Following last year’s emergency recovery information sessions, Ararat Rural City Council will host a series of community emergency management planning workshops, starting next month.

Presenters Mat Deans and Sue Rondeau from award-winning emergency-management group The Six C’s will host the workshops, which are designed to develop strategies that address local vulnerabilities and enhance attendees’ capacity to manage emergencies and identify assets, while strengthening community preparedness for disasters.

Ararat Rural City Mayor Jo Armstrong said the workshops also served as a pathway to secure funding and resources.

“These planning workshops come at a time when the current bushfire season is at the forefront of everyone’s minds. This is the perfect time to put our heads together and discuss what’s working, what isn’t working, and to develop plans that are tailored to our own local communities,” she said.

“The workshops are all about empowering our residents by providing the knowledge and tools to build community resilience.”

Workshops will operate across the same five townships in which the emergency recovery information sessions were held in late 2024 – Moyston, Wickliffe, Willaura, Streatham and Lake Bolac – and will include a complimentary dinner for attendees.

People can register their interest in a particular session or make enquiries by calling the council’s community recovery helpline on 5355 0980, or emailing cwillmott@ararat.vic.gov.au.

Sessions will be at: Moyston, February 4, 6pm-9pm at Moyston Recreation Reserve; Wickliffe, February 10, 6pm-9pm at Wickliffe Recreation Reserve; Willaura, February 19, 6pm-9pm at Willaura Memorial Hall; Streatham, March 6, 6pm-9pm at Streatham Memorial Hall; Lake Bolac, March 14, 6pm-9pm at Lake Bolac Golf Club.

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