Burn program aims to cut fire risk in Lorne

FOREST Fire Management (FFM) Victoria says January’s bushfires in the Otways could have been much worse had planned burning not been carried out in the lead-up.

Otway District and Barwon South West manager of forest and fire planning Bodin Campbell said several years of ongoing planned burns in Gellibrand and Carlisle River had a significant, positive outcome on the bushfires.

Intense fire activity placed Surf Coast communities on edge in early January, as blazes ignited during a catastrophic fire danger period that forced evacuations along the Great Ocean Road, Colac Otway and Golden Plain shires.

Changing winds quickly intensified the threat and a state of disaster was declared across large parts of the state.

“It’s obviously been a massive summer for all of us across the Surf Coast and Otways, with Carlisle River and Gellibrand being burnt, and over 150 properties impacted,” Campbell said.

“It could have been much worse. Gladly, when fires hit these areas which we’d hit with planned burns, it would literally stop the fire or at the very least slow it down.

“The fires would lose energy because there’s less fuel and vegetation there, and suddenly our bulldozers, firefighters and aerial bombers could put a direct control line around the fire.”

 

A further 29 planned burns covering more than 14,000 hectares will be carried out in the Otway district later this month.

Priority burns are planned for state forests, parks and reserves along the Great Ocean Road, including a 40-hectare burn near the treatment plant in Lorne and a 1,047-hectare burn at Sharps Road.

Locals and visitors are encouraged to stay up to date about planned burns and are urged to abide by any road or walking track closures in place while the operation takes place.

As part of these works, FFM Victoria will also complete forest mulching works.

Campbell said it was important to acknowledge the “lived experience” of Otways and Surf Coast residents, particularly the impact of past bushfires.

During Ash Wednesday in 1983, fires started in Deans Marsh and reached Lorne in less than two hours.

He said planned burns at Seaview Track and Pennyroyal Track in Lorne were designed to “close the gap” along that historic fire path.

“This will hopefully prevent any major bushfire runs from the north that could potentially run into Lorne,” he said.

FFM Victoria will work closely with the Bureau of Meteorology to assess humidity, temperature and wind speed over the coming weeks.

To register for updates about where and when FFM Victoria is delivering planned burns, head to plannedburns.ffm.vic.gov.au