Legislation & planning
Legislation
'Inappropriate fire regimes causing disruption to sustainable ecosystem processes and resultant loss to biodiversity is listed as a potentially threatening process under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
A draft action statement is currently being prepared to deal with this threatening process. Public authorities must be administered to have regard to the flora and fauna conservation and management objectives of the Act.
A range of legislation also exists that requires relevant land managers to control and suppress bushfire on public land. Elements of the legislation also make reference to the use and control of fire to conserve biodiversity. The legislation includes the Forests Act 1958, National Parks Act 1975, Parks Victoria Act 1998 and Wildlife Act 1975.
The importance of fire and its interaction with ecological processes is also recognised by other instruments for managing fire, such as the Code of Practice for Fire Management on Public Land.
Planning
The following documents help guide fire management planning in Victoria.
Living with Fire: Victoria's Bushfire Strategy
Living with Fire: Victoria’s Bushfire Strategy is the States first comprehensive bushfire strategy.
It seeks to reduce the threat of bushfires while facilitating resilient communities and improved environmental outcomes.
The Strategy aims to enable the bushfire management agencies to be better prepared to meet further challenges in a time of climate change. It highlights the importance of using fire as a management tool to promote ecosystem resilience and improve ecosystem health, while also protecting people and their assets.
Guidelines for Ecological Burning on Public Land
DSE and Parks Victoria, in partnership with the CFA, have developed a framework for ecological burning that integrates science with relevant policy and legal obligations, so that fire can be managed for the conservation of biodiversity across Victoria.
The publication outlines the framework, and provide the principles and practices for using fire as a tool to achieve both fire protection objectives and biodiversity management objectives; and the principles, standards and planning procedures for ecological burning on public land throughout Victoria.
Guidelines and Procedures for Ecological Burning on Public Land in Victoria 2004 (PDF - 591 Kb)
Fire Ecology Program Strategic Directions 2009-2011
The Strategic Directions outline the next steps in addressing one of the great challenges facing land managers - how to achieve fire regimes that protect biodiversity and also protect public safety and property. It is written primarily for those involved in managing fire in the Victorian landscape, and outlines the fire ecology program for the next three years.
Fire Ecology Program Strategic Directions 2009-2011 (PDF - 1.1 MB)
Living with Fire: A Community Engagement Framework 2008-2012
The Living with Fire: A Community Engagement Framework 2008-2012 is a joint initiative of the Victorian Government and Victoria’s fire agencies to coordinate all awareness, information, education and empowerment programs relating to bushfire. The framework is based on three key themes - People, Communities and Environment.
A key focus of the Community Engagement Framework is educating the Victorian community about the ecological role of fire in the environment, and the complex nature of fire management, including an awareness of the benefits and challenges of planned burning.
Victoria's Biodiversity Strategy renewal
The Biodiversity Strategy (1997) is being renewed during 2008-09. The new Strategy will include priority actions for the next 5 years.
White Paper on Land and Biodiversity
A Green Paper on Land and Biodiversity at a time of Climate Change was released for public comment in 2008. It highlighted the need to manage fire risk for ecological and human asset protection.
The White Paper, which follows, is due for release in 2009. It sets out policy directions for the next 20-50 years.
Fire operations plans
Fire operations plans set out the proposed fire prevention activities that will be carried out on public land in each Victorian fire district over the next three years. See for further information.
