A DISASTER management expert says Wagga Council's decision to review its response to the recent bushfires was a smart move.
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Councillor Vanessa Keenan successfully gained support from her fellow councillors, who approved a review into the council's reaction to the Dunns Road bushfire.
It was her hope that looking back at how the council handled the disaster could be a learning curve that prepares Wagga for when another disaster strikes in the future.
The question of whether it was too soon to call for a review when the fire ground still active was at the forefront of Monday night's debate, as too was a disagreement of her choice of wording.
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Charles Sturt University's disaster management lecturer David Parsons said it is wise for the council to identify the lessons learned from the bushfires, as well as other historical events because solutions to those obstacles are transferable to other natural disasters.
"It is the same issues you will be facing if you had a big flood event. People will donate tools, come to clean-up by the thousands and all these things will need to be managed," he said.
The generosity of Wagga residents created its own logistical conundrum, which forced authorities to call a halt on donations that were pouring through.
It is a community reaction that becomes a problem for most natural disaster, according to Mr Parsons.
"One problem we always get is people wanting to donate goods and products and we get a huge volume that cannot be effectively handled," he said.
While the intentions are good, Mr Parsons said these donations often end up at a charity shop or thrown away because it is not always what it is needed.
"People are often better off holding an auction, garage sale or fate to sell those products and donate the money," he said.
"So you are sending it out of the area rather than dumping it in an area that is often already under strain."
Wagga City Council will receive a report outlining the readiness of the community, as a regional centre, to respond to emergency situations and to work in conjunction with various agencies.
The findings will go before the council no earlier than August this year.