Fire Planning Prevention and Preparedness

1. Fire PlanningPrevention and Preparedness 27 November 2013

2. Fire Planning 2013 Manningham City Council Emergency Management Manninghamemergency management framework and where fire management fits in. MEMPC-Municipal Emergency Management Planning Comm. MFMPC-Municipal Fire Management Planning Committee. MFMP – Municipal Fire Management Plan-Works/Action Plan Full Time EM Coordinator

3. Fire Planning 2013 • Catalyst for Change - 2009 Black Saturday bushfires and VBRC findings • Council Plan increased 2009/2010 budget to $350,000 • $310,000 ongoing to enhance fire preparedness and safety across the municipality.

4. Fire Planning 2013 • The funding allocation has been used to enhance and undertake: • Management of Roadsides • Management of Parks and Reserves • Integrated planning with Agencies eg. MFMP • To promote fire safety in partnership with the CFA and assist with community education • To assist with risk assessment on private property and provision of green waste disposal vouchers • To review rules and permits for removal of vegetation

5. Fire Planning 2013 • Key Fire Prevention Activities • Fine Fuel Reduction Roadsides • Major Access/Egress routes targeted • Remove reduce fallen & dead material • Roadside Grass Slashing • Focus on Bushfire Prone Areas –Warrandyte, Wonga Park, Park Orchards & parts of Donvale. • Locations and dates of works recorded on prevention checklist • Community view?

6. Fire Planning 2013 • Tree Assessments on Primary Access Roads • Arborist inspections-major roads in High Fire Danger areas • Locations recorded to GIS-issued as works order • Traceable record • Roads prioritised • Priority List guides implementation • Ensures key/primary access roads inspected annually • Works completed annually

7. Fire Planning 2013 • Fire Prevention and Preparedness Plans • Bushland Reserves fuel hazard assessment • Attempted to model fire behaviour • Reserves divided into zones with appropriate mitigation treatments identified • Priority for asset protection of homes in proximity • Aim to reduce radiant heat levels • The following 2 slides show the analysis and recommended works for The 100 Acres Reserve in Park Orchards.

8. Fire Planning 2013

9. Fire Planning 2013

10. Fire Planning 2013 • The 100 Acres plan; • Additional works around the perimeter fire breaks • Prescribed distances for fuel management • Vegetation and Tree Clearance areas • Fine fuel reduction and grass slashing to mitigate risk to home • Controlled burns recommended –has issues! • Improvement works undertaken • Consultation with fire agencies

11. Fire Planning 2013 • Hazard Trees / Electric Line Clearance • Declared Areas - Council “Responsible Person” under the act. • Annual inspection and works implementation to comply with ESV, Hazard Tree Policy/Electric Line Clearance Regulations • Policies reviewed and updated since 2009. • Annual Plan prepared prior to 31 March to ensure compliance • Ultimate aim is to reduce risk of fire ignition and avoid Council liability for declared areas.

12. Fire Planning 2013 • Impacts on Park Planning and Asset Management • Fire Prevention and Preparedness Plans for major bushland reserves • Consideration of fire management when preparing and implementing open space management plans for parks and reserves • Greater emphasis on scheduling and recording fire prevention activities (GIS, Asset Register, Checklists) • Electric line clearance in HBRA’s and meeting the requirements of the 2010 Electric Line Clearance Regulations • NSP’s (Places of last resort) • Increased community expectation • Improved communication with the State and Fire Agencies

13. Fire Planning 2013 While what we do helps mitigate risk, it is also very much about community awareness, education, information, individual fire plans. . Sample Fire Plan Scenario event Community group visits Warrandyte Fire Watch Community group visits

14. Be Ready Warrandyte Video http://warrandyte.org.au/be-ready/video-living-with-bushfire-risk/