Feedback sought on bushfire management strategy

LAND and fire management agencies are calling on the public to help inform the strategic bushfire management planning for the Barwon South West region.

Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) assistant chief fire officer Andrew Morrow said the initiative would help determine where risk reduction activity such as planned burning took place, as well as how often, and help prioritise the use of government resources to protect lives, homes, jobs, Aboriginal cultural heritage and the environment.

“We are now seeking community feedback to ensure that the values and objectives underpinning fire management plans reflect the things that matter most to the people who live, work, study and travel in our region.

“The information provided will help inform the development of bushfire management strategies for the future.” He said strategic bushfire management planning was a multi-agency process designed to support decision making about fire management strategies based on risk to guide on-ground actions.

“Teams consist of representatives from FFMVic, Country Fire Authority, Emergency Management Victoria and local governments.”

Strategic bushfire management planning also takes advantage of technology developed in partnership with the University of Melbourne to identify those areas in the region where bushfires pose the greatest risk of causing harm to communities and the environment.

This modelling approach allows bushfire management efforts to be directed to areas of greatest risk, including identifying the most effective places to target fuel reduction.

The focus of strategic bushfire management planning is to apply a more integrated approach to risk reduction across public and private land in the Barwon South West region.

To have your say, head to the website at engage.vic.gov.au/bushfire-planning.