Anglesea community urged to prepare for bushfire season

A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN, volunteer initiative is ramping up across Anglesea next month, with the mission of preparing residents and holidaymakers for the coming bushfire season.

Unprecedented weather, dry vegetation and very low soil moisture levels in the Otways have increased leaf drop and forest floor fuels, resulting in some of the most dangerous conditions the township has seen in many years.

While fire agencies have been running planned burns and creating strategic fuel breaks in the Otways, modelling shows this has only reduced the region’s risk of bushfire by about 30 to 40 per cent, leaving 60 to 70 per cent of the risk on private properties.

With ember-ignited fire posing the highest risk to properties, at 90 per cent, the community is being encouraged to undertake four quick, simple and affordable steps:

• Remove as much kindling, such as twigs and leaf litter, from around your property to reduce fuel for a potential fire
• Cut back overhanging or low branches and shrubs, and clear anything that can carry fire up the truck. Trees do not need to be removed.
• Break up continuous vegetation to slow fire spread by using mulch or pebbles. Ensure plants, bins and other flammable items are not resting against the house, and
• Where possible, install a watering system at your house.

A series of events, coordinated by the Anglesea Community Network (ACN) and Anglesea Community House (ACH) in partnership with the CFA and Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic), will also take place in the coming weeks to further assist the community to prepare their properties and lower the risk of ember-ignited fire spreading through the town.

FFMVic’s Peter Ashton will give locals tips on how to live with the bush and natural environment at two “Learning How to Live Here Safely” sessions, to be held at the Anglesea Fire Station on November 3 and November 24, between 9.30am and 11am.

The Anglesea CFA is also running a complimentary property advice service to residents, and bookings can be made through the ACH.

These will be followed by a community resilience event on December 15, to empower the community with the information they need to survive if the worst does happen.

ACN’s Peter Doyle described these sessions as “de-fearing by information” rather than “de-fearing by not telling you anything”.

He said the reality of a bushfire was very different to what people might see on television, and the classic bushfire day was often a perfect beach day.

Anglesea Community House president Beth Davidson said this year’s seasonal outlook had been a significant driver for both the ACN and ACH to be more deliberate and proactive in their approach.

And their message is clear: “what you do does make a difference” and “what any of us do makes all of safer”.

However, Ms Davidson also cautioned against an overreliance on technology and encouraged the community to focus on increasing their resilience and their understanding of what to do when those technology supports fail.

“Know about your technology supports, but don’t rely on them,”she said.

For more information, phone the Anglesea Community House on 5263 2116.