilities under DEECA responsibility	3.3
Blue‑Green Algae bloom:
develop policy for blue-green algae management in Victoria	1.3
collect data on blue-green algal blooms	4.4
Cetacean (whale and dolphin) stranding, entanglement or vessel strike:
develop policy, programs and training for responding to cetacean entanglement, strandings and vessel strike	1.1
engage with stakeholders to reduce the incidence of cetacean stranding, entanglement and vessel strike	1.3, 2.1
Dam safety:
formulate policy and regulation for dam safety	1.1
administer dam safety provision in the Water Act 1989 and Water Corporation obligations in the Statement of Obligations	1.1, 1.3
Energy: responsibilities under Part 7A of the Emergency Management Act 2013 involve working with the energy sector to enhance critical infrastructure resilience, through formulation of policy, emergency risk management planning by operators, observing exercises for resilience improvement cycles and designating vital critical infrastructure where appropriate	1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.6, 19.4, 19.5, 21.1, 21.3
Fire:
formulate policy and regulation for bushfire management in state forest, national parks and protected public lands	1.1
plan and deliver programs to reduce the risk of bushfire in state forest, national parks and protected public lands	1.1
Floodplain management/flood:
formulate policy and regulation for floodplain management	1.1
plan and deliver floodplain management programs to reduce the risk of major flood	1.1
Non-hazardous pollution of inland waters: formulate policy and regulation for non-hazardous pollution of inland waters, being water bodies accessible to the public and to waterways that discharge into publicly accessible water bodies (and marine environments) such as rivers, streams, wetlands, lakes, estuaries, inlets, water supply storages, irrigation channels and drains, wastewater treatment plant storages, ornamental lakes, stormwater and recycled water storages and treatment wetlands describe potential risks and consequences of non-hazardous pollution of inland waters to the social (particularly human health), economic and natural environments	1.1
Reticulated water and wastewater (sewerage) services: monitor water corporations’ implementation of business continuity and emergency management plans to restore water and wastewater (sewerage) services to full functionality; and observe emergency management exercises in the sector	1.1, 1.6
Surveying and protecting threatened ecosystems, native plants and animals:
identify key ecosystems, biodiversity values and species that may require intervention when affected by an emergency	1.1, 1.2, 11.2, 18.1
develop response options for key ecosystems and species	1.1, 1.3, 4.4, 18.2
Wildlife affected by marine and freshwater pollution:
develop policy, programs and training for responding to incidents of wildlife affected by marine and freshwater pollution	1.1
develop partnerships and agreements with key organisations to support DEECA in responding to wildlife affected by marine and freshwater pollution	1.2, 3.2
Wildlife welfare arising from emergency events:
develop policy, programs and training for responding to wildlife welfare during emergencies	1.1, 21.1
develop partnerships and agreements with key organisations to support DEECA in responding to emergency events on wildlife welfare including the Wildlife Emergency Support Network	1.1

Response (including Relief)

Activity	Critical task alignment / activity source
Control agency for response: blue‑green algae (excluding marine blooms) cetacean (whale and dolphin) stranding, entanglement and vessel strike dam safety incidents energy (electricity, gas and liquid fuels) network supply disruptions fire in state forest, national park and protected public land non-hazardous pollution of inland waters reticulated water and wastewater disruption (sewerage) service wildlife affected by marine and freshwater pollution wildlife welfare arising from an emergency event biosecurity incursions - emergency animal disease outbreaks (including aquaculture) - plant pest or disease outbreaks (including bee pests and diseases) - invasive plant, animal and exotic marine pest incursions rapid and significant increases in established pest populations (vertebrate pests and plagues)	3.1, 15.7, 16.1, 16.2 Table 9: Control agencies for response
Lead Response Support Agency (RSA) for the functional areas of: agriculture animal welfare (livestock and companion animals) earth resources (mines) fish death events due to natural causes public land spatial data threatened ecosystems and species waste service disruption and one of the lead RSAs for the functional area of responder agencies	Table 10: Support agencies for response
Support agency for: fire on private land drinking water contamination flood plain management/flood extreme heat marine pollution (shoreline response) mining and petroleum emergencies by providing expert advice for mine and quarry incidents, and petroleum/geothermal wells Illness foodborne – primary production and primary processing water quality contamination	3.2, 4.5, 4.6
Lead the disposal of Emergency Animal Disease waste in a large scale (level 3) EAD response.	16.8, 16.9
Relief Coordinating Agency (RelCA) and Relief Lead Agency (RelLA) to provide drinking water in non-reticulated areas (as required). DEECA will coordinate relief drinking water supplies to affected areas and may request support from Water Corporations	15.2 Table 12: Relief coordination
Animal welfare (livestock and domestic) arising from emergency events: Relief Coordinating Agency (RelCA) for animal welfare Relief Lead Agency (RelLA) for: animal welfare support relief activities (other than wildlife) as per the Victorian Emergency Animal Welfare Plan liaise with local government to co-ordinate the housing of displaced and lost/stray companion animals during emergency events as required. identify and assess injured and affected animals	3.1, Table 12: Relief coordination
provide advice on options for treatment, humane destruction or emergency salvage slaughter where necessary, assist with humane destruction of injured or affected animals inform and coordinate animal welfare organisations, volunteer groups or community groups wanting to contribute as required. assess and report losses and damage to agricultural assets and animals and, as outlined in the Victorian Emergency Animal Welfare Plan and SEMP, liaise with other agencies on identified needs (including but not limited to medical assistance, food, personal water, counselling, livestock fodder, stock water)	4.4, 4.5, 16.3, 16.6
Blue‑Green Algae bloom:
control agency to coordinate response for blue-green algae incidents	3.1
coordinate state-wide blue-green algae management activities	3.2, 4.6
provide advice to government and emergency management agencies regarding the impacts of blue-green algal blooms on drinking water supplies and/or recreational water bodies	4.6
Cetacean (whale and dolphin) stranding, entanglement or vessel strike: Control Agency for response to cetacean entanglements, strandings or vessel strikes under the Victorian Cetacean Emergency Plan	3.1
Dam safety:
manage escalated response activities to minimise the impact on the community and the environment from dam safety incidents	3.1, 11.2, 11.3
manage local dam safety incidents for dams owned or operated by DEECA	3.3
manage escalated response activities for mining and quarrying tailings and slimes dams	3.1, 11.2, 11.3
Energy:
control agency for energy supply disruptions, in accordance with plans and procedures and within the powers available to resolve the situation	1.5, 3.1
control agency for disruptions to energy. DEECA participates in a range of partnerships and agreements with key organisations that will support DEECA in responding to energy emergencies	3.1
as lead Government liaison, work with AEMO which operates and is responsible for the electricity transmission system while other network operators manage the distribution system and the restoration of infrastructure and electricity supplies	1.5, 3.2, 10.1, 19.6
advise the relevant Minister about the implications of energy supply disruptions and, in extreme outages, about reserve legislative powers to intervene in energy markets. These include the direction of energy supply or usage through Orders in Council under the Gas Industry Act 2001, the Electricity Industry Act 2000, the Fuel Emergency Act 1977 and national arrangements	4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 11.2
provide analysis and advice to government regarding impacts on energy supply	4.1, 4.4, 4.6
report on the impacts (loss and damage) to energy supply infrastructure to inform immediate priorities and recovery programs, including the restoration and supply of essential services	10.1, 10.2, 11.1, 11.2, 19.4, 19.7
coordinate intelligence to inform strategies and decision making for the safe and timely restoration of energy supplies to the community	19.1, 19.4, 19.8
provide advice to communities on the installation and restoration of energy supplies that enhance resilience and mitigate the reliance on main energy supplies following an emergency	6.3, 6.4, 6.6, 19.8
through Solar Victoria, provide information and funding to enable homes and small business affected by emergency events to install new or replacement renewable energy systems	2.5, 17.2
lead the coordination of public information on: electricity outages and potential or actual load shedding after consultation with AEMO, ESV, industry and government gas usage and potential or actual gas curtailment in consultation with AEMO, ESV, industry and government	2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.5
provide emergency advice to reduce gas consumption on a voluntary basis	2.3
provide situational awareness and intelligence based on analysis of real time information and intelligence by AEMO on supply disruptions and energy flows through Victoria	4.4, 4.5
Fire:
control agency for bushfires in state forest, national parks, and protected public lands in accordance with the SEMP Bushfire Sub-Plan and SEMP	3.1, 7.2
support agency for other fires on private land	3.2
Floodplain management/flood:
provide flood mapping information and flood advice	4.4, 4.5, 4.6
provide real time access to stream flow data collection for flood warning purposes	4.4, 4.5, 4.6
Mapping and information services: support emergency response agencies by providing digital and spatial information and services, and topographical mapping, both hardcopy and electronic	3.2, 4.6
Non-hazardous pollution of inland waters: manage escalated response activities to minimise the impact on the community and the environment from non-hazardous pollution of inland waters	3.1
Reticulated water and wastewater (sewerage) services:
manage escalated response activities to minimise the impact on the community from reticulated water supply and wastewater (sewerage) service disruptions	3.1
administer provisions in the Water Act 1989 and Water Corporation obligations in the Statement of Obligations	4.6
Surveying and protecting threatened ecosystems, native plants and animals:
provide scientific and technical advice to Lead Response agencies to minimise impact of the emergency event on high value ecosystems or species	4.3, 4.4, 18.1, 18.2
relief coordination of surveying and protecting threatened ecosystems, native plants and animals	11.2, 18.1, 18.2, 18.6
Wildlife affected by marine and freshwater pollution: control agency for responding to wildlife impacted by marine pollution, including oil or chemical spills, under the Wildlife Response Plan for Marine Pollution Emergencies	3.1, 3.2
Wildlife welfare arising from emergency events:
Relief Coordinating Agency (RelCA) for animal welfare Control Agency and Relief Lead Agency (RelLA) for responding to wildlife welfare arising from an emergency event, including fire, flood and extreme heat. Response scope defined by individual hazard plans for the emergency type, including: Victorian Response Plan for Heat Stress in Flying Foxes Victorian Response Plan for Wildlife Impacted by Fire undertake welfare assessments of impacted wildlife where safe to do so, consistent with endorsed hazard plans ensure the veterinary assessment and treatment of wildlife taken into care provide advice to government and emergency agencies regarding impacts of animal welfare for wildlife inform and coordinate animal welfare organisations, volunteer groups or community groups wanting to contribute as required	3.1, 3.2, 18.4 Table 12: Relief coordination

Recovery

Activity	Critical task alignment / activity source
Recovery Coordinating Agency (RecCA) for: agriculture energy services reticulated water and wastewater services natural environment, public land and inland waters wildlife and threatened ecosystems and species	Table 13: Four recovery environments and 13 areas of activity
Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) to: undertake the assessment, restoration, clean-up and rehabilitation of roads, bridges, tunnels and culverts that are DEECA managed assets	Table 17: Recovery coordination: Built environment
Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) for the functional area of waste service disruption responsible to: lead government liaison in coordination of waste service and asset reinstatement and return to reliable services implement approved assistance, actions and projects related to waste services and waste sector recovery	Table 17: Recovery coordination: Built environment
Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) to:
liaise with local government, as relevant land manager, to co-ordinate clean-up activities for the disposal of deceased animals (domestic, native and feral) during emergency events as required lead the protection and management of Aboriginal cultural and heritage places and values on public land, in co-lead with PV lead the protection and management of historic heritage sites (including those under the Heritage Act 2017 and the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006) on public land	Table 18: Recovery coordination: Natural environment
rehabilitate, restore and reinstate public land and tourism and visitor assets it is directly responsible for managing to mitigate risks, and support PV and CMAs to deliver these responsibilities on public land and assets for which they are responsible	18.4, 19.3
lead fish death clean-ups in waterways on public land managed for non-commercial purposes by DEECA, where the fish death event is due to natural causes. Support agencies (CMAs, Melbourne Water, VFA – refer to Table 18: Natural Environment) will support fish death clean-ups where they have the resource capacity.	18.4
provide advice and information to Councils and delegated public land managers and community groups on management of native forest (not plantations). Provide advice regarding native flora and fauna, including within aquatic and terrestrial environments, to mitigate risks and support resilience	4.5
coordinate waste pollution management strategies	16.1
support the resilience of public land assets managed directly by DEECA, PV and CMAs	18.4, 19.3
Agriculture Recovery Coordinating Agency (RecCA) for agriculture, including Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) to:	Table 15: Recovery coordination: Social environment and Table 16: Recovery coordination: Economic environment
implement available financial assistance to assist primary producers’ recovery by gathering impact and loss information and promoting the support to primary producers and stakeholders	3.2, 4.5, 17.1, 17.2, 17.5, 17.4
refer primary producers and animal owners to services (including psychosocial support services). Gather information on affected primary producers and other animal owners’ properties to assess the impact, loss and damage. Relevant information will be shared with Councils and appropriate agencies to aid in the coordination of recovery activities	4.5, 11.1, 11.2
assist rural land holders repair and restore fences damaged by suppression activities on private land or bushfire on the public/private land boundary working with CFA, supported by FRV	19.4
deliver recovery programs and advice to primary producers, rural land managers and other animal businesses by providing technical advice and services on strategies to re-establish rural enterprises, rehabilitate productive land and economic recovery	17.2, 17.4, 17.5
deliver recovery programs and technical advice on re-establishment or alternative strategies to primary producers, rural land managers and other animal businesses by ensuring effective communication channels between various agencies, organisations and communities, sharing local intelligence and data analysis, and providing advice on ongoing treatments	4.5, 17.2, 17.5, 17.4
Energy - Recovery Coordinating Agency (RecCA) for energy services, including Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) and Government liaison to:
work with AEMO to deliver recovery activity of gas services assets reinstatement and return to reliable supply by managing gas system security emergencies within the Victorian Declared Transmission System. Other pipeline operators manage non-Declared Transmission System segments of the system, and the restoration of infrastructure and gas supply	1.5, 3.2, 10.1, 19.6 Table 17: Recovery coordination: Built environment
work with AEMO and electricity generation companies to deliver recovery activity of electricity services assets reinstatement and return to reliable supply by managing electricity system security emergencies	1.5, 3.2, 10.1, 19.6 Table 17: Recovery coordination: Built environment
work with fuel and pipeline companies to restore liquid fuel supply	Table 17: Recovery coordination: Built environment
through Solar Victoria, provide information and funding to enable homes and small business affected by emergency events to install new or replacement renewable energy systems	2.5, 17.2
Floodplain management/flood: provide a coordinated response to manage residual water after a major flood event on agricultural land and on public land where DEECA is the land manager	3.2
Reticulated water and wastewater (sewerage) services: Recovery Coordinating Agency (RecCA) for reticulated water and wastewater services.	18.4, 18.6, 18.7 Table 17: Recovery coordination: Built environment and Table 18: Recovery coordination: Natural environment
recover and rehabilitate reticulated water services. Water Corporations lead recovery to restore services and DEECA oversees activities undertaken by Water Corporations	15.2, 19.4, 19.7
recover and rehabilitate reticulated sewerage, sanitation systems and wastewater management systems. Water Corporations lead recovery to restore services and DEECA oversees activities undertaken by Water Corporations	15.2, 19.4, 19.7
oversee recovery for the restoration of water and wastewater services in reticulated areas	19.7
ensure replacement of essential stock and domestic water taken from private landholders during firefighting operations as co-lead with CFA	19.4
Surveying and protecting threatened ecosystems, native plants and animals Recovery Coordinating Agency (RecCA) for wildlife and threatened ecosystems and species, and Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) to:	Table 18: Recovery coordination: Natural environment
provide scientific and technical advice on targeted interventions and response plans to maintain species diversity and presence within an ecosystem	4.4, 4.5
develop and implement protection activities to support ecosystem recovery and regeneration	18.3
survey and mitigate risks to protect threatened bird, marsupial, aquatic and plant species affected by emergencies on land within its portfolio and provide advisory services to others undertake targeted interventions to maintain ecosystems and threatened species	4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 16.1, 16.2
Wildlife affected by an emergency event, including marine and freshwater pollution:
rehabilitate wildlife following veterinary assessment and working in conjunction with rehabilitators	18.4
provide advice on appropriate management and release of wildlife from rehabilitation	4.5, 4.6, 18.4
Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) for: monitoring the rehabilitation of injured wildlife management, care and release of salvaged animals taken into captivity to maintain species diversity	Table 18: Recovery coordination: Natural environment
Wildlife welfare arising from emergency events:
provide advice on appropriate management and release of wildlife from rehabilitation	4.5, 4.6, 18.4
rehabilitate wildlife following veterinary assessment and work in conjunction with rehabilitators	18.4
Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) for monitoring the rehabilitation of injured wildlife	Table 18: Recovery coordination: Natural environment

Assurance and Learning

For assurance and learning activities, refer directly to the agency for further information.