Webinar to discuss life in fire-prone regions

A FREE webinar series starting tonight (Thursday, September 10) aims to raise awareness of the history and likely future of unplanned fires in the Otways region.
The three-part series, held via Zoom, will consider the types of adjustments needed for residents and visitors along the coast.
The series is organised by Friends of Lorne and the Aireys Inlet District Association.
“The patterns of unplanned fires are changing,” event organiser Dr Mary Lush from Friends of Lorne said.
“The future throws up new challenges that we’ve not had in the past. Participants will get the chance to talk with experts about what that means in the medium and long term.”
Barbara Norman is a professor of regional and urban planning and will be one of the six speakers. Like those affected by the 2015 bushfires in Wye River, and those with memories and experience of Ash Wednesday, she knows what it’s like to lose a house to bushfire – her family’s house was razed to the ground last summer in Mallacoota.
“It wasn’t my ‘home’ home. I feel for those much more directly affected. But four generations of my family spent time there. So there’s a deep sadness,” she said.
Each one-hour session – the first of which will be held tonight from 7.30pm – will allow time for questions from the audience. The talks will include the ecological consequences of fire, and the human and non-human factors that determine where fires break out and what happens next.
The series is not about how to make your own personal fire plan – which the CFA already encourages people to do each year – but is about future visioning and planning.
Each session is different, culminating in a focus on planning and practicalities in the third session. Professionals and volunteers from a range of local organisations will be on hand at each session to elaborate on the local Otway experience.
“We expect a lively discussion about what can and can’t be addressed within building and planning regulations,” Dr Lush said.
“The 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission made recommendations about where houses are built. So we would like to create this opportunity for people to really interrogate the logic with Australia’s top experts.”
Surf Coast Shire mayor Rose Hodge has welcomed the webinars.
“It’s always very encouraging to see community groups come together to plan for their future. This is an extremely important topic for residents and home owners on the Surf Coast,” she said.
“I am delighted to see our community take the initiative in this way and look forward to seeing a large number of people participating in the three-part series.”
The “What’s the future of living in bushfire-prone regions?” webinars will be held tonight (Thursday, September 10), September 17 and September 24.
To register, head to eventbrite.com.au and search “What’s the future of living in bushfire-prone regions?”.