Fire Operations Plans finalised across Victoria

7 November, 2011

The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) has completed the fire operations plans throughout Victoria as it prepares for the coming fire season.

Each year DSE prepares fire operations plans across Victoria that include details of proposed planned burns and other fire protection works on public land.

Each plan covers a three year period but they are rolling plans that are re-done each year.

DSE Chief Fire Officer Ewan Waller said: “Fire Operations Plans are an important part of our preparations for the bushfire season because they are a way in which we engage with the community on local issues surrounding planned burning.”

“The Victorian Government is significantly increasing the amount of planned burning across the state to reduce bushfire risk and we need the community’s comments and input as an important part of that expanded program,” Mr Waller said.

“Plans have been prepared for each fire district across the state to help reduce the risk and potential impact of bushfires.”

“Information sessions were held across Victoria as part of the Fire Operations Plan process and through that we hear opinions and ideas particularly priorities and issues from local residents and businesses.”

“Some of these ideas result in changes to Fire Operations Plans but, as always, the priority must be to get this vital work done to reduce the bushfire risk faced by our communities.”

“The planned burning target across Victoria for 2011/12 is 225,000 hectares and that includes public land burns near townships and larger broad area landscape burns.”

The final three-year Fire Operations Plans are available at DSE offices and at www.dse.vic.gov.au/burns