The vision for bushfire management in Victoria for the next 10 years is set out in Victoria’s Bushfire Management Strategy, published last week.
Severe bushfires earlier this year once again highlighted the devastating impacts bushfires can have on local communities, economy and natural environment.
Their complexity also means fire agencies alone cannot tackle these challenges.
Now more than ever, a shared approach for managing bushfire is needed.
Victoria’s Bushfire Management Strategy is a joint commitment by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) and other land and fire agencies on the direction of bushfire management in Victoria over the next 10 years.
It articulates an agreed strategic approach to managing bushfire in Victoria and spells out that everyone has a role to play in bushfire management.
For individuals, communities and businesses, this means staying informed and taking responsibility for their own safety and well-being to improve levels of emergency preparedness and build community resilience by understanding bushfire risk and being prepared for bushfires, preparing properties for the bushfire season, creating a fire plan and acting on it when required, and keeping up to date with emergency and fire danger warnings and acting as advised by emergency authorities.
The strategy sets out objectives across seven key domains: people and community safety, critical infrastructure and economic resilience, Aboriginal self-determination, ecosystem resilience and nature conservation, informed decisionmaking, shared responsibility, and capability and capacity.
It brings together the work which is already being done – with community, local government, scientists and industry – with the work which needs to be done over the next decade.
It reflects the $500 million investment the Victorian Government made into reducing bushfire risk following the 2019-20 bushfires, and considers how we mitigate and respond to bushfire on all land types, whether public or private.
This includes what resources are needed, and how they will be used by government department or agency, municipal council, or landholder.
The strategy builds on two years of consultation.
Representatives heard directly from Victorians they wanted greater transparency about Government decision-making and a voice in how we reduce bushfire risk, strengthen resilience and support recovery.
The strategy is supported by a rolling three-year implementation plan and Victoria’s Bushfire Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Framework.
Together, these products will not only drive accountability, but also make sure Victorians can have a say in designing actions we take into the future.
They’ll allow fire agencies to measure and report on their progress against agreed outcomes, maximise investment and drive continuous improvement.
The strategy was developed in response to recommendations from the Inspector-General for Emergency Management’s Inquiry into the 2019-20 Victorian Fire Season and the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office’s audit into reducing bushfire risks.
Victoria’s Bushfire Management Strategy and supporting documents can be viewed online.
IMAGE: Victoria’s Bushfire Management Strategy was published last week, and sets the vision for bushfire management in the state for the next 10 years.
