COUNCIL MEETING

TUESDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 2017

Minutes of meeting held at the Tolmie Public Hall, Mahaikah Road, Tolmie

Commencing at 5.00pm

Our Aim

To work with our community to continue to build a Shire that is recognised for its balanced economic, social, and environmental development that, in turn, acknowledges the diverse needs and values of our communities.

Councillors: Mansfield Ward: Cr Paul Volkering (Mayor) Mansfield Ward: Cr Peter Olver (Deputy Mayor) Tolmie Ward: Cr Marg Attley Bonnie Doon Ward: Cr Paul Sladdin Jamieson Ward: Cr Harry Westendorp

Officers: Chief Executive Officer: Alex Green Development Services Manager: Michael Bismire Community Services Manager: Melanie Hotton

HighCountry, Lakesand Rivers Finance Manager: Mandy Kynnersley Human Resources Manager: Sharon Scott Engineering & Works Manager: Neil Ogilvie Acting Tourism & Economic Development Manager: Judy Dixon

MANSFIELD SHIRE COUNCIL

Order of Business

1. OPENING OF THE MEETING The Mayor, who chairs the meeting, will formally open the meeting and welcome all present.

2. STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT The Council affirms its commitment to carry out its duties in the best interests of the community and that its conduct shall maintain the standards of the Code of Good Governance by the following statement: We, the Councillors of Mansfield Shire / declare that we will undertake on every occasion / to carry out our duties in the best interests of the community / and that our conduct shall maintain the standards of the Code of Good Governance / so that we may faithfully represent / and uphold the trust placed in the Council by the people of Mansfield Shire.

3. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY The Council affirms its recognition of the Indigenous people being custodians of this area by the following statement: Mansfield Shire Council recognises that indigenous people have been custodians of this area for generations. We acknowledge the living culture and unique role of Taungurung people in our region.

4. APOLOGIES Where a Councillor is not present, his/her absence is noted in the Minutes of the meeting.

5. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES The minutes of the previous meeting are placed before Council to confirm the accuracy and completeness of the record.

6. DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTERESTS In accordance with the Local Government Act 1989, a Councillor must declare any Conflict of Interest or Personal Interests pursuant to Sections 77A, 77B, 78, 79 and 79B of the Act in any items on this Agenda. (Note that Section 79(2)(a)(i) of the Act requires Councillors to disclose the nature of a Conflict of Interest or a Personal Interest immediately before the relevant consideration or discussion). Section 79B also requires that the Councillor declaring a Personal Interest must seek consent from Council to be exempt from voting on the item.

Council officers or contractors who have provided advice in relation to any items listed on this Agenda must declare a Conflict of Interest or Personal Interest regarding the specific item.

7. REPRESENTATIONS Council receives or presents acknowledgements to the general public. Council may also receive petitions from residents & ratepayers on various issues. Any petitions received since the previous Council meeting are tabled at the meeting and the matter referred to the appropriate Council officer for consideration.

8. MAYOR’S REPORT The Mayor provides a report on his/her activities.

Mansfield Shire Council encourages its residents & ratepayers to participate in the local government of Mansfield. Accordingly, these notes have been developed to help residents and ratepayers better understand Council meetings. All meetings are conducted in accordance with Council’s Local Legislation on Governance. Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9. OFFICER REPORTS

9.1 Departmental Reports Monthly Departmental reports will be presented to the Council as follows: · Community Services · Development Services · Engineering and Works · Executive Services · Finance and Information Services · Tourism and Economic Development

9.2 Development Services All planning and development applications and strategic planning items will be considered by the Council. Reports also considered will be Building, Environment, Environmental Health and Local Laws. A Council position is adopted on the matters considered.

9.3 Community Services Detailed reports prepared by the Community Services Department and are considered by Councillors. A Council position is adopted on the matters considered.

9.4 Executive Services including Finance & Information Services, Tourism & Economic Development and Human Resources Detailed reports prepared by officers from Executive Services, Finance & Information Services, Tourism & Economic Development and Human Resources will be considered by the Council. A Council position is adopted on the matters considered.

9.5 Engineering & Works Detailed reports prepared by officers from Engineering & Works Department are considered by the Council. A Council position is adopted on the matters considered.

10. ASSEMBLIES OF COUNCILLORS In accordance with section 80A of the Local Government Act 1989, Council must keep a written record of all assemblies of Councillors. An Assembly of Councillors is defined as a planned or scheduled meeting, comprising at least three Councillors and one member of Council staff, that consider matters that are intended or likely to be. All such meetings are recorded.

11. ADVISORY AND SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS Council considers reports from Advisory Committees that Councillors represent Council on.

12. AUTHORISATION OF SEALING OF DOCUMENTS Any documents that are required to be endorsed by the Chief Executive Officer under delegated authority and sealed by the Council are presented to the Council.

13. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME This is an opportunity (usually 30 minutes), for members of the Gallery to raise questions with Councillors. Question Time generally takes place at around 6.30pm.

14. CLOSURE OF MEETING TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC Whilst all Council meetings are open to members of the public, Council has the power under the Local Government Act 1989 to close its meeting to the general public in certain circumstances which are noted where appropriate on the Council Agenda. Where this occurs, members of the public leave the Council Chamber while the matter is being discussed.

15. CLOSE OF MEETING The Mayor will formally close the meeting and thank all present for attending.

Mansfield Shire Council encourages its residents & ratepayers to participate in the local government of Mansfield. Accordingly, these notes have been developed to help residents and ratepayers better understand Council meetings. All meetings are conducted in accordance with Council’s Community Local Law (Meeting Procedures). Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

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Mansfield Shire Council encourages its residents & ratepayers to participate in the local government of Mansfield. Accordingly, these notes have been developed to help residents and ratepayers better understand Council meetings. All meetings are conducted in accordance with Council’s Community Local Law (Meeting Procedures). MANSFIELD SHIRE COUNCIL Ordinary Meeting of Council

MANSFIELD SHIRE

TUESDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 2017 TOLMIE PUBLIC HALL Mahaikah Road, Tolmie 5.00PM MINUTES

CONTENTS

1. OPENING OF THE MEETING...... 3 2. STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT ...... 3 3. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY ...... 3 4. APOLOGIES...... 3 5. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES ...... 4 6. DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTERESTS ...... 4 7. REPRESENTATIONS ...... 4 7.1 Petition Regarding Planning Application P049/16 – 401 Buttercup Road, Merrijig ... 4 Attachment 7.1 ...... 5 8. MAYOR’S REPORT ...... 8 9. OFFICER REPORTS ...... 10 9.1 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS ...... 10 Attachment 9.1 ...... 11 9.2 DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ...... 29 9.2.1 Application Under Section 69 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 to Extend a Planning Permit P0233B/08 ...... 29 9.2.2 Mansfield Shire Municipal Emergency Management Plan ...... 37 Attachment 9.2 ...... 43 9.3 COMMUNITY SERVICES ...... 224 9.3.1 Community Matching Fund Round One 2016-2017 ...... 224 Attachment 9.3.1 ...... 234 9.4 EXECUTIVE SERVICES ...... 236 9.4.1 Tourism North East Quarterly Report 2016-2017 Quarter 2 ...... 236 Attachment 9.4.1 ...... 239 9.4.2 September and December 2016-17 Combined Council Plan Quarterly Progress Reports ...... 257 Attachment 9.4.2 ...... 261

1. Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.5 ENGINEERING & WORKS ...... 289 9.5.1 Erril Street Activation Rejuvenation Project – Public Art and Landscaping ...... 289 Attachment 9.5.1 ...... 294 10. ASSEMBLIES OF COUNCILLORS ...... 302 11. ADVISORY AND SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS ...... 305 12. AUTHORISATION OF SEALING OF DOCUMENTS ...... 305 13. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME ...... 305 14. CLOSURE OF MEETING TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ...... 305

2. 2 Mansfield Shire Council – Unconfirmed Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

TUESDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 2017 TOLMIE PUBLIC HALL Mahaikah Road, Tolmie 5.00PM MINUTES

1. OPENING OF THE MEETING

The Mayor, Cr Volkering, opened the meeting at 5.00pm.

Councillors: Marg Attley Tolmie Ward Peter Olver Mansfield Ward Paul Sladdin Bonnie Doon Ward Paul Volkering Mansfield Ward Harry Westendorp Bonnie Doon Ward

Chief Executive Officer: Alex Green Engineering & Works Manager: Neil Ogilvie Community Services Manager: Melanie Hotton Development Services Manager: Michael Bismire Acting Tourism & EcoDev Manager: Judy Dixon Governance Co-ordinator: Dawn Bray Senior Civil Engineer: Paul Valente

2. STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT

The Councillors affirmed the following Statement of Commitment:

“We the Councillors of Mansfield Shire / declare that we will undertake on every occasion / to carry out our duties in the best interests of the community / and that our conduct shall maintain the standards of the Code of Good Governance / so that we may faithfully represent / and uphold the trust placed in this Council by the people of Mansfield Shire.”

3. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

The Councillors affirmed the “Acknowledgement of Country” for the Mansfield Shire Council:

“Mansfield Shire Council recognises that indigenous people have been custodians of this area for generations. We acknowledge the living culture and unique role of Taungurung people in our region.”

4. APOLOGIES

Nil.

3. Mansfield Shire Council – Unconfirmed Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

5. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

Councillors Attley/Westerndorp

That the Minutes of the Mansfield Shire Council meeting, held on 17 January 2017, be confirmed as an accurate record. Carried

6. DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

Conflicts of interest were disclosed as they arose at the commencement of the relevant Item on the Agenda.

7. REPRESENTATIONS

7.1 Petition Regarding Planning Application P049/16 – 401 Buttercup Road, Merrijig

Council received a petition from Ms Mary Dunn and Ms Louise Jacob on behalf of 139 petitioners. A full copy of the petition is not provided due to privacy reasons, however a copy of the covering letter and petition subject is attached.

The following table provides the breakdown of the petition:

Petitioner Location Number Within Mansfield Shire 21 Melbourne Metropolitan 75 Regional Victoria (outside Mansfield Shire) 16 Western Australia 4 New South Wales 2 Canada 3 Invalid due to no full address 6 Invalid due to no signature 5 Invalid due to no address and signature 3 Invalid due to unable to determine address 4

Councillors Sladdin/Westerndorp

That Council:

1. receive the petition received by Ms Mary Dunn and Ms Louise Jacob on behalf of 121 valid petitioners in relation to Planning Application P049/16 – 401 Buttercup Road, Merrijig.

2. refer the petition to Council’s Development Services Manager for action. Carried

4.

Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

ATTACHMENT 7.1

PETITION REGARDING PLANNING APPLICATION P049/16 – 401 BUTTERCUP ROAD, MERRIJIG

(2 PAGES)

5. 5 6 7 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

8. MAYOR’S REPORT

The Mayor, Cr Paul Volkering, will present the monthly Mayor’s report to the Council as follows:

Mayor’s Report prepared for Council meeting of 21 February 2017

There seem to have been a plethora of issues and concerns over the last three weeks, since my last report. Weather has played havoc with many Shire roads once again. Heavy rain followed by high humidity and heavy traffic flows, especially over the Australia Day weekend has meant our roads are under pressure.

Mowing, dust, road maintenance, land use, and public amenity seem to have all been on our respective radar in recent weeks.

However, the number of visitors in and around town has remained strong, and reports from around the Lake including the numbers at the Bonnie Doon boat ramps suggest a prolonged bumper season for our businesses around Lake Eildon, which is still at 71% capacity.

One report had the number of visitors in The Pines on the Australia Day weekend at 4,000? I’m not sure how accurate that figure is, but it is indicative of the heavy toll on many of our roads. Community expectation to seal roads remains high. The adverse weather also impacts drainage shortcomings, especially in Highton Lane and other “hot spots” around the Shire in respective Wards.

No doubt the highlight of the last couple of weeks has been the Australia Day weekend and associated celebrations and awards. Having had my first stint on the Australia Day Committee, it’s amazing to see the work that Council’s Executive Assistant, Lisa Fricke, puts in to this day. Well done to Lisa.

Similarly, I’m keen to get a more streamlined process for nominations for the various categories of Awards for next year. To me the nomination process is a tad cumbersome, resulting in a relatively low number of nominees. It is somewhat incongruous that an Olympic Gold Medallist can’t get a nomination in the same year that she received a OAM. Nonetheless, our Australian Day Ambassador, Mr George Ermer, did an outstanding job and I feel that Mansfield has “won over” another friend. Congratulations must go to all the Award winners, including our Citizen of the Year, Monica Sketcher, who works tirelessly in the community supporting a wide range of musical events and groups.

Apart from attending the Mansfield Australia Day ceremony in the main street, I also had the opportunity to visit Gonzaga Reserve and say a few words, acknowledging their wonderful work. What a great local initiative among the Barwite and Tolmie communities. The walk among the stand of old gum trees is quite special and I commend it to you.

Together with other Councillors, I’ve attended a couple of Planning Amendment consults and Planning Application objections, all extremely valuable and worthwhile in the context of understanding the complex role of planners.

8 8. Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

8. MAYOR’S REPORT CONT.

Similarly, Council’s Senior Strategic Planner, Kathy Richardson’s “walk around town” advising on streetscapes was most enlightening. Let’s hope that we can commence work to lift the western end of town which must dismay visitors and businesses at that end of town. I’m in the process of organising a tour of most local education facilities at primary and secondary level. More on this as it comes to hand.

It was disappointing to see the Freeza Armchair Cinema Art launch cancelled last week. I’m sure that the young people who produced the Art works were disappointed. I’ve not heard the reason for the cancellation other than the fact that there was an objection to some of the Art work.

The 131st Tolmie Sports, held last weekend, was another outstanding success on a very muggy, hot day. The events seemed to all go off smoothly and there appeared to be plenty of happy faces and lots of good memories. I met many people who had made the trip up from Melbourne and further afield. Some families even had a reunion, well done to the Egan clan.

The woodchop events were conducted with the usual professionalism and competitiveness, keeping the large crowd on their toes. The running events for children and horse events were also well supported. What a unique event!

The launch of the book entitled, “Living on the Tolmie Plateau” by Linda Terry, is also worth a read. I really liked the humility of several of the contributors, who demonstrated the capacity of people to endure setback and disaster. Undoubtedly, the Bushfires of 2008/09 put enormous strain on the entire Mansfield community, but even more so, the community of Tolmie; and yet they have rallied and come out stronger and more united than ever.

I extend my sincere congratulations to Councillor Atley and her community in bringing this great historical, uniquely Australian event together. The unveiling of the historic pavers outside the Catholic church in Tolmie was another highlight of the day.

I’m looking forward to the “official” opening of the Skatepark this weekend. I would guess that most of the young people around town will be there to have a good time.

Together with Councillor Olver we journeyed to Melbourne last week to support Councillor Attley in her nomination for the VLGA Presidency. Good luck Marg. Councillors Sladdin and Westendorp were unable to attend but sent their best wishes.

I continue to meet with a range of people, both add hoc, and some by appointment. One thing is abundantly clear, we have a very capable community able to ride the tough times and the good times. The tour that Council Managers and Councillors underwent recently highlighted the importance of Lake Eildon to our economic and tourist development and was never more obvious than the crowds at the Bonnie Doon boat ramps over recent weekends. Numbers of casual campers in The Pines is also high, considering most people have returned to work several weeks ago.

9. 9 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

8. MAYOR’S REPORT CONT.

I also had an opportunity to visit Mountain Bay Pastoral Company to see the property first hand. Some of the scenery is just breathtaking. It does demonstrate what vision, tenacity, knowledge and commitment can do. Brian Johnstone and his family have created a wonderful property and legacy that will be in our Shire forever. He has set out a Masterplan for the future and it will bring increased activity to our community long into the future.

There are several very exciting events coming up in the next few months and I encourage all Councillors to get out and enjoy what our community has on offer.

There have been several emails recently back and forth concerning Council Plans, budget and community engagement. I think this level of activity is healthy and suggests that all Councillor’s remain highly passionate and engaged in this Council, well done!

Cr Paul Volkering Mayor

Councillors Attley/Olver

That the Mayor’s report be received. Carried

9. OFFICER REPORTS

9.1 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS

File Number: E103 Responsible Officer: Chief Executive Officer, Alex Green

Introduction

Departmental reporting allows a short briefing to be provided to the Council on the current operations, tasks and projects undertaken within each Department over the past month.

The Chief Executive Officer will present the monthly Departmental reports to the Council, as follows:

· Community Services · Development Services · Engineering and Works · Executive Services · Financial Services · Tourism and Economic Development

Councillors Olver/Sladdin

That the monthly Department reports be received. Carried 10. 10 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

ATTACHMENT 9.1

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS

(17 PAGES)

11. 11 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017: Community Services Departmental Report

COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENTAL REPORT FEBRUARY 2017

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT The floor at the Mansfield Sports Complex received its annual re-coat. Works have commenced on the Erril Street Activation-Rejuvenation Project. Initial works The Mansfield Swimming Pool opened third are to reconstruct the entry to improve weekend of November 2016. There have aesthetics and functionality are currently been 5662 visits since it opened (end underway and quotes are being sought for the December) and 143 season passes sold. In other components of the project. A comparison to the 2015-16 season for the partnership has been established with the Arts same period there was 6,538 visits and 136 Council of Mansfield in regards to public arts season passes sold. components of the project. The Arts Council is The newly constructed Skate Park continues initially focussing on developing an artwork for to be extremely popular. Minor works such as the CafeConnect wall and currently consulting landscaping continue and quotes are currently with stakeholders to determine a theme and being sought for a bouldering wall. The art-style. boulder wall is a provisional item being funding via the Mansfield Community Fund. Planning for community projects, such as stroll At the time of writing, preparations are down memory lane project in Bonnie Doon underway for an opening of the Park on the and the Jamieson Hall renovation continue. 18 February. A naming competition for the The Merton Hall renovation project has been new park was also undertaken during completed and an acquittal sent to the funding December – January and the winning name body (Regional Development Victoria). A will be announced at the opening. project launch for the Merton Memorial Hall is planned for late February – early March. Council was been successful in securing $90,000 from Sport & Recreation Victoria’s The annual directions report, required under Community Sports Infrastructure Fund (Minor the Building Inclusive Communities Program Facilities) to provide an ‘All-ages Development (Rural Access) has been submitted to Area’ at the Mansfield Tennis Courts. Utilising Department of Health and Human Services. the vacant space between the clubrooms and In 2017 it is planned to focus on the NDIS Curia Street, this project will provide a fully transition and reviewing Mansfield Shire enclosed development area, consisting of one Council Access and Inclusion policies and full size tennis court, multi lined with four Hot plans. Shot courts and complemented by an adjoining hit up wall. Sport and Recreation The project brief for the development of Mansfield Library develop the Mansfield Shire Sports Facilities The summer holidays are always a very busy Strategy 2017-2027 was finalised and put out time at the Library, and January was no to tender. This project is being funded via a exception with almost 5,000 locals and tourists $30,000 from Sport and Recreation Victoria’s visiting. grant and a Council contribution of $20,000. Tenders for a suitably qualified consultant will 171 Children attended the School holiday close on 3 March 2017. Once engaged it is programs on offer. These included: expected that the strategy will take up to 9 • cartooning and writing workshops by months to complete visiting author Adam Wallace

Community Services Department - Page 1 of 2

12 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017: Community Services Departmental Report

• a stuffed animal sleepover where children Youth leave something special at the library and YEP – Engage! 2016 Annual report (narrative watch from twitter the fun antics of the toys and budget) has been completed, and (and the Librarians) to visit the Library on submitted to the funding body. twitter see ‘MansfieldLibr’. Youth – Mitchell Shire Council have withdrawn • A celebration was held for children who had from the MusoMagic program for 2017 – the taken part in the Summer Reading Cub. gap has been filled this year by Benalla Shire • A teddy bears picnic was held in the park. Council (MusoMagic also involves Strathbogie Shire Council). This is an opportunity take our regular story out of the Library and to include children Council were successful in obtaining a $2,000 who may not usually attend. National Youth Week grant (which will support

a street art project at Café Connect). The Friends of the Library held a massive book sale. Support was given by Library staff Café Connect continues to be a “home away and other volunteers. The book sale ran for from home” for many young people, including two weeks in the meeting room at the Library, several who have difficulties at home. Café with over 1,000 books sold. These were Connect staff provides support in a range of mainly donations and discarded Library stock. ways – regular BBQs (with young people

The High Country Library Network (which assisting in preparation and cooking); includes Mansfield) launched Proscribe, a activities (basketball hoop is currently very marketing system where patrons are alerted to popular), referrals to counselling and other library events by SMS or email. Patrons select services; a friendly, non-judgemental ear to listen. the categories for alerts they would like to receive. Emails inviting patrons to connect to Maternal and Child Health (MaCH) use Proscribe have been sent to all Mansfield Shire Library patrons who have provided an Birth Notifications Received email address. 2017 – January 6

FAMILY, YOUTH AND CHILDREN’S SERVICES 2016 – January 3

Financial Counselling An estimated 80% of babies born at Mansfield In January, the Financial Counsellor worked District Hospital are from families living in with the Revenue Coordinator to process a Mansfield LGA (mothers from Alexandra also Rates Financial Hardship application. This is birth at Mansfield). For Mansfield mothers happening on a more regular basis. The who birth elsewhere (generally due to relationship is beneficial to both Council and increased mother and/or child risk) the birth the ratepayers, as it assists in ratepayers notifications are automatically forwarded to utilising options in order to make payments in Mansfield MaCH service. a timely manner. Integrated Family Services IFS At the end of January, the waiting list was seven families.

All three Counsellors are currently each working with 1 - 3 families with involvement with Child Protection, which is an increase from previous years.

Community Services Department - Page 2 of 2

13 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: Development Services Departmental Report

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENTAL REPORT FEBRUARY 2017

STRATEGIC PLANNING Emergency Management

Funding Success A desktop exercise was undertaken with Advice was received in January that Council schools pre summer focusing on fire and school obtained a grant from the Victorian Planning bus routes - with representatives of the bus Authority to prepare a Housing Strategy for companies also participating. Mansfield Township. A comprehensive brief has been put together to engage consultants to Wastewater Management undertake the study. 100 inspections of existing systems have been undertaken in the Goughs Bay area in accord This project will provide detail and strategy for with Council’s adopted DWMP and we are the provision of housing according to our commencing the process of reviewing those population projections and needs for the next results and making contact with property twenty years. The study will look at what types owners. In many cases, improvement works will of housing we should be looking to provide be sought together with owner assistance in given demographic projections, what it should actually identifying where their wastewater look like and how subdivisions can work better drains away to - not always obvious. to provide the facilities needed for new communities. Immunisation Coverage Council recently received the infant It is anticipated that the successful consultants immunisation coverage figures for the will begin work on the project mid March. As municipality and has distributed the information part of this project, there will be community to our local GP's. Their ongoing efforts to consultation on the draft findings of the study. maintain coverage and promote immunisation have been acknowledged Street Plantings Policy Work has been commenced on the School Immunisation Delivery development and implementation of a thematic Our enquiries to the GP's also identified their palette of plants for the town centre to provide a willingness to provide a Nurse Immuniser as more defined landscape character in the the person we have used in recent years, has municipal garden beds. left the area for employment elsewhere in the State. The palette will require plants to be hardy and low maintenance with mass plantings for strong Our immunisation program revolves around 3 visual impact along our roadways and other visits to Mansfield Secondary College where we public areas. This project is at the stage of also encounter students from Mansfield Steiner engaging with key stakeholders and then to the School (and those home schooling if we can identify them). broader community for input.

The first scheduled immunisation session is ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH Thursday 2 March at Mansfield Secondary College - for Year 7 students Fire Prevention Notices A total of 358 Fire Directions Notices have been Tobacco & Smoking issued for the season to date and this is Late last year Council received notice from ongoing with the continuing grass growth and Department of Health & Human Services occasional phone call alerting us to a neighbour regarding the next wave of the States anti- who has not complied with Council’s advertised smoking legislative bans which will apply from standards of providing 25m separation between August 2017. assets and 'fine fuels'. Some allotment owners are now receiving 2nd notices due to grass The amendment will limit smoking within regrowth. outdoor dining areas, regulate the sale of 'e- cigarettes' and modify regulations around the There has been an increase in the number of sale of shisha tobacco. allotments where Councils contractor has subsequently been engaged to perform the works - where owners have defaulted. Development Services Department - Page 1 of 8

14 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: Development Services Departmental Report

The outdoor dining areas ban will impact the having these bins sent off for chipping, offered outdoors area at hospitality businesses them for reuse to the Tolmie committee. This is including footpath trading areas, at food fairs a win for all involved as it streamlines the event and around food stalls and food vans operating service for this area, reducing costs as bins are at organised outdoor events (the bush market, only required to be cleared rather than a school fete etc). delivered, cleared and removed. Old green bodied bins are still being used across the The Department of Health and Human Services Municipality for events. is to lead a 'positive focused community awareness program' and has undertaken to Clean Up Australia Day further engage with Officers over coming Council and our local Landcare Group Up2Us, months. Funding grants will also be made have joined forces to do something a little available to Councils to ensure compliance and different for this year’s Clean up Australia Day education programs are made available. in March.

WASTE MANAGEMENT The focus of our ‘Clean up’ will be solely on getting electronic waste, known as e-waste, out ACCC Approval for Collaborative of the waste stream and into recycling. Procurement In mid-2016 the North East Waste and We are looking to place a large skip at Resource Recovery Group on behalf of its Council’s Works Depot which the community member Councils lodged an application with the will have access to so they can drop off all ACCC seeking authorisation to jointly tender electronic waste free of charge. This free drop and negotiate for the supply of a number of off will be offered for one week commencing waste services. The application sought March 6, with nominated times to be promoted approval to provide NEWRRG with the ability to where the community can access the free conduct collaborative competitive tender service. Council and Up2Us staff will man the processes for determined waste streams and to skip during nominated times in an effort to evaluate the responses in collaboration with the provide some recycling education as well as member Councils and to negotiate on behalf of ensuring the correct materials are being the member Councils the contractual dropped off. framework. Another component of our clean up contribution On 2 February 2017 the ACCC granted will be a mid week town walk around with a authorisation to allow NEWRRG, on behalf of couple of shopping trolley's in hand. The idea is member Councils, the ability to jointly discuss to visit local businesses to collect any electronic the procurement of waste and resource waste they may want to have shipped off for recovery services and jointly tender and recycling. We are hoping to have the Mansfield negotiate for:- Primary School’s Environment group come along to assist with this. the supply of resource recovery services including site collection ENVIRONMENT transport and processing of waste and resource materials Timber Harvest Plans And the purchase of resource recovery Timber Harvest Plans have been submitted for equipment. the harvesting of pine plantations at Mansfield- Woods Point Road, Macs Cove and NEWRRG will not be required to apply for the Tallangalook Road, Bonnie Doon. approval of each separate request for tender as the ACCC’s determination remains in place for Timber harvesting does not require a planning the next 11 years. permit where it occurs in the Farm Zone and meets the requirements of the Code of Practice Bin Donation by Council’s Contractor for Timber Production 2014 to the satisfaction Council’s kerbside collection contractor, of Council. Council engages a Forestry Officer Cleanaway, have donated 10 old green bodied to ensure compliance against the Code of recycle bins to the Tolmie Recreation Reserve Practice and to conduct the relevant inspections committee to be used for events. during harvesting.

Cleanaway had collected these bins post rolling out the new black bodied bins and rather than Development Services Department - Page15 2 of 8

Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: Development Services Departmental Report

Council’s Engineering Department is also implement the Roadside Weeds Control Plan. involved in the assessment of the Timber The contractors to be appointed are:- Harvest Plan to ensure that Council assets are not affected by harvesting operations. • 4Site Australia Pty Ltd • AS & DM Knowles Pty Ltd Solar PV for Low Income Households • All Terrain Weed Control Council has been invited to participate in a collaborative project to supply solar panels to These contactors will form a panel of low income home owners. The project is contractors for a two year period. delivered within twenty four municipalities in the Regions to be targeted for roadside weed Victoria. It is expected that of the 870 low control include Barjarg area, Howes Creek income households in the Mansfield Shire that Road to Gough’s Bay, Gough’s Bay, Macs 10 households are likely to take up this Cove, Buttercup Road region, Bonnie Doon opportunity resulting in lower energy costs for region and follow up of previous treatments at them. Ancona, Merton, Booroolite and Rifle Butts

Road/ Old Tonga Road Region. The up-front cost for Council to participate in this project would be re-paid over a 10 year Building Construction Site Environmental period though a Council Special Charge Management Scheme. The project management and implementation is resourced for this project A letter has been sent to local builders to through the Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse encourage better residential construction Action. The project would be implemented in building site environmental management. The the Mansfield Shire as a collaborative project letter emphasises that maintenance costs between the Environment Officer and the associated with community assets such as Community Services directorate. footpaths, curb and channels and stormwater treatment systems can be minimised by Participation in this project will be the subject of ensuring that community assets are protected discussion in an upcoming Council briefing. from poor building site practices.

The letter also encourages local builders to Review of the Native Vegetation Clearing speak to Council officers about Works Within Regulations Road Reserve Permits and to look at how site The State Government has released the management practices can be improved to Summary of proposed amendments to the protect community assets. Victoria Planning Provisions – Review of the native vegetation clearing regulations. Environment Advisory Committee

The Environment Advisory Committee is The proposed amendments are likely to have a scheduled to hold its first meeting for 2017 on significant impact on how native vegetation is Friday 24 February 2017. assessed for removal in the Mansfield Shire.

The proposed amendments require that for any vegetation removal which includes ‘large trees’ LOCAL LAWS that the assessment automatically moves from ‘low risk’ to ‘medium risk’. These assessments Welfare of Animals then ensure that the principal of ‘avoid the Officers will be attending a consultation removal, destruction or lopping of native workshop hosted by DEDJTR to discuss areas vegetation’ is considered as part of the for reform of Victoria’s animal welfare assessment. legislation, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986. This comes as a result of public New exemptions from the requirement to obtain comment received following the release of the a permit for native vegetation removal are also Draft Action Plan “Improving the Welfare of proposed that will affect Mansfield Shire. The Animals in Victoria”. ability to submit a formal response to the Review of the Native Vegetation Clearing Court Outcome Regulations is limited by staff resources. A successful outcome was obtained when a local farmer was taken to Court on a number of Roadside Weed Program animal cruelty related matters. The accused received a conviction, fines and costs Three contractors have been assessed as amounting to a total of $3700 payable. The dog providing good value and of being competent to in question has been adopted by her foster carers and is recovering well under their care. Development Services Department - Page16 3 of 8

Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: Development Services Departmental Report

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES STATISTICS – JANUARY 2017

PLANNING Planning Applications

TYPE OF PLANNING APPLICATIONS LODGED JANUARY 2017 Type of Application Lodged Dwelling ( with outbuildings 3) 6 Extension to existing dwelling 2 Outbuilding 2 Extension to existing building 1 Buildings and works (replacement verandah CZ1) 1 Amended plans - dwellings 2 Two lot subdivision 1 Amend common boundary/creation of easement 2 Subdivision of land 20 Lots (466 Rifle Butts Road) 1 Subdivision of land 5 Lots (47A Highton Lane) 1 TOTAL 19 (includes combined applications)

Applications Determined for the Month

TYPE OF APPLICATIONS DETERMINED JANUARY 2017

Type of Application Determined

Dwelling (1 with native veg removal) 2 Dwelling & outbuilding 3 Development of outbuilding 2

Eleven lot subdivision and native veg removal 1

Use of land for horticulture 1 Buildings and works (Staff toilets GGS) 1 Total 10

Development Services Department - Page 4 of 8 17 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: Development Services Departmental Report

Other Planning Consents & Enquiries

Extension of time to planning permit 2

Secondary Consent (Minor alterations to plans) 1

Amended Certification Plan 1

Endorse Plans 1

Notification of NBN upgrade Hunter Street 1

Days Taken to Approve Planning Applications

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC TOTAL

1-30 days 2

31-60 days 2

Over 60 days 6 Withdrawn /Permit not required/lapse d Number of applications 10 10 finalised

Certification Applications Lodged for the Month January 201

Application Date Application No Lodged Type Location Stage S097199J/17 13/01/2017 Two lot subdivision 294 Monkey Gully Road Under Mansfield Assessment S098159B/17 31/01/2017 Amend common 31 Jenkin Road Macs Under boundary Cove Assessment S098323E/17 31/01/2017 Creation of easement 41 Peacheys Lane Under Barjarg Assessment S098385E/17 31/01/2017 Certification 4 lot 140 Highton Lane Under subdivision Mansfield Assessment S098460H/17 31/01/2017 Certification 10 lot Withers Lane Mansfield Under subdivision Assessment

Development Services Department - Page 5 of 8 18 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: Development Services Departmental Report

Delegated Planning Approvals for January 2017

File No Description Property Address Use & development for a dwelling & DA6597 182 Ambrose Dve Tolmie outbuilding Eleven lot subdivision & native veg DA6462 15-19 Hunter Street Mansfield removal Use & development for dwelling & native DA6466 3 Glen Avenue Jamieson vegetation removal 127 Hells Holes Creek Road Bonnie DA3477 Use & development for a dwelling Doon DA3386/2 Use of the land for horticulture 110 Highett Street Mansfield Use & development for a dwelling & DA6645 115 Merinda Way Mansfield outbuilding Use & development for a dwelling & DA6052 3263 Merton Euroa Road Merton outbuilding DA4209 Development of outbuilding 102 Howqua Track Merrijig DA884/10 Buildings and works (staff toilets) 145 Grammar School Road Merrijig DA2934 Development of outbuilding 27 Curia Street Mansfield

MONTHLY COMPARATIVE VALUE OF BUILDING PERMITS LODGED

2016-17 2015-16 2014-15

JUL $1,239,521 $2,882,301 $3,231,337

AUG $3,028,490 $2,036,159 $2,454,594

SEP $3,283,640 $4,076,727 $3,995,450

OCT $3,087,059 $3,980,488 $3,914,969

NOV $2,840,190 $4,195,913 $3,765,124

DEC $1,287,616 $2,340,597 $3,582,120

JAN $4,662,701 $1,931,990 $2,585,484

FEB $3,256,275 $570,901

MAR $3,259,043 $3,447,852

APR $2,648,340 $1,690,699

MAY $4,056,281 $3,989,965

JUN $3,462,222 $2,480,751

TOTAL $19,429,217 $38,126,336 $35,709,246

Development Services Department - Page 6 of 8 19 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: Development Services Departmental Report

MONTHLY COMPARISON OF PERMITS LODGED FOR DWELLINGS

2016-17 2015-16 2014-15

JUL 3 3 10 10 9 9

AUG 11 14 5 15 8 17

SEP 9 23 12 27 13 30

OCT 10 33 12 39 9 39

NOV 6 39 9 48 12 51

DEC 5 44 6 54 12 63

JAN 9 53 5 59 6 69

FEB 11 70 2 71

MAR 9 79 5 76

APR 9 88 5 81

MAY 10 98 8 89

JUN 11 109 8 97

TOTAL 53 109 97

Septic Applications Lodged, Approved and Issued Monthly

APPLICATIONS PERMITS ISSUED PERMITS 2016/17 LODGED TO INSTALL ISSUED TO USE

JUL 5 3 5

AUG 8 8 8

SEP 4 4 6

OCT 8 6 6

NOV 7 9 5

DEC 5 10 4

JAN 2 5 0

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

TOTAL 39 45 34

Development Services Department - Page 7 of 8 20 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: Development Services Departmental Report

Septic Applications Lodged

2016-2017 2015-2016 2014-2015

JUL 5 5 8 8 4 4

AUG 8 13 7 15 6 10

SEP 4 17 15 30 6 16

OCT 8 25 7 37 7 23

NOV 7 32 5 42 10 33

DEC 5 37 8 50 14 47

JAN 2 39 3 53 2 49

FEB 7 60 10 59

MAR 2 62 3 62

APR 5 67 8 70

MAY 3 70 3 73

JUN 5 75 5 78

TOTAL 39 75 78

Development Services Department - Page 8 of 8 21 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: Engineering and Works Department Report

ENGINEERING AND WORKS DEPARTMENT REPORT February 2017

CAPITAL WORKS Tenders for the reconstruction of Ogilvies Road and Malcolm Street have been awarded and the Gravel road resheet works are progressing well tenders for the road widening of Mt Battery Road, with Youngs Road, Barjarg, Shamrock Lane and Blackspot Civil Works and Blackspot Safety O’Hallorans Road, Barwite having been recently Fencing projects have been advertised. finished. The rural roads resheet contracts are expected to be completed in February. FIELD SERVICES Work to refurbish the Mansfield Memorial Gates has commenced with water proofing, crack repair The roads team have been very busy with and rendering repairs having being completed. numerous CRMS requests, impacting on The heavy wrought iron gates to the main programmed maintenance. The unpredictable entrance have been removed in order to undergo weather has presented a few challenges, as in the straightening and repainting. The project is 68mm of rain in a very short period which tested expected to be completed in February. our drainage infrastructure. Overall a very busy and productive January well done team. Renovation of the reception area of the Shire office commenced prior to Christmas 2016. Works The grading program has continued to move along included making the work area for Customer very well, although slightly behind due to the Service Officers larger, the provision of a secure frequent rain. A total of 59 kilometers of unsealed area for cash handling operations, and providing roads were graded, grading was completed an accessible counter and photo point area. The primarily in the Ancona and Tolmie work is now complete, and provides a more user areas, some of the larger roads graded include, and customer friendly environment. Dry Creek, Cambatong and Ancona roads, we’ve started our section of the Licola road and fire access tracks were completed

A lot of additional culvert cleaning was carried out after the large downpour early January, this caused an unusual amount of leaves and debris to become mobile and filled a number of drains around Mansfield, also Tolmie and Strathbogie areas, this also caused a flood of CRMS on the day. Larger repairs on Mansfield

urban streets were carried out on, Highton Lane, View Street and Monkey Gully Road.

Preparation for the resealing works was carried out with numerous roads pot-holed, depressions filled and edges repaired on roads that are scheduled for resealing over the next month.

Picnic table and park bench maintenance is continuing, throughout the shire

Engineering and Works Department - Page 1 of 2

22 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: Engineering and Works Department Report

Plant Hours: Combined, both backhoes ASSET ASYST operated for 134 hours and the three graders operated for 250 hours throughout the month of We currently have 1148 defects outstanding in the January. system. 131 defects were recorded throughout the

month of December and 158 defects where PARKS AND GARDENS completed.

The Parks and Gardens team’s extremely busy The following is a summary of the total number of summer continues, with higher than average road defects reported, versus the total number of rainfall over the past couple of months still defects actioned over the last twelve months. occurring, combined with the lovely sunny days. The Parks and Garden works team have done an Total Number Total Number of % exceptional job, with many comments from Council of Reported Defects Area Completed and the public, on how the towns in the shire have Defects Completed looked, a great effort considering the amount of 1458 1142 78% Rural vegetative growth we have had in the district. 241 148 61% Urban Removal of numerous dangerous trees and limbs from around the shire, with tree clearance works were carried out in Mansfield for traffic and CUSTOMER REQUEST pedestrian safety, on several streets, with tree MANAGEMENT SYSTEM inspections for traffic clearance in Woolshed and McLeod’s Lane. There are currently 88 outstanding requests in the CRM System for the Field Services unit. Mansfield’s 2 Ovals currently require mowing twice Throughout January 95 new requests were per week due to our exceptional growing season. received and 89 were completed.

Slashing, mowing, weeding, and brush cutting CEMETERY works carried out in the Mansfield area.

Daily rubbish pick up has increased considerably January was a very busy month for cemetery with the new skate park; options are currently operations. being looked at such as additional bins and or cameras. A total of seven burials took place - five in

Mansfield and one in both Bonnie Doon and Regular scheduled rail trail maintenance, Merton. garden rounds, and mowing rounds.

Parks and Gardens staff worked hard to ensure STAFF DEVELOPMENT the grounds were neat and presentable throughout January. We are currently looking at updating competency tickets for various plant, Plant risk assessments and Safe Work Method Statements for both the Roads and Parks and Gardens teams.

Engineering and Works Department - Page 2 of 2

23 Mansfield Shire Council – Executive Services Department Report

EXECUTIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENTAL REPORT February 2017

GOVERNANCE Festivities concluded with the traditional firing 2017-2021 Council Plan of the Colonial Re-enactment Society’s canon The Local Government Act 1989 requires a with additional entertained provided by the new Council to develop a Council Plan by 30 Mansfield and District (MAD) Orchestra and June in the year following a general election, the Primary School Choir. ie, by 30 June 2017. Although the numbers appeared to be slightly Initial planning for the development of the down on previous years many were 2017-2021 Mansfield Shire Council Plan, in overheard commenting that it was the ‘best parallel with the Strategic Resource Plan and one yet’. Annual Budget, has commenced, and Councillors have indicated a strong desire to INFORMATION SERVICES improve and increase engagement with our community to ensure a meaningful plan is A new Information Management structure has developed. been developed and put in place, headed by Robert Graves. This structure puts IT, The overall aim is to provide for an efficient, Customer Service and Records together, and interlinked process between several key is targeted to develop information services to Council documents and drivers for our work better serve the Council and the Community. program over the next four years (and beyond). The Plan will also inform Council’s Customer Services • Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan. There has been a significant increase in the number of non-resident ratepayers interacting with the Customer Services EXECUTIVE team over January. This follows the pattern of previous years, and is due to the Australia Day normal increase of people over summer. Celebrations on Australia Day in Mansfield Issues raised have included straying dogs once again proved to be a success and the and livestock, roadside grass and planning fabulous weather ensured the festivities were queries. enjoyed by all those who participated. • Council will be offering the opportunity to The morning commenced with entertainment pay Debtor invoices and Animal by Dennis Tucker and a free Champagne registrations online via BPAY. This is BBQ breakfast provided by our co-sponsors expected to have an initial increase in the of the event, the Mansfield Rotary, Apex and customer service load in March and April Lions Clubs. as people query aspects of the change. However, in the long term, it should We were treated to an inspirational speech by reduce the load on the customer services our Australia Day Ambassador, Mr. George team, and elsewhere in the Council. Ermer and welcomed two new citizens from the United Kingdom and India after conducting their citizenship ceremony.

During the formalities the announcement of our Citizen, Young Citizen, Senior Citizen and Community Event of the year was made and the nominees were acknowledged.

Executive Services - Page 1 of 2 24 Mansfield Shire Council – Executive Services Department Report

Customer Requests HUMAN RESOURCES CRMS statistics for the month show 139 customer requests registered with 77 Recruitment and Staff Changes (55.40%) closed during the month. The majority of requests were completed by Field Finance Manager Services (72.15%). We have now completed the recruitment for the Finance Manager and are delighted to announce that Mandy Kynnersley was the successful candidate. Mandy has 15 years’ experience in Finance and Business Management for Price Waterhouse Coopers and Mount Buller Resort. She also has extensive experience setting up and running her own business.

Engineering Manager As reported in the previous month’s report, Neil Ogilvie has been appointed as Engineering Manager. Neil commenced in late January and has a broad range of Information Technology experience working at a senior management A Wireless NBN connection has been level working as Director of Engineering with installed at the Shire Depot. This will function Temora Shire Council prior to taking up his mainly as a backup internet connection, but position here Council. provides potential for higher upload speeds compared to our existing ADSL connection. Risk and OHS Officer This increased speed can improve external Following a successful recruitment campaign access for services as Webdav and VPN with Mount Buller, Michelle Foster has been access, and IT is undertaking tests to prove appointed to the above position. Michelle has its viability. extensive experience in Risk and OHS working on major projects including the Sugarloaf Pipeline Project and the EastLink Project with Thiess John Holland. Michelle will work three days for Council and two days for Mount Buller. She will join us at the end of February.

Executive Services - Page 2 of 2 25 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: Finance Department Report

Finance Department Report February 2017

FINANCE Some titles will be transferred from Budget & Long Term Financial Plan predecessor names (ie Delatite Shire, Shire of The 2017-18 Budget process is in full swing. Mansfield etc) into Mansfield Shire Council’s Managers have prepared their 2016-17 name. reforecast, and first draft of their 2017-18 departmental budgets. Detailed reviews with Titles that we may not have had registered in the CEO and Finance Manager took place on the past (Small Reserves, Road Reserves) 8 and 9 February. will be picked up and added. These parcels will also be matched in our GIS mapping The CEO and Finance team met with database, improving accuracy. FPSolutions on 6 February to work through the initial modelling of the Long Term Rate Arrears Financial Plan (LTFP) based on the 2016-17 forecast. At 31-1-2017 Arrears Rates 116,606.99 Once the 2017-18 budget has been reviewed Waste 66,805.68 and finalised we will meet again to update the Municipal 46,009.61 LTFP to reflect the 2017-18 budget figures Sub Total 229,422.28 and any new assumptions. FSPL 30,221.81 We anticipate FPSolutions will present the TOTAL 259,644.09 results of the modelling to Council during briefings on 28 February, at which time the 500 450 2017-18 Budget will also be presented for 400 discussion. 350 300 250 Internal Audit 200

The Procurement internal audit visit was Thousand 150 conducted in January, and the preliminary 100 50 report has been received with no “major” risks 0 identified. ay er arch M July Draft management responses will be prepared January M emb November and presented to the Audit and Risk Advisory Sept Committee at their meeting on 20 February. Rate Arrears 2015 Rate Arrears 2016 Rate Arrears 2017 REVENUE SERVICES

Titles Project

Council’s Revenue Assistant has commenced working on the Titles project (1 day per week for the next 8 weeks). Data from the Titles Office will be compared with Councils records and appropriately updated in our system.

The Titles Office has eliminated paper titles, transferring them to electronic files. As part of this process, we will be working closely with them to ensure that our database mirrors that of the titles office.

Finance Department - Page 1 of 1

26 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: Tourism & Economic Development Department Report

TOURISM & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT February 2017

MANSFIELD SHIRE PADDOCK TO PLATE Facilitator Jan Barned will step participants $30,000 in external funding has been through small business financials in simple, secured to deliver the Mansfield Shire easy-to-understand terms to identify any Paddock to Plate Agri Tourism Alliance warning signs and take a proactive approach project. to managing business financials.

Council will contribute $7,500 as per Council will facilitate a total of seven previously approved budget allocations to workshops between February to June this support the project and participating year covering a range of topics including businesses will contribute $7,500 in kind. cash flow, pricing for profit, business planning, marketing and social media. Anne Barnett of Tin Shed Cider has been the champion behind the project and is joined on Small Business Bus the project control group (PCG) by industry Local businesses booked out the first visit and ATEDM. from the Victorian Small Business Bus on 14 February. PCG members include Sarah Brennan of Mansfield District Business Association and The Small Business Bus offers: Gravity Design, Matt Merchant of Howes Creek Farm, Alli Walker of Mansfield Farmers • Free confidential mentoring provided by a Market, Jon Murphy from Murphy Fresh small business specialist (tomatoes), Emily Ploschke Of Northern • Advice on developing business ideas, Slopes Plantation and Matt Picone of formulating a business plan, marketing, Mansfield Coffee Merchant. improving cash flow management.

Rowena and Mick Ellis of Highview Partners, The Small Business bus operates from the but best known for their Long Lane Capers, Highett Street car park between 10am and have been engaged to develop the growth 4pm. plan. MANSFIELD B2B The project is under way with industry consultation set to commence soon. The highly anticipated third Mansfield Business to Business forum featured an all The growth plan will provide clear actions to female line up of speakers for the first time. identify, develop, connect, promote and deliver the produce offering from Mansfield Sarah Brennan, Jacqulyne Merchant, Sue Shire paddocks to plates on local, regional Crow and Melinda Clarke all showcase and international tables. business excellence in their chosen fields of marketing design, agri business, tourism INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT accommodation, health and beauty services and retail. Financial Health Check for Small Business Local businesses are set to attend the 2 hour Participants enjoyed the insights into the Financial Health Check on 27 February from often humble beginnings of fellow local 6pm at Council Chambers. business people and the continuing theme that success comes from passion, hard work, The forum is the first in a series to be vision and attention to customer service. presented by Mansfield Shire Council together with Small Business Victoria. Amongst The Sticks – local caterers and restaurant, provided a delicious selection of food for thought on the night.

27 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: Tourism & Economic Development Department Report

TOURISM NORTH EAST ROADSHOW AGRIBUSINESS FACILITATION CONFERENCE

The Tourism North East (TNE) team visited Local producers and ATEDM attended the Mansfield in February presenting a broad Agribusiness Facilitation forum held in range of information relating to upcoming Wangaratta, 8 February 2017. product development and research, marketing and industry development, to a Speakers from Investment & Trade and Food group of around 30 tourism operators. Fibre, Regional Development Victoria, Invest Assist, Agriculture Services and Biosecurity The full team was on-hand including CEO and Agriculture Victoria spoke about services Amber Gardner, who highlighted the able to be accessed by industry. successful partnership TNE shares with Council. Agribusiness is one of Deloitte’s ‘fantastic five’ – one of the top five growth opportunities The session was targeted to tourism for Australia in the future. 25% of Australia’s operators not yet familiar with TNE and was agribusiness occurs in Victoria and climate attended by those new to the industry and smart models show Mansfield Shire has a many experienced and established operators. positive agricultural outlook.

Judy Dixon, Acting TEDM, also spoke to the The focus of the session was to ensure tourism operators regarding Council’s participants knew of the services provided to partnership with TNE and upcoming industry facilitate agricultural development. It appears development opportunities. that the assistance is targeted toward large developers and much of our business growth CYCLE THE HIGH COUNTRY and interest is in the micro to small business space. Clustering of small businesses as per TNE has launched a new website the Mansfield Shire growth plan work will ridehighcountry.com.au specific to the cycle become increasingly important in accessing market to assist in stamping the North East’s future assistance. dominance in the growing cycle market. The site gives visitors to the region a one-stop- Information on the session and contacts will shop for all things cycling; covering road, be forwarded to our agriculture sector mountain biking and recreational rail trails. business database and the local VFF.

In the Mansfield Mt Buller destination the product offering featured includes the Great Victorian Rail Trail, road cycling and the mountain biking on Mt Buller and Mt Stirling.

Operator product is pulled through from our destination website and provides visitors to the site the opportunity to research ideas and book accommodation online.

Tourism & Economic Development - Page 2 of 2 28 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.2 DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

9.2.1 Application Under Section 69 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 to Extend a Planning Permit P0233B/08

File No: DA5005/3 Responsible Officer: Manager Development Services, Michael Bismire

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

The author of this report does not have a conflict of interest in this matter.

Introduction

The purpose of this report is to seek Council’s determination of an application for an extension of time to planning permit P0233B/08 for subdivision of the land into twenty-nine (29) lots located at Tabletop Road.

The subdivision is in three (3) stages and the first two stages have been completed.

Application Details

The application seeks to extend planning permit P0233B/08 issued on 22 April 2009 and amended on 22 April 2009, 15 December 2009 and 10 May 2011, citing delays in constructing the road and the need for weather conditions to improve to complete Stage 3.

Executive Summary

An application to extend planning permit P0233B/08 under Section 69 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 was lodged on 11 July 2016. The key findings of the assessment are as follows:

· The application has been assessed against the generally accepted criteria – the Kantor principles - which guide determinations of applications to extend planning permits.

· Amendments VC83 and VC109 has introduced changes to the Mansfield Planning Scheme regarding bushfire protection, requiring preparation of material not previously considered by Council or the Country Fire Authority.

The changes to the planning controls regarding bushfire protection mean that a permit in its current form would not now be granted in the event that a fresh application was made today.

Background

Planning permit P0233B/12 was issued in April 2009 for a twenty-nine (29) lot subdivision. The subdivision is in three (3) stages.

2929. Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.2.1 Application Under Section 69 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 to Extend a Planning Permit P0233B/08 cont.

In addition to delays in constructing the road, in an email of July 2016 the applicant commented that the Stage 3 plan of subdivision was lodged for certification on 25 September 2015 but to date had not been certified as an acceptable location for building locations has not been resolved with Goulburn Murray Water.

Subject site

The subject land is located on the southern side of Tabletop Road, Tolmie. The total land area (including all stages of subdivision) is 123 hectares. Trees are scattered within the site – mainly Peppermint and White Gum. The land is undulating and slopes generally from the north-east to south-west. The land has been used for many years for grazing purposes.

The following planning controls apply to the land:

- The land is zoned Rural Living (RLZ1) - A Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO or WMO), Development Plan Overlay (DPO3), and Environmental Significance Overlay (ESO2) apply to the land.

Surrounding Area

The land is located at the western edge of the Rural Living zoned land in Tolmie. Land zoned Rural Conservation is located to the north (on the northern side of Tabletop Road); land to the west is zoned Farming; and land to the south is zoned Farming

Figure 1 – Subject land (showing Stage 3 in yellow border) and surrounds 30. 30 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.2.1 Application Under Section 69 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 to Extend a Planning Permit P0233B/08 cont.

Figure 2 – Subject land showing Bushfire Management Overlay (area in red)

Site Planning History

· Planning permit P0233/08 for a twenty-nine lot (29) subdivision was approved in April 2009. · Planning permit P0233A/08, being an amendment to the above permit, was approved in December 2009. · Planning permit P0233B/08, being an amendment to the above permit, was approved in May 2011.

Statement of Compliance for Stages 1 and 2

· Stage 1 of the subdivision was completed in June 2010. · Stage 2 of the subdivision was completed in February 2015.

Proposal

It is proposed to extend planning permit P0233B/08, which expired on 22 April 2016. The planning permit expired because the Stage 3 plan of subdivision has not been certified by this date. The owner or occupier of land to which a permit for a development applies may ask the responsible authority for an extension of time to complete the development or a stage of the development if the request for an extension of time is made within 12 months after the permit expires and the development or stage started lawfully before the permit expired.

31. 31 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.2.1 Application Under Section 69 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 to Extend a Planning Permit P0233B/08 cont.

Officer Assessment

The generally accepted criteria which guide determinations of applications to extend planning permits were established by the Supreme Court in Kantor v Murrindindi SC [1997] 18 AATR 285. The Kantor principles as they are commonly referred to are the starting point for assessing requests for a permit extension and can be summarized as follows:

· Whether there has been a change of planning policy under the relevant planning scheme or the Planning and Environment Act, 1987 and, indirectly, whether there have been or may now be any person who might have or may now object to the grant of the subject permit.

· The probability of a fresh permit being granted if an extension of time were refused.

· The total lapse of time since the grant of the permit and the application to extend it.

· Whether the permit holder has sought to ‘warehouse’ the permit to gain a windfall from the permit without actually acting on it.

· Whether there are intervening circumstances between the grant of the permit and the application for extension.

· The time allowed for the development to commence or for a development to be completed was adequate in all of the circumstances of the original grant of the permit

· In the circumstance of the Planning and Environment Act, 1987 objectives for fair, orderly, economic, and sustainable development, the economic burden on the owner to act on the permit.

Assessment of the application has been undertaken having regard to the Kantor criteria as detailed below:

Whether there has been a change of planning policy under the relevant planning scheme or the Planning and Environment Act, 1987 and, indirectly, whether there have been or may now be any person who might have or may now object to the grant of the subject permit.

There have been significant changes in planning policy and controls since the issuing of the permit in 2009. Most notably, the Mansfield Planning Scheme has been changed by the introduction of the Bushfire Management Overlay (previously the Wildfire Management Overlay) under Amendment VC83. Amendment VC83 introduced Clause 52.48 into the Victorian Planning Provisions in November 2011. These provisions were developed in response to recommendations of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.

32. 32 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.2.1 Application Under Section 69 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 to Extend a Planning Permit P0233B/08 cont.

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) noted that the introduction of the Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO) provisions was a ‘game changer’ event in the assessment of bushfire risk in planning applications. Any new application for subdivision would be required to be assessed against the provisions of the BMO. This would require the preparation of material not previously considered by the Council or the Country Fire Authority.

Furthermore, Amendment VC109 introduced in July 2014, new Bushfire protection objectives and ‘approved measures’ at Clause 52.47-2 that relate to subdivision. Again any new application for subdivision would require the preparation of material not previously considered by Council or the Country Fire Authority. If the subdivision was appropriate, it is likely that a permit would have conditions imposed on it which are not in the current permit.

The probability that the permit will not be extended due to the changes in the bushfire provisions has been raised with the applicant. The Bushfire Management Overlay applies to Lots 21 – 25 within Stage 3 and specifically, the building envelopes within Lots 22, 23, and 24. The location of the building envelopes within the Bushfire Management Overlay is shown as follows:

33. 33 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.2.1 Application Under Section 69 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 to Extend a Planning Permit P0233B/08 cont.

In order to address the bushfire risk under the new BMO provisions so that an extension of time to the current permit may be considered, the applicant has submitted Bushfire Management Statements for Lots 22, 23 and 24 which have been referred to the Country Fire Authority for assessment and comment.

The CFA has responded as follows:

The CFA understands that –

· It is not a referral authority for the purposes of Section 55 of the Planning and Environment Act, 1987 but welcomes the opportunity to provide advice on this matter. · The relevant criteria for assessing an application to extend the expiry date of a planning permit is derived from the case of Kantor v Murrindindi Shire Council (1997 AATR 285). · As the responsible authority it is the council’s decision to decide whether the permit should be extended, in considering the “tests” established in the Kantor decision.

If a fresh application for a planning permit was made for the same purpose under the current Bushfire related provisions –

· CFA is unlikely to object to such a proposal; and · The following conditions would need to be added to any extension to the Planning Permit relating to Lots 22, 23 and 24. All existing conditions relating to the other lots within the subdivision are still relevant.

Bushfire Management Plan

1. The Bushfire Management Plan prepared by IPS Building Services, drawing No.: A01 and A02 (relating to Lot 22), Drawing A02 and A01 (relating to Lot 23) and Drawing A01 and A02 (relating to Lot 24) dated September 2016 must be endorsed to form part of the permit and must not be altered unless otherwise agreed in writing by the CFA and the Responsible Authority. When endorsed the plan must be included as an annexure to the Section 173 Agreement prepared to give effect to Clause 44.06-3 of the Mansfield Planning Scheme.

The CFA has stipulated that if a fresh application for a planning permit were made, it would not object to the proposal subject to a new condition on permit requiring endorsement of the Bushfire Management Plans recently submitted as part of the Bushfire Management Statements. However, the current planning permit cannot be extended as it is not open to Council to extend the current planning permit and add new conditions to the permit.

34. 34 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.2.1 Application Under Section 69 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 to Extend a Planning Permit P0233B/08 cont.

Probability of a fresh permit being granted if an extension of time were refused.

As a result of the change of planning controls and planning policies relating to the introduction of Amendments VC83 and VC109, it has been confirmed that if a new application were made, a permit with the same or similar conditions as the current permit would be granted. In the circumstances, a fresh application should be made.

The total lapse time since the grant of the permit and the application to extend it

The permit was issued on 22 April 2009, and amended in December 2009 and May 2011. The length of time since the permit was issued and the changes that have occurred since its issue indicate it is appropriate to reassess the overall proposal. There is no suggestion that the land does not remain suitable for residential subdivision, but matters relating to bushfire risk and design detail require revision.

Whether the permit holder has sought to warehouse the permit to gain a windfall from the permit without actually acting on it.

The term ‘warehousing’ refers to keeping a planning permit alive through extensions to time with no real intent to complete what the permit allows. Given that there has been significant progress to date and that there is no evidence before Council that the applicant stands to benefit from not acting on the permit, it is considered that warehousing of the permit is not occurring.

Whether there are intervening circumstances between the grant of the permit and the application for extension.

The applicant has advised that the application for certification was lodged on 25 September 2015 but has not been certified to date mainly due to the delay in getting a resolution of acceptable positioning of building envelopes with Goulburn Murray Water. A plan has been prepared showing the proposed locations of building envelopes and effluent irrigation fields.

The change in policy and the ‘approved measures’ under Clause 52.47 of the planning scheme, particularly in relation to bushfire risk, weighs heavily against an extension to the permit and it is considered that the reasons given by the applicant for the delays to gaining certification do not, on balance, justify an extension of time particularly where human life may be at risk from bushfire.

The time allowed for the development to commence or for a development to be completed was adequate in all circumstances of the original grant of the permit or any previous extensions.

The permit (as amended) allows seven (7) years from the date of the permit for the plan of subdivision to be certified. The Stage 3 subdivision must be completed within five (5) years of the date of certification of Stage 3. It is considered that seven years has been adequate time for the Stage 3 subdivision to be certified.

35. 35 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.2.1 Application Under Section 69 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 to Extend a Planning Permit P0233B/08 cont.

The economic burden imposed on the land owner by the permit.

It is considered that the costs associated with complying with the permit to prevent its expiry do not constitute a significant economic burden on the applicant. The potential risks from bushfire cannot be set aside against the costs of development.

Conclusion

Having regard to the assessment against the Kantor principles, it is considered that planning permit P0233B/15 should not be extended. The changes to the planning controls regarding bushfire protection mean that a permit in its current form would not now be granted in the event that a fresh application was made today. Whilst the CFA has submitted that it would not object to a fresh application being made for the same development, subject to conditions requiring the endorsement of plans to form part of any new permit that may issue, it has been established that the CFA would not agree to an extension of the current planning permit in its current form. It is therefore considered that the planning permit cannot be extended.

Councillors Sladdin/Attley

That the consideration of the request to extend planning permit P0233/08 for subdivision of the land into twenty-nine (29) lots be deferred until the March Ordinary Council Meeting as requested by the Applicant. Carried

36. 36 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.2 DEVELOPMENT SERVICES CONT.

9.2.2 Mansfield Shire Municipal Emergency Management Plan

File Number: E358 Responsible Officer: Municipal Emergency Resource Officer / Municipal Emergency Management Executive Officer Municipal Fire Prevention Officer, Kevin Murphy

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

No conflict of Interest

Introduction

The Emergency Management Act 1986 requires Council to create a Municipal Emergency Management Plan (MEMP) and to appoint a Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee.

At the Council Meeting in May 2015, Council resolved to:

· reconfirm its endorsement of the Municipal Emergency Management Plan, · reconfirm the ability of the Municipal Emergency Resources Officer (as Municipal Emergency Management Executive Officer) and the Municipal Recovery Manager - to initiate consequential updates to the Plan · Encourage the Council formed Committee and Council Officers to further progress other components for incorporation into the Mansfield Shire Municipal Emergency Management Plan so as to address any identified ‘improvement opportunities’.

That report was presented to Council in order to prepare for the 2015 external Audit process.

Background

This Report presentation and draft Resolution for Council consideration addresses:-

· the outcomes of reviews of 2 ‘sub-plans’ to the Municipal Emergency Management Plan and · additional recommendations from recent meetings of the Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee and that Committees’ Executive that also functions as the Municipal Fire Management Committee in accordance with earlier Terms of Reference adopted by Council.

The sub plans that have been the subject of review are titled the Municipal Fire Management Plan and the Woods Point and Surrounding District Community Safety Plan. Both of these plans have been the subject of discussion and input from Agencies involved with the Committees and external targeted consultation.

37. 37 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.2.2 Mansfield Shire Municipal Emergency Management Plan cont.

The Municipal Fire Management Plan – which follows a State template replaced the former Fire Prevention Plan and was adopted by Council at its Meeting on 20 November 2012. It satisfies requirements under the Country Fire Authority Act 1958. A number of Meetings have been held by the Municipal Fire Management Committee and it has subsequently reported back to the Municipal Emergency Management Committee who support and recommend to Council the adoption of the updated Plan. Text changes in the document are shown in red text in the attached.

The Woods Point and Surrounding District Community Safety Plan was initially developed in 2006 (prior to the fires that year) and was presented to and adopted by Council on 15 October 2007. This sub-plan has also been subject to an earlier review in July 2012. The more recent review has focused on updating CFA incorporated advice following the Bushfire Royal Commission and updated the change from Fire Refuge to Neighbourhood Safer Places. The Emergency Management Planning Committee also endorses and recommends to Council the adoption of the updated Plan – refer attached.

A copy of the recent Minutes and draft Minutes of the Committees are also included for Council information – refer attached.

This report also addresses other recommendations from the Committee Meeting including the filling of a vacancy following the departure of a community representative – Tom Ingpen.

Statutory Requirements

Council is mandated to have a Municipal Emergency Management Plan. The plan is required to detail arrangements within the Municipality for the purpose of preventing, preparing for, responding to and recovering from emergencies. A 3 yearly external Audit process is undertaken and was last completed in August 2015.

Minor amendments were made to the Plan during 2016 and the latest version of the Plan was recirculated to Agencies and published on Council’s web site in January 2017.

Our Plan and processes adopted are considered satisfactory however ,opportunities for ‘fine tuning’ always exist. The Emergency Management Act also directs that there must be an appointed Municipal Emergency Resource Officer and a Committee be established. These requirements have been met. The Councils Plan also recognises the need for sub- plans that provide additional detail. There are a number of plans as detailed in the following extract from the Emergency Management Plan:-

PLAN VERSION / LAST UPDATE COMMENT Municipal Fire Nov 2012 Changed from Fire Prevention Plan. Management Plan Review Review scheduled 3 yearly. Underway Further review expected in 2018 to bring into line with changes at State & Regional level Woods Point 2006 Developed in partnership with CFA Community Safety 2012 Version 2 Version 3 Not finalised 2014 Plan Sept 2016 Version 4 circulated for support.

38. 38 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.2.2 Mansfield Shire Municipal Emergency Management Plan cont.

PLAN VERSION / LAST UPDATE COMMENT Emergency Relief and 2015 Rewrite Recovery Plan May 2016 Update to come into line with regional plan Heatwave Plan Oct 2015 Seasonally review in April or October each year Action plan reviewed after declared heatwaves. Pandemic 2010 Developed in line with DHHS Guidelines Management Plan Aug 2015 Review scheduled 3 yearly Mansfield Flood 2014 Developed in line with and by SES Emergency Plan Supported by Jamieson Flood Guide 2015 Animal and Stock Oct 2014 Adopted (Developed with Strathbogie Council) Emergency Welfare Nov 2015 Plan reviewed annually. Updated Jan 2017 Plan Neighbourhood Safer 2010 Developed in line with MAV Template Places Plan NSP’s updated yearly Public Health & 2009- 2013 Developed and adopted (5 Year Strategic Plan) Wellbeing Plan January 2016 Review commenced Evacuation pre-plans 2015 Custodian Victoria Police

Council Plan

The Council Plan contains an action that supported the ongoing development of the MEMP.

Financial

The report contains no financial commitment or change other than referencing that the ‘green waste’ disposal site adjacent to the Council Depot is no longer operational (Fire Management Plan, Figure 18, Action 45 – page 5/21)

Social

There is community and State expectation that Council and other relevant Authorities plan in a coordinated fashion for the possibility of emergencies arising (both small and large scale) and for improved safety in a holistic manner. Positive social impacts are expected from this planning and the related processes including the testing of the Plans and strategies.

Council has been actively engaging the community in relation to fire prevention works, planning for events and the resilience training of members of the community drawn from throughout the Municipality.

Environmental

The plan addresses perceived risk so as to create less risk to the environment

39. 39 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.2.2 Mansfield Shire Municipal Emergency Management Plan cont.

Economic

The plan addresses perceived risk and thus has a positive impact on economic policy, industrial development & employment opportunities.

Risk Management

The MEMP and the associated sub-plans are designed to reduce and manage risk. The Audit process assists in determining any additional ‘best practice’ measures that can be considered for incorporation into the Plan.

Community Engagement

The Plan addresses Community Engagement through Community representation and Agencies representing discrete sectors of the Community. A community vacancy exists for on the Committee and this has been considered by the Committee and is addressed in the proposed resolution. A copy of the Plan is available with background information on Council’s web page

Officer’s Comments

Council’s Emergency Management Plan was subjected to a formal audit process with a ‘satisfactory’ outcome reported in October 2015.The Fire Safety Planning and other sub- plans as detailed above are considered but are not subject to the formal audit process. They are considered to be of satisfactory standard but require periodic review and updating.

Due to forecast changes to emergency management planning arrangements and earlier advice from the Emergency Management Commissioner recommending that Plans and sub-plans be updated rather than be subject to rewrite, the Committee went through a process of updating 2 existing plans that were out-of-date and scheduled for review. This process has been undertaken over a lengthy period of time and it is considered that the scope of change to the 2 plans warrants reporting to Council for formal endorsement.

The Fire Management Plan has had extensive review of the sections titled “Figure 17 Risk Register” and Figure 18 “Risk Management Strategy”. These sections jointly identify the predominant areas of fire risk and describe treatment options. The nominated ‘Responsible Agency’ has been consulted in all cases and all have advised of their support for the changes now incorporated in the latest version before Council. Other minor changes to the plan reference updated Department Names, population growth and statistics such as the frequency of total fire ban days over the preceding 4 years. A further review of a portion of the plan referencing road status (fire access roads will be undertaken separately in conjunction with the planned review of Councils Road Management Plan as there is poor alignment at present to the classifications within the 2 documents. The Committee recommends the referral to Council for adoption of the update Fire Management Plan.

40. 40 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.2.2 Mansfield Shire Municipal Emergency Management Plan cont.

The Woods Point and District Community Safety Plan was out of date due to its age and some of the advice it contains including messaging about ‘stay or go’ options and the pace of potential fire spread and needed to be updated to incorporate current fire safety advice and messaging. The earlier version has been removed from Council’s web site. The Woods Point Community Safety Committee – established under the current Plan has been consulted and has also provided some input into the revised plan. The 3 Committees support and or recommend the referral to Council for adoption of the Woods Point and District Community Safety Plan.

In relation to the vacancy on the Committee, this is the result of the resignation of Tom Ingpen who advised “Please pass on to Council my intention to resign as a community member of the Emergency Management Committee. I have watched with great interest over many years as the Emergency Services of Mansfield have worked together as a team to provide an outstanding service to the community. I am sure this will continue in the future.”

The committee recommended ‘That we publicly seek expression of interest to become involved in MEMPC and the lodgment of supporting information regarding any EM history and knowledge with the nomination.’ It is proposed that the vacancy be advertised in 2 copies of the Mansfield Matters section of the Mansfield Courier – seeking expression of interest and that the Executive Committee determine any appointment.

Council would be aware that there are proposals to amend the method of Emergency Management Planning at Municipal level and the make-up of the Emergency Management Planning Committee. As a result, Council may wish to consider delaying advertising of the position pending further clarification of Council’s role in Emergency Management Planning.

Councillors Westerndorp/Sladdin

That Council:

1. Receive the copies of the Minutes from the Municipal Emergency Management Panning Committee Meetings from 10 October and the Minutes from the September 2016 and 5 December 2016, meeting of the Executive/Fire Management Planning Committee. 2. Adopt the revised updated Municipal Fire Management Plan and publish on its web page an updated version – excluding components that are considered to contain private or confidential information. 3. Adopt the revised updated Woods Point and District Community Safety Plan and publish on its web page an updated version – excluding components that are considered to contain private or confidential information. 4. Circulate the above sub-plans to the appointed Committee and other parties as identified within the plan. 5. Acknowledge the past contributions of Tom Ingpen as a retiring member and past Chair of the Committee.

41. 41 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.2.2 Mansfield Shire Municipal Emergency Management Plan cont.

6. Formally seek expressions of interest to fill the gap in the membership of the Mansfield Shire Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee as detailed above. 7. Acknowledge the contributions of the Committees in the development of the Plan. 8. Encourage the Committee and Council Officers to further progress other components for incorporation into the Mansfield Shire Municipal Emergency Management Plan so as to address any identified ‘improvement opportunities’. Carried

42. 42 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

ATTACHMENT 9.2

MANSFIELD SHIRE MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN

(180 PAGES)

43. 43

MUNICIPAL FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN

MUNICIPAL FIRE MANAGEMENT PLANNING

A SUB-PLAN OF THE MANSFIELD SHIRE MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN

UPDATE following Review 2016

44 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

PREFACE

The Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Committee (MFMPC) is responsible for providing a strategic and integrated approach to fire management within the municipality of Mansfield. This task forms part of a broader State and regional framework established under the Emergency Management Act (1986) and is supported by the State Fire Management Planning Committee (SFMPC) and the Hume Regional Strategic Fire Management Planning Committee (HRSFMPC).

A key responsibility of the Mansfield MFMPC is the development of a draft Municipal Fire Management Plan (MFMP) on behalf of the Mansfield Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee (MEMPC) for considered endorsement by the Mansfield Shire Council. This plan, which aligns with the Hume Regional Strategic Fire Management Plan 2011-2021, describes how regional authorities, local government, fire agencies and other relevant organizations can work together to effectively anticipate, respond to and recover from bushfire events affecting Mansfield Shire.

While the management of all types of fires is important, this plan has focused primarily on bushfire in the first instance. The life of this plan is for three years and it is envisaged that future updates of this plan will include further planning for other types for fire. Furthermore it is important to note that this plan recognizes, but does not duplicate, the extensive work already being undertaken in fire management across the municipality. This document is essentially a plan for improving integration of this existing work and developing improved methods for working together.

I join with the members of the Mansfield Shire MFMPC in commending this document to you. We see the development and implementation of this plan as an important step in the ongoing journey to securing a safer, more resilient community, healthier environment and a prosperous economy for our municipality.

Tom Ingpen Inaugural Chairperson Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Planning Committee 2012

See Update endorsement 2017

45 2 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

VERSION CONTROL TABLE Version Date of Author(s) Brief description of change number issue

Version 1.0 4/5/12 C. Hajek and C. Price Draft MFMP for Comment Version 2.0 28/5/12 C. Price Incorporated feedback and edits from Mansfield Shire MFMPC Meeting 4.2 (23/5/12) Version 3.0 26/6/12 C. Price New Edits Version 4.0 05/07/12 C. Price / K Murphy New Edits Version 5.0 30/08/12 C. Price /K. Murphy & Post Consultation - Inserted Map (7.3) Inclusion J. Bright of Strategic Study (Fig: 19) I.D. 13 & Inclusion of WICEN (5.5.2) & minor corrections Version 6.0 21/6/12 C. Price Minor grammatical edits, inclusion of NEO’s & Map edits 6.1 30/10/12 C. Price New Maps from DELWP/IFMP, removal of ‘draft’ 6.2 3/12/12 K Murphy Signatures added & clause on P 4 & above Sec 7.7 re Attachment - Excerpts from MFPP document 6/12/12 Finalised signature page – ready for distribution Version 7 21/10/2014 K Murphy Amendment to Plan authorised by Council Resolution 21 October 2014 incorporating wording and flow diagram “High Risk Roads” and “High Risk Roads Assessment Criteria” as endorsed by the Municipal Fire Management Committee Sec 7 p 48, Update to NSP Sec 7.5, Page 7 26 & 7.7.2 Version 8 6/09/2016 K Murphy Review March - August 2016 by MFMPC, Update State Department Names, Update Woods Point NSP Designation General review and update incl Risk Tables & Strategies Circulated for comment Additional data added Endorsement by committee Referral to Council

AUTHORISATIONS This MFMP was adopted on 30th August 2012 as the first iteration of the Mansfield Shire MFMP. This Plan was endorsed through the Mansfield Shire MFMPC following a 28 day Public Consultation period. - for which the Chair of the committee signed for and on behalf of all members of the Mansfield MFMPC.

Signed: Date: 9th November 2011

Plan endorsed by: TOM INGPEN Former Councillor - Mansfield Shire Council Inaugural Chair – Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Planning Committee

This MFMP was endorsed as a sub plan to the Mansfield Shire Municipal Emergency Management Plan through a formal motion by the Mansfield Shire Municipal Emergency Management Planning th Committee (MEMPC) at their meeting on 10 September 2012 for which the Municipal Emergency Resource Officer will sign for and on behalf of the Members of the Mansfield Shire MEMPC.

Signed: Date: 9th November 2011 Redated ########## Plan endorsed by: KEVIN MURPHY Municipal Emergency Management Executive Officer & Municipal Emergency Resource/ Municipal Fire Prevention Officer Mansfield Shire Council

46 3 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

The responsibilities and accountability attributed to the organisations represented at the Mansfield Shire MFMPC are endorsed by: Plan endorsed by: STEWART KRELTSZHEIM

Operations Manager Signed: District 23, CFA Date: 5 December 2012

Plan endorsed by: ALAN DOBSON

Land and Fire Regional Manager Signed North East Region, DELWP Date: 16 November 2012

Plan endorsed by: ROB HESCOCK

General Manager - Northern Region Signed: HVP Plantations Date: 5 December 2012

Plan presented for review to DARREN HARRIS Emergency Management Coordinator Victoria Police following the active participation by Victoria Police on the Committee Signature not available.

This MFMP was adopted through a formal motion by the Mansfield Shire Council as the MFMP for the Mansfield Shire, at its meeting on 20th November 2012, for which the Chief Executive Officer will sign for and on behalf of the Mansfield Shire Council.

Mansfield Shire Council Amended Version of Plan presented to . and adopted by Council on ############

Signed:

DAVID ROFF Alex Green Chief Executive Officer Chief Executive Officer Date: 20th November 2012 ################

Note re Attachment 7.7 – excerpts from the Municipal Fire Prevention Plan. Due to the historical nature of the source document contained within this attachment - excerpts from the Municipal Fire Prevention Plan - they are included for guidance only. The recommended treatments, actions or priorities have not been based on or necessarily referenced by the later Risk Management review processes and thus should not be considered as being endorsed or attributable as actions for any individual current member organisation of the MFMPC. Added K Murphy 3 December 2012

Plan Review conducted by MFMPC March - September 2016

47 4 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

TABLE OF CONTENTS

UPDATE FOLLOWING REVIEW 2016 PREFACE ...... 0

PLAN REVIEW CONDUCTED BY MFMPC MARCH - SEPTEMBER 2016 ...... 4

TABLE OF CONTENTS ...... 5

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 1-1 1.1 CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND ...... 1-1 1.2 PERIOD AND PURPOSE ...... 1-3 1.3 PREPARATION PROCESS ...... 1-3

2. ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS ...... 2-6 2.1 COMMUNITY AND ORGANISATIONAL ENGAGEMENT PLAN ...... 2-6 2.2 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ...... 2-8

3. ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN ...... 3-1 3.1 MUNICIPAL PROFILE ...... 3-1 3.1.1 LOCATION AND TENURE ...... 3-1 3.1.2 POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHICS ...... 3-1 3.1.3 NATURAL ENVIRONMENT ...... 3-4 3.1.4 LAND USE, ECONOMY AND EMPLOYMENT ...... 3-4 3.1.5 TRADITIONAL OWNERS ...... 3-5 3.1.6 CLIMATE ...... 3-6 3.1.7 FIRE HISTORY ...... 3-7 3.1.8 FIRE DANGER ...... 3-8 3.2 STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS ...... 3-10 3.2.1 VEGETATION AND TOPOGRAPHY ...... 3-11 3.2.2 WEATHER AND CLIMATE ...... 3-11 3.2.3 PEOPLE ...... 3-12

4. MUNICIPAL FIRE MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVE - ...... 4-1

UNCHANGED FOLLOWING MAY 2016 REVIEW ...... 4-1 4.1 MUNICIPAL OBJECTIVE ...... 4-1 4.2 STRATEGIC DIRECTION ...... 4-1 4.3 ALIGNMENT OF REGIONAL & MUNICIPAL OBJECTIVE ...... 4-1

5. FIRE MANAGEMENT RISK STRATEGIES ...... 5-1 5.1 RISK IDENTIFICATION PROCESS ...... 5-1 5.2 RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS ...... 5-2 5.3 RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY ...... 5-4 5.4 SPECIFIC TREATMENTS ...... 5-29 5.5 FIRE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY ...... 5-33 5.5.1 RESPONSE AGENCIES ...... 5-33 5.5.2 REGULATORY AND SERVICE PROVIDERS ...... 5-34 5.5.3 COMMUNITY ...... 5-36

48 5 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

5.6 BALANCING FIRE RISK AGAINST OTHER VALUES ...... 5-36 5.7 CROSS BOUNDARY MANAGEMENT AND LINKS TO OTHER PROGRAMS/PROCESSES5-36

6. IMPROVEMENT, PLAN REPORTING AND REVIEW PROCESS ...... 6-1 6.1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND ENCOURAGEMENT ...... 6-2

7. ATTACHMENTS ...... 7-2 7.1 RISK ASSESSMENT TABLES ...... 7-3 7.2 STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLAN ...... 7-5 7.3 ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN MAPS & DATA ...... 7-10 7.4 HAZARD TREES ...... 7-21 7.5 TOWNSHIP PROTECTION PLANS & NEIGHBOURHOOD SAFER PLACES ...... 7-26 7.6 GLOSSARY AND ACRONYMS ...... 7-28 7.7 EXCERPTS FROM MUNICIPAL FIRE PREVENTION PLAN: ...... 7-35 (I) STRUCTURAL FIRE DWELLINGS ...... 7-35 7.7.1 COMMUNITY SAFETY ...... 7-45 7.7.2 FUEL REDUCED CORRIDORS AND PRIORITY ACCESS ROADS ...... 7-47 7.7.3 DIAGRAMS OF TYPICAL WORKS ON ROADS ...... 7-52 7.7.4 IDENTIFIED LIMITED ACCESS RURAL AREAS ...... 7-53 7.7.5 FIRE HAZARD REMOVAL / FUEL REDUCTION AND HAZARD ISOLATION ...... 7-54 7.7.6 PERMITS TO BURN ...... 7-56

TABLE OF FIGURES FIGURE 1: FIRE MANAGEMENT PLANNING ...... 1-1 FIGURE 2: VICTORIAN MANAGEMENT PLANS & POLICIES ...... 1-2 FIGURE 3: INTEGRATED FIRE MANAGEMENT PLANNING PROCESS ...... 1-4 FIGURE 4: IFMP ALIGNMENT WITH AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 ...... 1-5 FIGURE 5: IAP2 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SPECTRUM ...... 2-6 FIGURE 6: FIRE MANAGEMENT ROLES ...... 2-7 FIGURE 7: STAKEHOLDER TYPE AND ENGAGEMENT LEVEL ...... 2-8 FIGURE 8: MUNICIPAL MAP ...... 3 FIGURE 9: WEATHER IN MANSFIELD ...... 3-6 FIGURE 10: FIRE DANGER RATINGS ...... 3-8 FIGURE 11: ANNUAL VARIATION OF FDRS IN FOREST AND GRASS IN MANSFIELD SHIRE (OVER LAST 10 YEARS) ...... 3-9 FIGURE 12: ANNUAL VARIATION IN FDR CATEGORIES IN MANSFIELD SHIRE (FROM 2004-2011) ...... 3-9 FIGURE 13: HISTORICAL TFB DECLARATIONS FOR MANSFIELD SHIRE (FROM 1994-2011) ...... 3-10 FIGURE 14: ALIGNMENT OF MFMP & RSFMP OBJECTIVES ...... 4-2 FIGURE 15 CHRIGHTON’S RISK PYRAMID ...... 5-1 FIGURE 16: RISK CATEGORIES TABLE ...... 5-3 FIGURE 17: RISK REGISTER ...... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. FIGURE 18: RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY ...... 5-13 FIGURE 19: SPECIFIC TREATMENTS ...... 5-30 FIGURE 20: MSC MFMP REPORTING AND EVALUATION PROGRAM ...... 6-1

49 6 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND

Victoria has a long history of community, government and organisations working cooperatively to combat the threat of bushfire. However recent challenges such as the decade of dry conditions, an increase in people living in high risk areas and the occurrence of a number of major fires, prompted the need for increased coordination and cooperation to secure fire safety across the state.

In response to these challenges the Victorian IFMP aims to achieve a consistent Government established an Integrated Fire and effective means for fire Management Project (IFMP) Framework for management planning within Victoria through a commitment of Victoria in 2008. cooperation, including information sharing and the building of IFMP provides a framework for consistent and collective knowledge. effective fire management planning (see figure 1) The Integrated Fire Management across the fire management continuum, by Planning Framework, State Fire Management Planning Committee providing a multi-agency approach, bringing together fire management planners and other stakeholders, including emergency service agencies, government departments, private organisations and the community. Working together they build relationships and share information to plan across public and private land tenures for all types of fire. IFMP is based on analysis and management of risk, uses best practices and builds on existing information.

FIGURE 1: FIRE MANAGEMENT PLANNING

501-1 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

FIGURE 2: VICTORIAN MANAGEMENT PLANS & POLICIES

The framework provides structures, policies and procedures to help build on the existing spirit of co-operation and networks that already exist in fire management. It establishes a tiered system of state, regional and municipal plans that provide strategic direction to fire management in Victoria, as illustrated in figure 2.

The purpose of Municipal Fire Management Planning Committees (MFMPC) is to provide a municipal level forum for building and sustaining organisational partnerships with regards to fire Mansfield MFMPC management; and to ensure that plans of individual membership consists of: agencies are linked effectively so as to complement each • Mansfield Shire Council other. This is facilitated by MFMPCs having a membership • CFA consisting of representatives from key stakeholder • DELWP organisations with respect to fire management within the • HVP Plantations municipality. • Victoria Police

MFMPCs also act as a sub-committee of their respective Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee. Part 6A: Guidelines for Municipal Fire Management Planning, of the Emergency Management Manual of Victoria, outlines the terms of reference for these committees, identifies their minimum core membership and requires the development of a Municipal Fire Management Plan.

The formation of an MFMPC and the development of a MFMP signify an important first step in the transition from Municipal Fire Prevention Plans developed under the guidance and direction of Municipal Fire Prevention Committees, to a MFMP developed under the guidance and leadership of a MFMPC.

511-2 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

1.2 PERIOD AND PURPOSE Organisation and agencies involved in fire management already have a range of activities, plans, policies and procedures that are directly involved with, or that impact on fire management. This MFMP builds on this existing work, so as to chart and coordinate the implementation of measures in use across the municipality designed to minimise the occurrence and mitigate the effects of bushfires. It also seeks to identify the need for adopting or developing new activities, processes and policies, and communicating this need to the relevant responsible authority.

In doing so it takes into consideration all aspects of fire management; • PREVENTION – Regulatory and physical measures to ensure that emergencies are prevented, or their effects mitigated

• PREPAREDNESS – Arrangements to ensure that in the event of an emergency occurring all those resources and services that are needed to cope with the effects can be efficiently mobilised and deployed

• RESPONSE – Actions taken in anticipation of, during and immediately after an emergency, to ensure its effects are minimised and that people affected are given immediate relief and support

• RECOVERY – The coordinated process of supporting emergency affected communities or individuals in reconstruction of the physical infrastructure and restoration of emotional, social, economic and physical wellbeing. MFMPs have a three year planning cycle and this plan has a three year duration from the date of council endorsement. However it will be subject to annual review and modification as appropriate. The current MFMP concentrates on bushfires, however it is expected that future iterations of the plan will further incorporate management of structural and chemical fires as well as the use of fire for a variety of purposes. Reviewed May 2016

1.3 PREPARATION PROCESS This MFMP has been developed in accordance with Part 6A of the Emergency Management Manual of Victoria and using the IFMP planning process as described in the IFMP Guide. This process follows a seven stage planning cycle as illustrated in figure 3.

STAGE 1: ENVIRONMENTAL SCANNING – establish a municipal base line from which fire management planning and decision making can be made and measured, including development of fire management objectives:

STAGE 2: RISK ASSESSMENT – identification, analysis and evaluation of the fire risks that potentially impact on the municipality:

STAGE 3: ANALYSIS – analysis of treatment options for achieving the fire management objectives:

STAGE 4: DECIDE – select the most appropriate risk treatment options to achieve the fire management objectives:

521-3 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

STAGE 5: PUBLISH –once the community and stakeholders have validated the draft MFMP, the relevant authorities endorse, publish and distribute it:

STAGE 6: DELIVER - relevant organisations implement the agreed risk treatments in the MFMP:

STAGE 7: MONITOR AND IMPROVE – track delivery and effectiveness of risk treatments so as to continually improve the MFMP’s contribution to realising the fire management objectives:

FIGURE 3: INTEGRATED FIRE MANAGEMENT PLANNING PROCESS

Over a period of 12 months the committee members met on regularly to work through the steps outlined above for the purpose of developing this plan. This started with formally establishing the Mansfield MFMPC as a subcommittee of the Mansfield MEMPC and endorsing the terms of references based on those in Part 6A of the Emergency Management Manual of Victoria.

Subsequent activities include undertaking a stakeholder analysis, developing a communications strategy, identifying and assessing fire risks of concern within the municipality and assigning appropriate treatments to address them.

531-4 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

This planning process is risk based and aligns with the AS AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 Risk Management Principles and Guidelines, figure 4 (below) describes how this is achieved.

All concerns identified were considered and defined as risk statements with the cause and impact clearly described. Each of these risk statements were then assessed using the State Bushfire Consequence Table, Likelihood table and Risk Assessment matrix (See Attachment 1) as endorsed by the State Fire Management Planning Committee.

FIGURE 4: IFMP ALIGNMENT WITH AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009

541-5 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

2. ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS Stakeholder engagement and participation is an essential element of fire management planning. Stakeholders are required to participate for a range of reason, including (but not limited to);

• Legislative responsibilities in relation to fire management. • Leadership • Provision of hazard expertise and technical advice • Subject to hazard impact – directly and/or indirectly • Land tenure and management arrangements • Expressed expectation • Influenced and/or support mitigation. Stakeholder engagement is required during all seven stages in the IFMP planning cycle, the aim being for them to participate together in the collaborative development, delivery and monitoring of the MFMP. Engaging with stakeholders in the development and implementation of the MFMP is an essential tool for drawing on existing knowledge and experience and to build support for and involvement in this plan. These communication and engagement tasks have been built around the model of public engagement developed by the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2). This model is called the Public Participation Spectrum and is detailed in figure 5 below. This spectrum provides a framework for planning effective stakeholder engagement about any issue or plan. It is used as the basis for communication and engagement planning during the development and subsequent implementation phases. FIGURE 5: IAP2 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SPECTRUM Inform Consult Involve Collaborate Empower Provide Obtain feedback Work directory Partner in Place final decision balanced on analysis and together to each aspect making in the information to decisions. ensure issues of decision hands of primary stakeholders. are understood. making. stakeholders.

2.1 COMMUNITY AND ORGANISATIONAL ENGAGEMENT PLAN In accordance with the IFMP planning guide the Mansfield MFMPC undertook a stakeholder analysis and used this as a basis for the development of a Communication and Engagement Plan concerning the MFMP.

The stakeholder analysis consisted of a two part process; first identifying the key stakeholders who needed to be engaged in the MFMP’s development and secondly determining the nature and level of their interest in fire management planning. This second step involved considering each stakeholder in relation to eight different fire management roles which are described in figure 6 and four different stakeholder types as outlined in figure 7.

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FIGURE 6: FIRE MANAGEMENT ROLES Role Description Bring together fire management agencies and elements to ensure effective response to an incident or emergency. CFA has legislated responsibility under the CFA Act 1958 for the prevention and Fire Coordination suppression of fires and for the protection of life and property in the Country Area of Victoria. In accordance with provisions in the CFA Act and the Forest Act, DELWP has fire management and fire suppression responsibilities for state forests, national, state and regional parks. Landholder/managers are heavily involved in fire prevention and fire suppression on land under their control. They have legislated Land responsibilities to extinguish a fire burning on their land and to prevent Owner/Manager fires from starting from the use of equipment and vehicles (CFA Act Responsibilities 1958, Crimes Act 1958). They are also required to comply with relevant local government laws, relevant planning or building permit conditions and conditions associated with permits to burn. Actions taken in anticipation of, during and immediately after a fire Response incident to minimise the impact of the fire. A coordinated process of supporting emergency affected communities or Recovery individuals in the reconstruction of physical infrastructure and restoration of emotional, social, economic and physical wellbeing. Community education is learning and social development, working with Community individuals and groups in their communities using a range of formal and Education informal methods Community care is about identifying and catering for groups or Community Care individuals with specific needs, before during and after fire.

Asset protection involves protecting key community infrastructure such as communications, power, water supplies, roads, gas pipes and protecting community assets such as community halls, buildings, parks Asset Protection and the environment. Asset protection can also involve the protection of private assets such as housing, plantations, crops and fences and tourism infrastructure. The issuing of permits for lighting fires. The development of and compliance with planning controls and permits for developments and Regulatory building that take into account fire risk/management. The regulation and issuing of permits involving vegetation removal or fuel reduction activities for fire management purposes.

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FIGURE 7: STAKEHOLDER TYPE AND ENGAGEMENT LEVEL STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION DESCRIPTION TYPE LEVEL Internal Formal responsibilities for IFMP process and Collaborate and outcomes empower Primary MFMPC membership, responsibility for development Collaborate and of the plan, communication and engagement across empower and within organisations rest with these organisations Secondary RSFMPC membership or fire management role Involve and within municipality, may be requested to provide consult specific inputs, dependent upon outputs, or requested to be involved in specific tasks, Tertiary Strong interest in outcomes and may have valuable Inform and information/viewpoints to share consult

Once a stakeholder had been categorised, the appropriate level of participation in the process and the different types of engagement activities required were determined. The results of this stakeholder analyses and the resulting Communication and Engagement Plan can be found in Attachment 2.

2.2 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT During the development phase of the MFMP the Mansfield MFMPC’s communication and engagement efforts were focused primarily upon the key stakeholders. However community groups were identified as Tertiary stakeholders and engaging them and the broader community is seen as a critical component to the long term success of MFMP.

This community engagement process is very much seen as an ongoing responsibility of the Mansfield MFMPC and it is expected to gain prominence going forward once the plan is endorsed and especially during review periods. Consequently the Communication and Engagement Plan should be viewed as a live and evolving document that will be shaped according to the MFMPC’s needs over time. In this manner it will be able to guide the process of broader community engagement with additional activities and details being incorporated as required.

It is also anticipated that in addition to the activities attributed to the MFMPC, individual key stakeholders will be utilising their existing processes and undertaking their own community engagement activities in support of IFMP and the MFMP.

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3. ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN Environmental scanning involves identifying key themes, issues, trends and gaps that can affect or influence fire management. It establishes the base level of knowledge and understanding required for supporting risk identification, risk assessment and risk treatment within a fire management context.

It involves gathering and interpreting data and information relevant to fire management, so as to make predictions, assumptions and conclusions concerning fire risk for the municipality over the period of the plan. It also provides the basis for identifying fire management objectives and decision making with regard to selecting strategies to achieve these objectives.

3.1 MUNICIPAL PROFILE

3.1.1 LOCATION AND TENURE Mansfield Shire is in North East Victoria, approximately 180kms from Melbourne. Shire boundaries are shared with Benalla Rural City, City of Wangaratta, Baw Baw Shire, Wellington Shire, Shire of Yarra Ranges, Murrindindi Shire and Strathbogie Shire. Mansfield is the only shire in the Hume region to share shire boundaries with Gippsland shires (Baw Baw Shire and Wellington Shire). Mansfield shire also surrounds the Alpine resorts of Mt Stirling and Mt Buller who are distinct entities and are governed by Alpine Resort Management Boards

Mansfield Shire Council was first proclaimed on 31 December 1866, and amalgamated with the City and Shire of Benalla on 18 November 1994 to form the Delatite Shire. After the de-amalgamation of Delatite Shire on 28 October 2002, Mansfield was re-established as its own municipality. The Shire is approximately 3800 square kilometres in size and has large forested areas.

Crown land covers approximately 60% of the shire and the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DELWP), Goulburn Murray Water (GMW) and Parks Victoria (PV) are the major land managers. Other major land managers include the Mansfield Shire Council (3% of land) and HVP Plantations. Approximately 30% of the land in the Mansfield Shire is privately owned.

3.1.2 POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHICS The population of Mansfield Shire was 8343 in 2011 an increase from the 2006 total of 7,450. The average annual population increase was 1.5% until 2010-2011, when growth slowed to 0.5%. Current Population as at July 2016 = Estimate 9010. Mansfield is unusual in Victoria in that approximately 50% of the shires ratepayers are non-residents. There are a large percentage of holiday homes as dwellings in the shire and its population increases considerably during weekends and over holiday periods with an influx of visitors. The majority (approximately 60%) of the shire live in rural areas with the remaining 40% of people living in the ‘urban’ areas of Mansfield. Mansfield also contains a number of smaller settlements including Merton, Bonnie Doon, Maindample, Tolmie, Merrijig, Sawmill Settlement, Gough’s Bay, Macs Cove, Howqua Inlet, Jamieson, Kevington and Woods Point.

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Like the majority of areas in rural Victoria, Mansfield Shire has an ageing population. Approximately 17% or 1,360 people are aged over 65 and this is forecast to increase. Mansfield is also a popular place to retire. Approx 27% of the population will be over 65yrs by 2021 - stat from Victoria in Future 2016 (added 8/16)

Over the past 10 years, Mansfield Shire has experience a 16% decrease in the number of people attending an educational institution within the shire. Like other areas in the Hume region there is a distinct lack of people in their early 20’s as many have left the region and moved to major regional or metropolitan centres to study and work. 11.6% of the population were born overseas and 2.8% of people speak a language other than English at home. 32% of Mansfield Shire residents perform some sort of voluntary unpaid work and 56% of the population have access to the internet at home.

Mansfield has a range of health services available to the community which include a hospital incorporating a nursing home, two medical clinics and an autistic centre with off- site accommodation. There are also numerous pre-schools, childcare centres, primary and three secondary schools and a number of educational camps spread throughout the Shire.

In terms of social disadvantage, Mansfield ranks 50th out of the total of 79 Victorian municipalities. Approximately 9% of residents are classified as living in the most disadvantaged areas within the Shire.

NOTE: Further information to be added to clarify this statement, however this data relates to state-wide assessments based on isolation, location, housing quality, income and support networks etc.

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FIGURE 8: MUNICIPAL MAP

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3.1.3 NATURAL ENVIRONMENT Mansfield Shire is characterised by a diverse combination of landscapes that include high alpine areas, steep slopes, high plateaus, river valleys and lower rolling plains. The shire has approximately 85% tree cover and includes sections of the Alpine National Park , Lake Eildon National Park and a number of State Parks and Forests. Other parks and forested areas that either border or have some of their area with the Shire include Mt Samaria (part in Rural City of Benalla) and the Strathbogie Ranges (generally Strathbogie Shire Council). Only 11% of private land is covered with native vegetation in Mansfield Shire. The shire includes sections of the Central Victorian Uplands and Highlands Northern Fall Bioregions which have diverse ecological characteristics.

The central and northern areas of the municipality follow the Broken River valley which encompasses hilly land in the north to more undulating land in the central areas. Land in the south of the Shire can be described as hilly to mountainous. The shire surrounds but does not manage the Alpine resorts of Mt Buller and Mt Stirling. A large number of streams and rivers occur in the municipality as does Lake Eildon.

The shire is located in the south east of the Goulburn-Broken Catchment and has a diverse range of soil types from quality alluvial and colluvial soils on the plains to rocky geologies in the higher areas.

Of the approximately 1300 species of flora recorded in the Mansfield Shire, 6 species are listed under Victoria’s Fauna and Flora Guarantee Act 1999 and 3 species under the Environment and Biodiversity Protection Act 1999. Threatened Flora includes species such as Plump Swamp Wallaby-grass (Amphibromus pithogastrus), Dookie Daisy (Brachyscome gracilis) and Lima Stringybark (Eucalyptus alligtrix).

In Mansfield Shire there are 15 threatened fauna species listed on the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 and 30 species listed on the Victorian Fauna and Flora Guarantee Act 1999. The list includes a wide range of animals from the critically endangered Golden Sun Moth (Synemon plana) to the endangered Leadbeater’s Possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri), Mountain Pygmy-Possum (Burramys parvus) and Spotted Tree Frog (Litoria spenceri). Vulnerable species include the Striped Legless Lizard (Delma impar), the Alpine Tree Frog (Litoria verreauxii alpine) and the Murray Cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii).

3.1.4 LAND USE, ECONOMY AND EMPLOYMENT Tourism is the key industry in Mansfield with approximately 1.2 million visitor stays to the Shire every year. Tourism employs 28% of the workforce in the municipality and contributes an estimated $135 million per year or just over 60% of the Shire’s annual gross tourism earnings. Approximately 6,500 tourist beds are spread throughout the shire and there are a number of large caravan parks. Tourist activities include camping, skiing, horse riding, four wheel driving and water sports on Lake Eildon. Many skiers stop in Mansfield on their way to Mt Stirling and Mt Buller Alpine resorts. The Australian Bureau of Statistics Survey of Tourism data does not provide data on number of commercial accommodation establishments under fifteen rooms. (added 8/16)

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A number of festivals and events are held in Mansfield on a yearly basis attracting large numbers of tourists including: • Bush Markets • Mansfield Country Festival • Mansfield Harvest Festival • Merrijig Rodeo • Mansfield Show and • Targa High Country

Agriculture is also an important industry in the Mansfield shire with approximately 85,000 hectares of land set aside for farming, grossing $30.5 million annually (ABS 2006). The major agricultural products from Mansfield include sheep, cattle and seed production.

Mansfield Shire is also home to a timber industry with some large plantations held by HVP Plantations. HVP Plantations have a number of pine plantations in the Mansfield Shire and possess their own fire fighting crews.

The municipality is traversed by a number of significant road transport networks as follows:

1. Midland Highway north of Swanpool (vehicles per day: 1780) traverses the Shire from Benalla to Mansfield and with Midland Link to Maindample. (Vehicles per day: 1420)

These roads essentially provide an east-west link for major traffic flows in addition to offering alternative routes for traffic east and west of Melbourne to link into the Hume Freeway.

2. Mt Buller Road (vehicles per day: 1690) between Mansfield and Mt Buller / Mt Stirling.

This road links with both the Maroondah Highway and the Midland Highway and provides access to the tourist attractions located in the Mt Buller and Mt Stirling regions (snowfields in winter, bushwalking etc in summer). A link is also created with the Secondary road to Woods Point and Licola via Jamieson.

3. Maroondah Highway (vehicles per day: 3300). This road links to the Mt Buller Road and the Midland Highway at Mansfield and Midland Link Road at Maindample. The Highway is the principal route for travel to Melbourne via Merton at the municipal boundary then via Alexandra, Yea and Seymour. Travel time to Melbourne is 2½ hours. Heaviest traffic conditions occur during the weekends of the winter snow season, Easter and Christmas.

These roads are generally of good quality. In the mountainous sections some of the secondary roads are steep, narrow, have restricted access and are of lower quality. Not all roads are sealed.

3.1.5 TRADITIONAL OWNERS The Taungurung (or Daung wurrung) language group traditionally occupied lands throughout the catchment areas of the Goulburn River and Broken Creek including land in

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the Shires of Murrindindi, Mansfield, Mitchell and Strathbogie. There are also many indigenous archaeological sites scattered throughout Mansfield Shire and Indigenous history and prehistory form a major part of the shire’s cultural landscape.

There is one Registered Aboriginal Party (RAP) in the area of Mansfield Shire; the Taungurung Clans Aboriginal Corporation (TCAC). RAPs have responsibilities relating to the management of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006. These responsibilities include evaluating Cultural Heritage Management Plans, provide advice to applications for Cultural Heritage Permits, making decisions on Cultural heritage Agreements and offer advice or applications for Protection Declarations. • For further information about RAPs and their contact details see: http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/indigenous/aboriginal-heritage-council/registered-aboriginal-parties

3.1.6 CLIMATE Mansfield generally enjoys a warm climate, excluding the alpine areas, with average summer temperatures in the high 20’s degrees Celsius. Figure 9 below summarises seasonal averages in Mansfield Shire. Average winter highs are around 14 C° and mean rainfall for the shire is approximately 774mm, although this can vary across the shire. In the town of Mansfield, rainfall averages 705.7mm but has varied to as low as 318.4mm (in 2006) and as high as 1093.2mm (in 1956). Lake Eildon, to the west of the town of Mansfield is wetter with an average rainfall of 853.3. The Lake Eildon weather station has also recorded a wide range of rainfall totals with a lowest recording of 404.8mm (in 2007) and a highest recording of 1401.3 (in 1956). Mt Buller weather station is the wettest, which records an average rainfall of 1530.9 and has varied as much as 633mm (in 1995) to 1971.4 (in 1989). FIGURE 9: WEATHER IN MANSFIELD

Weather Type Season Average Annual 13.9 Summer 20.1 Temperature (oC) Autumn 14.4 Winter 7.7 Spring 13.3 Annual number of hot days (>35oC) 14 Extreme Temperature Annual Number of Frosts 46 Annual Average 774 Summer Average 135 Rainfall (mm) Autumn Average 168 Winter Average 251 Spring Average 200 Wind Speed (km/h) Annual Average 6.1 Relative Humidity (%) Annual Average 68 *source: Mansfield Shire Council In the higher alpine areas, summer temperatures vary from 6.6 C° to 15.5 C° and average winter temperatures vary from -2.8 C° to 1.6 C° The future climate in the greater Goulburn-Broken region is expected to become hotter and drier than it is today (Goulburn Broken Greenhouse Alliance, Climate Change

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Adaptation Plan, June 2011). It is also expected that there will be a larger proportion of hotter days and a greater incidence of drought. Higher intensity, but lower predictability, of rain events is also likely to occur with less rain available for irrigation. These climactic changes will influence and possibly increase the likelihood of fire in the municipality.

By 2030 it is predicted that the average temperatures in the region will increase by 0.8°C and by 2070, depending on emissions, temperatures will increase on average by 1.4°C to 2.7°C. The climate is likely to become increasingly erratic with higher occurrences of heat waves and storms. These climactic changes will also make fire behaviour harder to predict.

3.1.7 FIRE HISTORY Although there is a fire season each year, a significant number of bushfire outbreaks have occurred in and around the Municipality. These include: • The 1939 and 1952 fires that had devastating effects on the district. • The 1985 Rose River fire • The 2003 North East Bushfire that burnt large areas of North East Victoria along the borders of the Municipality . • The 2006-07 Victorian Alpine Fire Complex. This was the longest running collection of bushfires in the State’s history. Initiated by a combination of over 70 lightning strikes in the Victorian Alps, some of which were in the upper King Valley, Rose River and Black Range areas of the Municipality, all of these eventually merged to form a single fire that burned for 69 days across approximately 1 million ha and destroying 51 houses, large numbers of stock, extensive fencing and causing one fatality. The fire season of 2007 had the most dramatic impact on the catchment (see Attachment 3, Burnt Area Past 10 years) in the Mansfield Shire. Not only did the fires directly impact the catchment but they had a detrimental impact on the tourism industry throughout the north-east of Victoria. This had direct consequences for many businesses in Mansfield Shire. There are 12 Fire Brigades that have all or part of their area within the Mansfield Shire, as follows: Barjarg Bonnie Doon Booroolite Delatite Plantation Glenroy–Merrijig Gough’s Bay–Howe’s Creek Jamieson Maindample Mansfield Merton Tolmie Woods Point

Mt Buller Brigade is acknowledged as a member of the “Mansfield Fire Brigades Group” and supports and is supported by the group. It is, however, located outside the proclaimed municipal district.

All brigades are well equipped, with most of the brigades having modern 4-wheel drive tankers, brigade owned fire fighting vehicles and a Group Command vehicle to support those provided by the CFA. A range of other support equipment is owned or managed by the fire brigades.

DELWP and the Networked Emergency Organisations (NEO) also maintain an active fire fighting role, particularly in relation to bush fire. DELWP have a well- resourced work centre in the Township of Mansfield.

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FIGURE 10: FIRE DANGER RATINGS

3.1.8 FIRE DANGER

Fire Danger Indexes (FDI) are determined from a range of meteorological factors including historical data (days since last rain, drought index) and current data (temperature, humidity, wind speed). Fire Danger Ratings (FDR) describe ranges of FDIs, and can be based on either historical data (actual FDR) or a combination of historical or forecasted weather parameters when predicting future FDRs. Figure 10 summarises the FDR types. FDR is therefore a function of climate, however due to the significant difference between forest fire and grass fire conditions; two different FDI meters have been developed. FDI is also a factor used in the decision making process concerning the declaration of Total Fire Ban (TFB) days.

The following figures provide a historical picture of the fire situation in the Municipality. Figure 11 gives us the average breakdown of the Municipalities fire season across the Moderate to Code Red categories of the FDR range, where 1 = forest and 2 = grassland. Whereas figure 12 describes the annual variation between each FDR category over different fire seasons for the last seven years. Finally figure 13 is a record of the number of TFBs declared within the Municipality (State-wide & Regional) over the last 10 years. What these statistics indicate is that the Municipality has a highly variable fire season, but it can expect to experience some “Moderate” to “High” FDR level days every year, with more severe conditions occurring on a regular if not annual basis.

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FIGURE 11: ANNUAL VARIATION OF FDRS IN FOREST AND GRASS IN MANSFIELD SHIRE (OVER LAST 10 YEARS) (TILL 2012)

100% Code Red 90%

80% Extreme

70% Severe 60% Very High 50% High 40%

30% Low-Moderate

Proportion season of Proportion 20%

10%

0% 1 2

FDR type

FIGURE 12: ANNUAL VARIATION IN FDR CATEGORIES IN MANSFIELD SHIRE (FROM 2004-2011) 90

80

70

60 Code Red 50 Extreme

40 Severe Very High Number of of Number Days 30 High 20 Low-Moderate 10

0 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 Fire Season

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FIGURE 13: HISTORICAL TFB DECLARATIONS FOR MANSFIELD SHIRE (FROM 1994-2011)

2016 Update re Total Fire Day Declarations for 2011 - 2015/16 (North East TFB District) 2011/12 0 days 2012/13 7 days 2013/14 10 days 2014/15 5 days 2015/16 8 days

3.2 STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS

Bushfire can occur in any type of vegetation, such as grassland, trees, crops or shrubs. This section describes the Mansfield municipality and factors that increase the likelihood of a fire starting and spreading across this area. Ensuring the municipality is a safe and healthy place to live and work involves protecting the social, environmental and economic fabric of the municipality.

Mansfield Shire has a range of assets and features which make it a vibrant place to work live or visit. These include large townships, small communities, and rural areas, industries such as agriculture, agribusinesses and tourism and important infrastructure for essential services such as transport, power, and communications. In addition to the built environment the municipality boasts a range of natural assets such as good quality water resources and extensive native forests which are valued for their environmental, commercial and visual appeal.

The topography of the shire varies greatly from the Broken River floodplains in the north, to the hilly and mountainous areas to the south and east. This can present challenges for fire fighting in the area and highlights the variety of terrain from the shores of Lake Eildon to the Alpine Resorts of Mt Buller and Mt Stirling.

Much of the freehold land in the shire surrounds areas of native bush and can incorporate large tracts of privately owned remnant vegetation. As a result, a large proportion of the municipality is subject to possible bush fires.

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3.2.1 VEGETATION AND TOPOGRAPHY The vegetation and topography of the municipality create a number of challenges for fire management. The shire is heavily forested, particularly in the mountainous sections of the shire to the south and east and extending to the Woods Point locale. These areas have a number of steep escarpments and highly varying topography, are heavily vegetated and have little access or egress and have a number of water courses flowing through them. All of these factors combine to make fire control and response in these areas difficult as locating and accessing fires with emergency equipment can be difficult.

A number of major rivers and streams flow through the municipality including the Goulburn, Broken, Delatite and Howqua Rivers and associated river valleys. These rivers generally run east to west and bisect the area of the Shire. Although providing a reliable water resource and a natural fire break, access across these major rivers and streams is generally restricted to bridges and crossing points which may delay emergency response times.

Roads generally run east to west through the Shire with a spine to the south. All of the major roads pass through the central node of Mansfield. The majority of the roads in the shire exist in the flatter areas to the north and access into some mountainous areas of the Shire is restricted.

Bushfire threat is not confined to forested environments and the threat of grass fires is a significant one throughout the shire. While grassfires may have lower intensities and flame heights than forest fires, the combination of open ground and fine fuels can produce very fast moving destructive fires.

3.2.2 WEATHER AND CLIMATE Weather conditions and climate also impact on fire management in Mansfield Shire. For instance the bushfire season from 2000-2009 was increased in length due to the wide- spread impact of severe drought. In more recent years, the summers have been milder and have had more rainfall, a condition which is predicted to change in the foreseeable future. Typically the municipality experiences spring rains and mild conditions that promote growth followed by hot summers which lead to high fuel loads.

The usual pattern during summer months is north westerly winds accompanied by high day time temperatures and low relative humidity building up over several days to a storm event with a change to south westerly winds. This creates a situation whereby fire ignition from lightning becomes a likely possibility, with a propensity for the fire to run quickly in one direction before changing direction quickly, thus transforming the fire’s extensive flank into the new fire front.

Changes in adiabatic pressure can also affect fire behaviour in the Shire. As wind is pushed down the lee sides of mountains by adiabatic pressure, funnelling of warm dry air, known as foehn winds, can take place. These foehn winds have the potential to dramatically increase air temperatures and wind speeds which may directly impact fire behaviour.

With current trends and thinking in climate change, research modelling suggests the future climate will be warmer, drier and less predictable. We can therefore expect an increase in the number of extreme weather events as well as longer fire seasons.

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3.2.3 PEOPLE Mansfield has experienced a number of fires in recent years. Its combination of varied topography, climate and vegetation coupled with the increasing number of people living in and visiting high fire risk localities during the fire danger period poses a significant issue for the municipality. Mansfield Shire’s population of approximately 8000 people rapidly expands during the summer months with holiday makers drawn to the area by the combination of recreational and camping areas, centred on Lake Eildon. A large number of non-resident rate payers have holiday properties spread throughout the shire that are highly utilised over this summer period.

Mansfield Shire has people with different perspectives and different needs in regard to fire and fire safety. Understanding these needs is central to delivering effective community safety initiatives. This is particularly important for people new to the area or those that recently experienced a severe fire event.

The impact of a bushfire increases if the fire occurs in areas where people live, work and visit, so consequently, settlement patterns are important when understanding bushfire risk. There is significant population expansion around the urban areas of Mansfield, both intensively at the town’s edges and less intensively through rural residential development in the surrounding areas, including rural residential blocks, for lifestyle reasons. These patterns of human settlement have increased the amount of urban rural interface that requires intensive fire management.

Tourism including planned events and festivals also has considerable impact on human movement during the fire danger period, interacting with fire management at several points, particularly on the foreshore of Lake Eildon and in the National and State Parks and Forests in the shire. The same landscape features that may lead to increased fire danger can also be underpinning elements of what makes the site attractive for tourism. Furthermore visitor numbers tend to increase as the fire season advances creating a situation of increasing potential impact as the fire risk rises

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4. MUNICIPAL FIRE MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVE -

UNCHANGED FOLLOWING MAY 2016 REVIEW The Municipal Fire Management Objective provides a framework for considering, selecting and evaluating fire management activities. This objective was developed using the information examined during the environmental scanning process, as well as being informed by the Hume Regional Fire Management Plan and relevant issues and priorities from regional stakeholders and adjoining municipalities. The plan recognises the primacy of life and the minimisation of property damage

4.1 MUNICIPAL OBJECTIVE The fire management objective of Mansfield MFMPC is; “The community of Mansfield Shire working together to plan and prepare for, respond to and recover from fire - to reduce the risk and consequence of fire to the community, environment and the economy.”

4.2 STRATEGIC DIRECTION In developing strategic directions for the MFMP the MFMPC was mindful of the planning context within which they were undertaking this task. As illustrated in figure 2 the MFMP forms a critical third tier in the State of Victoria’s Fire Management Planning hierarchy and therefore must not be developed in isolation from State and Regional level fire management plans. The MFMPC are keen to ensure any actions within the MFMPs support and compliment any relevant State objectives and strategies with regard to fire management. Consequently the MFMPC have adopted the following broad strategic fire management deliverables from the State Fire Management Strategy 2009.

• Active participation of the community, the emergency services and local and state government, working together in fire management planning to reduce the destructive impact of fire on communities and the environment.

• Communities are resilient to fire.

• Greater understanding of fire and its potential impacts within the community.

• Healthy natural, social and built economic environments.

4.3 ALIGNMENT OF REGIONAL & MUNICIPAL OBJECTIVE The Mansfield municipal fire management objective aligns closely with the Hume RSFMP objectives and vision for fire management. The development and implementation of this plan will therefore contribute to the realisation of the Hume RSFMP’s vision.

Furthermore the formation of the Mansfield Hume Regional Fire Management Vision: MFMPC and the development of a MFMP using the designated IFMP Planning Guide The Hume Region working together to have strongly supported several of the effectively anticipate, respond to and recover RSFMP’s key objectives. Evidence of this is from major bushfire – to secure a safer described in the following table. region, more resilient community, healthier environment and a prosperous economy.

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FIGURE 14: ALIGNMENT OF MFMP & RSFMP OBJECTIVES

RSFMP ELEMENT RSFMP OBJECTIVE MFMP CONTRIBUTION Planning together Develop state, regional, municipal and The MFMP provides the third tier in the IFMP local fire management plans and process and utilises the same risk base approach planning with a clear purpose and a as used with State and Regional plans consistent assessment of risk. Collaborative Develop and implement fire The MFMPC consists of multiagency implementation management programs and activities in representation and has incorporated community a collaborative manner. engagement strongly into the development of the MFMP. Building knowledge & Build and share knowledge in the fire The aspirations of the MFMPC converge with the capacity: management sector and across the regions in seeking to build both its members and community. the communities’ knowledge and understanding of Improve the capability of communities, fire management. the fire management sector and the government to deal with fires. Implementation support Support the implementation of the IFMP The development of this MFMP clearly framework in the Hume region demonstrates support for IFMP at a municipal level.

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5. FIRE MANAGEMENT RISK STRATEGIES Integrated fire management planning is the risk management process to establish priority setting for fire management activities and is consistent with the international standard for risk Management ISO 31000. Risk is described within the standard as; Risk Analysis = Consequence x Likelihood

And the standard emphasises the need to establish and manage the risk to the objectives that you have set during the plan development process.

5.1 RISK IDENTIFICATION PROCESS These objectives and risks were identified through the environmental scanning process and primary to this process is Chrighton’s Risk Pyramid (Figure 15). Chrighton’s Risk Pyramid provides a framework for sorting, analysing and assessing information with respect to fire risk. It helps identify the amount of risk generated by the hazard x exposure x vulnerability relationship within the context (people, property, infrastructure, social and economic, biodiversity, the economy and heritage values) of a location or situation. Where;  Hazard - is a specific event characterised by a certain magnitude and likelihood of occurrence  Exposure - refers to the factors, such as people, buildings, networks the environment and economy that are subject to the impact of a specific hazard  Vulnerability - refers to the characteristics of an element exposed to a hazard - road, building, person, and economy – that contributes to the capacity of that element to resist, cope with and recover from the impact of a natural hazard. FIGURE 15 CHRIGHTON’S RISK PYRAMID

Residual

risk Fire risk

PPRR management activity {

By this process the MFMPC was able to generate a list of bushfire risks for the municipality. As IFMP encompasses planning across all fire hazard environments, hazards need to be considered within a range of categories, so as to better understand the likely consequences and recovery risks involved. A copy of these categories can be found in Attachment 1.

725-1 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

5.2 RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS

Risk is assessed by determining consequences and the likelihood of the consequence occurring, and the elements at risk. An event or set of circumstances may have multiple consequences and may affect multiple objectives. Existing risk treatments and their effectiveness should be taken into account when rating the level of risk.

As a first step in the assessment process each of the identified risks were refined into succinct risk statement and entered into the risk register. Risk statements are a description of the risk and simply describe the risk in terms of the source through to the impact. Each risk statement should outline:

• The hazard (source of risk) • The element at risk • The consequence of the interaction as a result of an event.

Each of these statements was then qualitatively assessed for their impact using the State Fire Management Planning Committee’s State Bushfire Consequence Table (Attachment 1). Each consequence was considered in terms of both damage and disruption (loss of service or function) and in some cases, the consequence of an event was not realised at the local level but was of a significant impact at regional and/or state level. In addition the committee took into account existing treatments and their impact on the risk level. Consequence ratings were then entered into the risk register.

The likelihood of each event being realised was assessed using the data derived from the environmental scan and the Likelihood Table (Attachment 1). Where the committee did not believe it held the necessary technical expertise to make an assessment, advice was sought from relevant authorities outside the committee. Once agreement as to Consequence and Likelihood was reached the Likelihood x Consequence matrix (Attachment 1) was used to assign a risk level to each risk statement.

BELOW is a summary of the risk assessment process, detailing the highest priority bushfire risks in the Mansfield Shire. The priority risks were determined by the combined fire experts on the MFMPC which utilised the fire experience of committee members, the VFRR risk register and the former Mansfield Shire Fire Prevention Plan.

Once assessed, risks were also given categories using the following table (figure 16). This was done to group ‘like’ risks together. Primacy of life is the most essential element of the MFMP and is represented by the Risk Group – Social, and by the Risk Category- People and Social Setting. Other risk groups include economic risks, environmental risks and planning risks. The use of these categories and groups is utilised in both the risk assessment and the Risk Management Strategy

See also Sec 7.1 re risk Assessment and

735-2 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

FIGURE 16: RISK CATEGORIES TABLE

Risk Group Risk Category Risk Element

Life & injury: Public Safety SOCIAL Social services: Functional continuity People & Social Health & wellbeing: Social networks Setting Employment/income Displacement of people: Residential: House, flat, caravan, apartments Public accommodation Boarding house, hotel, hostel, correctional facilities Education, hall, theatre, stadium, cafe, restaurant Infrastructure Public assembly: Special accommodation homes, nursing homes Health care: and hospitals Heritage sites and buildings Cultural, Heritage Indigenous sites Iconic sites and features: e.g. Craig’s Hut Commercial: Shopping complex, office ECONOMIC Industrial: Factory (heavy, light, special), warehouse, silo, chemical, Essential petrol Pipelines, Power, public transport systems, Water Infrastructure Infrastructure: Catchments, Power Water & Sewerage, Gas, Communications Transport: Road, rail, bridge, tunnel, port, marine, airport

Agriculture and Plantation, crop, pasture, livestock, poultry, feedlot, Farming: hothouse, sawmill Production Business/Industrial

Capacity Recreational pursuits and desirable destinations Tourism Assets that provide biological based ecosystem functions and/or services Biodiversity ENVIRONMENT considered of value. Assets that provide water-based ecosystems functions and/or services Water considered of value. Assets that provide of atmospheric/climatic ecosystem functions and/or Air services considered of value Corporate Governance Issues, including organisation structures; Boundary PLANNING issues, Inter-Agency Agreements; Environmental scans; Population Governance & projections; urban development projections/planning; Volume projections; Regulation Long term/short term solutions; Infrastructure requirements to meet projected community needs Planning & Internal, external, multi-municipal, communications stratégies Communication Community Expectations; Government expectations; Stakeholder Business and Industry Issues, including risks associated with developing and Management implementing programs to minimise the impact of fire on business and

industry; Encompasses the planning, daily operational activities, resources (including Operational people) and support required within the ‘area of interest’, that results in the

successful development and delivery of products/ services. Ability to allocate limited financial resources to maximum effect; Ability to fund adequate resources to meet community needs; Skills & technical Financial expertise; Management skills; Equipment maintenance, upgrades, and replacement funding; Geographical remoteness location needs; Government's ability to fund requirements to meet population growth needs

745-3 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

5.3 RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Having developed a register of risks for Mansfield Shire, the committee was able to allocate the current treatments of responsible agencies against relevant risk areas and thus develop a Risk Management Strategy. This strategy is a matrix of;

Priority risks x treatment x agency x time frames

And thus creates a snapshot of who is doing what where and why, to reduce the risks posed by fire within the municipality.

The treatments itemised in figure 18 are primarily at program level and in many cases apply equally across the municipality, however some of these have the ability to target resources and effort at the specific locations or points of interest to the MFMPC.

In addition a number of specific activities were identified, both current and proposed, in response to the identified risks and these are described in figure 19.

FIGURE 17: RISK REGISTER

Consequence RISK DESCRIPTION RISK RISK LIKELI- RISK ID # CAUSE IMPACT Comments (column (Defined) GROUP CATEGORY HOOD RATING added 2016) Loss of life, loss of Risk of ember attack assets, time and and/ or fire from Mt cost of recovery, Mt Samaria is on the Samaria State park reduced water fringe/border with Benalla north of Mansfield Shire Social People & Social Lightning, quality (drinking Rural City, altitude old growth 1 impacting people, (See also Unlikely Moderate Setting bushfire water to Benalla forest with associated Major assets and Economic) Rural City), Loss of chimneys/hollows that could infrastructure in biodiversity burn in an event Mansfield on very high Loss tourism; Loss and above FDR Days agriculture

755-4 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

FIGURE 17: RISK REGISTER

Consequence RISK DESCRIPTION RISK RISK LIKELI- RISK ID # CAUSE IMPACT Comments (column (Defined) GROUP CATEGORY HOOD RATING added 2016) Risk of ember attack and or fire from the Loss of life, loss of Strathbogie Ranges Much larger area - most of Lightning, assets, time and north of Mansfield Shire Social area belongs to Strathbogie People & Social bushfire, cost of recovery, 2 impacting people, (See also Shire (small part in Mansfield), Unlikely Moderate Serious Setting recreational loss of biodiversity assets and Economic) Tall forests in south and east, users Loss tourism; Loss infrastructure in 7235ha of pine plantations agriculture Mansfield on very high and above Risk to lifestyle and Lightning, small communities bushfire, (people, residences and recreational Loss of life, loss of infrastructure) users, non- assets, time and Social A large number non-resident surrounded by forest People & Social residential cost of recovery, 3 (See also owners and tourists with Possible Moderate and grassland with Setting owners loss of biodiversity, Serious Economic) limited fire knowledge limited access and Farming and loss of public egress from fire on very industrial confidence high and above FDR workers/machi days nery

Risk to community in One road in and out - very Sawmill Settlement limited access and egress, Lightning, Loss of life, loss of (people, residences and heavy fuel loads, houses of bushfire, assets, time and infrastructure) lower standards, sloping People & Social recreational cost of recovery, 4 surrounded by forest Social ground and houses situated Possible Moderate Setting users, non- loss of biodiversity, Serious with limited access and amongst trees. residential loss of public egress from fire on very Recommendation is for people owners confidence high and above FDR to leave early on high FDR days days

765-5 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

FIGURE 17: RISK REGISTER

Consequence RISK DESCRIPTION RISK RISK LIKELI- RISK ID # CAUSE IMPACT Comments (column (Defined) GROUP CATEGORY HOOD RATING added 2016) Includes Lake Eildon and other waterways in MS, includes campfires escaping and recreational users in remote Risk to people camping Loss of life, loss of areas and National Park on public land and Lightning, assets, time and Alpine recognised areas. recreational users in the bushfire, People & Social cost of recovery, Major campsites are closed 5 Mansfield Shire from Social recreational Possible Moderate Setting loss of biodiversity, extreme and code red days & Serious fire with uncontrollable users, loss of public increased surveillance of users spread; high and above campfires, confidence on total fire ban days.. Some FDR days camping areas in HVP areas or on fringe. Smaller campsites not policed as heavily. Risk from people Includes campfires escaping camping on public land and recreational users in Loss of life, loss of and recreational users remote areas and National assets, time and in the Mansfield Shire Recreational Park Alpine recognised areas. 5 People & Social cost of recovery, from fire with Social users, Increased surveillance of Unlikely Moderate Serious a) Setting loss of biodiversity, uncontrollable spread to campfires, users on total fire ban days. loss of public grasslands and the Smaller campsites not policed confidence greater region on high heavily. and above FDR days NB 5a & 5 b split 2016 Camping equipment, Large numbers of people that Risk to and from poor vigilance are more vulnerable than people, infrastructure or camping People & Social Loss of life, loss of general community. Limited 6 and assets at caravan Social practices by Rare Low Significant Setting assets local knowledge and limited parks in the Mansfield recreational fire fighting capacity or Shire and/or equipment permanent users Smoke from Potential loss of life Risk of power fires outside or (vulnerable people) Reliable electricity is essential infrastructure in within Communications People & Social to community welfare - air- Mansfield Shire as an Mansfield loss, limited 7 Social Setting conditioning, water, waste Possible High ignition source of fire on Shire, community Major Infrastructure water communications, fire very high and above lightning, resilience, limited fighting capacity, etc FDR days bushfire, community & heatwave independent

775-6 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

FIGURE 17: RISK REGISTER

Consequence RISK DESCRIPTION RISK RISK LIKELI- RISK ID # CAUSE IMPACT Comments (column (Defined) GROUP CATEGORY HOOD RATING added 2016) conditions generation

Risk to people, Loss of life, assets residences and Machinery Reliable electricity is essential and infrastructure, infrastructure from fires People & Social fires, to community welfare - air- loss of production, 8 started on agricultural Social Setting accidents, conditioning, water, waste Likely High time and cost of land in Mansfield Shire Economic haystack fires, water, communications, Serious recovery, loss of on very high and above lightning firefighting capacity, etc stock FDR days Risk of accidents and failure of machinery Mechanical Heavy fuel loads, threatened starting fires on road Loss of life, assets People & Social failure, human species, large number of fires, Almost 9 reserves in the Social and infrastructure, Setting factors, road fire may use roadsides as Certain High Mansfield Shire on very loss of stock Serious accidents wicks to spread to other areas high and above FDR days

Risk from fire starting in 'Warrenbayne Recreational Plantation' and People & Social users, other Loss of life, assets 10 Social Duplicate - see below Possible Low spreading to other Setting human factors, and infrastructure, Significant adjacent areas on high lightning and above FDR days

Risk from fire beginning in large-scale Surrounded by large fuel loads commercial forestry and Recreational Loss of assets and in adjacent southern area Social People & Social plantations and users, other infrastructure, (DELWP land). Large 11 (see also Setting Possible Low spreading to adjacent human factors, long term numbers of motorcyclists and Significant Economic) Economic areas in Mansfield Shire lightning commercial impact 4wd users, campers as on high and above FDR potential ignition sources days

785-7 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

FIGURE 17: RISK REGISTER

Consequence RISK DESCRIPTION RISK RISK LIKELI- RISK ID # CAUSE IMPACT Comments (column (Defined) GROUP CATEGORY HOOD RATING added 2016) Risks to large numbers Lightning, Loss of life, assets Including events such as of people at events human factors, and infrastructure, Mountain Cattleman’s, Targa from fire and smoke in People & Social 12 Social campaign loss to etc. Risk of panic from public Likely Moderate the Mansfield Shire on Setting Significant fires, planned tourism/economic during event, fire could impact high and above FDR burns impact event from outside days Risks from large Including events such as numbers of people at Mountain Cattleman’s, Targa, Loss of life, assets events starting fires 4WD and cross country bike Camp fires, and infrastructure, and spreading into People & Social rallies, horse racing events, 13 Social other human loss to Unlikely Low surrounding areas in Setting etc. Risk of panic from public Important factors tourism/economic the Mansfield Shire on during event, risk of fire impact high and above FDR spreading from event into days surrounding areas

Risks to school camps Loss of life, assets throughout Mansfield and infrastructure, People & Social Lightning, Camps plan to evacuate 14 Shire from fire and Social time and cost of Rare Moderate Major Setting human factors students on extreme days smoke on high and recovery, public above FDR days perception Loss of life, assets Camps plan to evacuate Risks from school and infrastructure, students on extreme days, camps starting fires and Camp fires, time and cost of incidences where fire has impacting surrounding People & Social 15 Social other human recovery, public started on a school camp and Rare Low Significant areas throughout Setting factors perception, spread to adjoining areas are Mansfield Shire on high environmental rare. Larger than average and above FDR days impact media interest Loss of power to Risk of distribution lines Direct fire local community & sub stations being impact on (location of effect May take up to a week to impacted/damaged by People & Social poles/wires/str dependant on restore power to towns, Will 16 bushfire on an extreme Social Setting uctures, falling location of impact) affect smaller towns more as Possible High Major and above FDR day Infrastructure debris or loss of Mansfield has a ring power leading to a loss of vehicles communications, feed service accidents. loss of fire fighting capacity

795-8 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

FIGURE 17: RISK REGISTER

Consequence RISK DESCRIPTION RISK RISK LIKELI- RISK ID # CAUSE IMPACT Comments (column (Defined) GROUP CATEGORY HOOD RATING added 2016) A number of nationally threatened aquatic species occur in the shire, A large Risk to a reduction in Reduction in water People & Social Fire in the percentage of the shire is a 17 water quality due to Social quality, impact on Possible Moderate Setting catchment "Special Water Supply Serious post fire run off biodiversity Catchment" and consequences could be widespread Risk of widespread power outage, deliberate Reliable electricity is essential power switch off by People to community welfare - 18 transmission company Social Social Nil Power Nil power communications re risk, air- Likely Low Important due to potential fire on Infrastructrure conditioning, water, waste very high and above water, fire fighting capacity, etc FDR Loss of mobile service Critical to community for due to power People 18 Loss of warnings, advice, community interruption incl. Social Social Nil power Possible High Serious a) communications networks and public wellbeing, disconnection by Infrastructure less dependency by agencies transmission company Electrical Loss of supply for Risk of loss of water People social outage – fire Greater impact if extended 18 drinking, fire fighting supply due to prolonged Social setting or deliberate period greater than 24 Possible Low Important b) capacity, vulnerable electrical outage economic transmission hours/days people concerns switch off Electrical Risk to town sewage outage – fire Public health issues 18 pumping capacity due People social Social or deliberate in Mansfield and Prolonged outage Rare Low c) to prolonged electrical setting transmission other townships Serious outage switch off

Initially very high with town and Risk of loss of access People Serious 18 Social affected townships, Unlikely to be longer than 24- to Mansfield from other Social Setting Fire path Rare Low d) residents requiring 48 hours from all access roads regions due to fire path Economic self sustainability and resilience

805-9 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

FIGURE 17: RISK REGISTER

Consequence RISK DESCRIPTION RISK RISK LIKELI- RISK ID # CAUSE IMPACT Comments (column (Defined) GROUP CATEGORY HOOD RATING added 2016)

18 Risk of partial loss of Social All Fire path Devastating Outlying suburban areas Rare Moderate Major e) Mansfield township

Risk of full/partial loss 18 of other small townships Social All Fire path Devastating Aka Marysville Unlikely High Catastrophic f) in Mansfield Shire

Casualties impacted Unlikely providing road access could cause loss of open. Possible if Mansfield life, loss of care, township is cut off by road.

Risk to Mansfield Insufficient traumatised victims Movement of mass

Hospital Emergency surge capacity and family casualties and abilities for 18 People social Important capacity being Social for casualty members/friends health services to manage Unlikely Low g) setting overwhelmed by requirements? Implementation of is covered under SHERP - MDH code brown work casualties instruction provides and managed by the direction for Hospital Regional Health response-multiple Commander (AV) - added casualties Added 9/8 9/8/16 Risk to Indigenous and Information regarding non-Indigenous Loss of assets, loss Indigenous heritage sites may heritage sites in of scar trees, have limited access, Mansfield through Cultural, Lightning, 19 Social secondary impacts knowledge of location of Possible Moderate secondary fire control Heritage human factors Serious on burial sites and Indigenous sites may be measures (bulldozers stone scatters limited particularly with first etc) and on severe and responders above FDR days

815-10 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

FIGURE 17: RISK REGISTER

Consequence RISK DESCRIPTION RISK RISK LIKELI- RISK ID # CAUSE IMPACT Comments (column (Defined) GROUP CATEGORY HOOD RATING added 2016) Loss of vegetation species diversity Risk to fire influenced EVC include Damp Forest, and structure vegetation being Montane Dry Woodland and Lightning, leading to a long 20 impacted or changed by Environment Biodiversity Montane Herb-rich Woodland Possible Moderate bushfire term change in the Serious fire on an extreme or the majority would be found on vegetation class / code red days public land. structure and / or conservation status the loss of EVC include Montane Riparian Risk to fire sensitive vegetation species Thicket, Montane Riparian vegetation being diversity and Woodland, Montane Wet 20 Lightning, impacted or changed by Environment Biodiversity structure leading to Forest, Sub-alpine Shrubland, Possible Moderate a) bushfire Serious fire on an extreme or a long term change Sub-alpine Woodland and Wet code red days in the vegetation Forest, the majority would be class/structure found on public land Loss of assets, Loss of DELWP and reduction in ability Parks Vic infrastructure Potential impacting fire People, social to control fires (bridges, campgrounds Lightning, response efforts, location 21 Economic setting through reduced Unlikely Low Significant etc) in forested areas human factors dependent for degree of Infrastructure access, time and from fire on very high impact etc cost of recover, loss and above days of tourism Indirect Risk of mobile service impacts e.g. Towers themselves fairly fire Temporary loss of being interrupted due to Loss of power resistance, other mobile telephone 22 towers being impacted Economic Infrastructure to tower (most communications devices still Unlikely Moderate Serious service for a small by bushfire on very high likely cause - operating, mostly sited in open area and above FDR days direct impact areas to structure) Risk of telephone Dozer cutting communications being lines during Loss of all public interrupted due to People, social fire response communications Unusual but has been known 23 damage to cables Economic setting Unlikely Low or burning tree services for a small to happen during a bushfire on Infrastructure Important route near area very high and above cable (rare) FDR days

825-11 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

FIGURE 17: RISK REGISTER

Consequence RISK DESCRIPTION RISK RISK LIKELI- RISK ID # CAUSE IMPACT Comments (column (Defined) GROUP CATEGORY HOOD RATING added 2016) Emergency Indirect Services Risk of State net Mobile impacts eg communications Reduced quality but not total Radio (SMR) service Loss of power systems impaired service, other communications being interrupted due to to tower (most 24 Economic Infrastructure for a small area - still available (e.g. mobile Unlikely Low Important towers being impacted likely cause), may lead to loss of telephone) by bushfire on very high direct impact fire line See also 18a) and above FDR days to structure communications in (unlikely) some remote areas

Risk of major transmission lines & Interruption to Direct fire switch stations being supply - impact Veg clearance around lines & impact on impacted/damaged by degree & location structures, structures relatively poles/wires/str 25 dense smoke on any Economic Infrastructure depends on impervious to fire. Power will Unlikely Moderate uctures, or Serious day or bushfire on an demand/availability be restored in under 24hours – thick smoke extreme and above situation at time of location dependent under lines. FDR day leading to a failure. loss of service HVP regulate their own activities based on Fire Danger Index and Risk Risk to large-scale Assessment. Surrounded by commercial forestry and Lightning, Loss of assets and large fuel loads in adjacent 26 plantations from fire in Economic Production Possible Low human factors infrastructure southern area (DELWP land). Significant Mansfield Shire on high Large numbers of motorbikes and above FDR days and 4wd users, campers. Some plantations in Benalla Rural City on border of MSC. Risk to wine and viticulture industry from Smoke taint can occur smoke and fire in the Loss of wine throughout spring, summer 27 Economic Production Smoke taint Likely Low Mansfield Shire in vintage/value and autumn. Can be impacted Important spring, summer and by prescribed burns autumn Risk to tourism industry Reduced tourist of economic loss due Production Lightning, numbers, reduce Large percentage of Mansfield 28 to fire or perceived risk Economic Likely Moderate Commercial human factors income, economic Shire income is tourism based of fire in Mansfield Shire impact -reducing tourist on Significant

835-12 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

FIGURE 17: RISK REGISTER

Consequence RISK DESCRIPTION RISK RISK LIKELI- RISK ID # CAUSE IMPACT Comments (column (Defined) GROUP CATEGORY HOOD RATING added 2016) high FDR days and when bushfires are occurring elsewhere.

Loss of tourism for multiple years, This scenario came close in Risk of loss of Mt Buller People recovery may be the 2005/06 fires. Mansfield resort – economic Uncontrollable 29 Economic Social Setting slow, danger to tourism dependency or the Unlikely Moderate impact on Mansfield fire Economic persons on the mountain is becoming year Major Shire mountain, tourists, round owners, responders

Loss of production, loss of income, Losses may be limited to Risk of high stock People potential areas or widespread, may 30 casualties/losses Economic Fire, lightning Unlikely Low Significant Economic requirement for impact ongoing viability for caused by fire event mass euthanasia, some producers burial sites, etc NB 2016 UPDATES AND ADDITIONS IN RED PRINT

FIGURE 18: RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Responsible Treatment Treatment description Spectrum Application agency

Risk Targeted

Risk Group Category ID (or of a Name # Use Broad Recovery Response Prevention approach) Preparedness

People and Advocacy 1. In the event of fire (or fire risk on Infrastructure (added 7 Social 01     Social regarding the heightened days), essential infrastructure is Service /16)

845-13 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

FIGURE 18: RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Responsible Treatment Treatment description Spectrum Application agency

Risk Targeted Risk Group Category ID (or of a Name # Use Broad Recovery Response Prevention approach) Preparedness

Setting Maintenance and necessary to maintain public and community Agencies Restoration of; communications, power supply to fire fighting / (Ausnet N Infrastructure & water pumps, air conditioning, town services Services, services such as reticulated water and wastewater, etc Telstra, GVW AND 2. Also 'Planned activities' need to be etc) Implementation of implemented by all - Agencies, Regulators & programme Service Providers and the Community deliverables. Fire Safe Kids, Mobile Education Bushfire 1 Schools Program      CFA N Unit. Removal of vegetation through burning to Brigade Burn protect life & property, includes Township 2      CFA Y Program Protection Burning, Planned Burn Program & Fuel Reduction Burns by CFA Brigades. Vulnerable Community education & information for 3 Communities Fire      CFA N vulnerable groups about fire. Awareness Fire awareness programs targeted at 4 Awareness      CFA N communities via shows/events/displays Assists in perception & understanding of bushfire risk so as to modify behaviours and Fire Ready make individuals act more safely. Includes 5      CFA Y Victoria bushfire awareness sessions for communities, community groups, businesses & service providers. Fire information through Fire Danger Rating 6 Public Information signs, media etc to raise awareness of fire      CFA N risk. Includes Fire Action Week.

855-14 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

FIGURE 18: RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Responsible Treatment Treatment description Spectrum Application agency

Risk Targeted Risk Group Category ID (or of a Name # Use Broad Recovery Response Prevention approach) Preparedness

Planned response (for both emergency Township services & the community) to a bushfire within 7      CFA Y Protection Plans a close proximity to a township, which has the potential to impact on the local community. A community development program designed to help reduce the loss of lives & homes in People and Community Fire bushfires. It assists neighbouring residents to Social 8      CFA Y Guard develop bushfire survival strategies that suit Setting their level of risk, lifestyle, environment & values. Individual 1:1 fire awareness & education for residents with the highest level of bushfire Home Bushfire 9 risk. Advice on property management,      CFA Y Advice Service planning, personal capacity & potential fire hazards. Interactive workshop for residents living in high bushfire risk areas. Participants are guided through the Fire Ready Kit by a trained Bushfire Planning 10 facilitator to identify their own bushfire risks      CFA Y Workshops and the considerations they’ll need to make when putting together their bushfire survival plan. Community Post fire debriefings for CFA members, 11      CFA N Debriefs community & stakeholders 12 Communications Maintenance of a communications network      DELWP N "After the fires: Practical Advice" & "Recovery from emergencies"; information kits containing 13 Information kits      DHHS N brochures & fact sheets for people affected by fire/emergency

865-15 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

FIGURE 18: RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Responsible Treatment Treatment description Spectrum Application agency

Risk Targeted Risk Group Category ID (or of a Name # Use Broad Recovery Response Prevention approach) Preparedness

Identifies location, contact details & describes Vulnerable 14 needs of vulnerable persons within a      DHHS N persons toolkit municipality Alternative Provision of alternative drinking water supplies 15 drinking water to specific towns in the event of loss of normal      GVW N supply plan supply Assisting in the return to normal, including the People and provision of relief services, water Social Social 16 Recovery replenishment, material aid, information and      MSC N Setting advice to individuals, families or discrete groups etc Long term post fire support to affected Community 17 communities/gaps, including advocacy,      MSC Y recovery facilitating reconstruction, debriefing Identify vulnerable communities and individuals within Municipality. Targeted Vulnerable Community education & information for Communities, Fire 18 vulnerable groups about fire (and other      MSC Y Awareness & emergencies). Capacity to inform Emergency Response response agencies of the existence of vulnerable members within the community.

Fire awareness programs targeted at communities via shows/events/displays. Input 19 Awareness      MSC Y and assistance with the development and distribution of Township Protection Plans.

875-16 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

FIGURE 18: RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Responsible Treatment Treatment description Spectrum Application agency

Risk Targeted Risk Group Category ID (or of a Name # Use Broad Recovery Response Prevention approach) Preparedness

Community education and information for tourists about wildfire. Includes Tourism and Fire Awareness Program, Campfire Tourism Fire Information and implementation of 20 Awareness requirement for 'Event Management Planning '      MSC Y Program to occur. Caravan Park Education and enforcement re Emergency Management Plan endorsement and individual site development reviews against minimum standards.

Infrastructur Maintenance of a detection network. Includes Social 21 Detection      DELWP N e fire lookout towers and detection flights Maintenance of a strategic network of incident control facilities to support response in Incident Control 22 emergency management incidents. Includes      DELWP N Centres agreed level 3 ICCs to predetermined standards Maintenance of a strategic network of air Air support 23 support facilities. Includes airbases &      DELWP Y facilities helipads. GIS program identifying location & details of Fire risk mgt 24 community facilities managed by DHHS and      DHHS N system allied agencies. Fire management & safety issues for land owners/managers to assist in the preparation Agricultural of property fire management plans. Includes Economic Production 25      CFA N Management publication "On the land", "Farm Fire Safety" module (delivered via DPI & TAFE Whole Farm Planning courses on request).

885-17 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

FIGURE 18: RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Responsible Treatment Treatment description Spectrum Application agency

Risk Targeted Risk Group Category ID (or of a Name # Use Broad Recovery Response Prevention approach) Preparedness

Management of animal welfare associated 26 Animal welfare      DELWP N with an emergency incident. Assess damage to and loss of agricultural crops, livestock and infrastructure of Relief & recovery commercial primary producers and rural land 27 services to managers (including aquaculture), identify &      DEDJTR N primary producers refer personal and technical needs to appropriate businesses (within DPI) or agencies Liaise with animal welfare support agencies and organisations to deliver animal welfare services including assessing injured and Animal Welfare Economic Production 28 affected animals (livestock & companion      DEDJTR N Needs animals) in emergencies with an emphasis on the needs of commercial primary producers and rural land managers

Establishment of constructed and maintained Infrastructur Access Roads roads bridges and tracks to allow safe 29      PV Y e and Tracks passage for fire fighting vehicles. Includes Walking Track Maintenance. Ongoing mowing/slashing/spraying of sites to reduce fuel loads for protection of assets or Routine Site adjoining properties. Includes Asset Protection 30      PV Y Maintenance Zone work around high value assets and maintenance of places of last resort within parks Water point Maintenance of a strategic network of water 31      DELWP Y Maintenance points

895-18 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

FIGURE 18: RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Responsible Treatment Treatment description Spectrum Application agency

Risk Targeted Risk Group Category ID (or of a Name # Use Broad Recovery Response Prevention approach) Preparedness

Fire Access Maintenance of roads bridges and tracks to 32      DELWP Y Roads and Tracks specified standards. Ongoing mowing/slashing/spraying of sites to Routine reduce fuel loads to ensure protection of 33 Maintenance of assets, minimise ignition potential, includes      DET N facilities routine maintenance of structures (eg gutter cleaning).. Ongoing mowing/slashing/spraying of sites to reduce fuel loads to ensure protection of Routine Infrastructur assets, minimise ignition potential and ensure Ausnet Economic 34 Maintenance of      N e adequate access and egress. Includes routine Services facilities maintenance of structures (e.g. gutter cleaning). Routine Vegetation management around powerlines maintenance of Ausnet 35 and along easement, regular inspections,      N transmission & Services maintenance of access tracks. powerlines Ongoing mowing/slashing/spraying of sites to reduce fuel loads to ensure protection of Routine assets, minimise ignition potential and ensure 36 Maintenance of      Telstra N adequate access and egress. Includes routine facilities maintenance of structures (e.g. gutter cleaning). Bushfire Removal of identified fire risks to lines & 37      Telstra N Mitigation facilities, e.g. tree lopping Ongoing mowing/slashing/spraying of sites to reduce fuel loads to ensure protection of Routine assets, minimise ignition potential and ensure 38 Maintenance of      GVW N adequate access and egress. Includes routine facilities maintenance of structures (e.g. gutter cleaning).

905-19 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

FIGURE 18: RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Responsible Treatment Treatment description Spectrum Application agency

Risk Targeted Risk Group Category ID (or of a Name # Use Broad Recovery Response Prevention approach) Preparedness

Provision of specialist equipment (graders, water carriers) facilities and information management (including the operation of 39 Resourcing Municipal Emergency Coordination Centres),      MSC N available staff and equipment on stand-by to assist other agencies involved in emergency response. Fire Plug and Monitoring of hydrants and implementing Infrastructur Hydrant works to ensure that individual hydrants can Economic 40      MSC Y e Installation and be easily identified and the system will operate Maintenance correctly when required to do so. Establishment of additional constructed and Fire access maintained roads, bridges and tracks to allow 41      MSC N Roads and Tracks safe passage for fire fighting vehicles and the provision of additional water points (tanks etc). Reducing fuel loads and or promoting such works to other Authorities to protect assets, Fuel Hazard fuel hazard mitigation e.g. slashing, burning, 42      MSC N Management within townships, roadsides, reserves including routine maintenance works within Reserves and on roadsides Monitoring on an 'as needed basis' and Power line 43 engaging with 'Responsible persons' for      MSC N Clearance Vegetation management around powerlines.

915-20 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

FIGURE 18: RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Responsible Treatment Treatment description Spectrum Application agency

Risk Targeted Risk Group Category ID (or of a Name # Use Broad Recovery Response Prevention approach) Preparedness

Development of roadside vegetation management strategies that consider access Roadside and egress requirements for community and 44 Vegetation      MSC Y response agencies and those that support Management prevention and preparedness activities such as Strategic Fire Fuse Breaks. Advice to landholders & linkages to CFA to manage vegetation & lower bushfire risk. Vegetation Includes current advice, promotion and 45      MSC Y Management notification processes and provision of green waste disposal site at no cost for users. FUNDING REMOVED FROM BUDGET 2016 Roadside Removal of fuel and vegetation management Infrastructur Economic 46 Vegetation along roadsides. Includes Strategic Fire Fuse      Vic Roads N e Management Breaks and routine Roadside Maintenance. Advice to landholders & linkages to CFA Vegetation Environment Biodiversity 47 Brigades to manage vegetation & lower      CFA Y Management bushfire risk Ecological Using fire as a tool for ecosystem 48      PV Y burning management Targeted research into impacts of different 49 Fire research fire/fire regimes on ecological      PV Y communities/species

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FIGURE 18: RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Responsible Treatment Treatment description Spectrum Application agency

Risk Targeted Risk Group Category ID (or of a Name # Use Broad Recovery Response Prevention approach) Preparedness

Post fire monitoring of ecosystem recovery and implementation of rehabilitation/restoration works to protect Rehabilitation 50 waterways, repair/replace damaged assets.      PV N activities Includes post fire archaeological surveys to improve knowledge of historic land use and occupation. Implement a works program to repair or Rehabilitation 51 replace fire affected infrastructure and      DELWP N plan minimise impacts upon natural values. Governance Statutory & Bushfire Prone Areas & Bushfire Management Planning and 52 Legislative Overlay, declaration of TFBs, declared danger      CFA N Regulation activities periods, regulation of burning permits. Closure of parks and facilities at times of very 53 Park closures      PV N high fire danger Inspections of assets to ensure compliance Governance with regulations and safety requirements and Planning and 54 Patrol/Inspection to assess for fire hazards. Includes Campfire      PV Y Regulation Patrols and Parks Victoria Ranger Patrol Program. Programs which support legislative compliance. Includes patrols to enforce 55 Enforcement      DELWP/PV N campfire regulations, forest closures, fire cause investigations and prosecutions. Maintain bushfire management overlays to Bushfire ensure new developments in bushfire prone 56 Management      DELWP N areas apply bushfire protection measures Overlay through schedules.

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FIGURE 18: RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Responsible Treatment Treatment description Spectrum Application agency

Risk Targeted Risk Group Category ID (or of a Name # Use Broad Recovery Response Prevention approach) Preparedness

Provide information regarding minimum Bushfire Prone construction standards for buildings in a 57      DELWP N Areas bushfire prone area, including tools to identify bushfire prone areas Input to identifying Bushfire Prone Areas & Bushfire Management Overlay, declared danger periods, regulation of permits to burn. Municipal Emergency Management and Municipal Fire Management Planning. Statutory & Engagement with Mansfield Fire Brigades 58 Legislative Group and individual Brigades and      MSC N activities communities to improve fire safety outcomes. Establishment of Neighbourhood Safer Places and monitoring in accord with the Municipal NSP Plan. Implementation of routine verification steps to ensure compliance with Building Control standards Planning referral for new subdivisions, Planning controls structures, developments, applies range of Governance including Bushfire enforceable conditions re access, water Planning and 59      MSC N Management supply, standards, works and vegetation Regulation Overlay management, use of 173 agreements, application of building standards, licensing Inspections of allotments and assets to ensure compliance with Fire Management Plan standards, Planning permit conditions and 60 Patrol/ Inspection regulations and safety requirements and to      MSC N asses for fire hazards. Includes Private Property Inspections, Property Inspections, and Fire Hazard Inspection Program.

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FIGURE 18: RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Responsible Treatment Treatment description Spectrum Application agency

Risk Targeted Risk Group Category ID (or of a Name # Use Broad Recovery Response Prevention approach) Preparedness

Increased resources in high risk areas on Severe+ FDI days, increased patrols, Operation Fire 61 increased visibility and covert surveillance so      Vic Pol Y setter as to reduce the risk of arson and increase capacity in the event of a bushfire occurring. Investigate suspicious fires to ascertain cause 62 Investigations      Vic Pol N and identify perpetrators

Planning CFA input into site specific Emergency (Site) Emergency and Management Plans including bushfire 63 Management      CFA N Communic- component Plans ation

Ensure that proper and sufficient works for Planning wildfire prevention and suppression activities Emergency and on public land in Victoria are conducted in an Planning 64 Management      PV Y Communic- operationally safe, environmentally sensitive Response Plans ation and cost- effective manner. Ensure efficient and appropriate response Provision of specialist technical advice and 65 Technical advice support to other agencies involved in fire      PV N mgmt. activities DELWP Fire Management Zones. Strategic Fire Management 66 landscape scale zoning of public land across      DELWP N Planning the state to achieve fuel mgmt. outcomes

Implementation of planned burning and other 67 Planned burning      DELWP Y works as identified in FOP on public land

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FIGURE 18: RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Responsible Treatment Treatment description Spectrum Application agency

Risk Targeted Risk Group Category ID (or of a Name # Use Broad Recovery Response Prevention approach) Preparedness

Crown Land fuel Managing fuel loads on crown land. Includes 68      DELWP Y mgmt. slashing, mulching and burning. Provision of specified levels of skills and Bushfire resources to respond to emergencies. 69      DELWP N readiness Includes people (PFFs), equipment, heavy plant, aircraft, facilities and consumables Programs which maintain public awareness of the bushfire threat, promote the importance of self-protection & encourage the responsible 70 Education      DELWP/PV N use of fire by the community. Includes multimedia messaging, in field patrols and publications.

Planning Respond to bushfires on public land to protect and life and minimise impacts on property, Planning 71 Bushfire response      DELWP N Communic- communities and the environment. Includes ation timely provision of public information. Provide support to other organisations for Emergency mgmt. 72 emergency management, including expertise      DELWP N support and specialist resources. Emergency Relief Information & direction for emergency relief 73      DHHS N Handbook arrangements in Vic Individual Bushfire plans for DHHS run 74 Bushfire plan      DHHS N facilities (as necessary) Bushfire hazard 75 identification Refer ID #57      DELWP N framework

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FIGURE 18: RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Responsible Treatment Treatment description Spectrum Application agency

Risk Targeted Risk Group Category ID (or of a Name # Use Broad Recovery Response Prevention approach) Preparedness

Established framework for the effective handling of emergencies, includes an Emergency Emergency Management Plan for each 76 Management Plan      DET N Schools, childcare centre, preschool (public & (Site) private), mandatory training for staff, nominated bus routes, code red closures. Fire information through notice boards, brochures, signage etc to raise awareness of Ausnet 77 Public Awareness fire risk.      N Services

Provision of specialist technical advice, Planning information & assistance to other agencies and Ausnet Planning 78 Technical advice involved in emergency response eg temporary      N Communic- Services power cessation, line inspection in conjunction ation with field operations.

Maintain a response capability (scaled to level Ausnet 79 Supply continuity of risk) so to minimise length of power      N Services disruptions from incidents eg fire/storms Repair & replace damaged assets post fire so Ausnet 80 Restoration as to restore full services and minimise      N Services community impact Preparedness around powerlines including Powerlines risk ratings, inspections, maintenance and Ausnet 81 Hazard response arrangements. Includes Powerlines      Y Services Identification Bushfire Mitigation Strategy, Powerlines Faults and Emergency Events.

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FIGURE 18: RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Responsible Treatment Treatment description Spectrum Application agency

Risk Targeted Risk Group Category ID (or of a Name # Use Broad Recovery Response Prevention approach) Preparedness

Provide specialist support to other agencies(e.g. Vic Pol, CFA, DHHS, DELWP) 82 Specialist Support      SES N involved in response to an emergency, e.g. doorknocks, transport, staging area mgt. Establishment of an appropriate traffic flow, through traffic management in the community Traffic Diversion and appropriate access and egress for 83      Vic Roads N Plans property and business owners. Includes Traffic Management Strategies Assistance to other agencies. Emergency Respond appropriately to the impacts of fire 84      GVW N response plan on water supply and waste management Planning Provision of specialist technical advice, and Planning 85 Technical advice information & skills to other agencies involved      MSC N Communic- in emergency response ation Coordinate municipal emergency response 86 MERC      Vic Pol N effort in the event of a major bushfire Coordinate evacuation measures undertaken 87 Evacuations      Vic Pol N in response to a bushfire threat Provide specialist support to other agencies 88 Specialist Support involved in response to a bushfire e.g. vehicle      Vic Pol N escorts

985-27 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

FIGURE 18: RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Responsible Treatment Treatment description Spectrum Application agency

Risk Targeted Risk Group Category ID (or of a Name # Use Broad Recovery Response Prevention approach) Preparedness

Development and maintenance of strategic fire breaks and fire access tracks, operational restrictions on plantation activities based on forecasted FDI, a range of fire fighting resources on varying levels of preparedness 89 Strategic Fire plan based on forecasted FDI (includes fire fighting      HVP N appliances, trained and experienced personnel, heavy machinery, and aerial support), strategic water points/ fire tanks placed throughout estate to ensure water availability for suppression activities. Dictate level of readiness according to the Standard conditions so as to ensure appropriate Operational 90 Operating      CFA N resourcing & preparedness for optimum Procedures response Strategic network of qualified & equipped staff, 91 Resourcing volunteers & appliances for mounting timely      CFA Y response to fires on private land.

Planning of proposed fire prevention activities to be carried out on public land (includes all land managed by DELWP and PV) with the objective of reducing impacts of bushfire on Fire Operations Planning Operational 92 life, community, critical infrastructure, industry      DELWP N Plan and the environment. Includes planned burns, slashing and track works, grazing, and additions to the permanent network of strategic fuel breaks.

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FIGURE 18: RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Responsible Treatment Treatment description Spectrum Application agency

Risk Targeted Risk Group Category ID (or of a Name # Use Broad Recovery Response Prevention approach) Preparedness

Regional Identifies DHHS resource requirements for Resourcing & 93 different emergencies and describes triggers      DHHS N activation for activation of different levels guidelines Maintain service continuity and minimise disruptions by responding to faults or damage Response 94 to facilities, includes deployment of mobile      Telstra N program communication units and use of generators during power outages Operating procedures varied to reduce risk during high fire danger periods/events (eg Risk Management reduce methane gas levels at waste treatment 95      GVW N Procedures sites) and strategic spread of facilities and generators to spread risk and ensure continuity of supply Fire Access Coordination of Fire Access Roads Subsidy Financial 96 Roads, Tracks & Scheme (FARS) to enable construction &      CFA N Water Points maintenance of roads, bridges & water points. Grant to families whose home is impacted by 97 Emergency grants      DHHS N fire, allocated by municipality.

5.4 SPECIFIC TREATMENTS

In addition to the above Risk Assessment and Risk Management Strategy, the MFMPC came up with a list of specific treatments. This list of treatments (Figure 19 below) highlights the specific activities either currently undertaken or proposed to be undertaken to mitigate fire risk further and give further detail than listed in the Risk Management Strategy. The specific activity treatment is listed as is the type

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and status of the activity. Activity custodians refer to all agencies involved in the treatment regime. In terms of a timeline, the year column refers to the three year life cycle of the plan and which year the treatment is applicable.

FIGURE 19: SPECIFIC TREATMENTS - PRE AND POST 2016 REVIEW

Specific Treatment Treatment P.P.R.R or Activity Comment & Status Risk Description Activity Type ID # Activity Status Use Custodian (red text added 2016) Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year Treatment Treatment

Develop a project to Create project to determine investigate roadside fuel load levels on and management issues - adjacent to roadsides. MFMPC, Fires spreading linkages in DELWP Develop a slashing and or Preparednes DELWP, 1 from roadside strategic fire access roads, Research New Yes spraying standard to apply s CFA, MSC, reserves current fire prevention plan, to roads (where Vic Roads strategic access/egress appropriate), roads, CFA critical access roads Still to be concluded - 6/16

Risk of fire impacting upon indigenous cultural heritage sites Ensure indigenous values including scar are included on the asset Preparednes MFMPC 2 Research New Yes Ongoing - added 6/16 trees and burial databases used by fire s DELWP, mounds (during responders and custodians control) on high and above FDR days. Investigate the education program used for forest Preparednes 3 Tourism area recreation to inform Research New MFMPC Yes Ongoing - added 6/16 s visitors of fire risk (by request of the RSFMPC) MSC and CFA to work together to promote that major employers, tourist Preparednes 4 EMPs operators, event operators Research New MSC, CFA Ongoing - added 6/16 s and other agencies develop Emergency Management Plans 5 Fire resources Identify infrastructure that Research New Response DELWP, Yes Yes Completed - see MEMP

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FIGURE 19: SPECIFIC TREATMENTS - PRE AND POST 2016 REVIEW

Specific Treatment Treatment P.P.R.R or Activity Comment & Status Risk Description Activity Type ID # Activity Status Use Custodian (red text added 2016) Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year Treatment Treatment

supports fire response CFA, MSC, -added 6/16 (Air fields, water points, MFMPC information from TPPs, Wildfire Response Plans) It is known that people will NSPs and other Develop a list of areas gather in certain areas areas of (outside of NSPs) that Preparednes CFA, MSC, during a fire event. Make a 6 community Research New Yes Yes people will gather in a fire s MFMPC list of these potential gather gathering in a fire situation places. situation Completed -added 6/16 Look at ways of Non-resident maintaining and or Preparednes Completed & Ongoing - 7 Advocacy New MSC, CFA rate payers engaging non-resident rate s added 6/16 payers regarding PPRR Mansfield Make sure that Mt Buller Engagement with MFMPC, Mt and Mt Stirling MFMP and 8 Mt Buller/Mt Advocacy New Prevention Buller and Yes Ongoing - added 6/16 the Mansfield MFMP Stirling MFMP Mt Stirling complement each other. MFMPC All relevant Ensure that each agency is agencies Accuracy of data layers is maintaining its data layers (including essential in providing Data layers that that are being utilised in the Preparednes CFA, MSC, correct information to 9 are being used for MFMP. Action Current s DELWP, stakeholders and incident the MFMP Determine annual date of Parks Vic, controllers. review (develop specific DHHS, Ongoing - added 6/16 date) OESC etc) Bushfire Management Overlays may influence Look at what has come out Preparednes 10 BMOs Research Proposed MSC MFMPs and the MFMPC of BMOs in one year’s time s needs to be aware to these Under review 8/16

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FIGURE 19: SPECIFIC TREATMENTS - PRE AND POST 2016 REVIEW

Specific Treatment Treatment P.P.R.R or Activity Comment & Status Risk Description Activity Type ID # Activity Status Use Custodian (red text added 2016) Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year Treatment Treatment

Ensure MFPP data is In the transfer of this data it incorporated into MFMP is essential that the data is (Fire management risk approved by the responsible 11 Prevention Plan Research Current Prevention MFMPC strategies 5, and Fire agency, the MEMPC or the management treatments MFMPC is included 7.5) Completed -added 6/16

A treatment list has been Ensure relevant information created that lists all relevant from agencies at a regional treatments. The custodian Relevant regional level is incorporated into Preparednes of this list will be Mansfield 12 Advocacy Current MFPC agency input MFMP (e.g. DEECD, DHHS s Shire Council. The list etc). Update agency needs to be updated and treatment list annually reviewed annually. Ongoing - added 6/16

Strategic study of land use mitigation methods that can be applied to the highest risk small townships within Identification and Mansfield Shire and implementation of mitigation implementation of mitigation measures available via land Planning Scheme measures available via use planning provisions amendment of the planning 13 Research Current All MSC  applicable to scheme. This includes the Ongoing - added 6/16 bushfire development of a local Promote the need for planning policy that comments to be sought identifies the long term from MFMPC in regard to direction about land use and any changes development in the municipality in regards to bushfire prone land

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5.5 FIRE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY

Fire management responsibility within the municipality may be described in three categories.

In addition, there is a general advocacy role applicable to; (a) Agencies, b) Regulators and Service Providers and c) the Community, - where the MFMP can support and encourage each other to implement (their) risk strategies. Added 6/16

5.5.1 RESPONSE AGENCIES

Country Fire Authority (CFA): is charged under the CFA Act with the responsibility for Fire Safety Planning and Fire Suppression in all areas of Victoria excepting the area covered by the Metropolitan Fire Brigade and Fire Protected Areas. The CFA is a community based fire and emergency service whose mission is to protect lives and property. CFA responds directly to a range of emergency incidents, as well as conducting broader activities with the community such as education, awareness raising, industry brigades and fire investigation.

Text Added August 2016 CFA Staff, Officers and Volunteers work with local communities to raise awareness about fire safety and help them plan for fires and emergencies. CFA is committed to strengthening community resilience and preparedness by building partnerships between all stakeholders, including local governments and a diverse range of community networks and community and industry groups. CFA activities support the shared responsibility approach, which aims to build self-reliant communities that are empowered with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to manage their own fire safety. CFA members undertake the following community engagement activities: > promote fire safety in the local community > inform at-risk communities about risks and support development of local plans > support communities to make local decisions about their safety > maintain an up-to-date website, educative materials and opportunities to enable Victorians to engage with CFA and learn about fire safety > provide fire education and engagement programs to at-risk communities > work with the leadership of agencies whose mission is to provide services to vulnerable people to enable them to provide fire safety information to their clients > provide education opportunities to school communities about fire safety.

PREVENTION AND MITIGATION CFA work collaboratively with other agencies, local government, land managers and land owners to reduce the likelihood or impact of fire and other emergencies. Authorised CFA members undertake the following prevention activities: > vegetation management in and around communities to mitigate the impact of bushfire on property and communities > work with communities, agencies and local government to develop shelter and other mitigation options > support communities to develop local plans about fire safety and emergency management.

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EMERGENCY RESPONSE: SUPPRESSION Response involves combating emergencies and providing rescue and immediate relief services to those affected. Part 3 of the EMMV (State Emergency Response Plan; SERP) identifies the organisational arrangements for managing the response to emergencies within, or with the potential to affect, the State of Victoria.

STRATEGIC CONTROL PRIORITIES Emergency response is undertaken to achieve CFA’s mission to protect lives and property. The State Controller’s Intent provides clear direction about the key strategic control priorities that must be considered and actioned during the management of any significant or complex fire. The following strategic control priorities shall underpin the planning and operational decisions made by agency command and control staff when managing fire: > Protection and preservation of life is paramount. This includes – Safety of emergency services personnel; and – Safety of community members including vulnerable community members and visitors/tourists located within the incident area. > Issuing of community warnings and community advice detailing incident information that is timely, relevant and tailored to assist community members make informed decisions about their safety. > Protection of critical infrastructure and community assets that supports community resilience. > Protection of residential property as a place of primary residence. > Protection of assets supporting individual livelihoods and economic production that supports individual and community financial sustainability. > Protection of environmental and conservation assets that considers the cultural, biodiversity and social values of the environment.

Department of Environment Land Water and Planning (DELWP) (former DSE): is responsible for fire suppression and management on public land with support from Networked Emergency Organisations (NEO) which includes Parks Victoria and DPI (now DEDJTR). Their objective is to protect communities and critical infrastructure from fire and to promote healthy and resilient ecosystems. DELWP also initiate and undertake planned burning for ecological and risk management purposes.

5.5.2 REGULATORY AND SERVICE PROVIDERS

MANSFIELD SHIRE COUNCIL (MSC): are responsible for the management of all council owned property, as well as ensuring that private land holders appropriately manage their land for fire risk. Council officers inspect properties within the municipality to assess the potential risk of a bushfire and where necessary may issue a fire prevention notice. They also undertake annual fire prevention works on roadsides and reserves leading up to and during the fire season and promote fire safety. LINK TO MSC WEBSITE: www.mansfield.vic.gov.au/

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES (DHHS) (FORMER DHS) is the appointed agency to co-ordinate recovery planning and operations at the regional levels. At a municipal level, the responsibility for recovery is with the Mansfield Shire Council with recovery arrangements and plans outlined in the Municipal Emergency Management Plan (MEMP)& Municipal Recovery Sub-plan. LINK TO DHHS WEBSITE: www.dhhs.vic.gov.au

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DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JOBS TRANSPORT AND RESOURCES (FORMER DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY (DPI): The Department of Primary Industries ) is responsible for agriculture recovery programs and animal welfare. LINK TO DPI WEBSITE: www.dpi.vic.gov.au/

PARKS VICTORIA: Parks Victoria is responsible for managing the parks and reserves in Victoria and supporting DELWP response efforts. LINK TO PARKS VICTORIA WEBSITE: http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/

STATE EMERGENCY SERVICES (SES): VICSES is a volunteer based organisation responding to emergencies and working to ensure the safety of communities around Victoria. VICSES is the lead agency when responding to floods, storms and earthquakes and support agency in fire situations. LINK TO SES WEBSITE: www.ses.vic.gov.au/

VIC ROADS: Vic Roads manage the Victorian arterial road network and its use as an integral part of the overall transport system. LINK TO VIC ROADS WEB SITE: www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (DPCD): The Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) is responsible for managing the state’s planning system and building stronger communities. LINK TO DPCD WEB SITE: www.dpcd.vic.gov.au

VICTORIA POLICE (VICPOL): Victoria Police are responsible for ensuring a safe and secure society. LINK TO VICTORIA POLICE WEB SITE: www.police.vic.gov.au/

GOULBURN VALLEY WATER (GVW) GVW provides water and sewerage services to 38 towns, villages and cities in North East Victoria, serving an estimated population in excess of 113,000 people in an area of approximately 20,000 square kilometres. LINK TO GVW WEBSITE::www.gvwater.vic.gov.au/

GOULBURN MURRAY WATER (GMW): GMW G-MW is responsible for the operation of irrigation distribution channels, dams, lakes, and stock and domestic water diversion from streams. Goulburn Murray Water is responsible for the management of its assets, and the undertaking of fire prevention and fuel reduction works as part of their asset management. LINK TO GMW WEBSITE: www.g-mwater.com.au/

AUSNET SERVICES: Ausnet Services manages three Victorian energy networks – electricity transmission, electricity distribution and gas distribution. LINK TO SP AUSNET WEB SITE: www.sp-ausnet.com.au/

TELSTRA: Telstra provide communication services and are responsible for telephone cabling, exchanges, mobile telephone towers, and radio communication towers LINK TO TELSTRA WEBSITE: www.telstra.com.au/

WICEN: Back up and support for communications and accredited radio operators - Refer MEMP: www.vic.wicen.org.au

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5.5.3 COMMUNITY Land managers, the community and individuals all have a responsibility to maintain their properties and to conduct their activities in a responsible manner with respect to fire management. The effectiveness of the Risk Management Strategy relies heavily upon the community understanding and accepting their responsibilities and acting accordingly.

While specific treatments cannot be attributed to private individuals and organisations within the Risk Management Strategy the MFMPC does have an expectation that members of the community will where appropriate; • Prepare and plan for fires, both bushfire and structural (Refer 7.7.6) • Prepare their properties for fire events • Ensure adequate access and water for fire fighting appliances • Maintain an awareness of fire danger levels and listen for alerts and warnings. Advice, training and support to groups, businesses and individuals concerning all of these expectations can be obtained from the CFA (see link below).

• LINK TO CFA FIRE SAFETY: www.cfa.vic.gov.au/firesafety

5.6 BALANCING FIRE RISK AGAINST OTHER VALUES In the course of developing the Risk Register it became apparent to the MFMPC that some of the concerns being raised lay less with the impact of the actual fire and more with that of the treatments being applied. A number of the fire risk treatments adopted in Risk Management Plan pose a potential threat to some of the very values the MFMPC is seeking to safeguard. It is important that these threats are noted and that a balance be struck between protecting the community from fire and maintaining the economic, social, and environmental well being of the municipality.

A number of processes and treatments are already in place to ensure that all values are taken into consideration and protected during the planning and implementation of fire risk treatments. Where conflict does occur the MFMP offers a dispute resolution process for member agencies by establishing a pathway for issues to be escalated and resolved at either a regional or state level by the responsible authorities.

5.7 CROSS BOUNDARY MANAGEMENT AND LINKS TO OTHER PROGRAMS/PROCESSES In developing this plan the Mansfield MFPC has endeavoured to ensure that concerns which cross municipal, regional or state boundaries are treated in a seamless manner with regard to risk assessment and treatments. This has been achieved through; • Consistent use of processes and tools across the region. • Deliberate alignment of municipal and regional objectives. • Frequent cross membership of MFMPCs by agencies. • Making draft and final MFMPs available to other MFMPCs.

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6. IMPROVEMENT, PLAN REPORTING AND REVIEW PROCESS Monitoring and improvement forms the final stage in the 'revolving IFMP process. Monitoring and improvement should be viewed as an ongoing activity as it actually entails continuous action, undertaken throughout the plans nominal three year life.

It is important to track the performance of the plan and the degree to which it contributes to achieving the desired outcomes once implementation of the Fire Management Plan has commenced. Monitoring, evaluation and reporting occur throughout the life of the plan, the aim being to identify those treatments working effectively and those that may need to be modified. It also seeks to provide a transparent and accurate means of assessing the MFMP’s progress in achieving its objective. The table below summarises the proposed implementation, reporting and review activities, as well who is responsible for undertaking them.

FIGURE 20: MSC MFMP REPORTING AND EVALUATION PROGRAM Frequency Task/Action Responsible Party Ongoing Implement treatments, as per agreed Work Plan All treatment owners Further explore identified opportunities for new or enhanced MFMPC treatments with relevant stakeholders, and agree course of action Biannually Report to MFMPC on the progress of treatment All treatment (every 6 implementation, including an evaluation of treatment owners months) appropriateness, impact, effectiveness, efficiency, and legacy Update Risk Register & Work Plan to reflect treatment MFMPC status, as reported by treatment owner Annually Conduct strategic review of risks and associated treatment MFMPC (every 12 program, asking: months) Are the identified risks still valid? Do their pre-treatment and residual risk ratings still hold true? Are there new risks that need to be added to the register and managed? Do the treatments currently in place adequately address the identified risks? Are there any new or enhanced treatments required? Review and update Plan content and mapping to ensure MFMPC validity Provide overarching progress report to Municipal MFMPC Emergency Management Planning Committee, focusing on the collective effectiveness of treatments in the management of risks and progress towards the achievement of objectives Triennially Conduct end-to-end review of Plan, with particular focus on MFMPC (every 3 the environmental scan and objectives years)

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6.1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND ENCOURAGEMENT

The integrated fire management planning process operates within a complex and challenging environment, with often limited and competing resources to achieve the desired outcome of acceptable levels of residual risk to the community.

Therefore, fundamental to its success is the establishment and preservation of healthy stakeholder partnerships that allow for continued transparent and robust dialogue in the interest of achieving the plan’s objectives in the long term.

It is the role of the MFMPC to spearhead relationship management for this purpose.

See additional comments and Treatment added August 2016 re Advocacy Roles in Section 5.5 above.

7.ATTACHMENTS

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7.1 RISK ASSESSMENT TABLES STATE BUSHFIRE CONSEQUENCE TABLE (FROM STATE FIRE MANAGEMENT PLANNING COMMITTEE) STATE DESCRIPTOR People - Bushfire Infrastructure - Bushfire Public Admin - Bushfire Environment - Bushfire Economy - Bushfire Social Setting BUSHFIRE 50+ lives lost. Loss of critical infrastructure Significant statewide Permanent total loss of one or $1B or 30% of State revenue Severe disruption to Hundreds injured and/or services for 24-48 hours outrage. Royal more ecosystems or critical community wellbeing 1000+ houses destroyed. to the Melbourne metropolitan Commission or other similar habitat elements. over the whole area or a Catastrophic 2000+ people displaced. area. Loss of services to a major inquiry leading to changes Loss of nationally significant large part of it for a 30,000 + livestock lost. regional city/several suburbs for in policy and practice. cultural assets. period of many years more than a week. 10 -50 fatalities as a Loss of critical infrastructure Significant regional and Permanent partial loss of one or Damage costs including legal Severe disruption to direct result of the and/or services for up to 8-24 local outrage, with some more ecosystems or critical actions and/or industry community wellbeing bushfire event. hours to the Melbourne occurring at state level. habitat elements. impacts (tourism, forestry, over a wide area or for 300 - 1000 houses metropolitan area. Parliamentary or other Extinction of a species or wine and grape etc) to the more than 24 months. destroyed. Loss of services to a major inquiry leading to change in significantly increase the value of more than $300M. Major 500 -2000 people regional city/several suburbs for practice. likelihood of extinction to almost displaced. 4 days and up to a week. certain that intervention such as 10,000 - 30,000 livestock captive breeding programs are lost. required. Significant loss of Loss of state significant cultural breeding stock. assets. 2 - 10 fatalities as a direct Loss of critical infrastructure Some outrage at local and Long term disturbance to one or Damage costs including legal Major disruption to result of the bushfire and/or services for up to 2-8 regional level. more ecosystems or critical actions and/or industry community wellbeing event. hours to the Melbourne habitat elements. impacts (tourism, business over a moderate to large Large number of people metropolitan area. National response and/or etc) to the value of more than area* or for a period of affected by smoke. Loss of services to a major support for animal welfare. $100M. months. Serious 30 - 300 houses lost. regional city/several suburbs for Loss of a regionally significant 200- 500 people 2-4 days. cultural asset such as Phillip displaced Island penguins, Healesville 4000 - 10000 livestock Sanctuary, Puffing Billy. lost. Single fatality and/or Loss of critical infrastructure Local outrage and concern. Temporary disturbance to one Damage costs including legal Localised disruption to multiple serious injuries and/or services for up to 1 hour or more ecosystems or critical actions and/or industry community wellbeing requiring hospitalisation to the Melbourne metropolitan habitat elements. impacts (tourism, business over a small area or for a as a direct result of the area. Local response and/or support etc) to the value of more than period of weeks. Significant bushfire event. Loss of services to a major for animal welfare. $30M. Up to 30 houses lost. regional city for 1 day. 50 - 200 people Loss of services to local displaced. community for a week. 2000 - 4000 livestock lost. Serious injury and Loss of services to regional Local concern Temporary disturbance to local Damage costs including legal Localised disruption to disability, up to 50 people town for a day. Loss of services habitat. actions and/or industry community wellbeing Important displaced, up to 2000 to local community of up to a Local response and/or support impacts (tourism, business over a small area or for a livestock lost week for animal welfare. etc) to the value of less than period of up to one week. $30M.

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LIKELIHOOD TABLE

Level Description Descriptor In any one year, the likelihood of the event occurring is: A Almost Certain (Annually) Close to 100% - Annually.

B Likely 33% (i.e., once in every three years)

C Possible 10% (i.e., once every 10 years)

D Unlikely 3% (once every 30 years)

E Rare 1% (once every 100 years)

RISK ASSESSMENT MATRIX

Consequence Level

Likelihood Important Significant Serious Major Catastrophic Level Almost Certain Moderate Moderate High Extreme Extreme Likely Low Moderate High High Extreme Possible Low Low Moderate High High Unlikely Low Low Moderate Moderate High Rare Low Low Low Moderate Moderate

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7.2 STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLAN Stakeholder type and engagement level Stakeholder Type Description Participation Level* Internal Formal responsibilities for IFMP process and outcomes Collaborate and empower Primary MFMPC membership, responsibility for development of the plan, communication and engagement Collaborate and empower across and within organisations rest with these organisations Secondary RSFMPC membership or fire management role within municipality, may be requested to provide Involve and consult specific inputs, dependent upon outputs, or requested to be involved in specific tasks, Tertiary Strong interest in outcomes Inform and consult

*IAP2 Public Participation Spectrum: empower → collaborate → involve → consult → inform Fire Management Roles Role Description Bringing together of fire management agencies and elements to ensure effective response to an incident or emergency. CFA has legislated responsibility under the CFA act 1958 for the prevention and suppression of fires and for the protection of life and property Fire coordination in the Country Area of Victoria. In accordance with provisions in the CFA Act and the Forest Act 1958, DELWP (and NEO) has fire management and fire suppression responsibilities for State Forests and National, State and Regional Parks. Landholder/managers are heavily involved in fire prevention and fire suppression on land under their control. They have legislated Land owner/manager responsibilities to extinguish a fire burning on their land and to prevent fires from starting from the use of equipment and vehicles responsibilities (CFA Act 1958, Crimes Act 1958). They are also required to comply with relevant State government laws, local government laws, relevant planning and building permit conditions and conditions associated with permits to burn Response Actions taken in anticipation of, during and immediately after a fire incident to minimise the impact of the fire. A coordinated process of supporting emergency affected communities in the reconstruction of physical infrastructure and restoration Recovery of emotional, social, economic and physical well being. Community education is learning and social development, working with individuals and groups in their communities using a range of Community education formal and informal methods Community care Community care is about identifying and catering for groups or individuals with specific needs, before during and after fire. Asset protection involves protecting key community infrastructure such as power, water supplies, roads, gas pipes and protecting Asset protection community assets such as parks and the environment. Asset protection can also involve the protection of private assets such as housing, plantations, crops and fences. The issuing of permits for lighting fires. The development of and compliance with planning controls and permits for developments and Regulatory building that take into account fire risk/management. The regulation and issuing of permits involving vegetation removal or fuel reduction activities for fire management purposes.

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Mansfield MFMPC stakeholder analysis

Fire management role within Hume region Type

Stakeholder

Fire Land Comm Comm Asset RSFMPC Response Recovery Regulate Other coord mgr nfo care protect member Internal Primary Secondary Tertiary

Hume RSFMPC      Regional IFMP oversight & strategic fire planning MEMPC     Municipal integrated & strategic emergency planning MFMPC     Municipal integrated & strategic fire planning Mansfield Shire         Council CFA         Fire safety expertise DELWP          Forest fire expertise Vic Pol    HVP      Parks Victoria        Land care   Groups DHHS      DPCD Oversight of rural adjustment &     development programs, development of planning controls SES    Vic Roads       SP Ausnet    Goulburn Valley     Water

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Mansfield MFMPC stakeholder analysis

Fire management role within Hume region Type

Stakeholder

Fire Land Comm Comm Asset RSFMPC Response Recovery Regulate Other coord mgr nfo care protect member Internal Primary Secondary Tertiary Goulburn Murray    Water Telstra     Optus    DPI    Animal health, agricultural loss & recovery responsibilities VFF   GBCMA      DEECD   Geelong   Grammar Lauriston   School Camps   Ambulance Vic   Media      Local community/  industry groups General public Responsibility for private      property, social networks & personal well being. Tourism Industry    

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Mansfield FMPC Communication & Engagement Plan Engagement activity Meeting IFMP & Engagement 1:1 Draft Individual Stakeholder minutes, Mansfield Email Media Special 3 year Level consultati consultati org reports & Shire web updates articles meetings review on on networks agendas site Internal Stakeholders Hume RSFMPC Collaborate & MEMPC        empower MFMPC Primary – answerable for activity/decision Municipal Council/Alpine Resort Board CFA Collaborate &          DELWP empower Vic Pol HVP Secondary – Contributory responsibility Parks Victoria Land care Groups DHHS DEDJTR SES Involve & Vic Roads        consult SP Ausnet Goulburn Valley Water Goulburn Murray Water Telstra Optus Tertiary - Interested VFF DEDJTR GBCMA Inform &     DEECD consult

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Mansfield FMPC Communication & Engagement Plan Engagement activity Meeting IFMP & Engagement 1:1 Draft Individual Stakeholder minutes, Mansfield Email Media Special 3 year Level consultati consultati org reports & Shire web updates articles meetings review on on networks agendas site Geelong Grammar

Lauriston School Camps Inform & Ambulance Vic consult     Media Local community/industry groups General public Tourism Industry

Review Process Engagement 2016 Meeting minutes,

reports & agendas Internal Stakeholders Hume RSFMPC Collaborate & MEMPC  empower MFMPC Primary – answerable for activity/decision Municipal Council/ CFA Collaborate &  DELWP empower Vic Pol HVP

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7.3 ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN MAPS & DATA MAP LIST:

MAP 1: BUSHFIRE (BURNT AREA 1939-2011) – MANSFIELD SHIRE This map shows the area burnt by bushfire in Mansfield Shire since 1939. Large campaign fires that occurred in the period from 1939-2001 are mapped together to show areas of the Shire that have been burnt in the past. Fires that have occurred in the period from 2002-2011 have been mapped individually.

MAP 2: DELWP PLANNED BURNING (BURNT AREA 2007-2012) - MANSFIELD SHIRE This map shows the area of DELWP fuel reduction burning or ‘treatments; in the last 5 years - as at 2012

MAP 3: VICTORIAN FIRE RISK REGISTER: FEATURE OF INTEREST AND HUMAN SETTLEMENT- MANSFIELD SHIRE This map is the Victorian Fire Risk Register map produced by the CFA. It details where population centres are and rates locations from low to extreme fire risk (see legend) The map shows the population centres and details the locations of Hospital/Community Health Centres, Education (camps and schools), Caravan Parks and Aged Care/Retirement Facilities

MAP 4: DELWP FIRE MANAGEMENT ZONES – MANSFIELD SHIRE This map details DELWP’s fire management zones. Different management regimes are used in each zone. For more information, contact DELWP

MAP 5: FUEL LOADS – MANSFIELD SHIRE The map is a Hazard layer developed and maintained by DELWP, Office of Land and Fire. It is a state-wide coverage of <30 m2> cell resolution with approximately 27 attributes detailing surface and elevated fuel loads, hazard ratings and vegetation descriptions. This map is a DELWP data layer and based upon computer modelling and limited ground verification. It is updated yearly by DELWP. The fuel load map details where it might be expected to find fuel loadings of low to extreme. This map is simply a guide and should not be relied upon to provide 100% accuracy in the determination of fuel loads. Visual and scientific tests should be applied in the field to properly determine fuel loads.

MAP 6: IFMP MUNICIPAL FIRE MANAGEMENT PLANNING - BIODIVERSITY VALUES This map details the Biodiversity values of the Mansfield Shire including Ecological Vegetation Classes. It is not an exhaustive list and should only be used as a guide for the location of biodiversity values. It flags values that need to be factored into any discussions regarding possible fire treatments.

MAP 7, 8 & 9: FIRE INTENSITY SEVERE, EXTREME & CODE RED FIRE DANGER DAYS Map 7, 8 and 9 are computer modelling exercises. They are built upon the DELWP fuel loading data layer (see map 5) and have been fed through an algorithm on a computer. Data for Severe, Extreme and Code Red Fire Danger Rating (FDR) Days have analysed to produce this data layer. This data layer is an indication of what fire conditions (measured in kilowatts per square metre) might be expected on those FDR days. It is a guide only and may contain errors. For further information, contact the DELWP.

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Map 1 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

1187-11 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 Map 2 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

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Map 2

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Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

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7.4 HAZARD TREES IDENTICATION AND NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES

The Electricity Safety Act 1998 (Vic) (ES Act) provides that a municipal council must specify, within its Municipal Fire Prevention Plan:

a) Procedures and criteria for the identification of trees that are likely to fall onto, or come into contact with, an electric line (hazard trees); and

b) Procedures for the notification of responsible persons of trees that are hazard trees in relation to electric lines for which they are responsible.

Under the ES Act, the person responsible for maintaining vegetation and clearance space around power lines is referred to as the ‘responsible person’.

The procedures outlined in this section of the MFMP seek to address the requirement detailed above.

Each responsible person should have its own internal procedure regarding the steps that will be taken when it receives notification of a potentially hazardous tree.

WHAT IS A HAZARD TREE?

According to the ES Act, a hazard tree is a tree which is likely to fall onto, or come into contact with an electric line.

The Electricity Safety (Electric Line Clearance) Regulations 2010 (the Regulations) further provide that a responsible person may cut or remove such a tree, provided that the tree has been assessed by a suitably qualified arborist and that assessment confirms the likelihood of contact with an electric line having regard to foreseeable local conditions.

Due to legal requirements which require a clearance space be maintained around an electric line, hazard trees are usually located outside the regulated clearance space. Despite being outside the clearance space, the tree still have the potential to contact the line due to its size or because of a structural fault or weakness which renders part, or all, of the tree likely to contact or fall onto the line.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A HAZARD TREE?

Under the ES Act, the person responsible for maintaining vegetation and clearance space around power lines is referred to as the “responsible person”. This includes responsibility for keeping the whole or any part of a tree clear of the line.

Under the ES Act, responsibility is allocated between distribution businesses and other owners of electricity infrastructure, land owners and occupiers, public land managers such as municipal councils and Vic Roads.

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Municipal councils are responsible for trees on public land within their municipalities, for which they are the land manager, where these are also within a Declared Area for the purposes of the ES Act. Primary responsibility for vegetation clearance and management within the municipality, for areas which are not within a Declared Area, will usually fall to the relevant electricity distribution company.

NOTE: THERE IS NO ‘DECLARED AREA’ WITHIN MANSFIELD SHIRE.

AS A RESULT THE ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTER BECOMES THE ‘PRIMARY RESPONSIBLE PERSON’.

Responsible Persons within the Mansfield Shire

There is one organisation that has responsibility for line clearance in Mansfield Shire: SP- Ausnet for distribution lines.

Responsible persons, other than private persons, must have an electric line clearance management plan in place for areas for which they have responsibility (refer Electricity Safety (Electric Line Clearance) Regulations 2010).

PROCEDURES AND CRTIERIA FOR IDENTIFYING HAZARD TREES

In the course of everyday duties, potentially hazardous trees may come to the attention of staff or volunteer members of the entities with representation on the Municipal Fire Management Planning Committee, (the Committee), staff of the distribution business (es) or other persons, including members of the public.

There are a range of factors which may indicate that a tree is a hazard tree. That is, a tree which is likely to fall onto, or come into contact with, an electric line. Some of these factors will be obvious when looking at the tree but many may only be apparent when the tree is assesses by a person with specific expertise and training such as an arborist.

The following criteria may be used to assist in identifying a hazard tree:

The size of the tree suggests that it is likely to come into contact with the electric line, for example because it appears to be encroaching or growing into the line clearance space.

There is an excessive lean on the tree or branches are hanging off the tree and the tree is in proximity to an electric (power) line.

The size or appearance of the tree suggests it could come into contact with the line including under foreseeable local conditions.

If a potentially hazardous tree is identified, the notification procedure outline below should be followed. Where a responsible person becomes aware of a potentially hazardous tree for which they have responsibility, they must follow their own applicable internal procedure and the notification procedure described does not apply.

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PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA FOR NOTIFYING HAZARD TREES

To ensure that information regarding potentially hazardous trees is captured in an efficient manner and, as appropriate, referred to the responsible person for action, the following procedure for the notification of hazardous trees should be followed:

The person with responsibility for the highest percentage of lines within the municipality (the primary responsible person) [or alternative person as nominated and agreed by the Committee] is the person to whom potentially hazardous trees should be reported.

The primary responsible person (or their representative) is referred to in these Procedures as the primary responsible person representative (PRPR).

Where any person becomes aware of, or receives a report of, a potentially hazardous tree within the municipality, this should be referred to the PRPR. Where the Committee becomes aware of, or receives a report of, a potentially hazardous tree within the municipality, this must be referred to the PRPR.

Reports of potentially hazardous trees must be provided to the PRPR for action as soon as practicable. Reports must include, at a minimum:

• The name and contact details and any relevant qualifications where known of the person making the report

• As much detail as possible about the location of the trees (including, where known, GPS coordinates, details of numerical/name plate on nearest pole, name of nearest road or crossroads, closest landmark, whether tree is on private land or road reserve etc.)

• A description of the tree (including, if known, the genus and species of tree)

• The primary reason given for the tree being identified as potentially hazardous (eg. Tree is in proximity to an electric line AND there is evidence of structural weakness and/or excessive lean and/or appears to be encroaching into line clearance space etc.)

• An indication of whether or not urgent action is required.

The PRPR must take all necessary steps to advise the person responsible for the tree that it may be hazardous.

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PRIMARY RESPONSIBLE PERSON REPRESENTATIVE (PRPR) For the purposes of this part of the Plan, the primary responsible person is ‘SP Ausnet’ with responsibility for the highest percentage of lines within the Local Government Area. Contact details for SP Ausnet are as follows:

Agency name Select Solutions (a division of SP Ausnet Position title of contact person Peter Scotto Telephone Number 03 9237 4419 or 0408 403 749 Email Address [email protected] After Hours Number 03 9237 4419 or 13 17 99

NOTE ALSO GENERAL EMERGENCY ENQUIRIES SP AUSNET 92293778- (24 HR AVAILABILITY)

• Electrical Faults & emergencies Phone 131799

CORPORATE EMERGENCY PLANNING AND SECURITY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTRE:

• Phone. 9679 4051 - Mobile. (M/AH) 0488 619442 - [email protected]

PROCEDURES FOR NOTIFICATION OF RESPONSIBLE PERSONS

Where a potentially hazardous tree has been reported to the PRP, the PRPR should follow the procedure outlined below:

Step1 Report provided to PRPR Step2 PRPR to determine who the responsible person is in relation to the reported tree (If necessary, the PRP can seek assistance from ESV for this step.) Step3 Is the Yes =>applicable internal procedure for referral and assessment of responsible potentially hazardous tree to be followed person the No=>proceed to Step 4 primary responsible person? Step4 Did the Yes=> the responsible person should be notified as soon as report possible, and by [insert period, eg. The close of the next business indicate that day]. urgent No=> the PRPR must advise the responsible person of the action is existence and location of a potentially hazardous tree in accordance required? with the mutually agreed arrangements for the manner in which it passes on reports of potentially hazardous trees to responsible persons.

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REPORTING TIMELINES

The PRPR should provide reports to the relevant responsible person as soon as practicable.

In circumstances where: . The potentially hazardous tree is located within a high bushfire risk area (as per s.80 of the ES Act) and the potentially hazardous tree is reported during the fire danger period declared under the Country Fire Authority Act 1958 (Vic); or . The report indicated that there is an imminent danger that the tree will contact or fall onto lines as a result of minor environmental changes;

The potentially hazardous tree must be referred to the relevant responsible person for action as soon as possible, and by [insert period, e.g. the close of the next business day].

Each responsible person (other than the primary responsible person) must provide the PRPR with contact details of the person (position title) to who reports should be provided. It is the responsibility of each responsible person to ensure that the PRPR is provided with up-to-date contact details.

REGISTER

It is recommended that the PRPR maintain a register in which all notifications are recorded together with the date of receipt of the notification and the date the notification was reported to the responsible person.

It is recommended that responsible persons also maintain a register of notifications received of hazardous trees for which they are the responsible person.

PRPR CONSULTATION

The Committee notes that the Primary Responsible Person was consulted in relation to the development of these procedures. Contact details provided in response to draft review conducted by: • Darren Walker( [email protected])

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7.5 TOWNSHIP PROTECTION PLANS & NEIGHBOURHOOD SAFER PLACES

TOWNSHIP PROTECTION PLANS (TPPS): TPPs provide a planned response for both emergency services and the community to a bushfire within close proximity to a township, with potential to impact on the local community. This plan addresses the specific needs of the town’s people and their safety and pre-planning, property preparation, asset protection, environment and economy, and is typically divided into 3 parts: a) Community Information. b) Township planning factors. c) Fire Prevention

TPPs have been completed and are available for the following towns in Mansfield Shire:

• Tolmie • Sawmill Settlement • Goughs Bay • Jamieson • Kevington

More information and copies of these TPPs can be found on the CFA website at:

• cfaonline.cfa.vic.gov.au/mycfa/Show?pageId=publicTownshipProtectionPlans

NEIGHBOURHOOD SAFER PLACES:

Neighbourhood Safer Places are a place of last resort. They should only be used if a resident’s Bushfire Survival Plan fails and residents have no other place for shelter. Welfare facilities will not be made available and the place may not provide shelter from smoke and embers.

Neighbourhood Safer Places have a number of limitations:

• They have limited capacity and provide no guarantee of safety; • They do not cater for animals; • There is no expectation that emergency services will be present; • They do not provide meals, amenity or cater for special needs (e.g. Infants, the elderly, the ill or the disabled); • They may not provide shelter from the elements, particularly flying embers; • There are risks to people during access, shelter during passage of the fire front and egress from the Neighbourhood Safer Place. • They are NOT a Fire Refuge, Relief Centre, Recovery Centre, Assembly Area, or informal Places of Shelter, each of which has a different and specific purpose.

NSPs have been declared at the following areas in Mansfield Shire (press control key and click mouse button to access maps in electronic versions):

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Name Directions Address Maps

Peppin Point Holiday Park 75 Peppin Drive Bonnie Bonnie Doon Tennis Court/Swimming Pool Doon 3720. Area Bounded by Arnot Street, Bonnie Doon Recreation Reserve merman Avenue, Davon Bonnie Doon Car park off Davon Street et and Wilson Street Bonnie adjacent to oval n 720 Corner Walshs Road and Goughs Bay - Howes Creek Fire Goughs Bay Howes Creek-Goughs Bay Station Road Goughs Bay 3723 Camp Howqua 127 Howqua River Road Howqua Lodge Building Howqua 3723.

Paradise Point Holiday Park 11 The Avenue Jamieson Jamieson (North of Jamieson) 3723. Amenities Block Corner Perkins Street and Jamieson Jamieson Memorial Hall Grey Street Jamieson 3723.

Main Street, near Railway Maindample Fire Station Maindample Street intersection Shed Maindample 3723. Highett Street (between Recreation Reserve Sporting Mansfield Victoria Street and Curia Complex Street) Mansfield 3722. Grand Mercure Pinnacle Valley Mimosa Drive off Mt Buller Merrijig (Upper Resort Road Merrijig (Mount Buller) Reception/Restaurant/Conference Merrijig) 3723. facility building Corner Mount Buller Road and Alpha Street (opposite Merrijig Merrijig Public Hall Fire Station) Merrijig (Mount

Buller) 3723. Merton Recreation Reserve Merton-Euroa Road near Merton Racecourse - Grassed area junction of Maroondah between sports hall and pergola Highway Merton 3715 Cnr Old Tolmie Rd (Spring Tolmie Tolmie Fire Station Creek Rd) & Tolmie- Mahaikah Rd Tolmie 3723. Rear of 30 Scott Street Woods Point The Adit (police Station Site) area Designated Woods Point off Knickers Track former State also known as Kenny Lane 2015 School Reserve Woods Point 3723

The above list of NSPs was updated 31st October 2014. However, new NSPs may have been declared (or undesignated since that time. The most up to date list of NSPs can be found on either the CFA Website at:

• www.saferplaces.cfa.vic.gov.au/cfa/search/default.htm

Or the Mansfield Shire Website:

• www.mansfield.vic.gov.au/councilservices/emergencymanagement/firepreventionan dawareness.aspx

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7.6 GLOSSARY AND ACRONYMS

Term Description ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics Acceptable Risk The level of potential losses that a society or community considers acceptable, given existing social, economic, political, cultural, technical and environmental conditions. APT Australian Pipeline Trust ARMB Alpine Resort Management Board AIIMS Australasian Inter-service Incident Management System A nationally adopted structure to formalise a coordinated approach to emergency incident management. Assets and Values Recognised features of the built, natural and cultural environments. Built assets may include buildings, roads and bridges; Structures managed by utility and service providers; or recognised features of private land, such as houses, property, stock and crops plus associated equipment. Natural assets may include forest produce, forest regeneration, conservation values including vegetation types, fauna, air and water catchments. Cultural values may include recreational, indigenous, historical, and archaeological and landscape values. (Code of Practice for Emergency Management on Public Land) AWS Automatic Weather Station The Bureau's standard AWSs use sensors to monitor temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, pressure and rainfall. Various advanced sensors are available for specialised applications. These sensors can monitor cloud height (ceilometer), visibility, present weather, thunderstorms, soil temperature (at a range of depths) and terrestrial temperature. (Developed from the BOM). BASO Brigade Administration Support Officer BMO Bushfire Management Overlay BOM Bureau of Meteorology Burning Program A program of prescribed burns scheduled these for a designated area over a nominated time, normally looking ahead over one fire season (for the coming spring to the following autumn), but can also look ahead five years or more. Burn Plan The plan which is approved for the conduct of prescribed burning. It contains a map identifying the area to be burnt and incorporates the specifications and conditions under which the operation is to be conducted. Bushfire Unplanned vegetation fire. A generic term which includes grass fires, forest fires and scrub fires both with and without a suppression objective. Bushfire Danger A period of the year either established by legislation or declared Period by the relevant agency, when restrictions are placed on the use of fire due to dry vegetation and the existence of conditions conducive to the spread of fire. Bushfire Management All those activities directed to prevention, detection, damage

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Term Description mitigation, and suppression of bushfires. Includes bushfire legislation, policy, administration, law enforcement, community education, training of fire fighters, planning, communications systems, equipment, research, and the multitude of field operations undertaken by land managers and emergency services personnel relating to bushfire control. Campaign Fire A fire normally of a size and/or complexity that requires substantial fire fighting resources, and possibly several days or weeks to suppress. CERM Community Emergency Risk Management CFA Country Fire Authority COL Consequence of Loss - OESC A dataset is owned and maintained by the OESC. The dataset contains records of infrastructure and assets under the categories: Economic Infrastructure, Economic Production, Environmental Biodiversity, Social Cultural, Social Human Life and Social Infrastructure. The dataset contains detailed attributes about the assets type, value and location. Consequence Outcome or impact of an event Control Authority The agency, service, organization or authority with legislative responsibility for control of the incident. (Also referred to as the responsible authority or agency.) Coordination The bringing together of agencies and elements to ensure effective response to an incident or emergency. It is primarily concerned with the systematic acquisition and application of resources in accordance with the requirements imposed by the emergency or emergencies. Coordination relates primarily to resources and operates: • vertically, within an agency, as a function of the authority to command; • Horizontally, across agencies, as a function of the authority to control. DEDJTR Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (Former DPI) Essential Infrastructure Those services, physical facilities, supply chains, information technologies and communication networks that, if destroyed, degraded or rendered unavailable for an extended period, would significantly impact on the social or economic wellbeing of the community E.g. Water supply facilities. Curing Drying and browning of herbaceous vegetation due to mortality or senescence. DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development DHHS Department of Health & Human Services DOT Department of Transport DPCD Department of Planning and Community Development DPI Department of Primary Industries, now DEDJTR DELWP Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning EHO Environmental Health Officer – Council

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Term Description Elements at Risk The population, buildings and civil engineering works, economic activities, public services and infrastructure etc., exposed to sources of risk. EMA Emergency Management Act EMMV Emergency Management Manual Victoria EPBC Environmental Protection Biodiversity Conservation Essential Service A service (including the supply of goods) that if rendered unavailable for an extended period would significantly impact on the social or economic wellbeing of the community E.g. Electricity supply. (Adapted from Essential Services Commission Act 2001) FDI Fire Danger Index A relative number denoting the potential rates of spread, or suppression difficulty for specific combinations of temperature, relative humidity, drought effects and wind speed. FDR Fire Danger Rating A relative class denoting the potential rates of spread, or suppression difficulty for specific combinations of temperature, relative humidity, drought effects and wind speed, indicating the relative evaluation of fire danger. FFG Act 1988 Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 – Victorian State Legislation Fire Management All activities associated with the management of fire prone land, including the use of fire to meet land management goals and objectives. FOI Freedom of Information Fuel Break System A series of modified strips or blocks tied together to form continuous strategically located fuel breaks around land units. Fuel Management Modification of fuels by prescribed burning, or other means. Fuel Modification Manipulation or removal of fuels to reduce the likelihood of ignition and/or to lessen potential damage and resistance to control (e.g., lopping, chipping, crushing, piling and burning). Fire Season The period during which bushfires are likely to occur, spread and do sufficient damage to warrant organised fire control. FRB Fuel Reduction Burn Fuel Any material such as grass, leaf litter and live vegetation which can be ignited and sustains a fire. Fuel is usually measured in tonnes per hectare. Related Terms: Available fuel, Coarse fuel, Dead fuel, Elevated dead fuel, Fine fuel Ladder fuels, Surface fuels, and Total fine fuel. Fuel Hazard A fuel complex, defined by volume, type condition, arrangement, and location, that determines the degree of ease of ignition and of resistance to control. Fuel Management Modification of fuels by prescribed burning or other means. (AFAC) GBCMA Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority GMW Goulburn Murray Water GVW Goulburn Valley Water Hazard A source of potential harm or situation with a potential to cause

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Term Description loss. A potentially damaging physical event that may cause loss of life or injury, property damage, social and economic disruption or environmental degradation. Hazard Layer – Hazard layer developed and maintained by DELWP, Office of DELWP Land and Fire. It is a state-wide coverage of <30 m2> cell resolution with approx 27 attributes detailing surface and elevated fuel loads, hazard ratings and vegetation descriptions. HRSFMPC Hume Region Strategic Fire Management Planning Committee HRSFMP Hume Region Strategic Fire Management Plan IAP Incident Action Plan IFMP Integrated Fire Management Planning IRSED Index of Relative Social & Economic Disadvantage ABS scoring method for determining and comparing levels of social and economic disadvantage in given areas at a given point in time, with information displayed according to IRSED values from lowest (most disadvantaged) to highest (least disadvantaged). ISO International Standards Organisation ISO 31000:2009 An international risk management standard that provides principles and general guidelines on how to manage risk ICC Incident Control Centre The location where the Incident Controller and various members of the Incident Management Team provide overall direction of response activities. LGA Local Government Authority Represents relevant Municipal Council (or ARMB ) for area of concern. Likelihood Probability or frequency of an event can be either qualitative or quantitative. Loss Any negative consequence or adverse effect, financial or otherwise. MBS Municipal Building Surveyor - Council MDA Map Display Area MEMP Municipal Emergency Management Planning MEMPC Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee MERC Municipal Emergency Response Coordinator – Victoria Police MERO Municipal Emergency Resource Officer – Council MFB Metropolitan Fire Brigade MFMP Municipal Fire Management Planning MFMPC Municipal Fire Management Planning Committee MFPC Municipal Fire Prevention Committee (superseded by MFMPC) MFPP Municipal Fire Prevention Plan (superseded by MFMP) MFPO Municipal Fire Prevention Officer Mitigation Measures taken in advance of a disaster, aimed at decreasing or eliminating its impact on society and environment. MSC Mansfield Shire Council Municipal Area The geographic footprint of the relevant LGA/ARMB NECMA North East Catchment Management Authority

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Term Description NEO Networked Emergency Organisations. NEOs consist of Government based emergency organisations including DELWP, Parks Vic, Department of Primary Industries, Department Planning & Community Development, VicForests, Melbourne Water and other associated agencies. In regards to fire, DELWP are the 'responsible' body for fire on Public Lands, but they can draw fire fighting resources (people & equipment etc) from NEOs. NEW North East Water NSP Neighbourhood Safer Place – Place of Last Resort OESC Office of Emergency Service Commission PPRR Prevention, Preparedness, Response, Recovery Practicable What is realistic to achieve in the context of: The severity of the hazard. The state of knowledge about the hazard or risk and any ways of removing or mitigating it. The availability and suitability of ways to remove or mitigate that hazard or risk. The cost of removing or mitigating that hazard or risk. (Dangerous Goods (Storage and Handling) Regulations 2000) Preparedness Arrangements to ensure that in the event of an emergency occurring all those resources and services that area needed to cope with the effects can be efficiently mobilised and deployed. Prescribed Burning The controlled application of fire under specified environmental conditions to a predetermined area and at the time, intensity, and rate of spread required to attain planned resource management objectives. Prevention Regulatory and physical measures to ensure that emergencies are prevented, or their effects mitigated. Probability A measure of the chance of an event occurring, often expressed as a number. Recovery The coordinated process of supporting emergency affected communities in the reconstruction of the physical infrastructure and restoration of emotional, social, economic and physical wellbeing.

Residual Risk Risk remaining after implementation of a risk treatment. Resilience The capacity of a system, community or society potentially exposed to hazards to adapt, by resisting or changing in order to reach and maintain an acceptable level of functioning and structure. This is determined by the degree to which the social system is capable of organising itself to increase its capacity for learning from past disasters for better future protection and to improve risk reduction measures. (UN/ISDR, Geneva 2004) Response Actions taken in anticipation of, during and immediately after an emergency, to ensure its effects are minimised and that people affected are given immediate relief and support.

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Term Description Risk The exposure to the possibility of such things as economic or financial loss or gain, physical damage, injury or delay, as a consequence of pursuing a particular course of action. The concept of risk has two elements, i.e. the likelihood of something happening and the consequences if it happens. Risk Analysis A systematic use of available information to determine how often specific events may occur and the magnitude of their likely consequence. Risk Assessment The overall process of risk identification, analysis and evaluation. Risk Criteria Terms of reference by which the significance of risk is assessed. Risk Evaluation Process of comparing the level of risk against criteria. Risk Identification The process of determining what, where, when, why and how something could happen. Risk Management The culture, process and structure that are directed towards potential opportunities whilst managing adverse effects. Risk Management The systematic application of management of policies, Process procedures and practices to the tasks of communicating, establishing the context, identifying, analysing, evaluating, treating, monitoring and reviewing risk. Risk Reduction Actions taken to lessen the likelihood, negative consequences, or both, associated with a risk. Risk Register A listing of risk statements describing sources of risk and elements at risk, with assigned consequences, likelihoods and levels of risk. Risk Treatment Process of selection and implementation of measures to modify risk. RSFMPC Regional Strategic Fire Management Planning Committee SES State Emergency Services SFMPC State Fire Management Planning Committee SMR State Net Mobile Radio SOP Standard Operating Procedures Source of Risk Source of potential harm Stakeholders Those people and organisations who may affect, be affected by or perceive themselves to be affected by a decision, activity or risk. Susceptibility The potential to be affected by loss TAPO Technical Administrative Project Officer TFB Total Fire Ban (A day of Total Fire Ban) Tolerable Risk A risk within a range that society can live with so as to secure certain net benefits. It is the range of risk regarded as non- negligible and needing to be kept under review and reduced further if possible. TOR Terms of Reference TPP Township Protection Plan Treatment An existing process, policy, device, practice or other action that acts to minimise negative risk or enhance positive opportunities. The word control may also be applied to a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of

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Term Description objectives. Treatment Assessment Systematic review of processes to ensure that controls are still effective and appropriate. Urban Rural Interface The line, area, or zone where structures and other human development adjoin or overlap with undeveloped bushland. VFRR Victoria Fire Risk Register CFA process that identifies assets at risk from bushfire, assesses the level of risk and highlights the risk mitigation treatments currently in place along with the responsible agencies for implementing these treatments. The output is a geographic layer and associated attributes that identifies the asset type; name; location and risk factors and priorities of these assets based on a wildfire occurring in its vicinity on a day of 100 FDI. VICPOL Victoria Police Vulnerability The conditions determined by physical, social, economic and environmental factors or processes, which increase the susceptibility of a community to the impact of hazards. (UN/ISDR, Geneva 2004) Vulnerable People Those living in high bushfire risk areas and who are unable to make an independent decision, including due to cognitive impairment; physically dependant and totally reliant on in home personal care and support; and people who live alone and are geographically isolated with no co-resident carer or family. (DHHS) WTP Water Treatment Plant WICEN Wireless Institute Civil Emergency Network

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7.7 EXCERPTS FROM MUNICIPAL FIRE PREVENTION PLAN:

The following excerpts (1-7) are taken directly from the Mansfield Municipal Fire Prevention Plan and are to be reviewed by the MFMPC with a view to integrating them into the next version of the MFMP. In the interim the MFMPC endorses their continued application.

(I) STRUCTURAL FIRE DWELLINGS

The population of the municipality (7,191) is spread with widely varying population density throughout its length and breadth. The majority of the population of the municipality resides within the township of Mansfield (3,034) and Bonnie Doon, Jamieson, Woods Point and the rural districts of Gaffney’s Creek, Gough’s Bay, Kevington, Merrijig/Sawmill Settlement, Merton, Peppin Point and Tolmie.

A large number of the dwellings are in the rural districts and surrounding areas occupied as holiday homes and hobby farms. There is a wide diversity of life styles within the general population and dwelling types vary from small to significant investments.

Dwelling fires need to be given sufficient and specific attention as detailed below.

(II) RISKS, STRATEGIES, PROGRAMS AND ACTIONS DWELLINGS Risk Objective Treatment/Program/Action Responsibility Others Time Frame

Details Rating Involved

Community Education including the following: CFA & Fire Ongoing. • Brigades in schools Loss of life. High Return to nil level • CFA mobile education unit Municipality Brigades • Articles in the Council newsletter • Provide articles for Community, Fireguard and Land care newsletters Inspect new and altered dwellings for smoke Building Personal Minimise incidence and detector installation. New dwellings to comply with Surveyors CFA & High Ongoing injury. severity. building & fire safety standards including planning Other Council Brigades permit conditions. Officers Local Laws officers to undertake residents Municipality Property High questioning for smoke detector installation when (Local Laws Ongoing. loss. visiting. CONTINUE Officers)

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Risk Objective Treatment/Program/Action Responsibility Others Time Frame

Details Rating Involved

Home Carers to check for smoke detector installation when in dwellings. Municipality CFA Ongoing Undertake property inspections under Section 41 of the CFA Act. Brigades November Issue Fire Prevention Notices to owner/occupier Municipality Owner / Annually - whose property contains a fire /potential fire Occupier Ongoing hazard.

B: TOWNSHIPS (RESIDENTIAL-GENERAL) (i) CONTEXT

The major town within the municipality is Mansfield. Other population centres that may be classed as ‘Townships’ are Bonnie Doon, Merrijig/Alpine/ Sawmill Settlement, Jamieson, Woods Point, Gough’s Bay, Macs Cove and Howqua Inlet.

Some of these towns are located near rivers or streams and/or heavily timbered areas, and can be characterised as having many older timber buildings, an irregular layout, and absentee owners (holiday homes). The random residential development, undeveloped lots and irregular street layout of these towns has created pockets of vegetation and areas of poor access within the residential areas. The moderate rainfall and associated vegetation growth further complicate this.

Council will work with the local brigades / Group and CFA Regional Officers in the development of community fire safety plans.

The towns of Bonnie Doon, Jamieson, Mansfield, Merrijig/Sawmill Settlement and to a lesser extent Woods Point are provided with a reliable reticulated water supply that is available for fire fighting purposes – but not necessarily designed for or capable of wildfire township protection.

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(ii) RISK, STRATEGIES, PROGRAMS AND ACTIONS

TOWNSHIP AREAS (RESIDENTIAL GENERAL) Risk Objective Treatment/Program/Action Responsibility Others Time Frame

Details Rating Involved

Undertake property inspections under Section 41 of the CFA Act. Property loss Minimisation of loss of Issue Fire Prevention Notices to owner/occupier and loss of Owner / November Annually Significant property and personal whose property contains a fire /potential fire Municipality personal Occupier - Ongoing effects. hazard. effects. Initiate or support Community education & fire awareness meetings. Municipality Loss of life Return to nil loss of life Undertake inspections and maintenance to fire & Water Ongoing and personal High and minimise personal Brigades plugs and markers. Supply (Annually) effects. injury Authority Community Education of all aspects concerning fire safety -including reference to stored chemicals in sheds and the need for extinguishers, The Municipality Environmental following processes will be included: CFA Fire Moderate Minimise damage Ongoing damage • Place articles in Council newsletter & local & Brigades paper. DELWP • Provide articles for Community, Community Fireguard and Land care newsletters.

C: HEALTH CARE (I) CONTEXT

Health Care Centres are located in Mansfield for the ill, frail elderly and disabled. By nature they contain a population that in general are dependent on outside assistance for mobility, day to day living, control and direction. Consequently this group that encompasses; special accommodation, nursing homes, hostels and hospitals are very vulnerable to a wide range of events.

There is a risk inherent in all these facilities of multiple injuries and loss of life should a significant incident occur. Fire controls are high (eg fire protection equipment and structural safety), however any incident involving these premises, taking participant numbers into consideration, can lead to major consequences.

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(II) RISKS, STRATEGIES, PROGRAMS AND ACTIONS

HEALTH CARE Risk Objective Treatment/Program/Action Responsibility Others Time Frame

Details Rating Involved

Loss of life Risk management, including the inspection of one Work Cover from the Municipal Commenced of the Centers per year on a random basis and Authority & affects of High Maintain current nil level. MBS 2004 annually encourage compliance with the BCA where Fire uncontrolled & CFA ongoing necessary. Brigades fire. Loss of property from Reduce incidence and Environmental Health Officers to recognise fire Municipality the affects of Significant Ongoing severity risks when undertaking their inspections. uncontrolled fire.

Environmental Fire Brigades are encouraged to develop Brigades & Moderate Maintain current nil level. Municipality Ongoing damage. response plans for specific premises. CFA

D: PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION AND TOURIST FACILITIES (I) CONTEXT

The nature and range of these types of facilities varies greatly across the municipality. The type, size and age of the premises has a very significant impact on the potential for the loss of both life and/or property. As a general rule these types of premises can contain a high number of people who will be sleeping on the premises and are unfamiliar with their surroundings, are exposed to varying standards of serviceability and different or limited safety procedures. In some cases the occupants have very little control over their surroundings and invariably have little interest in the risks associated with the accommodation.

Although the likelihood of a large fire in these premises or facilities is rare, the consequence in the event of fire is major (loss of life).

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(II) RISK ENVIRONMENTS, STRATEGIES, PROGRAMS AND ACTIONS

PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION AND TOURIST FACILITIES Risk Objective Treatment/Program/Action Responsibility Others Time Frame

Details Rating Involved

CFA, Loss of life Risk management, including the inspection of a Building Municipal Commenced from the affects Maintain current nil minimum of 10 properties per year on a random Practitioners High MBS 2003 annually of uncontrolled level. basis and application of enforcement under the & & CFA ongoing. fire. BCA or other legislation where necessary. Hospitality Industry Loss of Environmental Health Officers to recognise fire property from risks (particularly Caravan Parks) and check when Commenced Reduce incidence and Municipality the affects of Significant undertaking their inspections. Three yearly CFA 2000 severity & CFA uncontrolled inspections of Caravan parks with CFA of fire & ongoing. fire safety standards

High Reduce incidence and Network information from reports/information from Municipality Ongoing. (Non Urban) severity other locations. (National and International) Economic loss both Public and Private. Fire Brigades are encouraged to develop Reduce incidence and Municipality Low (Urban) response plans for specific premises. Brigades Ongoing severity & CFA

E: PUBLIC ASSEMBLY AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUES (I) CONTEXT

There are a number of these premises within the municipality including public halls, sporting complexes, churches, schools, preschools and childcare centres. Each facility or premises has its own particular risk that will require individual evaluation.

As a general rule these types of premises can contain a high number of people who will be gathering together on the premises and are often unfamiliar with the facility. These premises have varying but generally high standards of maintenance, and varying safety procedures. In some cases the occupants have little control over their surroundings and invariably have little interest in the risks associated with the premises.

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There are currently no buildings identified as ‘designated Fire Refuges’ within the municipality. A disused mine adit at Woods Point does, however, constitute such a facility – see Section 7.02.

(II) RISKS, STRATEGIES, PROGRAMS AND ACTIONS RISKS, STRATEGIES, PROGRAMS AND ACTIONS

PUBLIC ASSEMBLY Risk Objective Treatment/Program/Action Responsibility Others Time Frame

Details Rating Involved

Work Loss of life Cover from the Fire Prevention Planning. Analyse database for Municipality Authority & Commenced 2004 - effects of High Maintain current nil level. risk and rank in priority order and determine & CFA Dept annually ongoing uncontrolled inspection needs. Human fire. Services Work Loss of Risk management including event management Cover property from plan lodgment, assessment & endorsement and Municipality Authority & the effects of High Reduce incidence and severity Annually ongoing including the inspection of properties where & CFA Dept uncontrolled necessary. Human fire. Services Social/ Economic Signifi loss both Reduce incidence and severity cant Public and Private.

F. INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL (I) CONTEXT

There are a number of industries within the municipality with the timber and forestry industry machinery generally located close to their supply of raw materials.

The major industries at risk are the timber processing plants, light engineering/fabrication, and bulk fuel depots. There are a number of risks associated with these industries that include fire, hazardous materials spills (both storage and transport), and environmental damage from pollution and/or spillage.

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There are a number of other depots and small industries that are located within the Industrial zones of the township of Mansfield where smaller amounts of dangerous goods are stored. Storage volumes are generally very low and therefore their use is not obvious to anyone other than the proprietors.

Generally the controls on Industries are quite stringent and hence the likelihood of any major incident is low. However should a major incident occur, there would be a significant impact on the community both economic and potentially to life.

The major commercial centre within the municipality is located within Mansfield, with isolated establishments located within the other villages and townships. There are a number of risks associated with the occurrence of fire related to these commercial centres that include; the proximity to other similar premises and a higher concentration of flammable materials. The loss of these premises as a result fire, may result in major economic loss, loss of sense of ‘community’ and the loss of employment.

Due to the nature and operation of the commercial premises, shortfalls in the provision of adequate house-keeping practises and general fire safety can raise the level of risk to the general public and the owners/employees.

(II) RISKS, STRATEGIES, PROGRAMS AND ACTIONS

INDUSTRIAL & COMMERCIAL Risk Objective Treatment/Program/Action Responsibility Others Time Frame

Details Rating Involved

Encourage the industries to develop and Industry Loss of life from Work Maintain current nil maintain adequate Fire Prevention and Municipality Commenced 2003 the effects of Significant Cover level. Evacuation Relocation Plans. & annually ongoing uncontrolled fire. Authority CFA Risk management, including the inspection of property exterior as part of normal fire inspections & essential service maintenance on a Loss of property CFA & random basis as necessary by MBS. (Check for Commenced 2004 from the effects Significant Minimise incidence and Industry Work the storage of Dangerous Goods whilst then annually of uncontrolled severity. Municipality Cover undertaking the inspection). Provide information ongoing fire. Authority to owners/occupiers as required. Follow up with inspections and application of enforcement under the BCA as necessary.

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Risk Objective Treatment/Program/Action Responsibility Others Time Frame

Details Rating Involved

Personal injury from the effects Minimise incidence and Environmental Health Officers to recognise fire Ongoing Moderate Municipality CFA of uncontrolled severity. risks when undertaking their inspections. (Annually) fire.

During inspections any anomalies, poor Industry Environmental Minimise incidence and Significant housekeeping practices or concerns are noted Municipality EPA Ongoing damage. severity. and reported to the relevant officer or authority. Others

G: TRANSPORT (I) CONTEXT

The Maroondah Highway and Midland Highway traverse the Municipality. These roads are critical to the economy of the region including tourism and significant opportunity for future economic development. These like all roads however provide a potential fire ignition source due to vehicle malfunction, accident or inappropriate disposal of burning material by the users, such as cigarettes.

All roads carry traffic to various degrees, depending on their location. The higher the traffic usage - the higher the requirements for the road to be able to provide safe passage for vehicles before & during a fire: There is also a wide variety of dangerous goods transported with the ever present potential for incidents:

The vegetation on the road reserve varies significantly from open grassland to forest, giving a wide range of risk environments and hence the associated treatments must vary accordingly – see Appendix C – E below.

Note: Vic Roads have indicated that they will not approve local landholder fire prevention works on roadsides (burning, ploughing & grass cutting)

See below re Goulburn River High Country Rail Trail

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(II) RISK ENVIRONMENTS, STRATEGIES, PROGRAMS AND ACTIONS

TRANSPORT Risk Objective Treatment/Program/Action Responsibility Others Time Frame

Details Rating Involved

Provide information to road users relating to Annually at Loss of life Maintain current nil ongoing fire risks, the declared fire danger commencement from the Significant CFA Municipality level. period and the advantage of carrying fire of Fire Danger effects of fire. extinguishers and woolen blankets. Period Undertake appropriate works to ensure the Municipality, Loss of safety of the travelling public and provide safe Vic Roads, August to property from Reduce incidence and access for Emergency Services in the time of DELWP Work Cover Significant November the effects of severity. fire. & CFA Authority Annually fire. Encourage fuel reduction/hazard minimisation Municipality works around former railway assets.

Owner/Operator informed of their responsibilities Vic Roads, Owner Ongoing for the transport of dangerous goods. EPA & CFA /Operators Prevention/reduction Environmental of environmental Alleviate the risk through strategic identification Significant of control lines. damage. damage as a result of MFPC Brigades are encouraged to undertake fuel Municipality & uncontrolled fire. & Ongoing reduction burning and/or spraying in accordance CFA Brigades with this document and the Roadside Management Strategy. Brigades (and others) wishing to undertake fire prevention work along roads must obtain prior approval from the Road Authority.

H: GOULBURN RIVER HIGH COUNTRY RAIL TRAIL

Fire poses a potential risk to life, property and the environment along the GRHCRT due to a number of factors including inappropriate disposal of cigarettes and the potential misuse of portable cooking appliances by users. Other sources of ignition relate to the proximity of the Rail Trail to roads, adjoining landuse and the parking of cars in inappropriate locations particularly on days of heightened risk (TFB, Code Red days etc). The State Government has taken a number of steps to address and reduce the risk to the Victorian population from bushfire following the events of Black Saturday on 7 February 2009. One of these steps is the capacity of the Government to declare certain days as ‘Code Red’ or ‘Catastrophic’ Days. Use of the trail is and will be publicly promoted as strongly discouraged on code red days.

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Much of the trail has a load limit of 5 tonnes, is relatively narrow and is therefore not accessible to CFA Tankers. It is accessible to emergency vehicles such as CFA slip-on and command vehicles less than 5 tonnes.

A series of supplementary fire fighting static water storages are being installed at strategic locations to boost the capacity of local fire brigades to maintain water supplies in the event of fires near or along sections of the Trail.

Adjacent landholders are being encouraged, where appropriate, to assume increased responsibility for managing fire risks (to themselves or other users) along the Trail by undertaking slashing, mowing or grazing of unused portions of the former rail reserve under Permits from Council.

The table below provides a basic level of fire management measures and has been developed in consultation with and supported by the Officers representing the Rail Trail Project Team, adjoining Municipalities & Divisional / Regional CFA Officers. The Table covers Risk environments, strategies, programs and actions to be integrated into Management Plans.

(I) GOULBURN RIVER HIGH COUNTRY RAIL TRAIL

RISK Program / Action Responsibility Others involved Time frame Display information to trail users on the restrictions on fire during the Municipality Annually, at the declared fire period and risks associated with outdoor recreational activities commencement of the Ensure the code of conduct is posted for trail users awareness Fire Danger Period Loss of life from the Discourage use of the Rail Trail on highest risk days effects of fire Maintain strategic water points along length of the trail Municipality CFA October to November Objective: nil level Undertake strategic fuel reduction by burning and/or slashing/and/or grazing and ongoing annually and/or spraying along the Rail Trail and car park areas to limit the chance of Loss of property from fire occurring and minimise the spread of fire. the effects of fire Objective: Reduce Encourage fuel reduction/hazard minimisation work in areas around & incidence and severity adjoining dwellings and similar nearby assets on and in the vicinity of the rail trail Alleviate risk through identification and treatment of strategic fuel breaks Municipality CFA / DELWP Ongoing

Environmental damage Objective: Provide and maintain access points for emergency services responding to CFA Prevention/reduction of fire environmental damage Provide and maintain signage that will accurately enable callers to identify as a result of their location so as to enable timely response in the case of an incident uncontrolled fire 7-44 MMFMP 2012 - Updated September 2016 151 Mansfield Shire Municipal Fire Management Plan

7.7.1 COMMUNITY SAFETY

Refuge from Fire

If the home has been properly prepared, the chances of the home surviving the passage of a fire front are greatly increased by the occupants remaining and being able to extinguish any ember ignitions. The staying to defend option should only be made PROVIDED individuals are ‘capable’ and the premises together with the surrounding area have been properly assessed, prepared and protected. This potentially life threatening decision should only be made after careful consideration and should be based on the predicted fire hazard rating noting that houses designed even to current standards are not designed to withstand conditions likely to be experienced on ‘Code Red’ days.

There is a clear onus and expectation on residents and owners to make every endeavour to reduce fire hazards around their homes and assets. Every encouragement should be provided to assist each householder and landowner in making the property as safe as possible, both from approaching fire and from one occurring within the property.

However recent experience has shown that, even with adequate attention to detail including high preparedness activity, the home may become involved in the fire – if any component of the ‘Plan’ should fail.

Planned and timely self-relocation (with appropriate notice) is required where the decision to leave has been made. It is critical that if relocation is planned, that it be undertaken well in advance of the approach of the fire front to a predetermined location. Late relocations must be avoided, as they can prove fatal.

Further detail regarding this complex issue (when to leave, who should leave and where to go) and the required community education has been developed by Government following the adoption of recommendations from the Royal Commission. The Royal Commission as expected made recommendations regarding the role of ‘safe areas’. Council has adopted a Neighbourhood Safer Places Plan and has previously identified a community relief centres as a ‘drop-in-centre’ for those that need to evacuate an area before the passage of fire to a location beyond the expected fire impact area. An example that would generally be considered ‘safe’ would be within Mansfield Township where the community centre was made available during 2009. Other Council community and private facilities may also be safe and suitable. As at October 2014 there are twelve (12) locations formally designated by Council as a ‘Neighbourhood Safer Place – Place of Last Resort’. Such locations are advised to the public prior to the fire season as part of general fire awareness messages and will also be identified from Council & CFA web sites - see above Sec 7.5 for complete list.

Community Fire Refuges

Council participated in a 2003 research project as a case study involving community representatives and fire authorities which lead to the Victorian Government accepting a policy relating to fire refuges in 2005. This policy has been revisited following the Royal Commission - 2009 and has now lead to revised Policy regarding Fire Refuges (Building).

Council has undesignated the former Woods Point Fire Refuge on the advice of the Fire Services Commissioner (2013) and Council with the cooperation of others is seeking te

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Buffer Zones and Construction Standards

Buffer zones are tool used in the treatment of a variety of situations, eg community assets, individual dwellings, golf courses or parks located in a strategic position and high density population areas.

The information contained in Section 7.7.6 in relation to Fire Direction Notices will be the principles applied to allotments. This standard will be varied where specific requirements are identified relating to Wildfire Management Overlays & Building Construction Standards in bushfire prone areas.

Note: Council has completed the process of developing Wildfire Protection overlays. Bushfire Protection zones apply to most of the Municipality requiring Bushfire Attack Level assessment for accommodation buildings.

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7.7.2 FUEL REDUCED CORRIDORS AND PRIORITY ACCESS ROADS It is acknowledged that Fire Brigades may identify and undertake treatments on local roads as Fuel Reduced Corridors within their own brigade boundaries, which may not necessarily be identified in the Municipality MFPP. These Fire Prevention works are not always undertaken annually; however all such works are strategic & undertaken specifically to minimise the threat to life and property from uncontrolled wildfire by reducing fuel loads. The works that have been undertaken in the past can be built upon. Fuel reduced corridors form an integral part of the Fire Prevention Planning for the Municipality and their maintenance is supported by this document.

Fire Brigades are encouraged to submit annually prior to the Fire Season, details of Fuel Reduction Works they propose to undertake on roads and/or reserves.

Where referred to, all works are to be undertaken in accordance with the details following.

Fuel Reduced Corridors see ‘definitions’ section above - must be sufficiently fuel-reduced to provide a safe corridor for the travelling public, can provide a means of establishing a control line, will reduce the time of travel and are able to slow the spread of fire on the road reserve particularly in areas of low-fuel levels.

Fuel Reduced Corridors should where applicable have the fine fuel reduced for a distance of 3 m behind the guideposts on either side of the road where practical. All overhanging obstructions less than 5 m above the road pavement must be removed, and dangerous trees/limbs need to be removed to allow the safe passage of fire fighting appliances. They must be inspected annually by the controlling road authority and maintained prior to the fire danger period.

One or all of the following methods can be used to meet the requirements:

(a) Mowing or slashing a strip at least 3 metres wide on one or both sides of the road reserve, either adjacent to the shoulders of the pavement, or next to or inside the adjoining property, at the appropriate time to prevent regrowth and accumulation of dry slashed material. (b) The grading of a strip to bare earth not less than 3 metres wide on both sides of the road reserve adjacent to the shoulders of the pavement. The over burden from the graded break should be spread out or removed to prevent the accumulation of earth and dry vegetation next to the break – not the preferred option. (c) The ploughing of an earth strip not less than 2 metres wide on both sides of the road reserve adjacent to the fence-line, - where there has been a past history of ploughing. (d) Fuel reduction low intensity burning by fire brigades on a coordinated basis. Fuel reduction burning shall only be required when the fuel load exceeds 4 tonne per hectare. Fuel loadings on the roadsides identified for burning are to be reviewed annually by the Municipality in the spring of each year. (e) The spraying of herbicide where other treatments are not practical or cost effective, to create a strip a minimum of 3m wide with little or no vegetation present on both sides of the road reserve adjacent to the shoulders of the pavement. Burning may then follow as required. Spraying of native grasses should be avoided. (f) Thinning out of vegetation within the reserve or easement, and removing potentially dangerous trees.

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NB Appendix D contains a diagram for typical works on Fuel Reduced Corridors.

Fuel Reduced Corridors are normally identified in Brigade Fire Prevention Plans. Both Council and brigades may undertake works as agreed on these roads as resources permit.

The following Fuel Reduced Corridors have been identified:

• Barjarg Glen Creek Road • Booroolite Chapel Hill Road • Buttercup Road - to Greenways Lane • Cummins Road • Davies Road Merrijig • Dry Creek Road • Eildon Jamieson Road – to Old Eildon Road • Euroa Merton Road • Graves Road • Grammar School Road Merrijig to School gate. • Hearn’s Road • Howqua Road to Wild Dog Road • Howqua River Road – to Lauriston’s • Hutchinson Road • Jenkins Road Macs Cove • Lake Nillahcootee Road • Maintongoon Road • Mansfield Howes Creek Road to Gough’s Bay • Merton Strathbogie Road (For 3.5 km from the Maroondah Highway) • Monkey Gully Road to Howes Creek Road • Mountain Bay Drive • North Creek Road • Ogilvie Road • O’Hanlon’s Road & onto Banumum Road to Country Club • Paps Lane to Ford Drive • Peppin Drive – to Homepoint • Sonneberg Road • Warrambat Road

Priority Access Roads see ‘definitions’ section above are somewhat similar to the fuel reduced corridor in relation to traffic movement but are generally a higher status road that must be sufficiently fuel-reduced to provide a safe corridor, and minimise travel time for the travelling public and emergency service vehicles.

Priority Access Roads must be cleared of all low overhanging obstructions less than 5m above the road pavement and dangerous trees/limbs need to be removed. A 3.0m minimum width fine- fuel reduced area on both sides of the road must abut a clear travelled path that has a 6.0m minimum width.

These roads must be inspected annually by the controlling road authority and maintained prior to the fire danger period.

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The following Priority Access Roads have been identified:

• Barwite Road • Midland Link • Euroa Merton Road Merton • Mount Buller Road (to Mirimbah) • Mansfield Whitfield Road • Old Tolmie Road (Barwite Road to • Mansfield Woods Point Road (Mt Buller Mansfield Whitfield Road) Road to Jamieson) • Old Tolmie Road – add lower section • Maroondah Highway • Piries Gough’s Road To Gough’s • Midland Highway Bay)

Fire Access Roads

These roads are required to be trafficable during the summer period and often constitute roads with little through traffic and are also likely to be closed during periods of wet weather. They routinely service the farming community and non-residential sites – however are required to provide strategic summer access for fire fighting vehicles. Roads in this category will be maintained by the Council accordingly, prior to the summer period.

The following Fire Access Roads have been identified:

• Long Lane from Old Tolmie Road to Mansfield Whitfield Road– Mansfield • Little Scullys Lane from Scullys Lane to Mt Buller Road • Lakins Road from Depot entry to Withers Lane • Withers Lane North - past Lakins Road • Paxtons Lane south to Graves Road & Mt Buller Road Mansfield • Pollards – Delatite winery entry east to Hearns Lane (added 5-04) • Rifle Butt Road Mansfield– entire length and • Fire Access Roads Alternate access to / from Sawmill Settlement – providing an alternate entry into or exit from the residential allotments; 1. Sawmill Settlement emergency access road (3 farm style gates limit day to day access) to/from Overflow Street (Mann Court area) & the link to Christiansen Street (near Mill Court) with Mt Buller Road – (added 5-04) This ‘route’ is to be maintained and fuel reduced to the extent possible to ensure trafficable access and to increase vegetation separation to the carriageway – refer to the Sawmill Settlement Fire Safety Plan – currently under development June 2009.

2. Sawmill Settlement alternate emergency access Mt Buller Road to/from Pinnacle Road – ‘chain’ installed to limit routine use.

As always, Brigades are encouraged to review these categories and their listings and recommend additions or alterations.

INCLUSION FOR MFMP - Endorsed by MFMPC, MEMPC and Authorised by Council Resolution on 24 October 2014 Background Statement

DEPI Agreement to access exemptions for native vegetation removal for bushfire purposes, requires a risk assessment to be undertaken to identify priority roads for bushfire treatment.

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The Agreement requires that: “A risk assessment is conducted by the road authority under the Interim VicRoads Road Bushfire Risk Assessment Guidelines (Terramatrix 2011) or an equivalent bushfire risk assessment……” The process of identifying Fuel Reduced Corridors and Priority Access Roads in the Municipal Fire Management Plan is as follows and should satisfy DEPIs risk assessment requirement.

High Risk Roads Fuel Reduced Corridors & Priority Access Roads High Risk Roads are identified in the Municipal Fire Management Plan as Fuel Reduced Corridors & Priority Access Roads, and have been determined over time with multi –agency input through the Municipal Fire Management Planning Committee (formerly Municipal Fire Prevention Committee) using a risk assessment process. The combination of the ability of the road manager to prevent and maintain fires on roadsides and manage the safety of road users are critical elements in assessing and identifying high bushfire risk roads. Roads provide vital access for both emergency services and the public during a fire. While the public are strongly advised not to travel on roads during a bushfire, research shows that many do and people have died because of this. Regardless, there is a general belief that roads will allow people to get somewhere safe during an emergency. Users of roads during a bushfire whether responding as emergency services or attempting to escape a bushfire or access a Neighbourhood Safer Place, face the possibility of being trapped on the road by a fallen tree or branch, disoriented due to smoke and subject to engulfment of fire with no shelter option available. With the conservation of native vegetation on road reserves, on many roads within the Shire, the build up of fire fuel often contributes to high to extreme fire hazard rating. Fuel loads of this level have potential to generate fatal levels of radiant heat. The recognized maximum allowable radiant heat flux for occupied vehicles to withstand is 10kW/m2. Examples of radiant heat flux: • 7KW/M2 IS “RADIATIVE HEAT FLUX WHICH WILL CAUSE SECOND DEGREE BURNS TO FIREFIGHTERS WEARING PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AFTER 90 SECONDS EXPOSURE” (BRAUN ET AL. 1980). • 10KW/M2 CAN BE ACHIEVED WITHIN 35M OF GRASS 1M HIGH. • 60KW/M2 IS “PREDICTED MAXIMUM HEAT FLUX EXPERIENCED BY A FIREFIGHTER STANDING 6M FROM A 21M TALL FLAME” (TASSIOS AND PACKHAM 1964) • 120,000KW/M2 “MAXIMUM FIRE INTENSITY OBSERVED IN THE ASH WEDNESDAY FIRES OF 1983”

Significant work is often required on roadsides to achieve suitable fuel loadings capable of maintaining human life during a fire. Where high fuel loads, specifically surface and near surface fuels are present the likelihood of ignition by road users is increased. Accidental and deliberate ignitions can occur during the fire season. A spark from a faulty exhaust or a cigarette butt relies on fine fuel to create ignition. Equally the likelihood of fire spread beyond the road reserve is increased as the fire danger rating conditions increase. Much of the municipality has the ability for fire to spread across the landscape regardless of fire prevention planning and actions. High roadside vegetation fuel loads comprise surface, near surface, elevated and bark fuels. These factors are considered when calculating fire hazard ratings. Adding to the risk are trees or limbs that are dead diseased or defective that have the potential to fall onto the road before or during a bushfire.

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7.7.3 DIAGRAMS OF TYPICAL WORKS ON ROADS

NOTE: The following diagrams show the optimum desirable situation. It must be noted that this may not be achievable or practical in all situations.

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7.7.4 IDENTIFIED LIMITED ACCESS RURAL AREAS

A1 Settlement Kevington & Tunnel Bend (south of Kevington) Knockwood Matlock Bonnie Doon - Ancona Dry Creek Road Merton - Harris Road Woolshed Lane Shorts Road Upper section of, Sonnberg Rd Penny Lane & Ridge Road North Creek Road area at O’Briens Road Ancona Enoch Point Tolmie - Cambatong Road Bunstons Road Gaffney’s Creek Spring Creek Road

Gough’s Bay - the Pines area Woods Point Howqua River Road (Past Lauriston Girls School) Jamieson - Paradise Point and most areas south of Jamieson

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7.7.5 FIRE HAZARD REMOVAL / FUEL REDUCTION AND HAZARD ISOLATION

On-going liaison shall be maintained between the MFPO and the local fire brigades to ensure that fire hazards are minimised throughout the year. Council officers shall be instructed to note any occurrence during their normal inspections, which may be thought to constitute a fire hazard. When such a hazard is identified the MFPO will instigate appropriate measures to have the hazard removed.

Fire hazards/risks associated with commercial and industrial properties are also controlled by legislation, such as the Building Code of Australia and the Planning and Environment Act. Where hazards are identified at these locations this specialist legislation should be used, in addition to the powers provided under the CFA Act.

The property owners or occupiers shall complete fire hazard removal, reduction and isolation, including the clearing of blocks pursuant to Section 41 of the CFA Act, prior to or as soon as is possible after the introduction of the Declared Fire Danger Period. This must include blocks that have been cleared and have regrown.

A public notice shall be placed in any Council bulletin and ongoing communication strategies such as a mail-out to landholders, advising the public as to their responsibilities for the removal of Fire Hazards from private land and the consequences of non compliance and of Council commencing the inspection process. This strategy corresponds with CFA fire awareness activities.

The public notice shall be followed by inspections of the townships and their surrounds involving Shire personnel and may include the Brigade Captains or Brigade Representative where appropriate.

Other allotments will be inspected on an ‘as needed’ basis and as resources allow.

Depending on seasonal conditions it is expected that the MFPO (and local Fire Brigade Representative if desired) will commence formal inspections of the townships in the late spring, generally in early November, to determine which blocks require clearance. Owners who have not undertaken the works will be issued with a Fire Prevention Notice. Following the expiration of the allowed time for the work to be undertaken (generally 14 days), the MFPO will undertake a further inspection. Property owners who have failed to have the work performed will have the work undertaken by others at the owners expense, at the direction of the MFPO, and will be issued an infringement notice.

Urban Residential Allotments Urban Residential Allotments should have all the grass, weeds and undergrowth cut to a height of less than 75 mm including all grass up to and against fences, buildings and around trees. However it is recognised that special circumstances may require a variance to this standard. Vegetation may be required to be removed, together with any dead wood or other flammable refuse. The above will apply for the allotments and the adjacent half width of the street

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Rural Residential Allotments - Up to 25 Ha Larger (grassland) allotments, exceeding 1 hectare and less than 25 hectares, should have the fuel reduced by cutting, removing, effective grazing and/or ploughing for a minimum distance of 20 m around dwellings and other assets, and consideration be given to creating a fuel reduced strip around the boundary - particularly if close to other buildings or assets (incl. neighbours) as deemed suitable by MFPO. Spraying, if undertaken at the appropriate time can be used to make these breaks. (Refer below for non-grassland allotments)

Larger Allotments – Greater Than 25 Ha Where larger allotments adjoin townships the boundary zone adjoining the township shall be maintained in a fuel-reduced condition as deemed suitable by MFPO. The fuel reduced buffer around buildings and other assets on the allotment and adjoining sites as described above must also be implemented.

Rural Dwellings Rural dwellings should be located and constructed in accordance with the ‘Design and Siting Guidelines-Bushfire Protection for Rural Houses. Refer also to Section 7.03 In Addition;

Forest Areas In forest areas it is recommended that:

• All flammable vegetation and undergrowth be removed for a safe distance around buildings and other assets (more than the above 20 m standard). Refer to the CFA Wildfire Overlay Applicant Kit for more specific advice & recommendations. • Trees should be thinned, and cut trees and limbs removed. • Clumps of dense vegetation should be isolated. • A 6m minimum width firebreak should be constructed around the perimeter of the property by ploughing or spraying, where practical.

The above may be varied as deemed necessary by the MFPO and Council Planning Provisions must be observed when removing vegetation.

Grassland In grassland areas, fuel reduction should be undertaken by cutting, grazing or ploughing for a distance of 20 m around buildings and assets and other installations requiring protection. A 3m to 6 m minimum width break around the perimeter of the property should also be undertaken where practical. If necessary the MFPO may issue further directions.

Undeveloped Municipal Reserves and Municipal Public Land Undeveloped Municipal Reserves and Municipal Public Land in proximity to dwellings should have a fire break or as a minimum, a fuel reduction strip 3 m to 6 m wide, as deemed suitable by MFPO, constructed around the perimeter of the Reserve where practical. This may be varied as deemed necessary by the Municipal Fire Prevention Officer. Access for fire fighting vehicles should be provided. A minimum distance of 20 m fuel reduced area around dwellings and other assets should be provided.

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7.7.6 PERMITS TO BURN The Council will undertake annually a publicity program via the local press to highlight the responsibilities of permit holders and the consequences of non-compliance.

Permits to Burn shall be issued in accordance with the following guidelines. (Seasonal conditions may lead to the need to vary the requirements as listed.)

• Permits to Burn may be issued to individuals up to two weeks after the introduction of the Declared Fire Danger Period. Permits for community burn projects may be issued to fire brigades up to four weeks after the introduction of the Declared Fire Danger Period.

• No Permits to Burn shall be issued to the public between the 24 December and the second Week in February. Private permits will only be issued (from mid-February), if weather conditions are appropriate and subject to consultation between the appropriate Brigade Captain, CFA Regional Officers and the Municipal Fire Prevention Officer. From New Year onwards, Permits to Burn can be issued to a brigade subject to appropriate consultation.

• Applicants will be cautioned on any permit issued that they must consider the prevailing wind direction on the day when selecting the paddocks to be burnt and also the proximity of adjacent roadways and residents and combustible material on neighbouring properties

The procedure for obtaining permits to burn is as follows:

• Permits to Burn shall only be issued for the burning of stubble, grass or other dry vegetation (not for general burning of rubbish).

• If, as stated above it is considered safe for burn offs to be undertaken, the applicant may apply for a permit from the Municipal Fire Prevention Officer or his delegate. The application must include the signature on the form from the relevant Fire Brigade Captain recommending the granting of the permit. This application can be lodged by fax or in person, but must occur before midday of the day prior to the day of the proposed burn off. A copy of the permit (if issued) must then be supplied to the appropriate Brigade nominee by the applicant. The applicant must then notify designated people (see permit) on the day of the burn off.

• Prior to the commencement of the Declared Fire Danger Period Brigades are to notify the Municipal Fire Prevention Officer as to who is the brigade nominated person that Permits to Burn are to be issued to. Where no notification is received, it will be assumed to be the brigade Captain.

• The issuing of permits is at the discretion of the MFPO who is guided by the brigade Captains. Permits shall generally have a time limit of one week.

• No person is permitted to commence burning off until they have the actual Permit to Burn in their possession.

• The MFPO will issue the Permit, and a copy is to be given/sent to the applicant. The applicant must supply a copy to the relevant brigade nominated person and they are to notify the Fire Brigades Group of the intention to burn. Copies of the permit can be faxed if those facilities exist however verbal confirmation of receipt is to be gained. The applicant must notify the contiguous landholders of the proposed burn off.

Permits conditions are as follows:

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• The Permit shall include the CFA Area Map Book page number, grid reference, the road on which the property is located and the property number if applicable.

• The Permit shall specify that appropriate fire control equipment (generally a minimum of two units of minimum capacity of 400 litres and two adults) is on hand during the burn. The MFPO may specify more equipment and personnel than the minimum where appropriate.

• CFA policy requires that the CFA Tanker cannot be included in the minimum required fire control equipment as it may be called away.

• The generally accepted minimum width of the required perimeter breaks being 3 m.

• An appropriate form of communication must be carried.

• All pumps and hoses must be well maintained and reliable, fitted with adjustable fog nozzles and have ability to independently refill attached tanks from dams etc.

The burning procedure shall be as follows:

• All breaks must be continually checked and patrolled during the burn off. Trees etc must be lit around as they are reached during the lighting runs and all burning materials must be extinguished as it reaches the break.

• Constant communication between vehicles during the burn off is required to monitor water volumes of each unit and ensure that units never run out of water at the same time.

• At the conclusion of all lighting all perimeter breaks, tree breaks etc must be checked and burning material must be extinguished.

• Burnt paddocks must be checked first thing the following day, then again later that day.

Note: . DELWP is responsible for Permits to Burn within the Fire Protected Area. . A Prohibited Period applies all year round within State Forests, National Parks and Protected Public Land. . For the 1.5 km margin around State Forests, National Parks and Protected Public Land (except where excised), the Prohibited Period is declared seasonally and where possible is aligned with the (CFA) Fire Danger Period. . Many parts of the Municipality are within the 1.5 km marginal area adjacent to the Fire Protected Area. . During the Prohibited Period a landholder intending to burn off property within the Fire Protected Area (i.e. within the 1.5 km margin) must obtain a Permit to Burn issued by DELWP. . Outside the Prohibited Period a landholder intending to burn off property within the Fire Protected Area must notify the Department of their intentions.

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WOODS POINT AND SURROUNDING DISTRICT COMMUNITY SAFETY PLAN - UPDATED 2016- SEE P 17 (FOR FINAL REVIEW SEPT 2016)

Note: For privacy reasons the Public Release Version of this Plan does not include full addresses or phone numbers for residents etc p 36, 37 & 38. Enquiries relation to the Plan, suggestions for improvements and the like should be directed to Mansfield Shire Council, Municipal Emergency Management Executive Officer (& Municipal Fire Prevention Officer / Municipal Emergency Resources Officer) Mr Kevin Murphy, Private Bag 1000 Mansfield 3723 Ph 57758544 166 Woods Point & Surrounding District Community Safety Plan – October 2007 Updated March 2016

Woods Point and Surrounding District Community Safety Plan V.4

A SUB-PLAN OF THE MANSFIELD SHIRE MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN

A local steering committee from the Woods Point area has been established. This plan is Version 4 ‘all hazard’ sub plan for the Woods Point and nearby areas of the Municipality – updated March 2016.

This sub plan sits behind Council’s Municipal Emergency Management Plan and is seen as a necessity given the remoteness of the area and the fact that the Woods Point and nearby areas and their local population need to respond to situations as they arise, often without assistance for some time. The draft Plan had a working debut during the 2006 fires which threatened the area and ultimately severely impacted the Gaffney’s Creek and A1 Township and surrounding area.

The experiences of the 2006 / 07 fires resulted in the loss of many dwellings, caused major upheaval to the community and significantly impacted on the environment and people. These fires burnt a very large portion of the State and have been compared with the 1939 fires. Fortunately, the fires - caused by lightning strikes were predominantly contained to Crown land. On this occasion, the change in the weather, the significant lead time and the ability to gather resources all contributed to the Woods Point community being prepared for the fires, and ultimately the Woods Point Township (and other areas) escaped the potential destructive force of the fire. The Gaffneys Creek area was not as fortunate.

Further experiences and lessons from the Black Saturday Fires of 2009 which threatened the towns around Woods Point, the subsequent Royal Commission and changes to emergency management arrangements including the formation of Emergency Management Victoria (EMV) have now been applied to this document.

With funding prior to the 2006 fires and later fires of 2009, work has occurred: - to upgrade the Woods Point Community Hall as the potential relief / recovery centre for the nearby areas - to the standard for buildings in bush-fire prone areas. (2006) - to equip it with an independent water supply for its rooftop sprinkler system. (completed 2006) - formalise and improve the fire refuge (2006) near the Woods Point Police Station - now a designated Neighbourhood Safer Place - Place of Last Resort with additional work completed 2015. Note: Agreements exist for the use of the Community Hall at Woods Point. Agreement also exists for NSP site use and for vegetation management - as Council is not the owner of these sites.

Gaffney’s Creek has two 22,000 litre water tanks provided to support fire fighting purposes and a new Community meeting place has been built (2011) for the towns people.

The original plan was presented to the Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee 15 October 2007, reviewed on a number occasions with this update March 2016.

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CONTENTS

PART 1 – INTRODUCTION TO PLAN ...... 5 1. Aim: ...... 5 2. Objective: ...... 5 3. Plan Development ...... 5 PART 2 – WOODS POINT & DISTRICT OVERVIEW ...... 7 1. General: ...... 7 2. Police: ...... 7 3. Fire Services: ...... 7 4. Ambulance: ...... 8 5. Victoria State Emergency Service: ...... 8 6. Topography: ...... 9 7. Climate: ...... 9 8. Population: ...... 9 9. Commercial Development: ...... 9 10. Landing Strips: ...... 10 11. Staging Areas: ...... 10 12. Assembly Areas:...... 10 13. Emergency Relief/Recovery Centres: ...... 11 14. Fire Refuge: ...... 11 15. Emergency History: ...... 12 16. Woods Point Township / locality Plan: ...... 12 PART 3 – MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING ...... 13 1. Responsibilities: ...... 13 2. Woods Point & District Community Safety Committee: ...... 13 3. Roles of Control Agencies and Emergency Response Coordinator: ...... 14 4. Specific Emergency Roles for WPCSC Members: ...... 14 5. Emergency Operation Centres (EOC’s): ...... 15 6. Staging Areas: ...... 15 7. Emergency Relief and Recovery Centres: ...... 15 8. Emergency Use and Facility Table: ...... 16 9. Fire Refuge / NSP: ...... 17 10. Radio Communications: ...... 18 11. Maintenance of Plans: ...... 18 12. Media Liaison: ...... 18 13. Evacuation / Warning procedures:...... 19 14. Community Warning System: ...... 20 15. Community Awareness: ...... 22 PART 4 – HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND TREATMENT...... 23 1. Hazard Identification: ...... 23 2. Types of hazards that may be expected in the Woods Point area:...... 24 3. Hazard Review: ...... 24 4. Specific Fire Related Treatments: ...... 25 PART 5 – OPERATIONAL ISSUES - FIRE ...... 30 1. Preparedness ...... 30 2. Woods Point Readiness Table: ...... 31 3. Triggers ...... 31 4. Individual action in time of emergency...... 33 PART 6 – REFERENCES ...... 34

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PART 7 – ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...... 34 ANNEXURE A Updated March 2016 ...... 35 Woods Point Area - Telephone Directory (and basis for Telephone Tree)...... 35 ANNEXURE B ...... 38 CFA – Advice to the community before and during bushfire ...... 38 ANNEXURE C ...... 42 ANNEXURE D ...... 43 ANNEXURE E ...... 44 Action Plan by the Woods Point Community requiring VICSES Response ...... 44 i. Flood/Storm ...... 44 ii. Road Accident Rescue (RAR) ...... 44 ANNEXURE F ...... 44 Woods Point Town Plan Attachment...... 44 ANNEXURE G ...... 44 Map of Woods Point Area – generally reflecting the area within Mansfield Shire covered by this plan. Attachment ...... 44

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PART 1 – INTRODUCTION TO PLAN

The need to develop a separate plan for Woods Point district arose mainly because of the remoteness and the unique geographical features of its location that render it more susceptible to various types of hazards and complicate the ability for the communities above Jamieson to cope with emergencies.

The Woods Point area and communities are almost unique in Victoria such that, in the event of an emergency, the relevant response and recovery agencies may not be able to access or communicate with the impacted area, and limited local resources may have to cope unassisted until access and/or communication is restored.

The Woods Point and District Community Safety Plan (WPCSP) is a sub plan of the Mansfield Shire Municipal Emergency Management Plan (MEMP).

Development of the plan has been a cooperative process between Council, the Community, CFA and all principal response agencies. The Plan represents a shared view of activities, triggers, response, community capacity, building and location uses.

The process provided support to the development on behalf of the Woods Point community of a relief / recovery centre, establishing the NSP and improved supplementary water resources. Improvements to the community facility and provision of a static water supply at Gaffney’s Creek have also been completed.

1. Aim:

The aim of this plan is to provide a localised framework for agencies, organisations and particularly the local communities to prepare for, seek to prevent and respond to emergencies in the Woods Point Township and surrounding areas. The plan reviews the efficient use of available resources of the community, the municipality, emergency services and other agencies during an emergency.

2. Objective:

The overall objective is to minimise the threat to life, property, the environment and the community in general, from any emergency that may occur within Woods Point and environs.

To guide for the community of Woods Point and surrounding district and seek to outline the process of preventing or minimising the effects of natural or man- made emergencies and provides for a shared understanding of how to respond. The plan also guides Response and Recovery agencies.

To assist in the co-ordination and co-operation of the community and participating organisations to ensure the efficient use of all available resources.

3. Plan Development

Following a Fire Refuge case study community involvement project with the Office of the Emergency Services Commissioner and subsequent discussion between the Community,

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Council and CFA District 23 a project was scoped and resulted in a funding submission being developed. The funding application proposed 4 broad concepts which were highlighted during earlier Woods Point project with OESC (now EMV) regarding a fire refuges;

1. A community owned ‘All Hazard’ safety plan. 2. To raise the profile of community safety – with a focus on unwanted fire. 3. The need for a safer community building to act as a relief / recovery centre available to aid residents of the area including young and elderly, regular visitors, including non- resident owners and the significant influx of tourists. 4. To further assess the need and improve the ‘mine adit’ so as to be formally designated and enable needed improvement and maintenance to occur.

The funding application to the Attorney General’s Department “Working Together to Manage Emergencies” administered through EMA was successful.

A local steering committee from the Woods Point area was established and following several meetings and a consultation phase, a first draft plan was developed. A draft was placed on Public Exhibition and widely circulated. A local Community safety steering committee was established to work with Council & CFA to further develop the plan.

The Draft Plan had a working debut during the 2006 fires which threatened the area and ultimately severely impacted on the Gaffney’s Creek and A1 Township and surrounding area. The Plan has been updated in response to subsequent Community feedback and following some of the experiences of the 2006 / 07/ 09 fires which resulted in the loss of many dwellings, caused major upheaval to this and other Victorian communities and significant impacts on the environment and people. These fires have been compared with 1939 fires.

This version of the plan represents the refinement of the earlier draft and trialled versions of the adopted Plan. It was expanded to cover Woods Point and nearby areas. Further reviewed following the 2009 experiences, refined State and CFA positions, the formation of EMV and following the redevelopment of the Woods Point Adit from a designated Refuge to a Designated Neighbourhood Safer Place – Place of Last Resort (NSP).

The Plan is a sub plan sitting behind Council’s Municipal Emergency Management Plan with other sub plans and is seen as a necessity given the remoteness of the area and the fact that the Woods Point and nearby areas and their local population will need to respond to situations as they arise and often without external assistance for some time. Whilst fire has been the main focus, the Plan represents an ‘all hazard’ risk management approach.

Agreements have been signed (MOU’s) for works at and ongoing use of the Community Hall as Council is not the owner /or occupier of this site or the Adit and has signed the agreements in its capacity as the agency representing the community. The renovations at the Community Hall and at the Mine Adit / NSP have been completed following the installation of a fire rated door January 2015.

This plan has been presented to the Municipal Emergency Planning Committee and Council. The NSP has been formally designated by Council – with the consent of DELWP as manager Crown Land.

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PART 2 – WOODS POINT & DISTRICT OVERVIEW

1. General:

Woods Point is situated in the Upper Goulburn River Valley approximately 290 kms North East of Melbourne via Mansfield – 200 km along the Maroondah Highway and then 90 km along the Mansfield Woods Point Road via Jamieson, or alternatively via Matlock from the Marysville and Warburton Woods Point Road. Other nearby townships or settlements includes Gaffney’s Creek, the A1 Mine Settlement and Matlock. It is envisaged that this Plan will assist all those communities beyond Kevington as generally covered by the Woods Point Police response zone.

Woods Point is 90 kms South of Mansfield and the larger town and focal point in this area. The Woods Point Police response zone is approximately 1000 sq. kms of mostly mountainous terrain surrounded by National Parks and State Forests and is generally the same area as defined as the CFA – Woods Point Brigade Assignment Area. The zone overlaps into the Upper Thompson water supply catchment administered by Melbourne Water.

The response zone encompasses the townships of Gaffney’s Creek, Matlock and A1 Mine Settlement and has a total permanent population of around 32 people, boosted by up to 40 mine workers and contractors if when the A1 and Morning Star Mines are operational. The area is also subject to seasonal change and has a transient tourist population of up to 200 people on most weekends including regular weekenders who are non-resident property owners. The area is popular amongst 4WD and motorcycle enthusiasts along with campers along the river frontage areas, bushwalkers, rock climbers, fishermen, horse riders and deer hunters. Gold was discovered in the area in the 1800’s and three Gold Mines remain with current activity (within the Woods Point Township and at A1 Mine Settlement). There are an enormous number of abandoned mines scattered throughout the district with mining relics abundant.

2. Police:

The response zone is patrolled by one Police Officer with 4WD vehicle; policing back up comes from nearby Jamieson and Mansfield. There is a low crime rate with the main policing issue being the normal range of law enforcement actions including community and individuals risk prevention, searches for lost persons and attending vehicle collisions. The Officer is a focal point in the community and assists DELWP and Parks personnel and Council staff with their duties.

3. Fire Services:

In recognition of the validated concerns about fire, the following detailed overview is provided:

During the summer period there is always a high risk of bushfires. Woods Point has a small but active Volunteer CFA Brigade operating one 4WD Tanker, one 4WD Ultra Light tanker. Due to its isolation, it is not affiliated but liaises with Mansfield Fire

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Brigades Group. It is part of CFA District 23. The Gaffney’s Creek community is part of the Brigade and also has a fire pump. The communities and individuals are very ‘fire aware’ and have developed a high degree of self reliance.

DELWP personnel implement three broad fire related prevention strategies in addition to their community engagement:

• Fuel reduction burns to reduce the severity of bushfire impact, particularly on the townships. These fuel reductions are strategic in nature, pre-planned operations and very dependent on suitable weather conditions. • Track maintenance to provide access into the areas • Operation of fire towers at: 1. Mt. Matlock – Noojee DELWP (MGA94 Zone 55, Ref. 284E/410N at ~1372m elevation – VICMAP BOOK CENTRAL, MAP 6457), 2. Mt. Terrible – Alexandra DELWP (AMG Zone 55, Ref. 238E/608N at ~1316m elevation - CFA Regions 23 & 24 Directory , Map 407) 3. Mt. Useful – Erica & Heyfield DELWP (AMG Zone 55, Ref. 561E/278N at ~1420m elevation - CFA Regions 23 & 24 Directory 1998, Map 452) and 4. Mt Buller – Mansfield DELWP (AMG Zone 55, Ref. 489E/888N at ~1800m elevation - CFA Regions 23 & 24 Directory 1998, Map 368)

DELWP also provide an operational response to and recovery activities following fires. The fire lookout towers provide excellent visual coverage of the ‘Woods Point District’. These towers are all ‘manned’ on high fire danger days during daylight hours, throughout the declared fire danger period providing the community with warning of any bushfire or smoke sighting. Communications from the towers are transmitted to DELWP office and ground personnel, CFA District offices and local CFA Brigades , and other fire towers via radio and telephone.

4. Ambulance:

The Woods Point area has fully operational community volunteer ambulance service operated by Ambulance Victoria. Local members have multi-functional roles specific to their small isolated community and may be requested to assist in other roles during an emergency as indicated in this document.

5. Victoria State Emergency Service:

Within Mansfield Shire VICSES has one (1) volunteer unit based in Mansfield township. The Mansfield Unit has members who are trained and equipped for a variety of emergency events, with a member located at Woods Point. Any significant event within the Shire would possibly see neighbouring VICSES units assisting Mansfield Unit.

VICSES is the control agency for flood, storm and earthquake within Victoria. They also provide a Road Crash Rescue (RCR) capability throughout the State and are a support agency to other emergency services. For action plans for specific events requiring VICSES response see Appendix H.

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In all likelihood, any event (i.e. storm) of significance within this area requiring VICSES’s attendance would see the response of a task force; this would ensure adequate personnel and resources to combat the emergency. Due to the isolation and travelling time to respond to Woods Point and its environs VICSES would seek accurate information and intelligence pertaining to the extent of damage to ensure its response was appropriate. The local Emergency Coordinator (OIC Woods Point Police Station – if manned) would perform the task of sourcing this information.

6. Topography:

The topography surrounding Woods Point Township and the district is heavily treed mountainous bush land, State Forests and Parks, accessed mainly by steep, rocky 4WD tracks. Northern access is via the Mansfield Woods Point Road. Southern access to the town is via the Walhalla Woods Point Road or the Warburton Woods Point Road, Eastern access via South and Mt. Selma Roads to Walhalla Road.

There are numerous creeks and river systems with the main one being the upper reaches of the Goulburn River that flows generally South East from its source near Frenchman’s Gap to Woods Point thence generally Northeast and Northwest to Lake Eildon near Jamieson. Due in part to the road and river following similar paths, the road is subject to flood waters and flood damage.

7. Climate:

The climate is typified by cold wet/snowy winters and warm to hot summers, with an annual rainfall average of ~1480mm. Temperature ranges at Woods Point vary between -5oC in June up to 30oC in February, the annual daily mean maximum temperature being 16.8oC. Storms and blizzards are not uncommon in winter with high winds in the higher regions such as Matlock, which can dry out the forests and bush very quickly in summer.

8. Population:

The area also encompasses the townships of Gaffney’s Creek, Matlock, A1 Mine Settlement and Enoch’s Point. It has an estimated total permanent population of around 32 people with a transient mining, residential & tourist population. During the spring/summer and autumn months, long weekends and School Holidays there can be up to 1000 people distributed around the area. Enoch’s Point is also accessible from Jamieson and Eildon via the ‘Big River road’.

9. Commercial Development:

The main commercial developments in Woods Point are the Morning Star Gold Mine, the A1 Gold Mine, Richmond Retreat Accommodation, Commercial Hotel and the small Woods Point general store/post office – with limited fuel supplies. There are two or three smaller Gold Mines operating in the area. At the time of this review, mining activity within the area has had a significant downturn in scale of operation.

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10. Landing Strips:

The closest fixed wing airstrip is the Jessop Phoschek Airstrip, located at the intersection of Thompson Jordan Divide Road and Warburton Road, Saint Clair (MGA94 Zone 55 Ref. 267E/360N at ~1200 m elevation – VICMAP BOOK CENTRAL, MAP 6457). This airstrip is operated by DELWP during fire danger periods and is maintained by them.

There are numerous helicopter landing points in the area and these are shown on most maps of the area. The main helicopter landing point in use for the town is the Woods Point Gun Club Reserve on the Mansfield Woods Point Road (MGA94 Zone 55 Ref. 335E/427N at ~720 m elevation – VICMAP BOOK CENTRAL, MAP 6458). This reserve is about 1 km north of town and is a suitable all-weather landing place. There are two other reserves in town that may be suitable for helicopters i.e. the old tennis court near the Fire Station which is now in use and the open, river flats near Richmond Retreat. The A1 Mine site also has an open area at the main office Car Park which is a suitable all-weather Helicopter Landing site.

11. Staging Areas:

These are specific locations throughout the Woods Point area which a control agency may use for grouping resources and they are indicated in Part 3 – Table 7 of this document. These areas are deliberately not promoted as community assembly areas due to the high level of specialist activity during operations.

12. Assembly Areas:

For Woods Point Township, the community assembly area is defined as the Emergency Relief Centre (see below). The Hotel, the redeveloped Gaffney’s Creek ‘shed’ and other venues are suitable locations for community meetings and gatherings.

For outlying communities such as Gaffney’s Creek, A1 Settlement and Matlock the Woods Point Emergency Relief Centre is also the primary assembly area, however it is acknowledged there will be instances where those communities cannot travel to Woods Point, therefore secondary assembly areas may be necessary. NOTE: these locations are NOT fire refuges or NSP's.

The WPCSP and local Woods Point Safety Committee supports the adopted State and CFA view that persons should seek shelter and protection from radiant heat in any substantial structure rather than risk being caught on the heavily vegetated road. Each individual, household, tourist and the community are encouraged to plan for their welfare in the event of a bushfire – and any other emergency.

The philosophy of pre-planning and ‘Stay to defend or leave early’ is promoted.

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13. Emergency Relief/Recovery Centres:

This plan recognises the need for a township relief centre at Woods Point due to its location, the lack of other significant sized ‘fire resistant’ buildings, the older style building standards in the area, the significant number of visitors to the area including non-resident dwelling and other land owners, campers, fishermen, hunters, 4 wheel drivers, etc. and the needs of the resident community.

The plan recognises that the area is subject to a number of hazards and potential emergencies and that flood, structural fires and bushfire are a possibility each year.

The plan addresses the need for potential self relocation or evacuation to a safe and supported location, and the possibility of the public, including visitors not being able to leave the area due to road closure or other circumstance where it may not be safe to attempt departure. The Plan recognises that due to location, the Woods Point community and visitors need to be self reliant and prepared for emergencies.

The principal public relief centre for the township of Woods Point is nominated as the Community Hall (RSL Hall) and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been created between Council and the owner for this use. This location provides an initial point for the public to assemble, receive direction and receive or assist in the provision of emergency relief. The building is not equipped to cater for a large number of persons for a lengthy period and is limited by toilet capacity, no bedding etc. Alternate relief centre locations in Woods Point are nominated in Part 3 – Table 7 of this document however they have similar if not greater limitations. Commercial accommodation is limited in the area. Longer-term relief accommodation (successive nights, etc.) may need to rely on camping, either nearby or at a reserve. Local arrangements may enable use of unoccupied dwellings or relocation from the area. Most residents and visitors have camping equipment.

After an emergency, recovery activities may be warranted and the Community Hall will likely be the focal point for these purposes.

The Community Hall site and building exterior was altered extensively in 2005 with funding provided to Council from the Federal Attorney Generals Office so as to be generally compliant with the Australian Standard AS3959 'Buildings in bushfire prone areas'. This will help ensure the building is a safe destination to provide relief from most emergencies. It should withstand a fire with appropriate human intervention, and thus be usable after a fire. This building is near the designated 'NSP'.

14. Fire Refuge:

The previously designated Fire Refuge is now a designated NSP –Place of Last Resort – located directly south (up-hill) of the Police Station in a disused mine adit (see Part 3 – Section 8 & 9). The mine adit was identified by the community and other organisations after use during the 1939 bushfires. . Other than providing a place of last resort from an approaching fire, the mine adit is not equipped to provide any other form of emergency function. Some ‘rations’ and water may be available.

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15. Emergency History: a) The main historical threats are Fire and Storm including minor flooding. The town of Woods Point and surrounding communities have now been severely affected by fire on 2 occasions 1939 and 2006/07. The Black Friday bushfires in the summer of 1939 had been acknowledged as a 1 in 200 year event. Towns were destroyed and rebuilt after the 1939 fires. In 2006/07 there were no lives lost and due to the advance warning all tourists and many residents took the opportunity to leave the area in advance of the fire. A small number of non-resident owners also arrived to protect their property. Because of the generally slow moving nature of the Alpine fire on this occasion, time allowed for CFA and DELWP to assess their capability and deem the Woods Point Township as ‘defendable’.

Resources were transported into the communities and additional preparation works were undertaken. Power supplies were lost, however the Township was provided with auxiliary power by generators for some weeks.

The 2006 fires which destroyed many houses in the Gaffney’s Creek and A 1 Township areas and caused environmental damage will be recorded as having had a significant impact on the communities. The similarly named Black Saturday Bushfires of 2009 possibly the worst fire disaster to hit Victoria came within 11 klm’s west of Woods Point and 8 klms of Gaffney’s Creek. The area of Enoch’s Point near Big River came under direct threat of this fire but no property damage occurred. b) Windstorms are frequent in the area and along with rain; short duration (flash) flooding and snow can cause a lot of damage to the environment, infrastructure and buildings. It is common during winter for roads to be blocked by debris and snow, with an occasional road collapse or partial wash-away. c) Motor vehicle crashes and frequent collisions involving motor bikes occur but these are less frequent during the winter. The increased heavy vehicle traffic due to a resurgence in mining works is acknowledged.. d) Another demand on emergency services involves searches for lost or stranded tourists/ motorists in the bush. e) The occasional light aircraft has crashed in the response zone. f) Industrial/Mine accidents have been rare but are more likely with greater activity.

16. Woods Point Township / locality Plan:

See map in Annexure F & G

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PART 3 – MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING

1. Responsibilities:

With others, Mansfield Shire Council has a key role in emergency planning and response management throughout the municipality as defined in the Emergency Management Act and the Municipal Emergency Management Plan (MEMP). Council works in co-operation with communities and all relevant authorities to assist in the implementation of relevant planning, mitigation and response and recovery activities to prevent or reduce the impact of an emergency.

The Woods Point & District Community Safety Plan (WPCSP) is a sub plan of the Mansfield Shire Municipal Emergency Management Plan (MEMP).

To provide for local input, ownership and to create a framework for ongoing emergency management, a local committee known as the Woods Point & District Community Safety Committee (WPCSC) has been established. This Committee will provide input and have a representation in conjunction with the Municipal Emergency Response Co-ordinator (MERC), the Municipal Emergency Resource Officer (MERO), and Municipal Recovery Manager (MRM) at the Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee (MEMPC). The committee members ‘powers’ will be limited to advisory in nature unless otherwise stated.

2. Woods Point & District Community Safety Committee:

This committee comprises approx seven (7) local members as follows: • Chairperson (preferably not an agency representative) – Tom Cornielle – 6/16 • Community Representative (Business) – Graham Leah – 3/16 • Community Representatives Residents from Woods Point Kirrily Pay – 3/16 Gaffney’s A1 area) John Sligo – 3/16 • Victoria Police (local officer) – Ken Dwight – 3/16 • Ambulance Victoria (local representative) – Gayle Towe & Francis Scott– 3/16 • CFA (local brigade representative) – Captain or delegate • Secretary / Minute Taker – ( ex Chair) Margaret Martyn– 3/16

The Chairperson is appointed as a member of the Mansfield Shire – MEMPC to represent the Woods Point & District at the meetings of that committee.

The WPCSC should meet a minimum of twice yearly and should aim to hold meetings at least four weeks prior to the MEMPC meetings to allow any specific issues arising to be included in the MEMPC agenda. The Mansfield Shire Council will provide support to the WPCSC to allow it to become functional as part of the overall MEMPC.

Copies of the local committee meetings should be sent to: • Mansfield Police - MERC / Officer in Charge • Mansfield Shire Council - MERO/MRM

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• DELWP - Mansfield Officer in Charge • CFA – Regional Officer • VICSES – Regional Officer & Mansfield Unit - Council can assist with the distribution of the Minutes

3. Roles of Control Agencies and Emergency Response Coordinator:

These roles are as detailed in State Plans and the MEMP (Part 3 – Section 5) but for the purposes of the WPCSP the following brief explanation should clarify the situation. The task of directly controlling an emergency rests with the statutory authority whose function it is to handle such matter, eg: • Bushfire - Control agency CFA or DELWP • Windstorm & Flood - Control agency VICSES

Victoria Police are the co-ordinators of all emergency events within Victoria.

4. Specific Emergency Roles for WPCSC Members:

It is expected the committee will allocate specific roles to individual members or others in the community, being mindful of other commitments they may have in the ‘multi-functional atmosphere’ imposed within the small communities. As an example Woods Point fire brigade operational members would have considerable commitment in any fire event and therefore unable to undertake specific ‘relief centre’ roles. Important identified roles that need to be covered by WPCSC members are:

• Community Communications / Fire Warden - responsible to monitor local conditions (i.e. during the Fire Danger Period) and relay information to the appropriate agency such as CFA /DELWP Regional Duty Officer or Incident Controller relative to the level of alert at the time (see Part 5 – Section 1). The role probably sits comfortably with a brigade officer and is currently undertaken by the Brigade 3rd Lieutenant. • Relief Centre Warden – For all incidents, the Local CFA Brigade Captain or his delegate will appoint a warden to open and activate the Community Relief Centre and establish contact with relevant agencies including the MERO and/or MRM. This person may seek additional help or delegate duties depending on the event. • NSP Warden –monitor the NSP and co-ordinate orderly accommodation of people seeking refuge during a fire event. Whilst this role is expected to be utilised very infrequently, once it is functioning it could be demanding. The role may also cover responsibility (at the direction of the Police) for orderly control of traffic movement to and from the refuge and registration of refugees. • Phone Tree Warden – responsible for development, testing and updating of one or more community phone trees and for enabling them to be activated. Copies of the phone tree should be provided to Council and principal response agencies.

Other roles such as representing communities and being a designated driver to transport elderly citizens to the relief centre or the NSP may be deemed appropriate by the WPCSC and persons delegated. When any roles have been allocated, a list of names and roles should be submitted to the Mansfield Shire

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MERO so that they can be recorded and included in Councils register of accredited volunteers.

5. Emergency Operation Centres (EOC’s):

These are centres normally established by an agency for command/control functions of their own agency. They can be divided into two types:

• Incident Control Centre (ICC): For operations in Woods Point and environs this Centre in most cases will be located at the Woods Point or Jamieson Police Station. In bigger events they may become an operations or sector command point with the ICC located at Mansfield. • Operations Point: These forward control points are normally located by the control agency to be geographically as near as practicable to the emergency and may be in remote locations and/or used for limited time.

Table 7 details a list of identified locations that may be utilised.

6. Staging Areas:

Staging areas are pre-planned locations used in emergency situations for the assembly of personnel and equipment of the Control Agency and support organisations working in the emergency area. Refer to Table 7 below for a summary of pre-planned staging areas with comments.

7. Emergency Relief and Recovery Centres:

Establishment and Operation of Emergency Relief Centre

During an event where there will be considerable impact on the community and possibly requiring evacuation, the Emergency Relief Centre at the Community Hall shall be activated. This is the only designated assembly area in an emergency. The WPCSC will be responsible for the operation of this facility at that time, with or without assistance from the Mansfield Shire Council depending on the severity of the event and/or isolation from normal support processes. The Community Hall has been renovated to comply with AS3959-1999 “Construction of Buildings in bushfire prone areas” such that it will offer a secure environment for displaced persons during an emergency and in the recovery phase after an emergency. The hall will have capacity to offer basic facilities for up to ~ 100 persons and should be provided with communication capacity to have direct contact with the ICC & Mansfield MECC. Council will coordinate any relief activity with the support of the Department of Health and Human Services or, if the area is isolated, by remote instruction to relevant members of the WPCSC.

Ambulance Victoria volunteers may be requested to assist with the Police role of registration of evacuees and may also provide limited medical support in the absence of full-scale emergency support.

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In light of this the Police or Red Cross may be able to arrange additional training in ERAS. A registration kit is available at the Woods Point Police Station. Refer to Table below for summary of pre-planned Relief and Recovery centres. This is supplementary to the list contained in Appendix D of the MEMP.

8. Emergency Use and Facility Table:

LOCATION REMARKS

RELIEF AND RECOVERY CENTRE INCIDENT CONTROL CENTRE OPERATIONS POINT ASSEMBLY AREA STAGING AREA PHONE RADIO FUEL WATER F/F Gaffney’s Local N Y N Y N Y N Y Limited space as Staging Area, water Creek supply, comms, F/F Trailer. Capacity for (Fire) Shed relief / recovery operations. Gaffney’s N N Y N Y ? ? N Y Staging area for operations close to Creek both ends of town. Public toilet facility ‘Cricket and creek access. Phone lines could be pitch” established as required. Woods Point Y N N Y N N N N Y Community relief / assembly area. Community Primary Accommodation and cooking facilities, RSL Hall town water supply. Limited Parking. Woods Point N N N N N N Y For use in extreme event, has NSP - Mine Place of emergency water supply, (fire pump & Adit Last First Aid). Fire Rated external / entry Resort door installed 2015 Woods Point N Y Y N N Y Y N Y Has full command post facilities, Police Stn. Primary cooking, shower and water supply, comms, inde. power supply, F/F pump Woods Point N N N N N Y Y N Y Private residence limited accom as Police required, has cooking facilities, shower, residence sleeping, comms, water supply, v (ex-school) limited parking Woods Point N Y Y N Y Y Y N Y For combatants only, has water supply, Fire Station small kitchen, phone and radio comms, toilet, parking for appliances only Woods Point Y Y Y N N Y Y N Y Old Hospital building. Limited Ambulance Limited accommodation and cooking facilities, Station water supply, comms, and medical use. Woods Point Limited N N N N N N N Y Limited accommodation, toilet and Pictorial cooking facilities Museum Woods Point N N N N Y N N N Y Principal helicopter landing area for Gun Club Woods Point. Largest flat area in or Reserve near town suitable for marshalling of emergency service veh. water point. Minor cooking, toilet, shwr, accom Woods Point N Y N N N Y Y Y Y Limited food, drinks, microwave General Store cooking, fuels, etc. Woods Point Y N N Y N Y Y N Y Main accommodation & meals for Strike Hotel Teams/Fire or other agency Crews Woods Point N N N N Y Y Y Y Y Not 1st choice - access road from Morning Star township is narrow and tree covered. Mine site Site itself is reasonably large and open, not suitable for helicopter. Woods Point N N Y N Y N N N Y Staging area for operations close to River flats White City. NB Could become isolated Richmond from rest of town. Accom/meals/shwr Retreat Matlock N N Y Y Y N Y N N Limited use, comms by permission of Helipad private operators, private F/F trailer Matlock Hill The above locations are suitable for various purposes but only as a redundancy.

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9. Fire Refuge / NSP:

Council resolved 21 January 2014 to formally un-designate the refuge due to conflict with State Policy. Council has also terminated the earlier MOU with Vic Police once the site was recognised as Crown Land and the use as a NSP has now been gazetted by DELWP for this purpose - see site photos below The site is designated as a Neighbourhood Safer Place – Place of Last Resort, is subject to annual review by Council and CFA, is subject to vegetation management by DELWP within the 50 m surround and by Council / the local community along the approach from the Police Station direction.

General comment : • The individuals decision to go to the (NSP) must be made VERY early, • Where a risk exists that the bushfire will arrive before time permits for persons to arrive safely at the NSP, other structures such as the home or Community Relief Centre building are to be considered – any structure offers some protection, • First preference should be to leave the area on any elevated high fire risk days. • Give consideration to making the family home or other similar structure compliant with the Australian Standard AS3959 'Buildings in Bushfire Prone areas', and defendable with ongoing fire safety planning, maintenance and with static water supplies.. • Install a fire bunker (subject to Building Permit requirements).

Operational Issues (Part 5 – of this plan) detail circumstances and recognise that people may need to go to the relief centre or the NSP. These recommendations are based on local knowledge, Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI), rate of spread, spotting distance, etc. and have been developed after extensive investigation into how these factors impact the unique Woods Point environment.

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10. Radio Communications:

Local UHF CB Channel 7 - 8 (Repeater at Matlock Hill for Channel 7) Note: As a result of the communication issues experienced during the 2006/07 fires, improvement to repeater tower signal servicing the area of Gaffney’s Creek and surrounding areas is been investigated, Repeater has been installed Ch 14.

Police Woods Point: • UHF CB channel 7 – 8, • Police SMR Channel P2 Woods Point 200 • Police HF Woods Point 200 channel 39 • Police MMR Channel 04-02 (Metro) • Satellite/Mobile

CFA Woods Point: • Vic Fire 523, & UHF CB channel 7 - • SMR channel 307 Vicfire off Frenchmans Gap • Gaffney’s Creek UHF 14

Ambulance Victoria Woods Point: • SMR 650 • MRS 66 • UHF CB portable Channel 7-8

11. Maintenance of Plans:

The WPCSC is encouraged to convene after each emergency that requires the activation of components of the Woods Point Community Safety Plan. The committee will: (a) Consider any recommendations that may come from the de-briefings of control and support agencies involved in the emergency. (b) Recommend changes to the plan to overcome any shortcomings. (c) Create minutes of meetings and arrange for their distribution via Council.

NB: Meetings of the WPCSC may be called at a min 48 hrs notice and shall be conducted in accordance with Council’s Meeting Local Law. This is in addition to the holding of the recommended 2 planned annual meetings

12. Media Liaison:

The media always play a role in an emergency situation. For this reason it is essential that the media be kept reliably informed of events in order to ensure accurate reporting. It is the responsibility of the Control Agency in conjunction with Victoria Police to disseminate official emergency warnings and updates. Spokespersons must be appointed by Agencies for this purpose.

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13. Evacuation / Warning procedures:

The necessity to warn or evacuate all or part of a community threatened by an emergency can arise from a variety of circumstances, eg: Fires, Windstorms, Floods, and Health Hazard etc.

Responsibilities:

A recommendation to evacuate will usually be made by the Control Agency in conjunction with the Police. The decision must incorporate the area that is to be evacuated, the route to be followed, the means of transport and the nominated assembly area. NB. Those with a pecuniary interest cannot be required to evacuate but may be denied access to re-enter an area if not deemed to be safe.

Where time permits, the following procedures shall apply to provide adequate, factual information in regard to evacuation requirements/recommendations:

(a) Provide graduated warnings - where time permits - if the emergency situation is not likely to be contained. The warnings should advise the public to tune into local ABC Radio or other emergency broadcaster for regular 'on air' situation updates initiated by the Incident Controller or Police. Where time permits, these broadcasts will give unambiguous advice to people in the threatened areas, and should include requests to check with neighbours to ensure they are also aware of the danger. (b) In a situation requiring immediate evacuation the Phone Tree (see Part 13 below and Annexure A) should be activated (by the community) along with a door knock of the area (if safe to do so) by available personnel - to locate and transport any old or infirm community members. Whether to go to the Emergency Relief Centre or direct to the NSP or other site identified in an individual's EM Plans will depend on a 'dynamic' assessment of the situation. CFA as an organisation do not activate Phone Trees. (c) The Police (including non local) shall be kept informed of emergency situations affecting the community and is anticipated to inform the appointed member/s of the WPCSC to ensure that the Emergency Relief Centre and/or NSP are available and readied when needed.

Evacuation Assembly Areas:

The only assembly area for the Woods Point region is the Community Relief Centre at the Community Hall in Scott Street, Woods Point (see Part 3 - Section 6 of this plan and in Table 7). Any co-ordinated evacuation shall be to this location unless the Control Agency and Police co-ordinator consider it necessary to organise an early evacuation away from the area via the main Mansfield-Woods Point, Warburton- Woods Point or Walhalla Roads. A ‘pre-plan for Evacuation has been developed for the location by Vic Police with Council assistance and has been filed on the Police Emergency and Event Command system (2016).

Registration of Evacuees:

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Victoria Police carry out the registration of evacuees or displaced people, usually with the assistance of Red Cross (See Part 7 of MEMP). That assistance will likely be provided for in this area by local Ambulance representatives or volunteers.

14. Community Warning System:

Back-up systems will be essential to ensure that some form of warning is available to the Woods Point & District communities during an emergency, even in the situation where electricity and phone services have been disrupted.

The CFA Fire Station Siren will be a planned use for this purpose - see below.

• Radio – Broadcast and UHF

Generally, ABC provides the only broadcast radio coverage in Woods Point and surrounding District and they can be a valuable resource for dissemination of community broadcasts, warnings and updates that is not necessarily dependent on local power or telephone supplies.

Similarly most businesses and many vehicles and dwellings have a UHF CB Radio that can monitor a pre-determined channel during an event.

CFA promote that any UHF radios included in their Communications Plan be tested at least once a month.

The WPCSC, as one of its initial functions, sought to canvas all habited dwellings and businesses in the Woods Point area to check whether a conventional battery powered radio and/or UHF CB radio is available and functional. Occupiers should confirm the reception of ABC, preferably during the day when the signal is probably weakest. Recommendations in relation to improvement to the UHF Repeater should also be canvassed and communicated to Council or the Repeater Association in relation to any poor coverage areas – particularly if there is an opportunity to remedy the situation.

Advisory brochures, or signs are promoted on approach roads to emphasise the need to monitor the ABC or a particular UHF CB channel in case any warnings are issued.

Most people should be aware of impending weather if they venture into the area and should be monitoring any available media, particularly if there is an indication of a worsening situation.

• Warning Sirens

There are currently two functional CFA alert sirens located in Woods Point Township. a) at the CFA fire shed and b) at the Commercial Hotel. The sirens are a good first alert to the community and they can also be used for events other than fire. They may fail. Sirens Alert but do not inform

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For other areas in Woods Point township, remote dwellings, the Gaffney’s Creek and A1 Township and Matlock, reliance needs to be placed on self awareness and an individual’s responsibility to stay in contact with peak community representatives and agencies as they will not receive the benefit of the CFA Siren.

A protocol for the use of the sirens has been developed by EMV.

The sirens should continue to be tested at a set time. For an actual event requiring community involvement the sirens will be activated by the responding CFA Woods Point brigade member or Police if capacity exists. NB The CFA EAS pagers are now the primary brigade alerting system.

• Community Phone Tree

Although the CFA siren may be used as an initial alert within the Woods Point Township, the best warning system, indicating need to act, be alert, evacuate or take other specific action, shall be via the Community Phone Tree(s) developed by the WPCSC (see below). Any member of the community can activate the phone tree and should follow the agreed process

The WPCSC develop and maintain one or more contact phone trees with inbuilt redundancy for the use of the communities and emergency service personnel and volunteers in an emergency situation.

Mobile phones currently have limited or no coverage within the Woods Point area therefore the phone system can only benefit locals at home at the time of the call. Unanswered calls will need to be followed up (if safe to do so) and their assigned call group contacted by the previous caller.

Principal and alternate community members should be identified in each area to act as the initial point of contact for the disseminating of any warnings and to also act as the point to feed updates back into the development of the Community Phone Tree.

There is a high degree of absentee ownership of property within the Woods Point area and a percentage of these properties with buildings probably have phones connected. It is desirable to include that phone number and the home phone number of those absentee owners into the phone tree to be reasonably sure they have been accounted for / can be contacted.

CFA has its own phone conferencing system called Spectrum Pre-conferencing for linking to groups of members in one automated process. For Woods Point Area the list of phone numbers on this system accounts for nearly half of the permanent inhabitants and may very well be the basis for the next step to disseminate a specific message to the rest of the phone connections in the area.

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15. Community Awareness:

As the attitude of the community to emergencies will have a large effect on its ability to respond to and recover from an event, the WPCSC through its integration with the MEMPC, will have capacity to support and promote prevention, preparedness and promotion of awareness within the community. This support is made more important due to the areas isolation.

Special awareness initiatives such as prominent advisory signs and leaflets shall be aimed at the large transient (tourist/camping) population that is present throughout the area most weekends, but particularly during the summer months when fire risk is greatest. These emphasise a need to maintain some form of communications or monitor radio broadcasts when travelling in isolated areas, and the onus of compliance with fire safety regulations during the Fire Danger Period, especially on Total Fire Ban days. Unattended, inadequately extinguished or illegal campfires are a major concern throughout the Woods Point area.

DELWP produce an advisory brochure entitled “Don’t Get Caught in a Bushfire”. This spells out the precautions people should make if camping/travelling in the bush during the fire season. The municipality, DELWP and CFA promote availability of that document and the CFA guideline 'Can-I-Can't-I for campfires/BBQ during the Fire Danger Period at commercial and tourist facilities in towns leading to and in the Woods Point area.

A system is already in place such that the fire danger period is well advertised throughout the area and Total Fire Ban signs are erected at prominent locations and along the main roads leading into the district.

The WPCSC promote that during the Fire Danger Period a self-registration process similar to that in place for bush walking is utilised at Jamieson, Matlock, Walhalla and Woods Point where remote campers who are staying in the area record their name, vehicle registration, proposed camp location, duration of stay and contact details.

This will give authorities some idea of who may be in the bush at any given time and be able to plan accordingly if an emergency arises. Relevant signage promoting this recommendation could be incorporated in the signs mentioned above and will add more emphasis to the need for people to be aware at all times.

During an incident, Council and agencies will always attempt to keep the community informed to the best of their abilities. This will include the arranging of community meetings (when safe to do so) and updating Councils web page with newsletters and the like. Other sources of information such as the web and CFA Fire ready apps should be accessed.

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PART 4 – HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND TREATMENT

1. Hazard Identification:

Hazard identification and the extent of risk particular to the Woods Point & District community was revisited and communicated to the local community by the Office of the Emergency Services Commissioner during a community consultation workshop held in May 2005. Subsequent reviews of Municipal wide plans have not changed the risks relating to fire.

The workshop meetings confirmed public opinion that fire was the most significant hazard that would probably threaten the Woods Point communities. Factors substantiating this were as follows: • History – 1939 fires, the 2006 /07 ‘Great Divide’ fires (and subsequently – the very recent 2009 Black Saturday State-wide fires • Geography – isolation and steep terrain • Difficult fighting fires – lack of water pressure/volume in the townships • Lightning strikes – sudden onset and mountainous surround • Fire starting elsewhere and threatening Woods Point and surrounding areas • Poor communications and lack of back-up • Weather changes • Distance between Woods Point, Jamieson and Mansfield

Risk exposure identified - that remain current are as follows: • Permanent population approx – 38. Boosted by up to 50 transient mine workers and contractors during working weeks. (Woods Point….., Gaffney’s Creek…., A1 Township….., Matlock…., Knockwood…..Enoch’s Point….) • A ‘handful’ of elderly people and others who may be at risk and known within the community and also a relatively small number of infants and children • Visiting population – campers, families, 4-wheel drive clubs • Population increase to ~500+ during peak holidays (summer) • Not all visiting population fully appreciative of fire risk or where to access bushfire safety and preparedness information • Some people camping in bush not aware of declared Total Fire Ban days. Total Fire Ban signs to continue to be displayed at main camping grounds.

The above risks are people and locality related.

Other obvious risks include • isolation and loss of services, • property damage and/or loss, • infrastructure and environmental damage and/or • loss and disruption to economic livelihood, i.e. business, employment, tourism.

The risks/ hazards affecting the area also generally affect the whole of the Municipality, however due to factors of isolation, distance, terrain, road access and the limited availability of outside support, the impact of those risks/ hazards may be more severe. ‘Normal’ service restoration may take longer.

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In particular, loss of vehicular access (road closure due to snow, flood, tree falls, etc.) or loss of power supply and / or communication is acknowledged by this Plan and importantly by the community.

2. Types of hazards that may be expected in the Woods Point area:

IDENTIFIED EFFECT RISK TREATMENT OPTIONS HAZARD LEVEL Vehicle Isolation (Loss of vehicular access) High WPCS Plan and WPCSPC actions Accident/ Death/Injury Warnings crash Infrastructure damage Police protocols, Amb Vic protocols, Warnings (signage) Bushfire & Death/Injury High 1. Warnings, Education, WPCS Plan and fire WPCSPC actions Isolation (Loss of vehicular access) 2. CFA/ DELWP operations (PPRR), incl. Environmental damage 3. Fuel reduction burns 4. Community Education, Infrastructure damage private and 5. WMO introduction & promotion, public 6. warnings, 7. establish relief centre & or NSP 8. Establish back-up facility Loss of Power 9. Police protocols, Loss of communications 10. Amb Vic protocols, Windstorm Isolation (Loss of vehicular access) High WPCS Plan and WPCSPC actions & adverse Tree damage Warnings weather Infrastructure damage Establish relief centre or refuge Loss of Power Establish back-up facility Loss of communications “ “ “ Death/Injury Police protocols, AV protocols, Establish relief centre or refuge Lost Death/Injury Moderate Police protocols, Amb Vic protocols Persons Resource demand Snow Isolation (Loss of vehicular access) Moderate Warnings Tree damage WPCS Plan and WPCSPC actions Landslide Isolation (Loss of vehicular access) Moderate WPCS Plan and WPCSPC actions Environmental damage Warnings Drought Environmental damage Moderate Municipal & other government protocols Loss of income Community support initiatives Flood Death/Injury Moderate WPCS Plan and WPCSPC actions Isolation (Loss of vehicular access) VICSES protocols, Police protocols, Infrastructure damage Amb Vic protocols, Environmental damage Establish relief centre or refuge Loss of Inconvenience Moderate Redundancies Power Loss of income Loss of Inconvenience Moderate Redundancies Communica Loss of income tions Pandemic Death/Injury Low DHS protocols, Police protocols, Amb Vic protocols, Mine Death/Injury Low Police protocols, Amb Vic protocols, Accident OH&S protocols, establish relief centre or Loss of income refuge Whole town affected Municipal & other government protocols DHS protocols Earthquake Environmental damage Low Establish relief centre or refuge Infrastructure damage Police protocols, Amb Vic protocols,

3. Hazard Review:

Due to community and seasonal changes the degree of possible risks related to identified hazards may vary. An ongoing role of the WPCSC will be to review the ‘Risk’ for identified hazards and consider any circumstances that may effect changes

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to the ratings specified in the MEMP. Their recommendations will be an important component of any reassessment to be incorporated into the MEMP.

4. Specific Fire Related Treatments:

The township of Woods Point and the general District is declared a ‘Bushfire Prone Area’ to reflect the hazard and the zoning of the adjoining public land.

4.1. DELWP Fuel Reduction Programs

Woods Point and other townships at A1 settlement, Gaffney’s Creek and Matlock and isolated areas of freehold property comprise a very small proportion of land within the area compared with public land being administered by DELWP.

DELWP has developed a Fire Operations Plan for the Mansfield District and that plan forms part of the Mansfield District Fire Protection Plan. The Fire Operations Plan includes areas proposed for fuel reduction burning, ecological burning and road and track maintenance (updated annually). DELWP also has a community engagement program as well as fire preparedness, fire prevention and education programs for public land. DELWP maps are available specific to the general Woods Point location and show planned fuel reduction burning, however these objectives change on a yearly basis relevant to prevailing conditions.

The map in Annexure D also shows details of Fuel Management Zones surrounding Woods Point and other settlements. These zones reflect the recognition of a high priority for protection, both of the environment and the developed areas of Woods Point and surrounding townships.

The Zones as defined in Chapter 4 of the Fire Protection Plan are as follows:

Zone 1 – Asset protection (includes lives, buildings, fences and stock, regenerating forest, flora and fauna values) Zone 2 – Strategic fuel reduced corridors Zone 3 – Broad-area fuel reduced mosaic Zone 4 – Specific flora and fauna management Zone 5 – Exclusion of prescribed burning

Fuel management zoning allows determination of priorities for fuel reduction based on all values at risk, risk potential and the range of bushfire suppression options desired under most weather conditions. DELWP has a positive relationship with the Woods Point and related communities, particularly engaging the community in the planning of future works and providing advice and support when requested. A few strips of freehold land were identified 2006 between the Zone 1 boundary and the built up area of Woods Point along Scott Street that may require treatment to reduce elevated fuels and surface fine fuels and ensure continuity of protection.

This plan recommends that the local brigade and DELWP continue to discuss treatment options to ensure works tie in with the planned use of the Relief Centre and the designated NSP - Place of Last Resort.

This also applies to areas such as Gaffneys Creek.

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4.2. Township Water Supply

Goulburn Valley Water (GVW) administers a reticulated water supply to the Woods Point Township but this is not inclusive of all properties. Some areas around White City are connected through a private arrangement. A plan of the reticulation exists as a layer into Council’s GIS. The location of existing hydrants is shown on the township map attached as Annexure E.

The Woods Point reticulated water supply is sourced from a permanent flow in Brewery Creek several hundred metres upstream of its junction with the Goulburn River and piped via a 90mm diam. PVC underground main to the pumping station adjacent to the Fire Station in Scott Street (see photo above). The water is then pumped to two 9000 litre (2000 gallon) holding tanks elevated at the top of Hurley Street. The reticulation is gravity fed and generally comprises 100mm (4”) diam. UPVC mains constructed in 2001, however there are some older sections of 64mm (2.5”) diam. galvanised steel main in the Richmond Retreat area. Other types and smaller sizes of pipe are utilised on some of the branch mains and north of the Goulburn River Bridge in Scott Street.

The supply is chlorinated but not promoted as a potable source without further treatment. There are several hydrants located throughout the town, but the system has limited pressure and capacity to be used as a brigade fire fighting supply direct from the mains. During the hotter months increased demand causes some of the houses at higher elevations to lose supply.

Goulburn Valley Water has previously indicated it has no plans to increase the storage capacity but will discuss any proposals put forward. The reticulated supply system is an invaluable fire aid as an off-peak source to maintain individual house- hold fire fighting tank storages that are recommended within this plan as part of the mitigation initiatives.

The Community Hall building has been equipped with a 22,000 litre storage tank for fire fighting purposes with Hall protection via the pump to the sprinkler system and a hose reel as its prime purpose. The supply is also available to CFA.

There is a considerable untapped water resource retained within the mine adit (NSP). This supply is reputably very clean and is considered by many in the community as

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the emergency back-up source for the town reticulation in the event of the Brewery Creek supply becoming contaminated.

4.3. Brigade Strategic Water Supplies

The Woods Point RFB has several sources of fire fighting water supply. Two 22,000 litre storage tank supplies have been installed at Gaffney’s Creek. Several sources exist at the Townships.

There is a deep hole on the Goulburn River behind the Woods Point fire station (see photo below) from where water is diverted (via pump) to an overhead standpipe at the entrance to the fire station.

A turn around area to refill water tanks on fire trucks also exists at a) the Gun Club/Cricket Ground, b) at Jack Scott Reserve behind c) the BBQ shelter and d) at White City opposite Richmond Retreat.

Outside Woods Point the district has access to the River and Creeks where subject to flow, water can be sourced.

Works undertaken at Gaffney’s Creek – 2 x 22,000 litre water tanks adjacent to Water hole at the rear of the the Community Meeting ‘Room’. Woods Point Fire Station

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4.4. Individual House Protection

A) Construction of Buildings in bushfire prone areas. As mentioned earlier in the document most of the houses and commercial structures in the Woods Point area are older timber structures, most been built soon after the 1939 fires that devastated the area. Most of the current buildings in the town (except the new Police Station and Community Hall) would be unlikely to comply with AS3959-1999 “Construction of Buildings in bushfire prone areas” without major renovation. Therefore, the primary objective of individual house and/or building protection in the area may well be finding the most cost effective and practical means of protecting these structures from ember attack.

There is no compulsion for property owners to undertake works to bring their existing buildings into compliance, but the risk is a considerable incentive and with support of the WPCSC it is envisaged people will become more interested in protecting their asset.

AS3959 provisions entail covering, enhancing or adding to existing structures with materials aimed to protect the building from ember attack. Landowners should be encouraged to prioritise improvements by a simple cost/benefit analysis. Any new buildings or renovations should comply with AS3959 as the area is a Bushfire Prone Area. Building Surveyors and CFA Community Safety can advise property owners on these issues.

B) Bushfire Management principals. These principals relate to the preventative works that can be incorporated around an asset. i). One initiative that needs little in the way of structural alteration and should be considered for all dwellings is the PRIVATE provision of a dedicated fire fighting water supply tank (steel or concrete) with a minimum 10000 litre capacity combined with a portable pump independent of mains power supply. A sprinkler arrangement located on the roof of the building will add an extra element of protection. Leaf guard protection in storm water gutters around the roof provides a passive means of reducing inflammable debris build up. The outlet point of the tank should also be provided with a second coupling point to suit CFA appliances. See CFA publication “Fire Ready Victoria kit”. ii). To reduce radiant heat it is also necessary to separate dwellings and other assets from fuels by creating appropriate buffer zones and ensuring those buffers are maintained prior to the fire season. The MFPO will continue to inspect houses and businesses in the townships to ascertain compliance with the Municipal Fire Prevention plan standards. A report of those buildings with fire fighting water supplies should be developed as an Annexure to this plan and updated as situations change. Public input and the assistance of the WPCSP Committee is encouraged.

Explanatory brochures promoting the above initiatives and awareness of simple fire prevention measures such as storing firewood away from main buildings, cleaning gutters and reducing combustible vegetation adjoining structures, can be provided by Council and CFA and be distributed by the WPCSC.

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4.5. Application of PPRR to the Woods Point Fire situation

BEFORE BEFORE DURING AFTER PREVENTION PREPAREDNESS RESPONSE RECOVERY Provisions of Municipal Emergency Management Plan sit across all stages of emergency management Community Community participation and Community participation Community participation and individual asset protection. and individual asset participation. individual asset Public Education & protection. protection. awareness – signage Health & Wellbeing – DELWP Fire Protection Fire Ready kit Information & Incident Action Plan – Relief Centre, Refuge Plan and Fire distribution CFA & DELWP. Operations Plan - fuel Camper registration during ICC activation WPCSP functional reduction programs FDP WPCSP functional roles roles.

MFPO inspections and Brigades Training & Communications Plan – Temporary directions. readiness–, CFA & DELWP accommodation. Community Education. other agencies Welfare provision. preparedness, Community safety committee. Property protection Relief Centre development. Alternative supplies – Reinstatement of (apply principles) NSP readiness. Fuel, Power, and Water. services.

Building modifications Community Safety Plan Community Safety Business continuity & development and ongoing Committee activation. Tourism plan maintenance. Warning system activation. Identify risk hierarchy – Backup provision – Power, MECC ICC activation. Emergency Relief Community and Fuel supplies Evacuation if required funding sourced. Stakeholder Communications, Water Relief Centre/Fire NSP Supply, (Brigade and use individual buildings) etc. Sufficient individual food and water supplies Triggers Support and advocacy FDI 21-35 for private and public FDI >35 –40 asset replacement or Liaison with Community Fire improvement works. Warden Fire lookout towers manned

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PART 5 – OPERATIONAL ISSUES - FIRE

For a Bushfire CFA and DELWP have developed a Cooperative Agreement to maximise the fire suppression effort at fire incidents where resources from both agencies are involved.

In any event where the agencies are involved, and that would likely include any bushfire event in the Woods Point District where private property is threatened by bushfire, a decision will quickly be made as to which agency will be the controlling agency. When the incident response is likely to be protracted, a joint Incident Management Team (IMT) would be established at Mansfield DELWP office.

1. Preparedness

For CFA District 23 in which the Woods Point area is located, CFA and DELWP have agreed on specific levels of Grassland Fire Danger Index (GFDI) and Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI) to activate their plans. When the FFDI is predicted to be greater than 50 the two fire agencies commence formal coordination of activities.

In determining the triggers to activate various levels of response specific to the Woods Point area, it is obvious that conditions can be substantially different in that area compared to the overall CFA/DELWP region, therefore a more local set of conditions needs to be applied to determine a realistic local trigger for actions.

During the Fire Danger Period and particularly when conditions indicate increased possibility of fire the CFA has daily contact with groups and brigades and builds intelligence based on local observations. Coupled with inter-agency data this allows CFA/DELWP to code each day relative to risk, with a Code Red day being the highest alert. This coding can vary substantially throughout District 23, which extends from flatland cropping country around Yarrawonga to alpine regions on the Great Dividing Range between Woods Point and Matlock.

On a Code Red day the Rostered Duty Officer may already have assigned and placed crews on a heightened alert level.

The Fire Warden maintains contact with the Matlock Fire Tower, which would probably be the first location to report any fire in the area.

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The table below shows an expectation of fire related actions required from WPCSC members.

2. Woods Point Readiness Table:

CODE FIRE PERSON ACTIONS Yes Community Ensure Community Relief Centre is open and manned. - in Fire Warden Activate community warning to ensure everyone has fire area plan in place. Prepare for potential or probable influx of campers, Code Red, visitors into town. Extreme Discuss options for immediate evacuation of non-locals & with Incident Controller. Severe Relief Establish Community Relief Centre. Centre Ensure communications with Fire Warden, MERC, MERO Co-ordinator & MRM NSP On standby. When advised by OIC Police or Control Co-ordinator agency - ensure NSP is accessible. Ensure communications with ICC. No Community Liaise with CFA/DELWP operations or Incident Controller. Fire Warden Contact Relief Centre Co-ordinator and NSP Co-ordinator to ensure they are ready to act if needed. Very High Community Undertake immediate check of local indicators and Fire Warden availability of others with nominated roles to perform tasks. Liaise with CFA/DELWP operations to fine tune/upgrade current alert if necessary. High Community On standby. Fire Warden Low Community Routine Fire Warden

3. Triggers

During the Fire Danger Period if conditions are experienced as highlighted and a fire starts or advances within nine (9) kilometres of Woods Point there could be significant ember attack on the township area. Woods Point is located in a basin at the headwaters of the Goulburn River and is surrounded by steep sided valleys and watersheds running in various directions that, in a fire, compound the potential rate of spread and spotting distance.

Any fire occurring on a day when the FFDI is 50 or greater, burning within nine (9) kilometres radius of Woods Point or likely to approach other communities, shall be the trigger for community members to activate their fire plans. At the same time the Woods Point Community Relief Centre shall be opened following contact from the Police member and be readied to accept evacuees if required. Similar scenarios need to be established for the area surrounding Woods Point.

Putting the above in perspective both the A1 Mine Settlement and the DELWP airstrip at St Clair are very close to nine kilometres in a straight line from Woods Point (see Figure 1 below). Whilst the terrain differs, a similar buffer of perhaps nine (9) kilometres should be applied to the outlying communities of Gaffney’s Creek, A1 Mine Settlement and Matlock to prompt a readiness to respond/ defend

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or a move to the Woods Point Community Relief Centre, however circumstances may prevent that option if connecting roads are in doubt or the fire is closer or between Woods Point and those communities. Individuals pre-planning is necessary.

The CFA policy and advice in Annexure F provides good information, but perhaps the best advice if people have any doubts is to leave early if still safe, and that may mean even before a fire starts if local indicators are consistant with the Regional Code Red and Extreme fire danger ratings – see below and next page.

Figure 1. Topographic Map of Woods Point and surrounds

12o

17o

20o

o 18 12o

12o

LEGEND

High Ridge – Goulburn River watershed

Ridge

15o Slope (degrees)

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4. Individual action in time of emergency

CFA Advice to the community before and during bushfire is attached as Annexure F and should be read as the main guide for individual action in time of emergency. However, given the unique Woods Point situation and the fact that a lot of the permanent population will have accepted pre- assigned roles during an emergency, the following pointers are included for further guidance:

1. Safety is always the first priority followed by pre-planning.

2. During the Fire Danger Period become pro-active and listen to radio (ABC 774-AM), UHF Radio or TV broadcasts and become aware of the next days weather, particularly fire weather warnings and declared total fire ban days. Other incidents can occur at any time of the year so be mindful of gale warnings, low level snow forecasts, etc.

3. Initiate your own fire plan when it becomes obvious that conditions may lead to a fire occurring. Don’t wait to be told if the indications are obvious.

4. Make it a priority to know exactly what your role will be during a fire or other emergency in the Woods Point area. Volunteer in advance.

5. Satisfy yourself you know how long it will take to get from your home or workplace to the Woods Point Community Relief Centre, any (informal) refuge and the designated Neighbourhood Safer Place - Place of Last Resort (NSP)

6. When prompted by the phone tree ensure you fulfil your role in passing on the message to your nominated group in the tree and if there is no response after multiple attempts advice the Community Fire Warden. Then move to notify the next parties on the Phone tree. If you observe an emergency, activate the phone tree.

7. If in the Woods Point township, know the siren warning protocol: • 10:00am on alternate Sundays for test. • Continuous blast any time for alert (CFA & RAV personnel will be paged). Commence monitoring ABC radio at this time.

8. If you have no particular emergency management role and you decide to stay and protect your residence you must be aware of the consequences of changing your mind in the “heat of the moment”. Every known household in the Woods Point area has been issued the CFA brochure "Fire Ready Kit". Read this and the attached Annexure F often. Only stay if you have a Plan and are entirely satisfied you can handle any situation.

9. Keep in contact with your neighbours in the lead up to an emergency to ensure they are at least as aware as you are.

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PART 6 – REFERENCES

The following documents, publications and reports have been taken into account during compilation of this plan: • Australian Standard AS3959 “Construction of Buildings in Bushfire Prone Areas” • CFA Act 1958 • CFA publication “Can I or Can’t I” • CFA publication “Living in the Bush” & Fire Ready kit • CFA & State Policy – Advice to the community before and during bushfire (Annexure F) • DELWP brochure entitled “Don’t Get Caught in a Bushfire” • DELWP– Fire Protection Plan – Mansfield, Ovens, Shepparton and Upper Murray • DELWP – Mansfield District Fire Operations Plan • Emergency Management Act 1986 • Mansfield Shire Municipal Emergency Management Plan (MEMP) • Victorian Planning Provisions • WMO Applicants Kit PART 7 – ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Council acknowledges the assistance provided in the preparation and ongoing revision of this document and for the works undertaken within the Woods Point Township since the process began. A. Federal Attorney Generals Department & EMA for project funding: • the Community Safety Plan, • works at the RSL Hall to create a safe community relief / recovery centre and • works at the previously designated Fire Refuge now a NSP B. CFA District 23 for funding and resource allocation especially Neil Ottaway for assistance with creation of this Plan & Mark Williams for advice. Paul Horton for ongoing commitment (review commenced 2013 concluded 2016 for this version) C. DELWP Mansfield Senior Fire Management Officer David Wells, Lucas Russell & crews. D. Vic Police Ken Dwight Station Commander Woods Point Police Station. E. OESC Robyn Betts Manager, Research Projects Unit. F. Woods Point Community members Initial Steering Committee Margaret Martyn, Bill Smithett & Fran Scott Woods Point Brigade Members - esp, Max Towe & Tony Rugys Community Hall Committee Ron Martyn & Max Towe Morning Star Mine, Ray Wright and team for assistance with former fire refuge improvements – Ongoing Committee involvement

To all those that have provided comment and discussion with the earlier versions and this later version, Thank you all for your input.

Kevin Murphy Municipal Emergency Resources Officer & Municipal Fire Prevention Officer

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ANNEXURE A Updated March 2016

Woods Point Area - Telephone Directory (and basis for Telephone Tree).

Note Users & participants must be clear that: a. development and maintenance of the telephone tree, currency of telephone numbers and covering gaps created by absentee members is the responsibility of members of the tree b. Council and the CFA will not control or mange the tree – this must be community driven c. Response agencies make no commitment to contact the tree during emergencies; d. there are not guarantees that the tree will function in an emergency; e. no participant has a personal responsibility for any other person on the list f. messages can vary as they get distributed and meaning may change. g. There may be benefit in creating location specific components of the phone tree

Police/Fire/Ambulance 000 Additional Info. Police Station Woods Point 57778235 LS/C Ken DWIGHT Ambulance Woods Point 57778216 Station Officer Gayle TOWE CFA Fire Station Woods Point 57778236 Unmanned station District 23 Wangaratta RDO 57202300 Police Station Jamieson 57770505 LS/C Paul BRONSGEEST Police Station Mansfield 57772555 MERC Health Centre Woods Point 57778231 Nurse Jane DWYER (Wed only)

++ Radios DELWP Tower Fire Tower Mt. Matlock Cameron Woods

A1 Mine Kirrily Pay SPRAGG Nigel, Michelle LANE Dave WRIGHT Ray C/O A1 MINE

Note: This information is for emergency / preparedness only and shall not be used, distributed or disclosed for any other purpose.

Location Based & A-Z Listing (not as 'up-to-date').

Locations order St Clair Woods Point Matlock Gaffney’s Creek

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Location Based - see also A-Z Listing (not as 'up-to-date'). 1st Alternate Address Name Phone Contact Additional Info.

St Clair 2 BEVINGTON Sandra UHF 7 Ambulance Woods Point 3 BRADBURY Phil, Gail, Gas Supplies 19 CORNIELLE Thomas DWIGHT Ken, 20 Sue Police, CFA,SES 17 KOZMA Maria 28 LEAH, Graeme PO MARTYN Margaret WPCSC Chair 4 Ron 5 McDONALD Don, Lisa CFA 6 MILLER Des, Barbara CFA MORNING STAR MINE 7 PROTHERO Brian, Heather Richmond Retreat Gap 8 RUGYS Tony, CFA/Ambo 9 SCHOENUER Hans, Erica 10 SCOTT Fran, Emily CFA, Ambo 11 SCOTT Jamie CFA 14 STUDD Don 12 TONKIN, Carol & Karl CFA 2 TOWE Max, Gayle CFA, Ambo 13 WOODS Cameron, Kiriliy P/T Woods Point WRIGHT Ray C/O A1 MINE P/T Woods Point BERNS Ros, Harry CFA P/T Woods Point BEVINGTON Kim, Steve P/T Woods Point BEVINGTON Alan, Irene P/T Woods Point DEERING George, Val CFA P/T Woods Point DILLON Mick, Marie P/T Woods Point ESLER Murray P/T Woods Point FAIRWEATHER Mark, Andrea P/T Woods Point KIRKPATRICK Malcolm P/T Woods Point METCALF Linton NORMAN Pam, P/T Woods Point CHERRY Greg P/T Woods Point NORTON Jason CFA

SCRAGG Arthur, Barb

P/T Matlock Matlock P/T Matlock CRIBBES Tim Fire Tower P/T Matlock McCULLOCH Ian, Marlene P/T Matlock MIFSUD Fr Michael Church 22 OSTRY Peter PROTHERO Brian, Heather Matlock house

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1st Alternate Address Name Phone Contact Additional Info.

Gaffney’s 23 CISZEWSKI Peter 24 LUKE Peter CFA 25 MATTHEWS Bob 26 SILGO John CFA VON KOSTUCH Fritz, Mary WARD Max CFA

A-Z Listing (not as 'up-to-date').

MARTYN, Margaret/Ron. 5777 8269 LEAH, Graham. 5777 8288 57778156 WOODS, Kirrily/Cameron.. 57778266 BEVINGTON, Sandra. 5777 8254 BEVINGTON, Kim/Steve. 5777 8228 BERNS, Harry/Ros. 5777 8255 BOURKE, Des. 5777 8228 DILLON, Mick/Marie. 5777 8239 BEVINGTON, Alan/Irene. 5777 8208 CRIBBES, Tim. 5777 8100 DUNN, Mick. 5777 8221 CISZEWSKI, Peter. 5777 8200 DEERING, George/Val. 5777 8289 HUGHES, Bill 5777 8242 CORNEILLE, Tom. 5777 8290 DWIGHT, Sue/Ken. 5777 8233 KIRKPATRICK, Malcolm. 5777 8263 ESLER, Murray. 5777 8234 A1 MINE 5777 8122 LEAH, Graham. 5777 8288 McDONALD, Lee. 5777 8226 KOZMA, Maria. 5777 8204 HOTEL GUEST 5777 8102 GATT, Roly 5777 8283 LUKE, Peter. 5777 8203 MCCULLOCH, Ian/Marlene. 5777 8214 HEBBLETHWAITE. 5777 8246 MATTHEWS, Bob. 5777 8286 MCDONALD, Don/Lisa. 5777 8227 LANE, David. 5777 8202 MIFSUD, FR. Michael. 5777 8248 METCALF, Linton. 5777 8242 MERLO, Andrew/Jan. 5777 8112 MURRAY, Duncan. 5777 8281 MORNING STAR MINE. 5777 8268 MILLER, Barb/Des. 5777 8261 NORMAN, Pam/Greg. 5777 8259 NEWLAND, Jim. 5777 8218 PROTHERO, Brian/Heather. 5777 8285 OSTREY, Peter. 5777 8260 NORTON, Jason. 5777 8298 PROTHERO, Brian/Heather. 5777 8279 RUGYS, Tony/Amy. 5777 8245 SCHOENAUER, Hans/Erika. 5777 8256 COLlINS, Reece Barbara 5777 0563 SIMPSON, Dale. 5777 8150 SCRAGG, Arthur/Barb. 5777 8213 SCOTT, Fran/Emily 5777 8222 SKINNY, John/Kelly. 5777 8225 VONKOSTUCH, Fritz/Mary 5777 8249 SLIGO, John. 5777 8240 TONKIN, Carol/Karl. 5777 8296 LIDDEL, Gail, BRADBURY, Phil 5777 8212 SPRAGG, Nigel/Michelle. 5777 8267 TORNOV, Michael/Leanne 5777 8250 WRIGHT, Ray. CLARK, Dennis 5777 8238 STUDD, Don. 5777 8272 WARD, Max. 5777 8251 PROTHERO, Raylene 5777 8293 TOWE, Max/Gayle. 5777 8210 POLICE, Ken Dwight. 5777 8235 FIRE TOWER. 5777 8277 In an event of no phones working, residents to respond to continuous fire siren. HEALTH CENTRE(Wed only) 5777 8231 Activate your fire plan or attend the fire Adit Refuge behind the Police Station AMBULANCE STATION 5777 8217 GENERAL STORE, 5777 8156 If you are aware of any misprints or CFA SHED 5777 8236 HOTEL,Box & Tania 5777 8224 missed phone numbers contact the POLICE, Jamieson 5777 0505 GAP GETAWAY, Brian/Heather. 5777 8223 person on at the top of your list. POLICE, Mansfield 5777 2555

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ANNEXURE B

CFA – Advice to the community before and during bushfire

Definitions Community development In the context of this policy, community development is the process of building self-reliant communities who are able to recognise and understand risk and are prepared to protect themselves and their property from the threat of bushfire across a range of risk environments.

Community warning system A community warning system is a system for alerting community when there is a bushfire in the area.

Private equipment see cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/privatefire-fighting-equip

“Private equipment” means equipment or machinery (including tankers) owned or operated by a private individual or body that may be used to help contain, suppress or reduce the effects of a fire. It does not include equipment or machinery used for the private defense of domestic dwellings in a bushfire; or the equipment or machinery contracted by the fire control agency.

Defendable space Defendable space is an area surrounding a building that is free of (or has significantly reduced) continuous combustible vegetation or other fuels. Having a defendable space limits the ability of a moving fire to spread directly to a building through flame contact or radiant heat. Defendable space provides a relatively safe area from which residents and fire fighters can control spark and ember attack. A number of factors including design, materials and construction, siting and vegetation type influence the amount of defendable space required for a house.

Objective

The objective of this document is to established position on CFA community safety messages in order to: Provide guidance to all CFA personnel who interact with the community through: • Community development programs • Operational response activities • Community engagement activities in relation to bushfire risk. • Implementation of planning and building regulatory control for bushfire risk mitigation ______

Statement

The following Statement has a foundation based on sound principles of research and evaluation.

Options for community response during bushfire

CFA places a strong emphasis on disseminating key safety messages to the community to ensure that residents are aware of the risks associated with bushfire and have the capacity to make appropriate decisions in regard to personal survival and household protection.

Research demonstrates that the two safest options for residents living in high bushfire risk areas are to: • Stay and actively defend a well prepared home, or • Leave the area before threatened and traveling on the roads becomes hazardous

Page 38 of 45 203 Woods Point & Surrounding District Community Safety Plan – October 2007 Updated March 2016

Research shows that the great majority of houses will survive the passage of a fire front if they are well prepared and actively defended by suitably equipped residents. These houses provide safe refuge for residents during the passage of the fire front.

Residents are advised that it is a safe and worthwhile option to stay and defend their home during a bushfire if: • They are physically able and mentally prepared to defend their home and • They have a well prepared home with adequate defendable space.

Residents are advised to leave the area well before the fire arrives if: • They do not have the physical capacity and psychological readiness to actively defend their house and will not be supported by others in the household • The house is likely to be subject to excessive amounts of radiant heat and direct flame contact due to extreme fuel loads touching or very close to the house.

Residents should be made aware that for a range of reasons CFA is not able to provide assistance to every house during a major bushfire. CFA’s first priority is the safety of fire fighters followed by community and asset protection. The Incident Management Team will direct available resources in accordance with CFA priorities, with consideration of fire fighter safety and other factors during the incident.

Fire-fighting with private equipment

CFA expects that those members of the community who decide to undertake fire-fighting activities using private equipment will comply with the requirements of CFA guidelines.

Successful defense The likelihood that a house can be successfully defended and provide safe refuge during a bushfire is influenced by the presence of adequate defendable space, which is needed: • to limit a moving fire from spreading directly to the building through flame contact and radiant heat, and • to provide a relatively safe area from which residents can control sparks and embers.

A range of factors including house design, construction and maintenance, vegetation management and fire intensity will influence the likelihood a house can be successfully defended. These factors may vary significantly throughout the fire season or on any given day. There is no 'guarantees".

The likelihood that a house will survive will also depend on the capacity of residents to undertake appropriate response activities during the fire.

Due to the complexity and transient nature of factors influencing house survival, it is difficult for even technical experts to make a categorical assessment of the likelihood of a particular house to survive a range of potential bushfire scenarios. CFA personnel are therefore unable to make definitive statements about whether a house would be defendable or non-defendable during a fire season.

CFA personnel may identify houses that would have a limited chance of surviving a high intensity fire, regardless of potential efforts to actively defend the house. While it is not possible to make a categorical assessment of the viability of these houses, CFA personnel can provide residents with access to advice on how to increase household preparedness in consideration of available tools such as the:

• “Building in Bushfire Management Overlay, Applicants Kit” and • Australian Standard (AS 3959) “Construction of Buildings in Bushfire Prone Areas”.

CFA will play a lead role in developing the capacity of residents to evaluate the bushfire risk to their property and to make appropriate decisions in response to the threat of bushfire.

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Seeking temporary shelter during a bushfire

CFA recognises that not all people caught in a bushfire risk situation will have the opportunity to remain with a well prepared home. CFA advises these residents to seek temporary shelter in the nearest building or structure able to provide a shield from radiant heat during the passage of the fire front.

CFA advises residents that temporary shelter may be found inside the home or in alternative structures such as neighboring houses, Formal and informal fire refuges neighborhood safer places or in municipal assembly areas. Even structures that are not well prepared may provide enough shelter to shield people from radiant heat during the actual passage of the fire front.

Where people are caught driving in a bushfire situation and no fixed structures are available, CFA recommends that people shelter inside their car. When selecting a place of refuge, residents are advised to avoid being caught out on the road during a bushfire.

Evacuation

The Emergency Management Act (1986) and the Country Fire Authority Act (1958) gives residents the right to stay with their homes during a bushfire. CFA and other emergency service personnel do not have the authority to order the removal of a person from a property if they have pecuniary interest in the relevant land, building or goods within it.

CFA messages in relation to evacuation during bushfire are:

• The decision to leave the area or stay with their property during a bushfire is the responsibility of the individuals concerned and should be made well before the expected arrival of the fire front. The available research suggests that late evacuation by residents is a dangerous option. • If a resident is away from home at the time of the fire they can legally be prevented from entering the fire area and can be prevented from returning to their residence. • Victoria Police manages road access in and out of the fire area. While safety is the overriding concern every effort should be made to allow residents and landholders to reach their properties before the fire impacts and as soon as possible after the fire has passed. • CFA does not encourage any resident to be traveling on the roads when there is a bushfire in the area.

Dissemination tools

Community Development Bushfire Programs

CFA personnel deliver bushfire community development programs before and during summer to promote key safety messages to residents. The objective of these programs is to increase the capacity of the community so that residents are prepared for bushfire and are able to respond appropriately.

While CFA endeavors to provide all residents of high risk areas with the opportunity to participate in bushfire preparedness programs, CFA recognises that a proportion of residents living in areas of high bushfire risk will chose not to attend the bushfire preparedness programs offered in their area.

Information Flow

Victoria Police have responsibility to ensure that due consideration has been given to the issuance of community warnings for bushfire and control the Standard Emergency Warning Signal (SEWS) upon advice from the combat agency.

During a significant bushfire incident CFA will activate an Information Unit to deliver accurate and timely threat messages to the communities affected by a bushfire. These messages have been developed to support and encourage appropriate residential response by the communities at risk. The threat messages are significantly more detailed than a simple alerting system as they aim to

Page 40 of 45 205 Woods Point & Surrounding District Community Safety Plan – October 2007 Updated March 2016

provide information to enable people to make appropriate decisions and respond to threat more safely.

The Information Unit will utilise a range of pre-planned dissemination tools to support the delivery of information to the community during an incident. These tools include state and local media, call centers, websites, community displays as well as interactive tools such as door knocks and community meetings.

During an incident the key means of disseminating threat messages to the public include: • ABC state-wide and regional radio • Victorian Bushfire Information Line • The CFA public website (www.cfa.vic.gov.au)

CFA recognises that rapid onset fires may affect parts of the community before information can be effectively disseminated.

In remote rural areas where radio and Internet access is limited other means of dissemination need to be considered.

Community Warning Systems

While an alerting system may alert people to an incident it does not provide the range of important information required by a community during a bushfire. An alerting system can only communicate a simple warning message that may or may not be interpreted by the community in a way that enhances their safety.

CFA recognises that some communities will decide to establish a local warning system. For some this will result in an alerting system. CFA does not guarantee to provide, maintain or activate community alerting systems.

CFA will support communities with the provision of technical risk information and access to a range of community development programs, to ensure that any community warning system is used as part of a comprehensive risk reduction strategy. Community warning systems should be used in conjunction with other communication tools such as ABC radio, the Victorian Bushfire Information Line and the CFA public website (www.cfa.vic.gov.au).

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ANNEXURE C

Abbreviations within this Document

AV Ambulance Victoria BOM Bureau of Meteorology CFA Country Fire Authority DERC Divisional Emergency Response Coordinator DHHS Department of Health & Human Services DELWP Dept Environment Land Water & Planning EMV Emergency Management Victoria EOC Emergency Operations Centre ESLO Emergency Services Liaison Officer GBCMA Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority GVW Goulburn Valley Water ICC Incident Control Centre IMT Incident Management Team MECC Municipal Emergency Coordination Centre MEMPC Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee MEMP Municipal Emergency Management Plan MERC Municipal Emergency Response Coordinator MERO Municipal Emergency Resource Officer MRM Municipal Recovery Manager NRIS National Registration and Inquiry SystemNSP Neighbourhood Safer Place - Place of Last Resort (designated) OIC Officer in Charge RAR Road Accident Rescue S&R Search and Rescue VICPOL Victoria Police VICSES Victorian State Emergency Service WPCSC Woods Point (and Surrounding District) Community Safety Committee WPCSP Woods Point (and Surrounding District) Community Safety Plan

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ANNEXURE D Woods Point and District Community Safety Committee

FIRE EMERGENCY SHEET

1. Once the fire alarm is activated C.F.A. members are required to attend the station to fight a fire.

If the alarm continues, townspeople are advised to activate their fire plan, or make their way to the adit. This is situated behind the police station and is a designated NSP. Access is now available from Kenny’s Lane. For emergency vehicles only.

Those intending to use the adit are advised to bring a torch.

If the alarm continues to ring delegates will contact all those listed on the updated phone tree.

2. Due to the suddenness and severity of recent fires the Community Hall will no longer be used as a marshalling area. The hall will continue to be used as a Recovery and Relief Centre - as long as it still stands.

3. While fires remain a threat; daily updates of fire activity will be made by U.H.F radio channel 7 at 18.30hrs. Gaffney’s Creek residents use channel 14 for their communications. Gaffney’s Creek’s new assembly area, phone number is 5777 8142.

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ANNEXURE E

Action Plan by the Woods Point Community requiring VICSES Response i. Flood/Storm Individual households if requiring assistance due to a flood or storm event ring 132 500.

On receiving multiple calls for assistance via 132 500 the Mansfield SES Unit shall notify the NE Regional Duty Officer who shall in turn contact the Woods Point Local Emergency Co-ordinator (nominally the OIC Woods Point Police Station) whose job it is then to seek information regarding the extent of damage and to determine the level of assistance required.

Liaison between the NE Duty Officer and Woods Point Local Emergency Co- ordinator shall then determine the level of response required. It will then be the responsibility of the NE Duty Officer to co-ordinate the response into Woods Point area after consultation with Mansfield SES Unit Controller.

ii. Road Accident Rescue (RAR) Normal State RAR arrangements should be followed. That is notification to 000 detailing the location of the incident and any injuries.

ANNEXURE F

Woods Point Town Plan Attachment

ANNEXURE G

Map of Woods Point Area – generally reflecting the area within Mansfield Shire covered by this plan. Attachment

(Whilst the area is not formally described and thus able to be plotted accurately on a map, the Assignment Area for the Woods Point Rural Fire Brigade is generally acknowledged as covering the same area and the relevant CFA map is attached herewith. The bulk of the land within the area is controlled by DELWP where they are the principal fire management authority. CFA is responsible for fire management on all areas of freehold/private land. Both authorities work closely together in any event that may impact on the area.)

Page 44 of 45 209 Woods Point & Surrounding District Community Safety Plan – October 2007 Updated March 2016

Woods Point Township Aerial Image

Woods Point & Surrounding District Aerial Image

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Type of Executive Municipal Emergency Management meeting: Committee AND Fire Management Committee

Monday 10am 5 September 2016 Mansfield Shire Council, Council Chambers 33 Highett Street Earlier Meeting email & agenda attached

Invitee NB Same Membership for MEMPC Exec. & MFMPC Committee; Councillor, Council EM Officers, and representative from CFA (Regional and local), DELWP, SES (Regional and local), Police, DHHS, DEDJTR, Ambulance Victoria, and 2 Community reps.

Attendees Cr Ellen Hogan, MERO - MFPO Kevin Murphy MERPO Sue Arndt CFA Paul Scragg, Rob Gardiner & Rowan Neely, DELWP Lucas Russell, SES Tom Thoburne, DEDJTR Dr Ian Holmes, Community Reps Kym Lynch & Rolli Vella

Apology Police MERC Lynette Holland, AV Greg Margetts SES John Newlands, MRM Mel Hotton 1. Welcome & opening of meeting by Chairperson Cr Ellen Hogan

2. Previous MFMPC Meeting 6 June & 8 August Discussions re previous meeting outcomes. Circulated edits to MFMP to the Committee following earlier meetings for review. Copy also provided to HPV Richard Mailer Email response received from Richard “I think the importance of plantations has been captured. I would still support any larger emphasis on the importance of fuel reduction burning in mitigating the impact of fire in the Shire.” No action proposed Comments at Meeting – SP Ausnet name update in Table 18 No other changes sought – particularly given content of EMV Letter re “As outlined by Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley in a letter of 24th May 2016 to all regional committee chairs, fire management planning committees should continue to ensure their plans are effective, current and meet relevant audit requirements. However, committees may wish to consider the timeframes of the proposed Bill and Ministerial Planning Guidelines prior to undertaking comprehensive reviews of their plans.”

Action 1. Referral to Council for adoption of Update supported by MFMPC 2. Discussion and agreement that plan once endorsed by Council should result in Table 17 and 18 (Risk Register and Risk Management Strategy) being forwarded to all stakeholders listed as ‘Responsible Agency’ in Table 18.

3. Woods Point & Surrounding District Community Safety Plan Discussed earlier reviews and the updating that had not concluded with referral back to Council. Current update has had review and response comments from CFA Regional and District and Vic Police / Woods Point local Committee representative. It was agreed that Plan should be referred to MEMPC Committee for information, input and support with further consideration listed for October Committee Meeting.

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4. Report provided by Kevin and Lucas on involvement with recently formed ‘Strathbogie Community Bushfire Planning Group’ with its 1st meeting 31 August. DELWP initiative to address; a) Implementation of new Safer Together State Policy (“a bushfire management approach that is more effective at reducing risk and is driven by local knowledge and expertise”) Link - www.delwp.vic.gov.au/safer-together b) This project is seen as 1 of a number of Pilot projects around the State by DELWP with Community Engagement c) Address concerns within some communities re planned burn programme rationale and recent outcomes. (Next Strathbogie Meeting18 October 2016).

5. MERP Program Advice to Committee provided that the Municipal Emergency Resourcing Program - MERP - has been extended by the State with funding for the next 4 years (announced May 2016) but arrangement not finalised till 28 June 2016 with receipt of advice from Strathbogie Council that they would be ‘going it alone’ and not be part of continuing hosted arrangement with Mansfield Shire Council. “Many thanks for your visit to discuss the MERP. Strathbogie’s preference is the Separation model. We have written to LGV today requesting separate funding agreements The partnership has been a good one, and I do appreciate your efforts to bring home our achievements.”

6. Emergency Management Liaison Officer EMLO Training. A number of Council EM staff attended a training session conducted by Vic Pol with CFA (and arranged at relatively short notice) as an initiative of the Regional Emergency Management Planning Committee. Approximately 40 participants from Local Government and Agencies attended one of the sessions at Wodonga, Benalla or Seymour. Above discussion lead to further discussion re Emergency Management matters / role of EMLO’s, MECCs & ICC’s Outcome was that presentation be arranged for coming MEMPC Meeting on planning for Regional and local control, the sharing of this knowledge, (Lucas used EMV Portal Standing Operations as tool for explanation)

7. Previous meeting MEMPC Exec – Circulated following July Meeting

Business Arising – Actions from previous MEMPC Meeting April 2016 • Engagement with Mt Buller Resort / their participation – no outcome or recent engagement or participation. Request from Committee that letter be forwarded by Council CEO to RMB CEO seeking involvement. • Mansfield Hospital Surge Capacity - see 9 August response below • Ausnet Services & Telstra to be approached to provide emergency management presentation (similar to that from GVW & DELWP) Progress? • (NB Not discussed at this meeting) Minutes recorded that Committee Members would review and report back on any issues or updates needed to Parts 1-5 of the MEMP – Nil feedback received. Similarly no feedback received to request for any comments re the Woods Point …Safety Plan. • Report to be created that details currency of each sub-plan for next Meeting – List of Plans and status • Schedule a briefing by Statutory Planner re status of BMO – for scheduled December Meeting of MEMPC Exec / MFPC. 2 212

• Include briefing of status of Township Protection Plans For information, extract from our MEMP, Section 5.3 “Plans have been redeveloped along the format of a State-wide template for Tolmie & Sawmill Settlement and expanded to include other localities - Jamieson, Kevington & Goughs Bay. The community section has been issued by mail to ratepayers within those communities and made available locally for collection, are available from CFA including their web site.” Meeting outcome was to seek a brief overview and status report from CFA at next MEMPC Meeting (10 October).

• Exercise Planning – 10 October School Bus & Emergencies. Further discussion "The MEMPC executive is still very keen to run the exercise (next month) and we did a bit of brainstorming at the meeting yesterday 5 September. Would like a desktop scenario that escalates so there are a few different issues to deal with. The aim/objective of the exercise is’ o to test the school plans and o explore relationships between their plans and the MEMP etc and o the different roles and responsibilities o It seeks to share knowledge and understandings; • educate schools about agency roles and • educate the agencies about the school plans. It will also test communications plans.

Suggestion was that we could run it similar to the Phoenix exercise last year where we work through what we and individual Agencies would be doing at intervals. FDI Rating of 75, School day Mid February Possible that a Phoenix prediction already exists – Lucas to query.

Meeting agreed to a fire scenario similar to the 'McGills Road' fire that ends up closing a couple of roads and isolating some school buses in Mansfield and unable to leave/reach their destination.

Could also have a bus en-route not able to reach their destination or return to Mansfield." Route could also impact Benalla return to Mansfield school bus route.

Sue to re-engage with Schools/ Mansfield Primary School and Mansfield Sec School (School Bus Coordinator) and with John from SES

8. Date for next meeting Raised topic following representation from Dr Lee Manning and inability to engage with mid-afternoon meetings.Endorsed for Meeting time to be changed to 10.30 am Meeting with Exercise scheduled for12.30 pm and this part of Meeting to be open to School reps re Bus exercise. NB Kym & Roli will be apologies

Kevin Murphy, Municipal Fire Prevention & Municipal Emergency Management Officer - 7 September 2016

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(Re dot point 2 in Item 7 Minutes) Mansfield Hospital response to query from Meeting re Surges capacity

Cameron (CEO) has asked me to respond to your risk register review. Below is our suggested changes. Hope they make sense.

Risk Description Risk = Mansfield District Hospital, Urgent Care Centre emergency capacity being overwhelmed by casualties Risk Group Social Risk Category People social setting Cause Insufficient surge capacity for the number of casualties and their needs Impact Casualties impacted by lack of immediate service. Could cause loss of life, loss of care, traumatised victims and family members/friends. Comments If roads cut off may impact on ability to transfer out those critical causalities ( therefore likelihood possible). If road access open impact will be less (therefore unlikely) Controls Implementation of Mansfield District Hospital code brown work instruction, which provides clear direction for Mansfield District Hospitals response to an external emergency which may involve multiple casualties Likelihood Unlikely Consequence Major Risk Rating Moderate

Kind Regards Melanie

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Type of Municipal Emergency Management Committee meeting: 10 October 2016 – 10am for Meeting, 12.30pm for Planned Exercise

Venue: Mansfield Shire Office, Council Chambers, Highett Street. Mansfield Invitees Committee Members - Cr Ellen Hogan Council Officers, MRM’s Melanie Hotton, Michele Padbury, Sue Arndt, Amanda Lovick, MERO’s Kevin Murphy, Paul Valente, Greg Cameron, Police / MERC Lynette.Holland & Mark.Fabris changed to Joel Hughes Community Reps T Ingpen, Kym Lynch, Radio Mansfield, Roland Vella, Pat Webb, Peter Weeks WISEN, Ken Dwight Woods Point & Surrounding District Mt Buller Stirling RMB John Huber &Paul McNamara, Agencies Fire Lucas Russell –DELWP & BartSmith –Parks Vic, Rohan Neely, Rob Gardiner & Paul Scragg _CFA , Dr Lee.Manning –ECODEV Dept of Education [email protected], DHHS Leo Ryan, Sally Mccarron & Eloise Jones, Water Authorities Steven Hall GMW , Jessica Hunt & Tony Nolan GVW Mansfield Hospital Cameron Butler & Neil Allen, Ambulance Greg Margetts Vic Roads Cristy Webb Red Cross D Watson SES Tom Thoburne & John Newlands, Ausnet Services Craig Velt as guest presenter (critical infrastructure).

Attendee Cr Ellen Hogan & EM Exec Officer Kevin Murphy (19 as MRM’s Mel Hotton & Michele Padbury MERO Paul Valente recorded) Police MERC Act Snr Sgt Joel Hughes, CFA Rowan Neely, R O Terry Heafield & Rob Gardiner GVW Tim Tanner, GMW Steve Hall, DELWP Lucas Russell

Dr Lee.Manning –ECODEV, Ambulance Vic Greg Margetts RMB John Huber & Paul McNamara Community Reps Ken Dwight, Tom Ingpen Ausnet Services Craig Velt as guest presenter

Apologies Numerous apologies were recorded in advance and on the day due to flooding event and storm within the Region impacting numerous townships.

Not Dept Education & Training (App , Red Cross, Mansfield Hospital Represented DHHS + Regional SES& + Vic Roads were late apologies

Additional MSC Bus Coordinator Jenny McKenzie, Mans Sec College Timothy Hall, Attendees for St Marys Trish Etcell & Jason Parker, Mansfield Primary Julie McInnes & Exercise Tom Macmunn, Merrijig Carole McCluskey, Mansfield Steiner Andrew Kalzons Mansfield Mt Buller Bus Lines Steve Marshall & Danny Oliver, Likely others perhaps not recorded in attendance book?

Agenda: Circulated in advance via emails 1 215

Welcome & opening of meeting by Chairperson Cr Ellen & introductions.

The meeting commenced with the address from Ausnet Services Craig Velt Craig spoke of the current 52,000 customers currently without Power following the storm event and their activities re restoration. Ausnet Services are electricity supplier for the northern part of Vic. Have the “monopoly” for the power lines network & distribution in the eastern part of the State, 51,000 km of overhead lines, 7,000 km underground. Pre-summer works include detailed inspection & maintenance to look after the network. Energy Safe Vic is the regulator and closely monitors service delivery including Vegetation Management Plans. On TFB’s and Code Red days private lines with defects are disconnected, only essential works are undertaken and ‘Protection Device Settings’ are changed – faster operation of reclosers and no reclosers of Code Red days. There is an enhanced safety program since Black Saturday. The duration and frequency of disruptions is decreasing. There is increasing ‘planned outages’ to enable works program to be delivered. Unplanned outages generally due to tree branch impacts, storms, lightening, animals & birds + human activities. Discussed hazardous trees and clearances of 2 m - including the swing allowances – increased if there is an assessed risk of tree falling. Mansfield area has 2 staff rostered for on-call. Radial feed line from Benalla to Mansfield zone station comprises a 66kV and a separate 22 kV line in same corridor. 4 feeder lines to Bonnie Doon, Tolmie, the south/south east and Mt Buller directions. Mansfield scheduled for installation of ‘Rapid Earth Fault Impact Device in 2023 – will prevent spark from starting a fire.

1. Draft Minutes for review. a. MEMPC 11 April 2016 - Circulated via email to Committee - September 2016 b. MEMPC Exec / MFPC Meeting no 4 on 5 September 2016 Circulated 7 Sept 2016 (3 earlier workshop meetings held May, June & August re updating of the Municipal Fire Management Plan 2012). Accepted as presented.

2. Business Arising from Minutes – MEMPC April 2016 • Woods Point & Surrounding District Community Safety Plan review and recommendation to Council that changes be endorsed (Current update circulated to Committee with Minutes after April Meeting and again on 7 September) Endorsed. • Members review on any issues or updates needed to Parts 1-5 of the MEMP for discussion at this meeting. No updating identified by thosein attendance. • Council endorsement of revised MFMP after its circulation to ‘Stakeholders with role identified in Table 17 & 18 Actions endorsed • Township Protection Plans - Status report sought from CFA. MEMP references existence of plans for the localities of Tolmie, Sawmill Settlement, Jamieson, Kevington & Goughs Bay - MEMP, Section 5.3 Noted • Schedule a briefing by Statutory Planner re status of BMO – for December Meeting of MEMPC Exec / MFPC. Noted

3. Membership MEMPC & Exec Committee (incl. Fire Management) No Vacancies Tom Ingpen Retirement from Committee tabled. Tom spoke of his history with Council and Emergency Management Planning – change over of staff performing role, MECC operations, Generator back-up installation and the improved ‘structures’ now in place with Agencies. Tom was thanked for his past involvement by Cr Hogan. All supported. Introduction of Mel Hotton – MRM, CFA Rob & Terry, 2 216

MDH Cameron Butler, Red Cross Daniel Watson both apologies for meeting Request received for Bart Smith Craig Hore to join committee to represent Parks Vic Craig is District Ranger In Charge Fire & Emergencies with Parks Vic 4. EMV / State review of . / directions. Ongoing change and current briefings no legislated change yet re function of our Committees etc (expected in 2018). Community safety, resilience and ‘we work as one’ remain major focus from EMV.

5. Requested Agenda Items Presentation for MEMPC Meeting on planning for Regional and local control, sharing knowledge - Lucas - EMV Portal Standing Operations as tool for explanation Lucas provided an overview of the ‘Portal’ that allows an individual to review his favorite links and be available on any electronic device – updating to E.Maps for DELWP and introduction of EM COP (Common Operating Picture) for Level 2 incident management this season. (A brief demonstration of EM COP was provided after the meeting closed).

• Ausnet Services – see earlier notes of presentation Telstra approached re emergency management presentation Sue to follow-up OTHER ……. Nil

6. Review of Portions of MEMP Suggest individual review of; Part 6 ‘Relief and Recovery Arrangements’ and Part 7 ‘Support Services, Agencies and Response’ Advise MERO Kevin of any updating needed. Proposal Supported

7. Review of Sub Plans Sub Plan List and Currency (as sought by Exec Committee) included as last page of Agenda - updated and extracted from MEMP Sec 4.5 Noted List for further discussion at next Meeting a) Update to Animal Welfare Plan and b) Facilities for Animal welfare.

8. Engagement with Mt Buller EMPC Exec requested letter be forwarded by Council CEO to RMB CEO seeking involvement. No action proposed Resort CEO has accepted Meeting invite. No action required – CEO and Officer in attendance and a representative is anticipated to be available for future meetings. An overview of their activities was provided including EM staff roles. Noted

9. Reports a) MERO – general update of activities provided b) MRM Relief & Recovery Restructured the Relief and Recovery Sub-Plan to fall into line with the Regional Plan including change to identify 4 instead of 5 ‘environments’ for consideration c) MERPO Community Resilience & Infrastructure Role update Report circulated Attach with Minutes d) Other Reports Peter Weeks lodged a written report tabled at the meeting re WISEN activity – involved with comms for 4 day endure event in November, recently upgraded UHF Ch 5 repeater on Mt Buller and Peter has coordinated changes to frequencies used by RMB’s, ESTA, Police, SES, and Ambulance, Mt Buller CFA and Mansfield Shire, Ski Patrol and Alpine S&R, Also some changes to Radio broadcasting by Star & 3SR FM and Radio Mansfield with plans for Tolmie and Woods Point likely to be approved – greatly increasing their broadcast coverage. Circulated report from Leo Updating roles to support their own efforts Tom – Expressed view - Important to have ‘exercises to ‘test’ systems.

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Rohan Important to note that Brigade’s readiness to respond is not impacted by current ‘industrial action. Written report from Dr Lee Manning circulated - current activities.

10. Recent Lessons After Action review of … and any other Debriefs ‘Missing person’ search in the Sawmill Settlement area. EMT formation, incident etc.

11. Upcoming ‘events’ of significance? Targa Rabbit Hole & Enduro events Nil actions identified

12. General Business Ken Dwyte spoke of the current and increasing truck traffic on the Mansfield Woods Point – particularly the section between A1 and Jamieson is of concern 8 trucks daily (each way) on narrow road formation, 1 recent incident and lots of reported near misses. UHF CB radio is important to gain awareness of traffic movement/ approaching – use Ch 40. Mine Managing Director is in discussion with Vic Roads re installing signage at Jamieson and Matlock to inform motorists of truck activity and Ch 40 use Trucks continue thru Mansfield currently using High and Chenery Street as the designated Heavy Vehicle Route. Paul (Engineering) to consider representation to Vic Roads

Other General Business Nil

Next Meeting dates Exec Committee / MFMPC 10am Monday 5 December 2016 Include * Scheduled briefing by Statutory Planner re status of BMO and planned changes

Exec Committee 10am 6 Monday March 2017

Full Committee Meeting 10am Monday 3 April 2017 Endorsed

Exercise “Bus Stop” conducted as per Briefing Paper plan prepared by John Newlands Regional SES and facilitated by Kevin – John was a late apology due to Flood / Storm event. Exercise conducted with introductions and the reading of the prepared Situation, Mission and Execution statements. The exercise had been preceded by the issuing of invitations to each School within the Municipality that utilise the ‘school bus network. All participated including representation from each bus company and or/ individual drivers.

The intent of the exercise was; • to test the school plans specifically regarding Bus Routes and • explore relationships between their plans and the MEMP etc and • identify different roles and responsibilities • to share knowledge and understandings; • educate school personnel about agency roles and • educate the agencies about the school plans. • It will also test communications plans.

Exercise prompted responses about what we and individual Agencies would be doing at intervals with afternoon school bus impacted by passage of fire whilst en- route not able to reach their destination but able to return to Mansfield.. 4 218

Explored the responsibilities of school bus coordinator and individual schools. We established that the model response is that students will be returned to their School. Some schools already stock consumables to support late stays. Discussed school buses communications – sat phones, most with UHF radio thus some capacity to enable inter bus discussion and plan. Busses without UHF to consider this as an option to install. Good links into Emergency Service Agencies and high level of risk appreciation and understanding of links between Regional Education Office, coordinator, local schools and the bus companies (multiple bus companies).

Feedback following Exercise as received 18 October 2016 Hi Kevin,

Thank you for the opportunity the other day to get together with all concerned parties regarding our school bus system. I found it very beneficial and insightful to be involved in. Most importantly, it has highlighted some of our weak areas that could be improved with the right assistance.

One point that has been a concern to myself and the bus contractors is the requirement to have a midway safe haven in case the bus is unable to turn around on some of our narrow roads and needs to find refuge somewhere. This requirement has been carried over from Kevin McMahon who was the Regional Officer of the Hume Region approximately 5 years ago, this is no longer the case and we have not had any further direction as regards the specification of safe havens since then, so perhaps it is no longer a valid requirement.

I have attached the information that we do have in regards to mapping and bus routes. I have also attached a copy of our Code Red instructions that are provided to all families of bus travellers and a copy of our Bus Management Procedures during Fire Danger days.

Thank you again for your time and assistance,

Kind regards, Jenny McKenzie Administration/Bus Coordinator

Mansfield Secondary College Attachments MSC-Bus Management Fire Danger Procedure Fire safety Letter Code Red (busses will not operate) 9 Maps of Bus Routes Mansfield Centre Barwite Mahaika Howes Creek Goughs Bay Jamieson Maindample Bonnie Doon Merimbah

Note to Agencies – Please advise if you would like copies of these – Please quote File record “In16/40655” or / and or the record date 18 October 2016.

Circulated via email to Committee as Draft Minutes; Friday, 10 February 2017

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Type of Executive Municipal Emergency Management meeting: Committee AND Fire Management Committee 5 December 2016 – 10am for Meeting,

Venue: Mansfield Shire Office, Council Chambers, Highett Street. Mansfield Invitees NB Same Membership for MEMPC Exec. & MFMPC Committee; Councillor, Council EM Officers, and representative from CFA (Regional and local), DELWP, SES (Regional and local), Police, DHHS, DEDJTR, Ambulance Victoria, and 2 Community reps.

Committee Members - Cr Attley & Olver Council Officers, MRM’s Melanie Hotton, Michele Padbury, Sue Arndt, Amanda Lovick, MERO’s Kevin Murphy, Paul Valente, Greg Cameron, Police / MERC Joel Hughes Community Reps Kym Lynch, Radio Mansfield, Roland Vella, Ken Dwight Woods Point & Surrounding District Agencies Fire Lucas Russell –DELWP & Craig Hore–Parks Vic, Rohan Neely, Rob Gardiner & Opps Officer (Paul Scragg) CFA , Dr Lee Manning –ECODEV, DHHS Leo Ryan, Sally Mccarron, Ambulance Greg Margetts, SES Tom Thoburne & John Newlands

Attendee Cr Marg Attley & EM Exec Officer Kevin Murphy (14 as MRM’s Mel Hotton MEMPO Sue Arndt recorded) Police Dep MERC Nathan Pelling, CFA Acting RO Graeme Neal & BASO Rob Gardiner ECODEV- Dr Lee.Manning, DELWP Lucas Russell DHHS Sally McCarron SES John Newlands & Tom Thoburne ,

Community Reps Kym Lynch & Rolli Vella

Apologies Cr Olver Dep MRM Michele Padbury Dep MERO Paul Valente Acting MERC / Acting Snr Sgt Michael Layton Ambulance Vic Greg Margetts, Apologies if I have missed anyone

Agenda: Circulated in advance via emails

Welcome & opening of meeting by Chairperson Cr Attley & introductions.

1. Draft Minutes for review. MEMPC Meeting 10 October 2016 Supported Mel Hotton & Graeme Neal Business Arising/Actions Kym queried a) with respect to presentation made by AusNet Services Craig Velt, was the question asked re ‘power shedding plans’ for the Municipality and Region? (not relating to unplanned outages) but rather due to perceived / actual fire risk etc. Response to be sought by TomThoburne from Craig & advised. 2. Membership MEMPC & Exec Committee (incl. Fire Management) Vacancies Pat Webb (community representative) has advised she is relinquishing

1 220

her role as VCC EM District Co-Ordinator and role expected to be confirmed to be filled by Stuart Gray, Howes Creek Road Mansfield. Tom Ingpen (community representative) presented letter of resignation at previous meeting, (suggestion post previous meeting re ex Cr Hogan filling gap). Mel Hotton proposed: ‘That we publicly seek expression of interest to become involved in MEMPC and the lodgement of supporting information regarding any EM history and knowledge with the nomination. Action Supported Proposal to be reported to Council for determination

3. EMV / State review of ... / Directions. Seasonal Outlook a) The Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre has revised its seasonal outlook in the most recent Southern Australia Seasonal Bushfire Outlook 2016-17: November update. Changes from the previous outlook include an increased above normal risk area covering greater part of the North West of Victoria, and an increase in risk from below average to average for parts of the North East of Victoria and Gippsland. Lucas responded “Hume Region has delivered on targets for the last year & prior. KM advised that at this stage 307 Fire Directions Notices have been issued to property owners – a significant increase compared to recent years. b) State Monthly Readiness Plan – December The plan has been published on EM Knowledge (EMK), and is available on the following link State Monthly Readiness Plan - December 2016 http://files.em.vic.gov.au/StatePlans/ReadinessPlans/StateMonthlyReadinessPlan.pdf Request made that link be provided in the Minutes Advice given that Aircraft ’pre-determined dispatch will again apply and Aircraft will be available in Mansfield from 14 December. c).The Victorian Fire Risk Register – Bushfire (VFRR-B) statewide GIS data layer is now available. This release is dated 1 December 2016. STATUS_MAP_DECEMBER_2016.pdf d) Blue-Green Algae Status Report - 2 December e) EM-COP public facing elements are badged "VicEmergency" and include the website www.emergency.vic.gov.au, Discussion ensured; a) that this now provides 1 platform for all EM Agencies & b) that press be given to need to update Fire App to Vic Emergency App.

4. Requested Agenda Items a) Presentation on Planning Scheme - Wildfire Management Overlay - updating by the State – briefing by Councils’ Strategic Planner Kathy Richardson. Kathy Richardson presented information including a powerpoint presentation showing that Bushfire Management Overlay covers approximately 40% of State and that the review is been conducted by the State with limited opportunity for input. b) Request received from Kym (with KM's notes in the brackets) to include; • Summary of Desktop Exercise Report (see also October Minutes) Comment at Meeting: Kim considered that the record of the Exercise included with the previous Minutes was ‘generic and not able to be audited’. Concern expressed re lack of record for “learnings, outcome actions, responsibilities, follow up required, etc” Action recorded – “Put out a paper & send to Schools” – proposing that follow-up letter be forwarded to the schools involved with Bus Exercise (& bus Coordinator) seeking their response to any changes they may have implemented.

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• Learnings from Desktop Exercise as above – (Minutes included my recollections - but that was impacted by my role as the facilitator) Follow-up with Schools recommended re any after exercise actions they have taken. • Documented actions/plans, responsibilities and timelines emanating from Desktop Exercise outcomes (input sought from others) • Fire Ready: • Season outlook and expectations for the NE (and Mansfield Shire in particular) from CFA planning perspective; - See earlier – Item 3 • Shire community communication actions, green waste disposal changes, etc - (Input on the day from others also welcome). Discussion not recorded – Note: Minimal contact from Public re closure of ‘green waste’ depot site. Fire Flyer mailed to ratepayers with rates notices.

5. Review of Portions of MEMP – no discussion or suggestions for changes to Part 6 ‘Relief and Recovery Arrangements’ and Part 7 ‘Support Services, Agencies and Response’ (as listed for individuals to review in October Minutes).

6. Update on review of Sub Plans Fire Management Plan Review of Plan conducted with Meetings held September 2016 with recorded action; “Action a) Referral to Council for adoption of Update supported by MFMPC b) Discussion and agreement that plan once endorsed by Council should result in Table 17 and 18 (Risk Register and Risk Management Strategy) being forwarded to all stakeholders listed as ‘Responsible Agency’ in Table 18. Minor subsequent updating following Agency input Report to Council still to be actioned Woods Point & Surrounding District Community Safety Pla Outcome as above (as for item 6b) Mansfield Stock and Emergency Welfare Plan – Plan reviewed against revised State Plan & input from Dr Lee, no changes necessary as a result. Minor updating re contact details for some named person (admin task only not prompting report to Council – Updated version to be published on Web page & Crisisworks Status of Sub-plans shown - see attachment.

7. Engagement with Mt Buller EMPC – any comments – Participated last mtg

8. Annual exercise planning - relist for discussion at March & April Meetings with planning for an exercise to be delivered at October 2017 meeting. Agreed • That future Exercises should ensure there is appointed an ‘Exercise Director’ and Exercise observer to write an official report • That Actions and closure of concerns be recorded. • That Objectives should include; Identify any shortcomings in our ‘Plan’ & How workable is any supporting plan and any related Plan! – eg the ‘school plan’. 9. Reports a) MERC & Agency Reports

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Dep MERC advises that a Bus Exercise debrief report was provided to the Regional EM Officer – will forward a copy to Council as a record In readiness for fire season, Members have been ‘up-skilled’ for EMLO roles b) MEM/ MERO Strathbogie Reference Group Meetings x 3 Regional Meetings 6/9/16 SES Severe Flood & Storm, CFA Pre-season briefings for Level 2 & Level 3 IMTs MEMP & Sub Plan Update – see attachment. Fire clearance inspections have commenced c) MRM Relief & Recovery Scheduled for later this week - practice establishing EM Relief Centre Red Bucket project launched Trivia Game based on EM Funding Grant successful – aims to promote community resilience. d) MERP Community Resilience & Infrastructure Role update Red Bucket Animal Welfare; meeting with Mansfield A&P Society and with Merton Recreation Reserve representatives re horse welfare. EMLO tabards obtained for Officers use at an ICC– grey colour. Business Continuity Planning & Role descriptors underway Community Resilience; Kevington area successful in receiving Mobile Phone Tower funding 2 New ‘flyers developed 1. Emergency – all hazard advice & 2. Animal Welfare

e) Other Reports DEDJTR Dr Lee spoke to her circulated report and attending a Regional Local Laws Officers meeting last week, the presentation at LURG of a horse forum (similar to earlier meeting in Mansfield) and the State Animal Welfare Plan DHHS Sally highlighted increase in family violence following emergencies – and need for awareness at a relief centre by staff. Eloise is on maternity leave, Mark commencing next week.

Sally McCarron MEMP Report December 2016.doc

10. Recent Lessons 1. After Action review of - Nil 2. Other Debriefs Nil

11. Upcoming ‘events’ of significance? Rabbit Hole event – Merton area

12. Further General Business SES John –SES is now Control Agency for landslides, Control Agency for Heatwave to move from Police to Ambulance Vic – but still with Police for this summer. (UPDATE 1-17 from EMV newsletter “Control Agency for Extreme Heat events from Victoria Police to the Emergency Management Commissioner, which came into effect on 1 December 2016) John acknowledged Sue’s assistance for recent School Bus exercise. SES Mansfield Tom advises they are setting up their own facebook page, 28 Members have undertaken ‘fire ground awareness training’, Discussion - ‘A1 Mine’ truck traffic to Jamieson & planned Vic Roads signage to raise awareness & promote UHF channel 40. Next Scheduled Meeting Exec Committee 10 am Monday 6 March 2017 (Full) Committee 10 am Monday 3 April 2017 Attachment - Status of Sub-plans shown in attachment. Kevin Murphy 20/1/17 4 223 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.3 COMMUNITY SERVICES

9.3.1 Community Matching Fund Round One 2016-2017

File Number: E4392 Responsible Officer: Community Development Officer, Jane Diplock

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

The authors of this report have declared no conflicts of interest in relation to this item

Introduction

This report summarises the outcome of the Community Matching Fund (CMF) Round 1 (2016-2017) assessment.

The Community Matching Fund distributes $50,000 per annum, with two funding rounds. Round one normally occurs in November-December. In 2016-2017 round one was postponed to December-January due to Council elections. Round two will occur in March- April.

In round one 2016-2017 Council received ten applications, totalling $39,753 for the Clubs and Group Fund. No applications were received for the Helping Hand Fund or the Community Member Fund. All 10 applications received for the Clubs and Groups Fund were presented to a panel of Council Officers for assessment.

Background

Mansfield Shire Council’s Community Matching Fund (CMF) provides grants of up to $5,000 to not-for-profit groups based in the Mansfield Shire. The Fund aims to support the valuable work undertaken by volunteers and community groups within the Shire.

The grant funding was established in 2003 and has undertaken two review processes leading to its current format. The most recent review conducted in August 2016 which included consultation with previous grant recipients, community groups, Councillor and Council officer interviews.

The review supported the introduction of a new funding category for a Community Member, to provide support to individual community members to attend training and skills development opportunities (for example, the Alpine Valleys Community Leadership Program) and a presentation to an assessment panel was added to the assessment process.

224224. Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.3.1 Community Matching Fund Round One 2016-2017 cont.

Current funding available:

Helping Hand Fund Clubs and Groups Community Member Fund Fund Quick and simple For larger projects that For an individual projects, where will enhance community community member to immediate funds are life in Mansfield Shire. attend training and required development to build skills for the benefit of the Mansfield Community Maximum Grant Max $999 $1,000 - $5000 Max $3,000 Amount Funding $45,000 $3,000 pool Funding $1 to $1 $1 to $1 $1 to $1 ratio No. of Open year round Two per financial year One per financial year rounds Application Application form Presentation to Presentation to format assessment panel assessment panel Project No less than 4 weeks No less than 12 weeks from date of application Start Date from date of application. Project Completion Within 12 months of receiving funds, inclusive of acquittal Date No. per Groups can receive up to one Helping Hand Fund An individual can year or one Clubs and Groups Fund grant per funding receive up to one year. grant and will not be eligible for funding in the following 3 years

The assessment criteria for all funds are that the projects: · demonstrate ongoing community benefit as a result of the project · emphasise self-help so that, to the greatest extent possible, projects are initiated, planned and implemented by the community members who will themselves be impacted by the project · take place within the Mansfield Shire or directly benefit members of the Mansfield Shire community · demonstrate a ‘community match’ · demonstrate a clear link to the Council Plan · demonstrate a clear link to your community groups vision, strategic plan or community plan

225. 225 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.3.1 Community Matching Fund Round One 2016-2017 cont.

Applicants must also demonstrate how their project meets one or more of the following objectives:

· Support and/or improve sustainability and environment · Support and/or improve access and inclusion · Develop skills and support learning opportunities · Encourage collaboration, partnerships and sharing resources · Encourage volunteering · Increase participation · Support involvement of disadvantaged groups · Support and/or improve community wellbeing and resilience

Round One 2016-2017:

The funding round for Round 1 of the 2016-2017 CMF was released later than usual due to caretaker period for the Council elections. Applications opened to the community on 25 November 2016 and were advertised via Mansfield Courier, Council’s Facebook page and an email to all community groups listed on the community database. Applications closed on 16 December 2016.

The new application format was implemented with each applicant applying online including uploading a response to assessment criteria and budget form which gave a brief summary of funding requested.

Ten applications were received from community groups will the total application amount of $41,085.

Each applicant was invited by formal letter correspondence to present to the CMF panel on 12 January 2016. Each letter contained an information page, with a summary of feedback on the written responses to the assessment criteria (each group was provided with the same information), to support the community groups to develop their presentation for the assessment panel.

The assessment panel consisted of Council officers from the relevant departments reflected in the applications. A briefing session was conducted prior to the formal presentations to inform each panel member of the projects and the assessment process.

The assessment panel was made up of

· Environment Officer, Damien Gerrans · Statutory Planner, Alex Duncan · Tourism & Events Co-ordinator, Nicole Nye · Community Services Manager, Melanie Hotton · Sport & Rec Officer, Dan Purcell · Senior Civil Engineer, Paul Valente 226. 226 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.3.1 Community Matching Fund Round One 2016-2017 cont.

The presentations to the assessment panel were held on 12 January. It was a requisite that each club/group stayed the entirety of the session to observe each other’s presentations.

The purpose of the presentation was to enable applicants to hear about each other’s projects, share ideas and develop networks. It also enabled applicants to respond to questions regarding their application, reducing the delay in collating information required to assess each application and allowing applicants to hear the kind of questions and details that an assessment panel requires – improving the applicant’s skills and knowledge to apply for other grants.

Each group was given an allocated timeframe of 5 minutes for their presentation with a 5 minute question time from the panel. Groups presented with Powerpoint demonstrations, visual products, passion and an abundance of enthusiasm. Following the presentations, the panel met to discuss and assess the applications as follows (a summary of the following can be found attached to this report):

Total Amount Amount Group Project title Comments project Requested GST Status Recommended cost (ex. GST) Currently Mansfield Little Athletics’ are using equipment that is in need of repair. The installation of the timing gates will free up volunteers to assist the children to develop skills. The timing system will be available to other groups, such as schools for their athletics day and a procedure for hiring the equipment will be established. The application Purchase of identified a number of strong Mansfield Little Not Electronic links to the Council Plan. The $9,780 $5,000 $3,300 Athletics Club registered Timing Gates presentation to the panel was delivered with the use of visual props to support the application by displaying the age and antiquated equipment currently being used. The representative from Little Athletics’ suggested that Mt Buller RMB will to contribute $2000 to the project. It was therefore recommended to fund a partial amount of the requested amount.

227. 227 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.3.1 Community Matching Fund Round One 2016-2017 cont.

Total Amount Amount Group Project title Comments project Requested GST Status Recommended cost (ex. GST) This application was a request for funding to begin the process of creating of a walking path from the intersection of Gough’s Bay Road, Walshes Rd and Howes Creek Rd to the General Store making the entrance to Gough’s Bay more attractive and to create a safer Gough’s Bay Gough’s Bay environment for community Not Area Progress Footpath members and visitors to move Unknown $5,000 $0 registered Association Planning around the township. The planning for this project was incomplete and it is unlikely that construction of this project would be completed within 12 months - as per the grant guidelines. It was identified that this group require further support from Council officers to assist them in the planning of this project. The main speaker at the PAC ceased to operate (due to age) during a performance in 2016 limiting the sound. The PAC is a well utilised venue by many groups. The new system will be owned by the PAC Purchase new committee of management, speakers to compatible with existing equipment and available for all Not MMUDS replace broken $10,275 $5,000 $5,500 groups who use the PAC. registered speakers at The application was strong the PAC and met the identified requirements for funding, the planning and presentation was solid. MMUDS provides continued positive impact on the community with the PAC also assisting students from the secondary college. To level, lay and complete a walking path through the newly developed Mathews Memorial Avenue and Reserve. 600 metres of an all weather chert walking path to run the length of the reserve to provide Completion of access for all. The application received and presented was Jamieson Mathews very strong with community Not Community Reserve $7,036 $3,518 $3,870 passion evident. The registered Group Memorial presentation showed the walking path project continued to align with the Jamieson Community Plan and the Council Plan. It is recommended that funding is conditional on confirmation of land owner permission and obtaining relevant permits (including cultural heritage).

228. 228 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.3.1 Community Matching Fund Round One 2016-2017 cont.

Amount Total Request Amount Group Project title Comments project GST Status ed (ex. Recommended cost GST) The Historical Society have over 800 maps, this project will digitise Digitise, index and place online over half the Mansfield collection. The criteria required and print large Not Historical for the grant funding was $10,205 $4,825 $5,308 historical registered Society Inc addressed and the importance of documents preserving these maps was identified as a very strong community benefit. This application had three identified projects to be funded. 1. Installation of 3 phase grid connected solar system to reduce power costs, bank electricity throughout the summer - the initial plan would be to purchase a small number of solar panels to begin with and increase panel numbers as further funding becomes available. 2. Refurbish garage, replacing the garage door with a window so the area can be better utilised for storage. 3. Install finger guards on each door of the Mansfield Solar, storage GST building. The finger jams $36,197 $5,000 $976 Kindergarten & safety component of the application was registered identified as a priority. Both the application and presentations were well delivered, although the total cost of all elements far exceeded the upper limit of the funding available. The Kindergarten will be encouraged to resubmit the solar panel component in a future round with a project scope that fits within the funding available. It is recommended that the finger guards component is funded in this round. Purchase of second hand seating from Hoyts at $50 per chair. Quote includes freight & purchase of new ready to go seating. This will reduce some seating capacity yet improve the comfort and improve the current seating which is now aged and worn. The Mansfield Armchair Cinema is a community not for profit trust organisation which employs Mansfield Replacement students from the local High GST Armchair of cinema $9,500 $4,750 $4,750 School to complete school based registered Cinema chairs apprenticeships. Further to this the Mansfield Armchair Cinema contributes to the community in many formats and have strong associations with youth programs, community fund raising events, strong supporter of Senior Citizens week. The quality of the application was thorough and provided all of the information requested of the grant applicants.

229. 229 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.3.1 Community Matching Fund Round One 2016-2017 cont.

Amount Total Request Amount Group Project title Comments project GST Status ed (ex. Recommended cost GST) Up2Us Landcare and Mansfield Secondary College would like to purchase a drone to be used by the year 8 geography students. The Secondary College would own the drone and it would only be used when landowner permission received. Although Drone Use in this application was well Up2US Landcare- presented, there were concerns in GST Landcare $9,750 $4,500 $0 Geography regards to the extent of the registered Alliance Partnerships partnership with the school, the ownership and maintenance of the equipment and that the community match was not specific to the project as many of the hours assigned to the match were teaching hours during school terms. At this stage, this project is not recommended for funding. Council installed storage sheds to provide storage for equipment. Concreting the The ground for the storage sheds ground of the were not concreted and it has now Mansfield been identified that there is mould storage sheds GST Community forming creating an occupational $2,410 $1,000 $0 for equipment registered Cubby House health and safety issue. These & archieve storage sheds are Council documents property and a request for maintenance needs to be submitted. Mansfield RSL would like to update the entrance into the Accessible building by installing an accessible ramp into the building. This will Not Mansfield RSL entrance to $2,320 $1,160 $1,276 allow direct access to the building registered RSL building for all community members. The application for this grant was well thought out and thorough. $97,472 $39,753 $24,980

To ensure confidential feedback was received from the community groups and clubs who participated in the presentations a survey monkey was sent to each group who presented for Council to rate the new application process.

Overall the new format including a presentation was well received by the community. Applicants appreciated the opportunity to speak to their applications, hear about other community projects, meet and receive guidance from a range of departments within Council and build skills in public speaking.

From the assessment panels perspective the new process saw groups better aligning their project with Council’s strategic plan and identifying the ongoing community benefit.

Statutory Requirements

Nil.

230. 230 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.3.1 Community Matching Fund Round One 2016-2017 cont.

Council Plan

Strategy 2: Good Governance Goal 2.2 Council has productive partnerships with key organisations and decision makers.

Strategy 5: Empowered and Self Sufficient Communities Goal 5.1 Our communities are connected, inclusive, healthy and resilient. Goal 5.3 Mansfield’s community is supported by responsive, equitable and accessible services. Goal 5.4 We capitalise on the capabilities and talents of locals to achieve community aspirations.

Annual Business Plan Action: Assist communities in the implementation of community plans through the provision of advice, advocacy, consultation and information on funding options as per Council’s Community Development Charter.

Financial

This matter is within standard operational budget parameters.

The 2016-2017 budget for the Community Matching Fund is $51,000. $50,000 of this budget is allocated to community contributions and $1000 is allocated to subscriptions and software for the online component.

Social

The Mansfield Shire Community Matching Fund aims to support the valuable work undertaken by volunteers and community groups in the Mansfield Shire. The fund seeks to increase community groups’ ability to plan and implement initiatives that are identified by local communities. As such, all of the projects supported by the fund are community-driven and build upon existing community assets to further strengthen and enhance our community. The structure of the CMF seeks to promote collaboration between Council and the community by joining together Council resources and the community’s own contributions.

The principles in the Mansfield Shire Community Development Charter form the basis of the CMF. These principles are: inclusiveness and participation, respect, empowerment, collective action, communication, sustainability and learning.

Environmental

Prior to the projects being started, community groups will be required to enter into a funding agreement stating that all legal requirements, permits and permissions necessary to undertake the project are the responsibility of the community organisation.

231. 231 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.3.1 Community Matching Fund Round One 2016-2017 cont.

Economic

The matters that are the subject of this report are within normal operational economic parameters.

Risk Management

The matters that are the subject of this report are considered within normal operational risk parameters. Community groups are required to enter into a funding agreement stating that:

· Council shall not be responsible at any time for any liabilities incurred or entered into by the community organisation as a result of, or in connection with, any activities undertaken as a result of the funding being received. · The community organisation agrees to indemnify Mansfield Shire Council and its staff, from and against any claim, demand, liability, suit, cost, expense or action arising out of or in any way connected with the project or the activities of the community organisation.

Community Engagement

Extensive community engagement was undertaken to inform the recent review of the program.

Council also holds an annual grants workshop coinciding with the opening of the first round to assist community groups to apply to the CMF and learn how to write attractive funding applications. The Community Development unit also fields one-on-one requests for support regarding applications.

Given the recent changes in the application process to include a presentation, feedback via an anonymous survey was also undertaken on the presentation component.

Officer’s Comments

Nil.

Councillors Olver/Westerndorp

That Council endorse the allocation of Round 1 funding for the 2016-17 Community Matching Fund, Clubs and Group’s Fund as per the following table, but with the deletion of the $4,750 allocation for the Mansfield Armchair Cinema.

Amount Group Project title Recommended Mansfield Little Athletics Purchase of Electronic Timing Gates $3,300 Club Gough’s Bay Area Progress Gough’s Bay Footpath Planning $0 Association Purchase new speakers to replace broken MMUDS $5,500 speakers at the PAC Completion of Mathews Reserve Memorial Jamieson Community Group $3,870 walking path 232. 232 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.3.1 Community Matching Fund Round One 2016-2017 cont.

Mansfield Historical Society Digitise, index and print large historical $5,308 Inc documents Mansfield Kindergarten Solar, storage & safety $976 Mansfield Armchair Cinema Replacement of cinema chairs $4,750 Drone Use in Landcare-Geography Up2US Landcare Alliance $0 Partnerships Mansfield Community Cubby Concreting the ground of the storage sheds $0 House for equipment & archive documents Mansfield RSL Accessible entrance to RSL building $1,276 $24,980 The motion was put to a vote and lost.

Motion lost

Councillors Westerndorp/Attley

That Council:

1. Endorse the allocation of $24,980 for Round 1 of the 2016-2017 Community Matching Fund, Clubs and Groups' Fund as contained in the following table.

Amount Group Project title Recommended Mansfield Little Athletics Purchase of Electronic Timing Gates $3,300 Club Gough’s Bay Area Progress Gough’s Bay Footpath Planning $0 Association Purchase new speakers to replace broken MMUDS $5,500 speakers at the PAC Completion of Mathews Reserve Memorial Jamieson Community Group $3,870 walking path Mansfield Historical Society Digitise, index and print large historical $5,308 Inc documents Mansfield Kindergarten Solar, storage & safety $976 Mansfield Armchair Cinema Replacement of cinema chairs $4,750 Drone Use in Landcare-Geography Up2US Landcare Alliance $0 Partnerships Mansfield Community Cubby Concreting the ground of the storage sheds $0 House for equipment & archive documents Mansfield RSL Accessible entrance to RSL building $1,276 $24,980

2. Undertake a review of the Community Matching Fund Guidelines 2016-17 prior to the commencement of Round 2 funding applications.

Carried

233. 233 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

ATTACHMENT 9.3.1

COMMUNITY MATCHING FUND ROUND ONE 2016-2017

(1 PAGE)

234. 234 Summary of applications for Community Matching Fund Round One 2016-2017

Amount Group Project title Recommended Mansfield Little Athletics Purchase of Electronic Timing Gates $3,300 Club

Gough’s Bay Area Progress Gough’s Bay Footpath Planning $0 Association

Purchase new speakers to replace broken MMUDS $5,500 speakers at the PAC Completion of Mathews Reserve Memorial Jamieson Community Group $3,870 walking path

Mansfield Historical Society Digitise, index and print large historical $5,308 Inc documents

Mansfield Kindergarten Solar, storage & safety $976

Mansfield Armchair Cinema Replacement of cinema chairs $4,750

Drone Use in Landcare-Geography Up2US Landcare Alliance $0 Partnerships Mansfield Community Cubby Concreting the ground of the storage sheds $0 House for equipment & archieve documents Mansfield RSL Accessible entrance to RSL building $1,276

$24,980

235 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.4 EXECUTIVE SERVICES

9.4.1 Tourism North East Quarterly Report 2016-2017 Quarter 2

File Number: E2017 Responsible Officer: Acting Tourism & Economic Development Manager, Judy Dixon

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

The author of this report has declared no conflict of interest in relation to this matter.

Introduction

For information only, noting progress made by Tourism North East as per its quarterly report.

Background

Tourism North East (TNE) is a regional tourism board, set up by Tourism Victoria to develop a broad range of supply and demand driven tourism initiatives to increase visitation, spend and dispersal across the Victorian High Country region, which includes seven municipalities and four alpine resorts.

Council is in its first year of a new three year memorandum of understanding with Tourism North East. Council’s membership is $36,000 per annum and is represented by Chief Executive Alex Green. In addition, Council may elect to invest in a range of Tourism North East activities and strategies on a per annum basis.

Statutory Requirements

No statutory or legal obligations.

Council Plan

Council’s partnership work with TNE relates to the Council Plan strategic objective of a growing economy. Working with TNE is identified in the 2013 Economic Development Strategy Review Action Plan and relates to ensuring our economic base is prosperous and diverse, that there are opportunities to focus on economic development in outlying communities and that further research is undertaken to identify market opportunities.

Financial

Membership and activity investment is budgeted annually.

Social

Not applicable.

Environmental

Not applicable.

236236. Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.4.1 Tourism North East Quarterly Report 2016-2017 Quarter 2 cont.

Economic

Strategic and tactical undertaken by Council with TNE is intended to positively impact on investment, yield and yield dispersal for the local economy.

Risk Management

Not applicable.

Community Engagement

Council has an ongoing relationship with TNE and supports and facilitates regular information provision and industry development opportunities as they arise.

There are no direct community engagement requirements as an outcome of this report.

Officer’s Comments

TNE generates quarterly reports about the initiatives that Mansfield Shire Council invests in, with notes on progress and/or outcomes for the second quarter of the 2016-2017 financial year featured in the attached report.

TNE has been highly successful in securing $640k in grant funding to progress key product development initiatives that align with the key pillars being cycle tourism, snow, nature based tourism, food wine and craft beer and arts and cultural heritage.

The 2016-2017 Council budget reflects a reduced investment in TNE initiatives from previous years. Investments included the two regional guides – cycle and food and wine and include industry development. Subsequent successful grant funding announcements prompted a Council contribution to be included in the North East Victoria Cycling Optimisation Master Plan, Ned Kelly Alive and the Hume Aboriginal Cultural Trail.

Destination website upgrades are set to commence that will improve use via mobile devices and TNE flags the need for the Mansfield/Mt Buller site content to be refreshed accordingly. This is an area where we will need to invest in the future to keep visitors engaged and inspired to translate interest to commitment. The need to actively manage the depth of product on the website via listings with the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) is also identified as an area to be resourced.

Public relations and High Country Harvest Festival are two TNE initiatives that were not financially supported by Council in the 2016 -2017 financial year. In order to maintain a Mansfield event and business presence in the Harvest Festival, TNE made concessions to local Mansfield business groups to enable their presence in the campaign for marketing and product development continuity outcomes, as an exceptional circumstance.

237. 237 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.4.1 Tourism North East Quarterly Report 2016-2017 Quarter 2 cont.

Public relations is an important marketing strategy, particularly when advertising dollars are limited. This year Council did not financially support this program. While TNE and Council can report some effective publicity achieved in this quarter, the lack of funds to support the logistics of publicity opportunities can be ‘deal breakers’, with the tab not always able to be met by industry alone.

Ride High Country is new branding associated with a campaign and website to ‘own’ the cycle space in the north east. Inclusion in this campaign, that will complement the Cycling Optimisation Master Plan, is recommended for 2017 – 2018.

Councillors Olver/Westerndorp

That Council note the Tourism North East Quarterly Report 2016-2017 Quarter 2. Carried

238. 238 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

ATTACHMENT 9.4.1

TOURISM NORTH EAST QUARTERLY REPORT 2016-2017 QUARTER 2

(17 PAGES)

239. 239 TNE Activity Report – Mansfield Shire Council 2016-17 Q2

1. Introduction

Tourism North East (TNE) is the regional tourism board for the High Country, charged with developing a broad range of supply and demand driven tourism initiatives that deliver strong outcomes to the local visitor economy. TNE works closely with Mansfield Shire Council as part of these regional efforts, collaborating with a range of other councils, RMBs, industry partners and State entities like Visit Victoria and Regional Development Victoria to increase visitation, spend and dispersal in the High Country. As part of this partnership, Mansfield Shire Council invests in a selection of tourism activities that are most relevant to its own tourism efforts and product strengths, effectively leveraging a larger collective tourism spend that can maximise tourism results for Mansfield Shire. TNE generates quarterly reports about the initiatives that Mansfield Shire Council invests in, with key notes on progress and/or outcomes for the second quarter of the 2016-17 financial year featured in the following report.

2. High Country Harvest

High Country Harvest is a regional event program that showcases the phenomenal food, wine and craft beer offering that the region is so renowned for. 2017 will mark the fifth year of the event, which is key in positioning the High Country as an industry leader. The key objectives of High Country Harvest are as follows:

• Drive visitation and yield - to generate tangible event outcomes such as visitation and event bookings, bed nights and yield in a period that is generally quiet in terms of visitation. • Generate brand and product awareness – to maximise exposure for the High Country and one of its key product pillars, with a view to positioning the region as the State’s premier food and wine destination. • Industry and product development – to assist food, wine and beer businesses with developing new tourism experiences in a supportive environment, which are on-trend and have the potential to grow into a year-round offering, thereby strengthening the regional product.

High Country Harvest 2017 will run from 5-21 May, encompassing an extra seven days of event programing that will effectively allow for greater event growth. In quarter two, TNE has worked with operators to develop new offerings for the expanded program, hosting a range of ideas

240 generation and food/wine future trends workshops designed to assist businesses in identifying new or enhanced High Country Harvest programs. These workshops were supported by individual sessions with each business (or group of businesses) to define and finesse their proposed offering. As a result of these efforts, an additional 30% of events have been secured for the High Country Harvest compared to 2015-16. In Mansfield Shire, this includes the development of 7 events, which is a great achievement. Operators have also created 40 Harvest Menus/Autumn Warmers - special in-house menus only available during High Country Harvest – that assist with spreading the reach and benefits of the event. As such, High Country Harvest is in a great position to drive strong visitation outcomes again in 2017. To support this growth potential, TNE is currently looking to secure grant funding from Visit Victoria’s Regional Event Fund to enable it to secure high-profile industry players (like renowned chefs) and increased marketing budget to raise awareness of the offering. TNE has been advised that this application has been progressed to Minister Eren for approval, indicating that it should be successful in securing some degree of funding for this purpose.

3. High Country Food and Wine Guide

The Food and Wine Guide is one of the region’s premier pieces of collateral, featuring the rich array of food, wine, craft beer and spirits experiences available in the High Country. The Guide is used to both inspire food and wine lovers to visit the region, and also piece together an exceptional tourism experience once they arrive. Every second year the Guide is reinvigorated with new images, copy, advertisers and inspiration for visitors to the region, with 2016-17 marking one of these years. The new Food and Wine Guide has now been produced, retaining its established contemporary design sensibilities while incorporating a fresh new look and feel.

241

75k copies of the Food and Wine Guide have been printed and are now with a contractor who has been appointed to manage distribution, providing a centralised order point for LGAs, RMBs, industry and VICs. Tracking of distribution and usage volumes, and managing re-stocking throughout the region will be simplified and improved through the use of a single distribution/storage supplier. This also means that large quantities of stock no longer need to be stored at VICs.

Existing guide supplies are almost fully distributed with new guide distribution commencing in early 2017 once they have been exhausted.

For the first time the Guide will also be produced in a digital/mobile format that allows for integration with destination and regional website content. This means that content can be updated as required over the 2-year lifespan of the Guide, ensuring that visitors can always access the most accurate and current information about the regional food and wine offering. Now that the hard copy guide has been completed, digital production is underway with links to the regional site and specific operators a key part of the production process.

4. High Country Cycle Guide

TNE produces the High Country Cycle Guide, which is designed to meet several key objectives:

● To help consolidate the region’s position as the key cycle tourism destination in Victoria. ● To inform visitors about the region’s bike offering. ● To inspire and motivate visitors to participate in recreational, mountain biking and road cycling experiences that exist across the region. ● To be a useful and portable in-region guide to assist visitors to experience, enjoy and understand cycling experiences and product. ● To convey the passion, personalities and characters of the people who work within the sector. The design of the Cycle Guide is refreshed every two years with the alternate year being marked by a re-print. This financial year has seen a reprint of the Cycle Guide with 81.5k copies distributed throughout the State. Distribution of the current Cycle Guide across its target market remains strong, and will increase markedly throughout the third quarter due to a high level of event and expo distribution.

242 The Cycle Guide continued to set a Victorian benchmark for regional cycle collateral, with the Mansfield Shire offering being well represented within the publication.

5. Industry and Product Development

5.1 Industry and Product Development TNE drives industry and product development across the region with the aim of improving the High Country visitor experience to deliver positive visitation and yield outcomes. It does this by working with new and existing tourism operators to improve, enhance and diversify their businesses and tourism experiences to better meet the needs of the region’s visitors.

This work includes up-skilling industry through mentoring and briefing sessions, identifying and working with businesses to fill gaps in the regional tourism offering, managing industry communication efforts, and driving ongoing industry and product innovation. It also involves facilitating relationships and tourism efforts between industry, Government organisations, tourism associations and other public and private entities to drive regional collaboration and growth.

Within the second quarter of 2016-17, TNE has delivered a range of initiatives in this space on behalf of Mansfield Shire tourism businesses including:

• The delivery of 5 individual business development sessions, where TNE worked directly with Mansfield Shire’s tourism businesses to address the trends, issues and opportunities of most relevance to their businesses. In the second quarter, the most popular topics covered were food/wine/beer and digital, followed by future trends.

• The delivery of a group briefing session for 11 attendees from 9 different Mansfield Shire food, wine and beer businesses focused on High Country Harvest events development, and working with the members of the High Country Brewery trail (which includes the Social Bandit) to enhance market profile for its product offering.

• Preparing industry for crisis through hosting a regional fire preparation workshop that covered everything from business insurance considerations through to mitigating the impact of crisis though correct use of social media.

• Strategic engagement with other associations and organisations to progress Mansfield Shire priorities including Regional Development Australia, Regional Development Victoria, Hume Regional Partnership and Visit Victoria.

• Facilitating meetings and sessions in conjunction with and/or on behalf of Council including a regional VIC meeting, and a Regional Road Cycling Safety Forum.

243

TNE has some further industry and product development sessions scheduled for Mansfield Shire in the third quarter, starting with the TNE Roadshow on the 17 Feb.

5.2 Grant Funding

As of the end of the second quarter, TNE has secured $640k in grant funding to scope a range of tourism new products for the High Country. Securing this level of grant funding amongst a competitive field is a significant win for Tourism North East along with its local government partners and the destinations that represent. The latest grants secured in this quarter have been in relation to the following projects:

• North East Victoria Cycling Optimisation Master Plan: The High Country aspires to be recognised as the lead cycle tourism destination in Victoria. In order to realise this vision, this project will develop a master plan that will optimise cycling opportunities in North East Victoria, taking into account infrastructure investment, marketing and private sector involvement across the region’s rail trail, mountain bike and road cycling offering. This master plan will be supported by the development of a business case associated with its strategic recommendations. This project will cost $360k to deliver, which includes a $310k grant from RDV as part of the Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund, with no buy-in required from Mansfield Shire Council.

• Ned Kelly Alive: This project is looking to revitalise and reimagine the Ned Kelly tourism experience offered across the region, breathing new life into existing products as well as creating new cohesive visitor experiences with fresh market appeal. This project will involve auditing the current Ned Kelly tourism offering that is available across the High Country, developing concepts for the future of this offering, and then establishing the business case around these recommendations. This project will cost $150k to deliver, which includes a $130k grant from RDV as part of the RTIF and a $2.5k buy-in from Mansfield Shire.

Projects like these are seen as key to enhancing the High Country tourism offering so that it continues to appeal to a diverse market, maximising visitation and yield opportunities for the region.

5.3 Hume Aboriginal Cultural Trail

As also noted in the last quarterly report, TNE received $150k in grant funding to deliver a $185k Hume Aboriginal Cultural Trail project. This project will scope and establish a business case for the development of a connected network of significant Aboriginal cultural tourism products and

244 experiences across the Hume region, creating a meaningful and authentic offering that engages domestic and international visitors. The Hume Aboriginal Trail project partners include:

• TNE • Indigo Shire Council • Murray Regional Tourism • Mansfield Shire Council • Goulburn River Valley Tourism • Moira Shire Council • Alpine Shire Council • Mt Hotham Resort Management • Benalla Rural City Board • Falls Creek Resort Management • Rural City of Wangaratta Board • Wodonga City Council • Greater Shepparton City Council

In quarter two, a project steering group was developed comprising representatives from the three regional tourism boards involved with the project (TNE, Murray and Goulburn River Valley), RDV, Aboriginal Victoria and Taungurung Clans Aboriginal Corporation. Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation and the Gunaikurnai Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation have also been invited to join the group (as the other Registered Aboriginal Parties in the Hume region) but have not yet confirmed involvement.

A market brief was developed for the project within the quarter and put out to tender, with submissions closing on 20 January. After this time, the project steering group will assess all tenders and appoint a contractor with relevant skills and experiences to commence project delivery in February 2017.

6. Digital

6.1 Destination Website

Resource changes within HCR has reduced the focus on seasonal site content updates. As such, the overall performance of the Mansfield/Mt Buller site is flat compared to the same time last year. While the number of pages viewed per session has dropped, the audience is still considered to be in the ‘engaged’ category.

Much of the Mansfield/Mt Buller site content is based on older layouts, which are not suited to sites where the majority of the audience is smartphone/tablet based. This is further compounded by the site’s smartphone audience increasing 9.25% compared to the same time last year.

The Destination Website upgrades that will occur in quarter three of 2016-17 will deliver refreshed mobile-optimised content, however all site content managers should adopt a mobile- first approach to content and page layout.

245

Audience and Audience Engagement Q2 2016-17 vs 2015-16 Avg Pageviews Site Sessions % Variation Page Views % Variation per Session % Variation Mansfield Mt Buller 18453 -0.52 42327 -5.70 2.28 -5.28

The pageviews by type of content reinforce the need for engaging, mobile optimised editorial across the site as this constitutes the largest single category of content consumed. Editorial content is critical as visitors are increasingly seeking curated commentary and recommendations regarding the product and experience strengths of a given destination.

Overall Organic Search Engine Ranking remain strong with 458 search terms ranked in position 1 to 5. The drop in highly ranked terms is a characteristic often seen on sites where visitation volumes are very seasonal. As visitation increases towards the 2017 snow season this is expected to be corrected.

SEO Terms Ranked 1-5 Q4 Q1 Q2 % Change Site 2015 - 2016 2016 - 2017 2016 - 2017 Q1 to Q2 Mansfield Mt Buller 419 507 458 -9%

246 6.2 ATDW Listings

Across the region, the depth of content of all destination websites is assisted through ATDW listings. This content provides detailed insights around the experiences on offer and contributes positively to boosting a site’s SEO ranking. Additionally, ATDW listings provide a revenue stream to LGA partners as the listing fee paid by industry is returned to the LGA to offset the running costs of the destination websites.

When an ATDW listing is nearing expiry a series of email reminders are sent to the business advising of the expiry and inviting renewal, which is a process that continues until 14 days post expiry. TNE receives a report from Visit Victoria advising of all listings that have expired in the previous month and this list is segmented and sent to the tourism/industry officer within the LGA for follow up with industry.

Over the past year (up until November 2016) there was a 21% nett reduction in active ATDW listings across the region, with the majority of the listings being in the attraction and restaurant categories. This has ramifications for LGA site costs but also impacts opportunities for marketing and PR exposure, as TNE policy requires a business to have an active ATDW listing in order to be considered for promotional opportunities. Indeed, when TNE was developing Spring/Summer Food & Wine editorial content in the second quarter, 61% of the hero businesses that it wanted to feature did not have an active ATDW listing, significantly impacting perceptions of the regional offering.

While securing business listings for destination websites is the responsibility of the LGAs, in the second quarter TNE intervened to mitigate the decline by dedicating resource to follow-up with industry in order to boost listing numbers for the Summer period. In most cases the follow up discussion resulted in the listing being renewed with active listing numbers as at 31 December down 9% compared to last year.

Further work is required by stakeholders to actively manage the ATDW listing expiry process and to actively engage the non-accommodation sector in education around the marketing and PR value of an ATDW listing.

6.3 See High Country In quarter two, Mansfield Shire secured exposure via the See High Country social media pages (Facebook and Instagram), which once again experienced significant quarterly growth:

See High Country Facebook See High Country Instagram Q2 Q2 Q2 Q2 % +/- % +/- 2015-16 2016-17 2015-16 2016-17 Total Page Fans 3,533 6,103 73% Total Followers 2,897 10,237 253% New Page Likes 215 516 140% New Followers 783 924 18% Daily Engaged Users 6,040 14,669 143% Engagement 4,615 16,065 248% Reach 86,683 248,254 186%

247

As Mansfield Shire has an active social media plan, TNE is able to leverage the Council’s own social media efforts and content for additional exposure via the See High Country page.

7. PR

7.1 Wine Growth Fund Media Announcement Within the High Country, 13 different businesses were successful in securing funding as part of the Wine Growth Fund administered by RDV. This group shared in $234k worth of funding, with TNE securing the largest grant worth $50k. TNE worked with the Member for Northern Victoria, Jaclyn Symes MLC, to announce this regional windfall to media in Rutherglen on 14 Nov. Attended by local government representatives, grant recipients and TNE, the announcement generated strong media interest. A range of media attended the event and TNE also commissioned a photographer to be on-site to feed images out to media who were interested in

248 the story but unable to attend. As a result, significant exposure was secured TV, radio and in print.

7.2 PR Famils

In the second quarter, TNE again worked proactively to secure exposure for Mansfield Shire tourism offering across a range of media channels. Following a strong number of famils generated in the first quarter, TNE delivered several additional famils in the second quarter:

249 Publication/Outlet Month Destination/Operators Herald Sun - Susan Bugg October Beans above the Hops, 187 Merrijig, Mansfield Coffee Merchant, Goldrush Ballooning, Social Bandit Brewing Company, Delatite Wines, Mansfield Regional Produce Store. Nourish Magazine - October Beans above the Hops Jonathon Rudolph Traquair Estate, Mansfield Coffee Merchant, Goldrush Ballooning, Social Bandit Brewing Company. The Crafty Pint - Kerry November HC Brewery Trail. Social Bandit, McBride Mansfield Produce Store.

These famils along with those hosted in the previous quarter, generated some great publicity for Mansfield Shire in quarter two.

250 Nourish, Dec 2016

251 8. Ride High Country

While Mansfield Shire Council does not invest in any Ride High Country initiatives, details of several key activities occurring in this space have been included for reference as it benefits from these activities. Please note that there are opportunities for the Great Victorian Rail Trail and other Mansfield cycling products to leverage the current and future campaigns. 8.1 Ride High Country Brand While the High Country is recognised as owning the best cycle tourism assets in Victoria, awareness of the regional offering is relatively low. A lack of product awareness points to the need for an enhanced marketing campaign to ensure that the High Country is included in visitors’ consideration set when thinking of undertaking a cycle tourism experience. To resolve this issue, TNE has developed a Ride High Country brand to unify the regional cycle tourism offering and create greater market impact. The Ride High Country brand is wordmark (rather than an icon) which ensures that it is contemporary, timeless and simple. A wordmark easily translates across the three bike disciplines, and can also appear on the cycle campaigns delivered independently by LGA, RMB and industry partners without detracting from their own brand or creatives. In terms of design, the Ride High Country brand visually represents the peaks and valleys that the region is renowned for – whether visitors are riding at the top of a mountain, or on trails in the valleys within reach of their impressive vistas.

252

Uniting the region’s cycle tourism offering under one master brand – Ride High Country – that effectively positions both the activity and the destination under one clear brand will be key in consolidating the offering and establishing the region as the lead bike destination in the State. 8.2 Ride High Country Website If the regional offering is to be represented by one brand, then it is essential that it also has one clear call to action to maximize opportunities for both brand awareness and conversion. With this in mind, TNE has developed a ridehighcountry.com.au that went live in December 2016. The site is currently being refined for an official launch in January 2017 that will coincide with the implementation of Ride High Country advertising.

253

This website looks to achieve several key objectives:

• To make it easy for visitors to research their complete High Country cycle tourism experience via one central portal. • To connect people with cycle-specific businesses who can cater for their specific cycle needs. • To inspire people to book a cycle tourism experience in the High Country. TNE is now working with regional tourism businesses that service the bike market to ensure that they have an ATDW business listing and can therefore be featured on this site so that content is robust as possible.

8.3 Ride High Country Advertising Campaign Now that the Ride High Country brand and website have been finalised, advertising campaigns across the three bike disciplines available in the region will launch in January 2017. For the first time, this will include high-impact outdoor media in the form of large advertisements placed in tram-stops throughout Melbourne. These will appear at tram locations that have been selected for their high-levels of foot traffic and proximity to bike trails, parks and associate services. This tram stop advertising has been purchased for Ride High Country rail trail, road cycling and mountain bike campaigns (funded by different High Country partners) that will be in-market at the same time across 50 sites. This maximises the impact of the different marketing campaigns,

254 which appear as a complementary suite of adverts – a great example of the benefits of uniting the regional bike offering under one brand:

This outdoor advertising will be supported by a range of targeted digital adverts that also position the High Country as the leading cycle tourism destination in the State.

9. 7 Peaks Ride

While Mansfield Shire Council does not fund the 7 Peaks Ride campaign (as it is driven by the alpine resorts), the initiative is featured in this report as the majority of participating riders stay and spend money in off-mountain towns, with Mansfield Shire considered to be one of the primary beneficiaries.

a) 7 Peaks Program The 7 Peaks Ride campaign is an annual promotion designed for a road cycling audience that includes experienced and intermediate riders of varying fitness levels. It is an ‘at-your-own pace’ personal challenge, requiring riders to register and receive a passport, and ride one or more of the 7 Peaks at any time during the alpine green season (late October to the end of March). This includes Mount Buffalo, Dinner Plain, Falls Creek, Hotham, Mt Buller, Lake Mountain and Baw Baw.

Participants have their passports stamped at each peak as proof of their ride, or alternatively record their rides using an official 7 Peaks Strava segment. The stamped passports or completed Strava segments can be lodged at the end of the season, enabling riders to go into the running to win either a major prize and/or individual peak prizes (depending on the number of peaks climbed).

255 The key objectives of the 7 Peaks Ride campaign are as follows:

• Position the 7 Peaks of Victoria as the key, aspirational road cycling destination/s in Australia • Grow alpine green season visitation • Support the ambition for Victoria’s High Country to own cycle tourism within Australia, and be the leading bike destination in the State

The 7 Peaks program was launched in the second quarter, with the program commencement marked by the Domestique ride event at Lake Mountain. Of the 200 riders in attendance – a strong turn-out considering it was snowing - 80% of the market were first time 7 Peaks riders, which is a clear growth indicator.

During this period, a new tips and training blog was added to the 7 Peaks website with copy supplied by the Climbing Cyclists and Hells 500 road cycling bloggers, generating some great content. Partnering with Winners Bars (sports nutrition) also delivered increased exposure for the brand along with a range of value-added activities and prizes for 7 Peaks participants.

Despite the 7 Peaks program having only recently launched, TNE has already begun to receive completed passports and jersey purchases, demonstrating the engaged and dedicated nature of this group. In line with this, digital engagement via the 7 Peaks Facebook page also continues to grow, as do anecdotal reports of increased riders in the resorts (numbers supplied at the end of the campaign).

256 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.4 EXECUTIVE SERVICES CONT.

9.4.2 September and December 2016-17 Combined Council Plan Quarterly Progress Reports

File Number: E107 Responsible Officer: Dawn Bray, Governance Coordinator

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

The author of this report has declared no conflict of interest in relation to this matter.

Introduction

The purpose of this report is to provide Council with a combined September and December update on progress with the implementation of Council Plan actions.

This is the first Council Plan update prepared using the new corporate reporting system, Omni.

Overall, the implementation of the Council Plan is progressing well. A total of 15 actions have been completed, with a further 28 actions tracking well against their delivery date. Two actions are behind schedule. Five actions have been deferred pending resource allocation and/or further consideration by the new Council as to whether or not these actions remain a strategic priority.

It is recommended that Council receive and note this report.

Background

The current Council Plan was reviewed and adopted by the previous Council on 28 June 2016.

The quarterly updates for September and December contained within this report focus on those actions that were to be delivered during the 2016-17 financial year.

A quarterly update was not submitted to the previous Council in October due to Election Period Policy (Caretaker) restrictions on Council reports that could be considered as promoting the achievements of Council.

Furthermore, a significant amount of work has been undertaken by the Governance Unit in configuring the new Omni performance reporting system, procured from Torque Software, and training staff in its use.

This is the first time an integrated performance reporting system has been implemented by the Shire, representing a significant step forward in the efficient and transparent tracking of a range of actions and strategies including the Council Plan.

257257. Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.4.2 September and December 2016-17 Combined Council Plan Quarterly Progress Reports Cont.

Statutory Requirements

There are no legislated requirements around the provision of quarterly reports to Council on the progress of the Council Plan, however section 138(1) of the Local Government Act 1989 requires the Chief Executive Officer to report to Council on the progress of expenditure versus the adopted budget at least once a quarter. It is common practice, therefore, to also present a quarterly update on the progress of the Council Plan as it is in keeping with the advancement of transparency and good governance objectives.

Council Plan

The delivery of the Council Plan is a key objective under the Driving Organisational Performance and Resource Management theme of the current Council Plan; Goal 1.1 reads ‘An efficient and effective administration that delivers the Council Plan’.

Action 1.1.3 relates to the delivery of a quarterly performance reporting system to track the delivery of the Council Plan. This has been completed through the procurement and configuration of the Omni performance reporting software system in recent months by the Governance unit.

Financial

The cumulative impacts of the State government’s rate capping policies are starting to impact on Council’s resource levels and financial sustainability. This is translating to the identification of performance risk pressures in this report, including the need to forensically review our financial position and long term financial sustainability.

Social

A number of important initiatives have been either completed, or are underway, that provide tangible social and community benefits, including:

· Completion of a draft Community Engagement Framework · Receipt of funding for the development of a Sports Facilities Master Plan

Environmental

A number of environmental and sustainability based initiatives have either been completed or are underway including:

· the launch of the ‘Carry in Carry out’ waste management initiative · commencement of a proactive inspection regime for on site wastewater management system in high risk townships, commencing with Goughs Bay · implementation of the roadside weeds and pest plants control program

258. 258 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.4.2 September and December 2016-17 Combined Council Plan Quarterly Progress Reports Cont.

Economic

One of the five Council Plan themes is A Growing Economy, which focuses on the organisation supporting the efforts of private industry, other levels of government and industry groups in growing and diversity of the Shire’s economic base.

Key actions delivered during the first six months of 2016-17 included:

· use of the Business Monitor to identify business needs and marketing opportunities · delivery in key social and cultural events over the Spring/Summer period, with assistance provided to other community groups with the organisation of several other events · delivery of small business workshops · funding secured for the Paddock to Plate Agri-tourism Alliance Growth Plan.

Risk Management

The implementation of a corporate performance reporting system is a risk mitigation measure in terms of ensuring transparency in the progress of implementing the Council Plan. Quarterly updates serve to highlight potential performance risks and the measures that can, or are, being employed to address them.

Community Engagement

There is no requirement to conduct community consultation around the progress of Council Plan actions, however the provision of quarterly updates to Council is the main means through which the Administration ensures transparency and accountability around the delivery of the Council Plan.

Officer’s Comments

The September and December quarterly updates show solid progress on the delivery of the Council Plan, despite the interruption to some activities from the Council Election Period and the restrictions upon Council activities during this time, as summarised in the table below.

Performance On track Behind Complete Deferred Category schedule Actions 15 28 1 5

The update report provides for a summary chart of where actions for each Council Plan theme and objective sat as of 31 December 2016.

Managers have also been required to provide an overall summary of the work undertaken under each of the five Themes, including risks to delivering actions and measures to be implemented to address these issues.

259. 259 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.4.2 September and December 2016-17 Combined Council Plan Quarterly Progress Reports Cont.

A summary of key achievements is also provided under each theme, which serves to summarise the work undertaken by the Administration in pursuit of the delivery of the Council Plan.

The bulk of the update report is detailed commentary around each action. This is the commentary that was provided to Council in quarterly updates prior to the introduction of the new performance reporting system.

The next Council Plan update will be provided to Council after the end of the March quarter.

Councillors Sladdin/Westerndorp

That Council receive and note the September and December 2016-17 Council Plan Quarterly update report. Carried

260. 260 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

ATTACHMENT 9.4.2

SEPTEMBER AND DECEMBER 2016-17 COMBINED

COUNCIL PLAN QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORTS

(27 PAGES)

261. 261 Overall Status Deliverable Status

Theme/ Strategy Department Status Goal Delayed Delayed Deferred Deferred Deferred On Track On Track On Complete Complete

Theme 1 CP1 Driving Organisational Performance & Resource Management Executive Services Delayed 1 Complete

Theme 2 CP2 Good Governance Executive Services On Track 1 On Track

Theme 3 CP3 A Growing Economy Tourism & Economic Development Delayed 1 Delayed

Theme 4 CP4 Improving Our Built & Natural Environment Development Services On Track 1 Deferred

Theme 5 CP5 Empowered & Self Sufficient Communities Community Services On Track 1 Deferred

Goal 1.1 CP1.1 An efficient and effective administration that delivers the Council Plan. Executive Services 2 1 1

Goal 1.2 CP1.2 We are an employer of choice that attracts high performing, highly skilled and motivated staff. Human Resources 2

Goal 1.3 CP1.3 Council will prudently and successfully improve its financial position. Finance & Information Services 3 2

Goal 1.4 CP1.4 Council has awell informed and effective asset management systems. Engineering & Works

Goal 1.5 CP1.5 Our services are cost effective and show continuous improvement. Engineering & Works 2

Goal 2.1 CP2.1 Council is a successful advocate on issues that impact on our community. Executive Services 1 1

Goal 2.2 CP2.2 Council has productive partnerships with key organisations and decision makers. Executive Services 2 1

Goal 2.3 CP2.3 A well governed Shire supported by effective communication with our community. Executive Services 2 1

Goal 2.4 CP2.4 Council's project management system ensures all major projects and infrastructure are delivered on time and within budget. Engineering & Works 1

Goal 3.1 CP3.1 Our economic base is prosperous and diverse. Tourism & Economic Development 1

Goal 3.2 CP3.2 Mansfield offers a competitive operating environment for business. Tourism & Economic Development 1

Goal 3.3 CP3.3 Mansfield attracts niche businesses that build on our strengths and complement our values. Tourism & Economic Development 1

Goal 4.1 CP4.1 Our businesses, residents, ratepayers and visitors act proactively to protect and enhance the environmental features we value. Development Services 1 2 1 CP4.2 Our Planning Scheme encourages land use and development that supports economic growth whilst maintaining characteristics of our Shire valued by the Goal 4.2 Development Services 4 community. Goal 4.3 CP4.3 Mansfield has the infrastructure required to support economic and population growth. Engineering & Works 1 3

Goal 4.4 CP4.4 Council has strong partnerships with land and water management agencies. Tourism & Economic Development 2

Goal 5.1 CP5.1 Our communities are connected, inclusive, healthy and resilient. Community Services 3 1

Goal 5.2 CP5.2 Mansfield's community is supported by responsive, equitable and accessible services. Community Services 2

Goal 5.3 CP5.3 Our community is able to prepare for, and effectively manage, natural disasters. Community Services 2

Goal 5.4 CP5.4 We capitalise on the capabilities and talents of locals to achieve community aspirations. Executive Services 1 1

TOTAL 0 3 2 015281 1 4

262 Performance Category Complete On track Delayed *Deferred Deferred Deliverables 15 28 1 1 4 Overall Status 0 4 2 0 *This item should be recorded in the black 'deferred' column.

Performance Status

Overall Status

Deliverables

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

263 CP - Council Plan 2013-17 Executive Services /

Overall Performance

Status Overall Comment Overall sound progress is being made in the delivery of the Council Plan. A significant amount of work has been undertaken delivering the actions under each of the five Council Plan themes but as is to be expected, some priorities have changed and therefore a handful of actions have been deferred. Consideration will be given to including this work in the new Council Plan. The October 2016 Council election placed a number of initiatives on hold given the requirements of the Election Period provisions of the Local Government Act 1989. A significant amount Green of time and effort has been expended by the organisation and newly elected Councillors into quickly getting up to speed on their role and the strategic guidance provided by the current Council Plan.

HIGH LEVEL SUMMARY

Pressures, Risks and Remedial Actions

Pressures and Issues Suitability Proposed Remedial Actions Suitability The key pressure on the delivery of the Council Plan is Council's tightening Detailed review of Council's long term financial position and creation of a financial position given the cumulative impacts of the State government's long term financial plan. The organisation has had two acting Managers in the Engineering and Recruitment of the two management positions is a high priority. The new Tourism & Economic Development departments due to staff illness and Engineering Manager, Neil Ogilvie, will commence employment with the departure. This has placed these teams under resource pressure, Shire in early February.

Achievements

Achievements Suitability None reported

264 Theme 1 - CP1 Driving Organisational Performance & Resource Management Executive Services /

Overall Performance

Status Overall Comment The organisation continues to face resourcing challenges to meet its increasing statutory responsibilities and requirements as set by State Government. The Auditor General recently noted and emerging and increasing trend of financial stress in small rural councils. This is exacerbated by increasing regulatory demands on Councils. This trend was also noted at the Audit and Risk Committee, with a resolution noting a lack of capability generally across the organisation to address key risk areas. Amber Work is continuing to develop alternate models to address these issues.

HIGH LEVEL SUMMARY

Pressures, Risks and Remedial Actions

Pressures and Issues Suitability Proposed Remedial Actions Suitability None reported

Achievements

Achievements Suitability None reported

265 Theme 2 - CP2 Good Governance Executive Services /

Overall Performance

Status Overall Comment The actions relating to Good Governance are on track, aside from the implementation of the business planning framework which has been deferred and is pending the development of the Green new Council Plan.

HIGH LEVEL SUMMARY

Pressures, Risks and Remedial Actions

Pressures and Issues Suitability Proposed Remedial Actions Suitability The Victorian Ombudsman released a report on Council decision making Many of the findings will be picked up in the current review of the Local processes on 16 December, which makes several recommendations Government Act 1989, however some changes to our processes need to around process improvements. be discussed with Council and actioned in the next couple of months. This is just one more example of the increased scrutiny by State The implementation of our Council Transition and Training Program was Ongoing discussion with Councillors as to their training needs and substantially completed this quarter, however the need for Councillor detailed briefings on legislative changes and reports from 'watch dog' training and education continues given ongoing changes to legislation and authorities. An audit of our governance structures, policies and processes was Briefing of Council as to the outcomes of the good governance framework undertaken using the Greater City of Geelong Commission of Inquiry as a audit in early 2017 and allocation of resources to addressing high priority benchmark. This identified several deficiencies in our strategic policy items in the 2017/18 budget cycle. framework which needs to be addressed in 2017.

Achievements

Achievements Suitability The first six months of 2016-17 have been exceptionally busy for the Governance and Executive Services unit, with key projects being: - conduct of the Council Election, including two candidate information sessions, preparation of the Chief Executive Officer's roll, swearing in of the new Council and adoption of the Councillor Code of Conduct and Councillor Charter, October 2016 - development and delivery of the Council Transition and Training Program 2016 to ensure a seamless handover to the new Council and up-skilling of newly elected Councillors - development and implementation of the Council Election Period Policy, including management of the release and content of any publically available information - the completion of the 2015-16 Annual Report and submission to the Minister for Local Government in late September - Council's submission to the review of the Local Government Act 1989, entitled 'Act for the Future', was adopted by Council at its August meeting and submitted to the State government for their consideration - a submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Rate Capping, focussing on the adverse cumulative impacts of the Government's rate capping legislation - review of Council's Procurement Policy and drafting of a Digital Signatures Policy for consideration by the organisation and Council - development and implementation of the Omni performance reporting software to enable the efficient tracking and reporting of Council Plan actions.

266 Theme 3 - CP3 A Growing Economy Tourism & Economic Development /

Overall Performance

Status Overall Comment Amber Some of the actions relating to Tourism & Economic Development Department have been delayed due to staff absences.

HIGH LEVEL SUMMARY Pressures, Risks and Remedial Actions

Pressures and Issues Suitability Proposed Remedial Actions Suitability There has been a significant reduction in T&ED human resource capacity Recruitment of Manager T&ED to restore Department to full strength. with the absence of the full time TEDM since May 2016 on sick leave, MMBRTA has signalled its wind up for early 2017, compounded by the Continue to work across the organisation to ensure a transition from resignation of the Acting Manager of MMBRTA in December. This has MMBRTA to Council VIC providing for business stakeholder interests and resulted in additional workload to identify key transition and interim visitor experience. T&ED are working to a reduced budget on previous years and it has been Continue to communicate to manage expectations about what can be a challenge to manage expectations in relation to some of the programs resourced and apply for projects on merit from the economic and services we have traditionally supported. At times this has development strategy for consideration by Council as part of the budget necessitated saying 'no' to some opportunities as they have arisen. process. The lack of financial commitment of Murrindindi Shire Council and Meet with RDV to determine funding opportunities for staged project Goulburn Murray Water to the progression of Lake Eildon Recreational improvements. Boating Facilities Improvement Plan recommendations has limited our Continue to advocate to State Government for support and solutions for capacity to secure funds for next stage project. an asset of state significance.

Achievements It has been a busy period for the T&ED team. Despite staff absences we are proud of our key achievements that can be summarised as: - Coordination of numerous Event Management Plans. Production of a Spring In brochure and associated promotion. Mansfield High Country Festival, Targa High Country and Lake Eildon Festival are major events all with elements delivered by Tourism & Economic Development Department. Assisted 10 community events, 2 commercial events (A4DE & Rabbit Hole) & 1 four day national car club event (Holden) - Attended Motorclassica in Melbourne to promote the destination and Targa event to over 22,000 patrons & Melbourne Tourism Industry Exchange with Mt Buller - Assisted Bush Market Committee with permit process and associated conditions - Industry development programs delivered including Small Business Victoria workshops, a local Business 2 Business forum & development of the 2017 industry development program - Visiting Journalist Program - hosted Professional Instagrammer with Mt Buller and facilitated number of editorials - Submissions to Inquiry into Control of Invasive Animals on Crown Land & Safe and Accessible Victorian Waterways - Focus on increasing business engagement via our database and increasing survey returns to the Business Monitor which is an ongoing challenge - Meetings with new executive of Mansfield District Business Association to discuss roles, opportunities and challenges - Progressing the Climate Smart Ag project to completion with training in Mansfield completed in October and launch of program in December - Co-ordination of the 'Polish the Town' initiative to prepare Mansfield CBD for the busy event and spring season - Launch of new Ned Kelly Touring Route website via membership of Ned Kelly Touring Route Steering Committee - External funding secured for Paddock to Plate Agri-tourism Alliance Growth Plan - Release of 30 sec you tube clips promoting Lake Eildon and rivers.

267 Theme 4 - CP4 Improving Our Built & Natural Environment Development Services /

Overall Performance

Status Overall Comment The Development Services Department continues to demonstrate improvement and the benefits of a closer and more co-ordinated operational relationship between the planning, building, environment, and environmental health functions is being reflected in more consistent approvals with better alignment of conditions/requirements. This has also extended to working relations with Council's Engineering & Works Department staff, with a particularly focus on more complete conditioning of approvals and greater attention to controls during the subdivision construction phase and a more considered position on the quality of infrastructure ultimately handed over to Council. The Waste Management function has transferred from Council's Engineering & Works Department and the responsible officer has continued to develop solid working relations with the Green various contractors as well as preparing a comprehensive strategy for withdrawing from Council's costly peak holiday waste program. With the exception of the Statutory Planning Unit, staffing within the Department is stable.

HIGH LEVEL SUMMARY

Pressures, Risks and Remedial Actions

Pressures and Issues Suitability Proposed Remedial Actions Suitability Ongoing staff turnover in the Statutory Planning Unit continues to impact Work with software provider to rectify deficiencies in program. on application processing times. This has been exacerbated by the recent

Achievements

Achievements Suitability The 'Carry In...Carry Out' waste management program has been launched and the officer responsible, Rebecca Kirley, is to be congratulated on her comprehensive implementation plan which has successfully enlisted wide community participation in spreading the 'Carry In Carry Out' message.

The return of Local Laws functions in-house following a period under external contract is continuing to prove successful and has also involved a number of outdoor Council staff being rostered on for weekend shifts to provide regular relief for the permanent job share officers.

The arrangement with Murrindindi Shire to provide Council's statutory Municipal Building Surveyor function entered into last year has proven very successful with a further contract extension entered into. The Environmental Health Unit commenced its wastewater system inspection regime of high risk sites in the Goughs Bay area as per the Action Plan contained in Council's Domestic Wastewater Management Plan. Following the panel hearing for submissions to Planning Scheme Amendment C37 in June, Ministerial approval saw gazettal of the amendment in December following 18 months of commitment from Council and Council officers to implement this much needed review of the local policy components of the Mansfield Planning Scheme.

268 Theme 5 - CP5 Empowered & Self Sufficient Communities Community Services /

Overall Performance

Status Overall Comment Council continues to work closely with our smaller towns Community Plans. All identified actions have been achieved. The Community Development team will be working closely with these towns to develop new Community Plans and actions. Green Continuous review and improvement of our Aged and Disability Services has been constant. The team have undertaken an enormous amount of work to transition to the new Commonwealth and State frameworks and this will continue as we transition to NDIS and what this means for our Community.

HIGH LEVEL SUMMARY

Pressures, Risks and Remedial Actions

Pressures and Issues Suitability Proposed Remedial Actions Suitability Increased reporting and data collection from the Commonwealth and Utilise HACC transitional funding to CHSP to fund a 12 month fixed term State due to the changes in funding and service delivery has placed position to assist with establishing a reporting and data collection extreme pressure on our resourcing and timeliness of delivery. protocol and to support the development of a transition strategy for the new delivery model.

Achievements

Achievements Suitability The following are highlights for the September and December quarters: - achieving all goals and actions in the Community Township Plans - upgrade of the Skate Park - transition of the Library Services to Council.

269 Goal 1.1 - CP1.1 An efficient and effective administration that delivers the Council Plan. Executive Services /

Deliverable Performance

Deliverables Approved Estimated Actual % Completed Comments Status Completion Completion Completion CP1.1.1 Continuously review resources and service 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 50% Service reviews will continue in line with development Green levels. of new Council Plan. CP1.1.2 Implement a business planning framework and 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 0% The development of an integrated business planning staff performance & development system that creates framework has been deferred to align with the Deferred linkages between the Council Plan, departmental development of the new Council Plan. priorities and corporate performance measures.

CP1.1.3 Deliver a quarterly performance reporting 31/12/2016 31/12/2016 31/12/2016 100% The Executive Management Team received training on system which tracks the delivery of the Council Plan, the use of the Omni software in October. This report departmental business plan actions and corporate marks the first time Omni has been used to report on Complete performance measures, and complies with new State the progress of the Council Plan. government requirements.

CP1.1.4 Address requirements of new State rate 01/08/2016 30/06/2017 11/01/2017 100% This action is completed but will be continually Complete capping policy. monitored. Long Term Financial Planning will allow modelling of rate cap.

270 Goal 1.2 - CP1.2 We are an employer of choice that attracts high performing, highly skilled and motivated staff. Human Resources /

Deliverable Performance

Deliverables Approved Estimated Actual % Completed Comments Status Completion Completion Completion CP1.2.1 Develop and implement programs that ensure 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 50% We continue to run Health and Well being programs Council becomes an employer that attracts high that support our staff. We have also changed our performing, highly skilled and motivated staff. approach to recruitment, we have now incorporated Green psychometric assessments as one of the tools to assist in our selection process, the focus being on whether candidates display obstructive work place behaviour. CP1.2.2 Review existing, and develop new, 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 50% This is ongoing, have completed a Working Alone and employment policies based on the needs of the Remote Operations policy. Currently reviewing Green organisation's legislative requirements and best Performance Management and Training Policy. practice arrangements elsewhere.

271 Goal 1.3 - CP1.3 Council will prudently and successfully improve its financial position. Finance & Information Services /

Deliverable Performance

Deliverables Approved Estimated Actual % Completed Comments Status Completion Completion Completion CP1.3.1 Prepare and implement a long term financial 30/06/2017 30/06/2016 0% The development of the long term financial plan will plan which is based on service plans, agreed service commence in early 2017 with the new Council. standards, adequately funds the asset renewal gap and Green sets realistic targets around rate increases, liquidity Mark Davies has been engaged to assist with the and the use of loans to fund projects. preparation of a long term financial plan. This will be done as part of the 2017-18 Budget process.

CP1.4.1 Refine the assessment of our asset renewal 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 30/06/2016 100% Marked as completed in previous quarter report Complete gap through development of asset management plans and registers. CP1.4.2 Implement the findings or our asset renewal 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 30/06/2016 100% Marked as completed in previous quarter report Complete gap analysis. CP1.4.3 Implement the recommendations of the roads 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 30/06/2016 100% Marked as completed in previous quarter report Complete and bridges asset audit ot support the reduction of Council's asset renewal gap. CP1.4.4 Complete ad assess results of an audit of 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 70% Undertaking a detailed review of Council owned and Council's land assets to identify opportunities for managed assets. This is supported by a comprehensive Green rationalisation where the whole of the life policy on how Council is best placed to manage, renew maintenance costs exceed the community benefit. or rationalise assets into the future.

272 Goal 1.5 - CP1.5 Our services are cost effective and show continuous improvement. Engineering & Works /

Deliverable Performance

Deliverables Approved Estimated Actual % Completed Comments Status Completion Completion Completion CP1.5.1 Expand the utilisation of geographical 30/06/2017 30/06/2016 100% Marked as completed in previous quarter report information services (GIS) databases to streamline Complete approval processes, improve asset management and achieve efficiency gains in plant utilisation.

CP1.5.2 Develop and implement a transitional action 30/06/2017 30/06/2016 100% Marked as completed in previous quarter report Complete plan to upgrade Council's software to best practice standards.

273 Goal 2.1 - CP2.1 Council is a successful advocate on issues that impact on our community. Executive Services /

Deliverable Performance

Deliverables Approved Estimated Actual % Completed Comments Status Completion Completion Completion CP2.1.1 Lobby to influence policy changes and funding 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 11/01/2017 100% Advocacy in the lead up to the Federal Election is decisions of the new State government and during the complete. Advocacy efforts will continue on matters of Complete lead up to the 2016 Federal election, making use of interest to the Mansfield Community. other agencies where appropriate.

CP2.1.2 Actively represent Mansfield's interest through 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 50% Participation in key forums and peak bodies will Councillor and senior management involvement in key continue. Green forums and membership of key associations/peak bodies.

274 Goal 2.2 - CP2.2 Council has productive partnerships with key organisations and decision makers. Executive Services /

Deliverable Performance

Deliverables Approved Estimated Actual % Completed Comments Status Completion Completion Completion CP2.2.3 Maximise the use of partnerships in achieving 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 50% Ongoing. Green outcomes for our community. CP2.2.1 Continue to advocate for improvements to 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 11/01/2017 100% Round Two of the Blackspot Telecommunciations telecommunication infrastructure and lobby relevant funding included funding for Kevington tower. Complete authorities which will assist community and business. Advocacy in this area will expand to digital connections in the new Council Plan. CP2.2.2 Work with the CFA, Police, Ambulance Victoria 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 11/01/2017 100% Advocacy with these agencies for a combined and SES to understand future priorities and support emergency services precinct has been unsuccessful. Complete them in achieving their goals. Advocacy to the SES is continuing to modernise arrangements and see funding support to recognise

275 Goal 2.3 - CP2.3 A well governed Shire supported by effective communication with our community. Executive Services /

Deliverable Performance

Deliverables Approved Estimated Actual % Completed Comments Status Completion Completion Completion CP2.3.1 Conduct a series of community forums and 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 50% A range of community consultation meetings are Council meetings across our communities, including planned as part of development of the new Council Green the non resident meeting in Melbourne. Plan.

CP2.3.2 Develop and implement guidelines to ensure 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 50% Ongoing. there is effective and consistent engagement between Green Council, Shire staff and the community on matters of policy. CP2.3.3 Redevelop Council's website to enhance the 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 0% This project is on hold indefinitely. Budget submissions quality of information, its useability and interactive are being made for the 2017-18 budget for funds to Red functions, including the introduction of services such as upgrade website online payments and permit registers.

276 Goal 2.4 - CP2.4 Council's project management system ensures all major projects and infrastructure are delivered on time and within budget. Engineering & Works /

Deliverable Performance

Deliverables Approved Estimated Actual % Completed Comments Status Completion Completion Completion CP2.4.1 Develop a project scoping system to ensure 30/06/2017 30/06/2016 100% Marked as completed in previous quarter report that key data about a project is available prior to Complete commencement, to a degree consistent with the complexity of the project.

277 Goal 3.1 - CP3.1 Our economic base is prosperous and diverse. Tourism & Economic Development /

Deliverable Performance

Deliverables Approved Estimated Actual % Completed Comments Status Completion Completion Completion CP3.1.1 Implement the 2013 Economic Development 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 86% TEDM absent in this reporting period. Key projects and Strategy Review (see Council Plan for priorities). programs progressed and on track. Numerous Green strategies ongoing. Some initiatives on hold for consideration by new Council and subject to future

278 Goal 3.2 - CP3.2 Mansfield offers a competitive operating environment for business. Tourism & Economic Development /

Deliverable Performance

Deliverables Approved Estimated Actual % Completed Comments Status Completion Completion Completion CP3.2.2 Undertake further research to identify the 30/06/2017 30/06/2016 75% Ongoing via Business Monitor. Challenge is uptake by business needs and market opportunities within the business. A range of other resources are made Shire and to ensure that potential businesses are well available including the Mansfield Shire Economic Green informed and able to build on Mansfield's strengths Profile updated after release of each census figures. (see Council Plan for priorities).

279 Goal 3.3 - CP3.3 Mansfield attracts niche businesses that build on our strengths and complement our values. Tourism & Economic Development /

Deliverable Performance

Deliverables Approved Estimated Actual % Completed Comments Status Completion Completion Completion CP3.3.1 Review the Arts, Culture & Heritage Plan in 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 0% Not commenced. Was pending new CSM and then partnership with key community groups and funding absence of TEDM. Meeting scheduled to progress. Amber agencies in conjunction with a detailed strategic master plan for the Mansfield Station Precinct.

280 Goal 4.1 - CP4.1 Our businesses, residents, ratepayers and visitors act proactively to protect and enhance the environmental features we value. Development Services /

Deliverable Performance

Deliverables Approved Estimated Actual % Completed Comments Status Completion Completion Completion CP4.1.1 Implement the key actions of the Environment 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 75% Project funding not approved through Council budget Strategy, including priority actions around for Rail Trail projects. implementing biodiversity initiatives, Great Victorian Biodiversity initiatives continue to be implemented. Green Rail Trail management initiatives and development of a Project checklist now available for engineering project management checklist. projects.

CP4.1.2 Continue to advocate for meaningful 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 75% Roadside weed and pest control plan being resourcing for weed control, making use of the Pest, implemented and project funding expended. Plants and Animals Plan as a resource, including Two regional weeds forums hosted by Mansfield Shire Green working with partner organisations such as Landcare to ensure efficiency in weed control programs across groups and other agencies to improve efficiencies in agencies. resourcing weed control across the Shire.

CP4.1.3 Develop and implement the Waste 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 0% Waste Management Strategy has been deferred to Deferred Management Strategy. 2017-2018. CP4.1.4 Support community education programs for 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 08/11/2016 100% Request to use Mansfield Sustainable Land new residents in relation to responsible and effective Management Booklet has been made to Up2Us Complete land management practices by compiling a range of Landcare Alliance to be used on Council's website. Ad information for new residents (see Council Plan for hoc support to new residents on as needs basis. priorities).

281 Goal 4.2 - CP4.2 Our Planning Scheme encourages land use and development that supports economic growth whilst maintaining characteristics Development Services /

Deliverable Performance

Deliverables Approved Estimated Actual % Completed Comments Status Completion Completion Completion CP4.2.1 Progressively implement the actions contained 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 70% Progress against the Action Plan was the subject of an in the Mansfield Shire Council Domestic Wastewater independent audit commissioned by our Water Management Plan in partnership with local water Authority partners (GVW & GMW) undertaken in Green corporations and the Department of Environment, December. The audit results should be available in the Land, Water and Planning (see Council Plan for first quarter of 2017. priorities). CP4.2.2 Implement the recommendations of the 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 65% Amendment C37 was gazetted on 8 December 2016 Mansfield Township Structure Plan to manage future following approval by the Minister for Planning. Green land use and development. Implementation of the recommendations of the structure plan will be ongoing beyond the current period due to the short, medium and long time frames CP4.2.3 Complete the review of the Mansfield Planning 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 95% The formal amendment stage for Amendment C37 was Scheme, including finalisation of Amendment C37 and finalised with its gazettal on 8 December 2016 Green development of a strategic planning work program following approval by the Minister for Planning. A from the Review's recommendations. strategic planning work program is being developed partly informed by the amendment and also other CP4.2.4 Investigate the planning options available to 30/06/2017 30/06/2016 90% Reference to this issue has been incorporated into the mitigate against the proven health/obesity rate review (Clause 21.3-5) of the Mansfield Planning impacts of ultra-processed food outlets, acknowledging Scheme that was approved and gazetted on 8 the community view expressed in a petition received in December 2016. It is considered that design controls Green Summer 2013/14. and guidelines will be the most appropriate tools to deal with this issue through the planning process. This can discourage its development through requirements for presentation of the built form, including signage,

282 Goal 4.3 - CP4.3 Mansfield has the infrastructure required to support economic and population growth. Engineering & Works /

Deliverable Performance

Deliverables Approved Estimated Actual % Completed Comments Status Completion Completion Completion CP4.3.1 Review the fixed infrastructure managed by 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 10% Council is currently undertaking asset gap analysis and Council to identify service gaps that need to be prioritising projects in the capital works program in Green addressed to meet current and future needs. response. Road & Footpath Strategy has been refined to meet current needs. New condition assessments will be undertaken during 2017 calendar year. CP4.3.2 Prepare a Shire-wide drainage strategy and 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 1% Council is currently investigating sources of funding to progressively implement Mansfield township's undertake the township drainage strategy. Budget Drainage Strategy. The focus for 2016-17 will be on submission will be made for 17-18 to engage Green the Mansfield Drainage Strategy and sourcing funding consultants. for its implementation.

CP4.3.3 Implement programs that communicate 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 30% Council utilises various media streams including infrastructure maintenance and service standards to Facebook, Council website, local paper, letter drop and the community, particularly new residents, as a means rates notices to communicate maintenance and Green of managing their expectations as to what Council can services standards. Both general and site/program reasonably provide. specific information is distributed to assist with managing community expectation. Examples of this include numerous media releases, onsite signage & CP4.3.4 Identify roads which are Council's arterial road 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 11/01/2017 100% Will be considered in the development of a new priorities in order to lobby State and Federal Council Plan. Complete governments for funding, including the Jamieson-Licola and Mansfield-Woods Point Roads.

283 Goal 4.4 - CP4.4 Council has strong partnerships with land and water management agencies. Tourism & Economic Development /

Deliverable Performance

Deliverables Approved Estimated Actual % Completed Comments Status Completion Completion Completion CP4.4.1 Work in partnership with Goulburn Murray 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 50% Ongoing participation in Implementation Committee. Water and other lead agencies to deliver the key Special meeting held for discussions around Green priorities of the Lake Eildon Land and On-Water coordinated management and promotion of Lake Management Plan through participation in the Eildon with government department representatives. Implementation Committee. Submission made to Safe & Accessible Waterways CP4.4.2 Progressively implement recommendations of 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 25% Discussions with the state Boating Safety & Facilities the Lake Eildon Recreational Boating Facilities Program and Regional Development Victoria. GMW Improvement Plan and source funding to develop and Murrindindi unlikely to fund. Submission to Green detailed designs and business investment prospectus Victorian Government regarding concerns re Council's for identified property locations. capacity to drive and implement recommendations of LERBFIP

284 Goal 5.1 - CP5.1 Our communities are connected, inclusive, healthy and resilient. Community Services /

Deliverable Performance

Deliverables Approved Estimated Actual % Completed Comments Status Completion Completion Completion CP5.1.1 Evaluate the current community planning 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 50% A series of Community workshops to identify and framework with a focus on developing a whole of Shire develop goals as aspirations for the Mansfield Shire. Green approach to community planning. These will help inform the direction of the next CP, MHWBP and even the Community Vision. CP5.1.2 Develop an integrated Community 30/06/2017 30/01/2017 75% Draft has been completed. Engagement Framework for whole of Council which is Green incorporated in planning and policy decision making processes. CP5.1.3 Review and implement Council's Municipal 30/06/2017 11/10/2017 50% As per 5.1.1 work has commenced in the gathering of Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2013-17, data and information to inform the development of the Green incorporating Healthy Ageing policies (refer to Council new MHWBP. Ongoing partnerships have continued Plan for priorities). with the Mansfield PCP, the BCFCLN and Active Mansfield. A comprehensive review of these CP5.1.4 Develop a business plan for Café Connect 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 0% This work will be incorporated into the Youth Strategy. Deferred operations following the move to the refurbished This will follow the development of the Council Plan. premises in Erril Street, Mansfield.

285 Goal 5.2 - CP5.2 Mansfield's community is supported by responsive, equitable and accessible services. Community Services /

Deliverable Performance

Deliverables Approved Estimated Actual % Completed Comments Status Completion Completion Completion CP5.2.2 Transition Aged and Disability Services from 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 50% We are well placed to transition our programs and the Victorian Home and Community Care (HACC) funding allocation across to the new Comm / State framework to the Commonwealth Home Support structure. There is an excessive amount of reporting Green Program, revised Victorian funding model and National required during this time as both Comm and State Disability Insurance Scheme as applicable to the assess what this split actually means for them in terms Mansfield Shire community. of funding and service commitments.

CP5.2.1 Continue to implement priority actions in 30/06/2017 30/11/2017 70% External funding was received for the development of collaboration with the Sport and Recreation Advisory the Sports Facilities Master Plan. The tender Green Committee, including the development of a Sporting documentation has been prepared and reviewed. Facilities Masterplan (dependent upon receipt of external funding).

286 Goal 5.3 - CP5.3 Our community is able to prepare for, and effectively manage, natural disasters. Community Services /

Deliverable Performance

Deliverables Approved Estimated Actual % Completed Comments Status Completion Completion Completion CP5.3.1 Implement the recommendations of the 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 05/12/2016 100% Recorded "Action' requires ongoing activity - with Municipal Fire Management Plan in partnership with current requirements having been met. Date of most Complete the Country Fire Authority, Department of recent Fire Management Committee Meeting Sustainability and Environment and local communities. recorded.

CP5.3.2 Work with Emergency Service Agencies and 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 05/12/2016 100% Recorded "Action' requires ongoing activity - with the Municipal Association of Victoria in engaging with current requirements having been met. Date of most local communities to implement the State approach to recent Fire Management Committee Meeting the revised Emergency Management arrangements. recorded. Complete Emergency Management priorities will be delivered Council has also received funding to continually engage through the Municipal Emergency Management with Community through a EM related quiz. Resource Plan in accordance with funding guidelines. Red Buckets have been popular in delivering 'Plan and prepare' message'.

287 Goal 5.4 - CP5.4 We capitalise on the capabilities and talents of locals to achieve community aspirations. Executive Services /

Deliverable Performance

Deliverables Approved Estimated Actual % Completed Comments Status Completion Completion Completion CP5.4.1 Use of advisory committees and other such 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 50% mechanisms that draw upon the capabilities and Green experience of individuals within the community to help shape and improve Council operations.

CP5.4.2 Evaluate existing committees for Youth 30/06/2017 30/06/2017 0% A review of the Youth Program is underway with the Services (including MYSPIN and Café Connect development of a new Youth Strategy to be developed Deferred Committee of Management), recommend and and endorsed by Council. implement evaluation outcomes following Council endorsement.

288 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.5 ENGINEERING & WORKS

9.5.1 Erril Street Activation Rejuvenation Project – Public Art and Landscaping

File Number: E3751 Responsible Officer: Paul Valente, Senior Civil Engineer

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

The author of this report has declared no conflicts of interest in relation to this item

Introduction

This report provides an overview of the public art and landscaping components of the Erril Street Activation Rejuvenation Project.

Background

In late 2015 Mansfield Shire Council was successful in an application to the Department of Justice, Public Safety Infrastructure Fund for a grant of $203,805 to undertake urban design improvements within the Erril St precinct in Mansfield. Works proposed include improved lighting, footpaths, landscaping, car parking, street furniture, public art installations, signage and recreational infrastructure to improve natural surveillance and connectivity with the purpose of deterring offending behaviour and improving public perceptions of safety.

Following a community engagement process on the concept design, a final design was developed and presented to Council at the December 2016 meeting of Council. At this meeting Councillors accepted the final design and endorsed Council officers to proceed with procurement and construction of the project. Based on the funding agreement, all project works are due to be completed by 30 April 2017.

The endorsed final design was made available to the community on Councils website as well as via a media release published in the Mansfield Courier on the 4 January 2017.

Feedback on the endorsed final design has been received from The Mens Shed in regards to the bollard location and ensuring access and the shop owner of the complex of shops in Erril Street. The shop owner is positive about the project and looking at undertaking complementary works to ensure that the shops are also activated and rejuvenated. No other feedback has been received to date.

Public Art The Arts Council of Mansfield is leading the public art component of the Erril Street Activation Rejuvenation Project, focusing on the development of a mural on the CafeConnect wall (33m x 3.5m).

The Arts Council is proposing to engage a suitably qualified artist, based on the attached project brief. Where possible, it is proposed that the artist will involve young people and other community members in the actual painting of the mural.

289289. Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.5.1 Erril Street Activation Rejuvenation Project – Public Art and Landscaping Cont.

Extensive community engagement has been undertaken by the Arts Council to determine a theme (i.e. community, environment, culture) and style (i.e. realistic, abstract, graffiti, fantasy, symbolism etc) for the development of a project brief to engage an artist. See attached project brief.

Following Council endorsement of the project brief, it is proposed that an artist will be engaged, with works undertaken in March 2017 and works will be completed by 30 April 2017.

Landscaping The landscape component of the project will consist of thematic planting of a selected palette of drought resistant plants that will add colour and texture to the space through contrasting foliage and flowers. The understory planting is proposed to be at thick densities to preclude bare soil and mulch to provide optimum shade to roots and a thick bed of mulch is proposed to provide water retention to the soil and prevent week invasion.

A spread of trees is proposed to provide a green canopy to the space and shade to parked cars. These trees are proposed to be Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica ‘Natchez’) which are medium sized deciduous trees with a white flower. These trees have been selected as there is a theme of Crepe Myrtle that is already establishing in the commercial area. They provide autumn leaf colour, spectacular floral displays and bark colour whilst being extremely hardy. They have a restricted root system that will not interfere with road surfacing and a compact crown that will not interfere with truck access.

Local mudstone rocks will also be intermittently used to provide visual interest to the garden beds.

Statutory Requirements

Council’s Procurement Policy is made under Section 186a of the Local Government Act 1989. As per the thresholds contained in the Local Government Act 1989, the policy states that the purchase of all goods and services for which the estimated expenditure exceeds $200,000 for building and construction works must be undertaken by public tender.

No planning or building permits are required to be obtained prior to commencing works.

Council Plan

Strategy 5: Empowered and Self Sufficient Communities · Goal 5.1 Our communities are connected, inclusive, healthy and resilient. · Goal 5.3 Mansfield’s community is supported by responsive, equitable and accessible services. · Goal 5.4 We capitalise on the capabilities and talents of locals to achieve community aspirations.

290. 290 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.5.1 Erril Street Activation Rejuvenation Project – Public Art and Landscaping Cont.

The Mansfield Structure Plan identifies Erril Street as a community precinct. As well as connecting key community infrastructure on Ailsa Street to High Street, Erril Street is also the location of a number of community facilities including, the Mansfield Community Centre, Mansfield Community Radio, Mansfield Bowls Club, The Mansfield Men’s Shed and the High Country Quilters.

The project is supported by the following goals in the Mansfield Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan:

· Priority 1.1: Strong and effective partnerships and networks · Priority 1.3: Collaboratively plan & deliver integrated, high quality community facilities that meet a range of health, cultural & community needs · Priority 3.1: Enhance the built environment to contribute to liveability and opportunities for social interaction · Priority 3.2: Improve the amenity of open spaces and streetscapes · Priority 4.1: Promote healthy living and lifestyle choices · Priority 4.2: Promote and support a safe and inclusive community · Priority 4.3: Plan for the needs of an ageing community · Priority 4.4: To enhance mental health

Financial

The total project budget is $232,100. This includes a grant of $203,805 obtained via the Public Safety Infrastructure Fund, a cash contribution of $15,225 from Council and an inkind contribution of $13,000 from Council.

Social

The objectives of the Public Safety Infrastructure Fund are to:

· Support councils to improve local public safety and security infrastructure in local communities · Increase community safety and confidence in public places · Encourage local communities to apply innovative crime and community safety solutions to areas · Build the knowledge base about best practice public safety infrastructure solutions, and capture and share lessons learned · Promote the development and delivery of integrated crime prevention initiatives as part of a strategic approach to local community safety · Promote widespread engagement in community crime prevention initiatives across Victoria.

Environmental

The work specifications will contain requirements for contractors to provide suitable mitigation measures to address potential environmental impacts during construction.

291. 291 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.5.1 Erril Street Activation Rejuvenation Project – Public Art and Landscaping Cont.

Economic

Community consultation has confirmed that patrons and users of community facilities within the Erril Street precinct feel unsafe with the result being detrimental to operating a business. Improvements to the amenity of the area by making it feel safer, more functional and more attractive through the use of art, landscaping, and lighting will have a positive effect on retail patronage.

The contract works will provide short term benefit to contractors and local suppliers.

Risk Management

The total project cost is based on engineering estimates undertaken prior to Council receiving the grant funds. Formal quotes will be requested following Council’s endorsement to proceed.

The design drawings will be accompanied by detailed specifications suitable for quotation and construction.

The project will be managed by Council’s Engineering and Works department with support from Council’s Community Development team to undertake further consultation and assist funding reporting requirements.

As per Council’s procurement policy, only suitably qualified and experienced contractors will be engaged.

Community Engagement

A Communications and Community Engagement Plan has for the whole project. In regard to the specific components subject to this report:

· Public Art: The Arts Council of Mansfield is leading this component and has undertaken extensive community engagement to inform the development of the project brief. All stakeholders occupying a premise within the precinct (Mansfield Bowls Club, Mansfield Mens Shed, Community Centre user groups, the Quilters, CaféConnect and the shop owners) have been consulted with. A workshop, advertised in the Mansfield Courier and open to any interested community members to attend was also conducted. At each meeting and at the community workshop, stakeholders were lead though a series of activities to draw out common themes that could be depicted in the art work – for example – community, local features, local identities, the local environment, activities, cultural events etc. Information was also gathered (using examples of art work in other locations) on the style of artwork stakeholders preferred – for example – graffiti, realistic, symbolistic, fantasy or a combination.

292. 292 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

9.5.1 Erril Street Activation Rejuvenation Project – Public Art and Landscaping Cont.

Officer’s Comments

The Arts Council of Mansfield have enthusiastically supported this project, planned, undertaken community consultation and developed the project brief with professionalism and expertise. It has been an effective and beneficial partnership, which Council Officers are looking forward to continuing into the future through the implementation stage.

Councillors Attley/Olver

That Council:

1. Endorse the project brief for the public art component and thank and acknowledge the Arts Council of Mansfield for their contribution to date. 2. Endorse the landscape design. 3. Endorse Council officers to work with the Arts Council of Mansfield to proceed with procurement and construction of the public art work. 4. Endorse Council officers to proceed with procurement and construction of the landscaping component. Carried

293. 293 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

ATTACHMENT 9.5.1

ERRIL STREET ACTIVATION REJUVENATION PROJECT – PUBLIC ART AND LANDSCAPING

(7 PAGES)

294. 294 295 296 297 298 299 Plant Schedule

Key Botanical Name Common Name Height x Width Pot Size Quantity (m)

Trees Bp‘d’ Betula pendula ‘Dalecarlica’ Cut Leaf Birch 6 x 4 100 litres 4 Li‘N’ Lagerstroemia indica ‘Natchez’ Crepe Myrtle 6 x 5 100 litres 3

Shrubs Aa’m’ Azalea ‘Alba Magnifica’ White Azalea 1 x 1 200mm 2 Cal Correa alba White Correa 1 x1 140mm 6 Fg Festuca glauca Blue Tussock Grass 0.4 x 0.4 tube 273 Lm Liriope muscari Lily Turf 0.6 x 0.45 140mm 21 P‘bb’ Phormium tenax ‘Bronze Baby’ Flax 0.8-0.9 x 0.8-0.9 140mm 52 Af Anigozanthos ‘Bush Bounty’ Kangaroo Paw 0.6 x 0.5 140mm 91 Ll‘t’ Lomandra longifolia ‘Tanika’ Lomandra Tanika 0.5-0.6 x 0.65 140mm 76 Lo’p’ Leptospermum obovotum ‘Starry Purple Tea Tree 2 x 1.5 200mm 53 Night’

Ground Cover Ar Ajuga reptans Bugleweed 0.5-0.8 x 0.4 tube 24 Cc Convulvus cneorum Silver Bush 0.6 x 0.9 tube 48 Ca Chrysocephalum apiculatum Everlasting, Yellow Buttons 0.3 x 0.5-1.5 tube 196

300 ARTS COUNCIL SUBMISSION : ERRIL STREET PRECINCT STREET ART MURAL : CAFÉ CONNECT WALL

Community Consultation has occurred with stakeholders with a variety of responses. Phone Conference with artist AJ Tan and Arts Council working party on Saturday, February 11. Artwork – Street Art Mural on Café Connect wall.

THEME – ‘CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY’ Images included will reflect - our geography, landscape, flora and fauna and seasons - our people representing different cultures, ages and pastimes - our recreational activities - our events including festivals and parades

DESCRIPTION OF COMPOSITION OF ARTWORK FROM ARTIST AJ TAN - • Background, mountain ranges and native trees to the right half. • Other elements in the background will cover the historical side of Mansfield include a couple of cattlemen (silhouettes), the old huts, tall trees give the design a nice vertical design on this end. • Some silhouettes of elderly indigenous spirits merging with the trees • A tree trunk in the foreground that has been cut down with an axe • An elderly woman with an easel set on this side of the mural, contemplating with a paintbrush in hand. • The sky on this side could have a nice sunset vibe, even incorporate the first nations flag very subtle and fade off to the left side of the wall. • In the centre of the wall there could be a theme based around water, kids of different cultural background, submerged swimming, or about to leap off a jetty, swimming etc • This will have to blend nicely with the above images. • On the left hand side of the wall there could be a burst of colour fades, children with rollers, brushes and spray paint, computer screens (new world meets old world), Cafe connect, graphics and some street art lettering/images etc ( this could be a great area for Dan and his friend to work on too ) lots of contemporary graphics arrows etc giving direction to.... • A Street carnival, celebration, a band, instruments, music - stylized treble clefs and music notes, masks and people, balloons, kites, umbrellas colours, streamers, flags, very vibrant and flowing in direction. • Shooting thru the crowd can be a snowboarder and a skate boarder, high and low moving through to the middle section which will be possibly themed around water. • Ideas that I have that can link the mural as a whole and cover seasons, was to have animals of flight, leaves, flowers and organic forms.

All of the above are concepts and will need to be researched and further developed into working roughs. When I reread the community consultation, the words that stood out to me were, community, celebration, connection, cultural diversity, access for all ages, accommodating all levels of society. I would really like to attempt to do something with the mural that captures the essence of Mansfield's community as a whole.

IMPORTANT • Council will need to ascertain the walls integrity and do any prepping and priming before the mural installation. • AJ can give advice as needed, but his strengths are in my drawing and aerosol skills.

301 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

10. ASSEMBLIES OF COUNCILLORS

Under section 76AA of the Local Government Act 1989 an Assembly of Councillors (however titled) is defined as a planned or scheduled meeting, comprising at least three Councillors and one member of Council staff, that consider matters that are intended or likely to be:

· The subject of a decision of the Council; or · Subject to the exercise of a function; duty or power of a Council that has been delegated to a person or committee [s.76AA].

An assembly of Councillors does not include a meeting of the Council, a special committee of the Council, or any club, association, peak body, political party of other organisation.

A written record of each assembly is held by Council and is available for public inspection.

The following is a list for the past month of assemblies held and the issues discussed.

Date Type of Assembly Issues Discussed 10 January Councillors’ Briefing Session Conflicts of Interest: 2017 Nil. Councillors: · Paul Volkering · Paul Sladdin Issues Discussed: · · Marg Attley Landfill Site Rehabilitation Transfer Station · Harry Westendorp · Ogilvies Road reconstruction · Police Paddock and The Island Community Apologies: Facilities, Jamieson Cr Peter Olver · Chapel Hill Road road sealing and proposed Officers: bridge · Chief Executive Officer, Alex Green · Loyola Rise, Highlands Estate, The Grange · Acting Tourism and Economic Development · Station Precinct, Wetlands Manager, Judy Dixon · Acting Engineering and Works Manager, · Ancona Road, Lonergans Road, Donaldsons Road Robert Graves · LERBFIP facilities and blackspot safety upgrades · Development Services Manager, Michael Bismire · Community Services Manager, Melanie Hotton · Technical Officer, Michael Richards · Senior Civil Engineer, Paul Valente (Transfer Station, Ogilvies Road, The Grange) · Waste Managment Officer, Rebecca Kirley (Transfer Station, Ogilvies Road) · Community Development Co-ordinator, Kirsten Lingard (Community Facilities) · Environment Officer, Damien Gerrans (The Grange) · Senior Statutory Planner, Kathy Richardson (Station Precinct, Wetlands)

302302. Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

10. ASSEMBLIES OF COUNCILLORS CONT.

Date Type of Assembly Issues Discussed 10 January Councillors’ Tour of the Conflicts of Interest: 2017 Municipality Nil.

Councillors: Issues Discussed: · Paul Volkering · Mansfield Resource Recovery Centre – landfill site · Paul Sladdin rehabilitation and transfer station · Marg Attley · · Harry Westendorp Ogilvies Road reconstruction · Community facilities at “Policy Paddock” and “The Apologies: Island” Cr Peter Olver · Chapel Hill Road resealing and bridge works

Officers: · Loyola Rise, Highlands Estate and The Grange · Chief Executive Officer, Alex Green subdivisons · Development Services Manager, · The Station Precinct Michael Bismire · Mansfield Wetlands · Community Services Manager, Melanie Hotton · Acting Engineering and Works Manager, · Ancona, Longergans and Donaldsons Roads in Robert Graves relation to unsealed roads · Acting Tourism and Economic Development · Hutchinsons Road – LERBFIP facilities and Manager, Judy Dixon blackspot safety upgrades · Senior Civil Engineer, Paul Valente · Technical Officer, Michael Richards

17 January Councillors’ Briefing Session Conflicts of Interest: Cr. Sladdin declared a conflict of Interest in the 2017 Confidential Item. Councillors: · Paul Volkering · Paul Sladdin Issues Discussed: · Marg Attley · Cemetery Trust · Harry Westendorp After declaring an interest in the Confidential Item · Cr Peter Olver Cr. Sladdin left the Chamber at 1.10 pm and returned at completion of discussion at 2.12 pm Officers: · Chief Executive Officer, Alex Green · Confidential Report · Engineering and Works Administation Assistant, Anne Edwards (Cemetery Item) · Councillor Code of Conduct · Planning Administration Support Officer, Lynn · Differential Rates and Rebates for Retirement Plummer (Cemetery Item) Villages · Development Services Manager, · Roadside Slashing Michael Bismire · · Governance Co-ordinator, Dawn Bray Councillor Contact Details · Acting Engineering and Works Manager, · Safety of footpath cross over at Botanic Park and Robert Graves Mt. Battery Road From 3.30 pm · Installation of 50kph signs in Whitfield Road · Senior Civil Engineer, Paul Valente · · Community Development Coordinator, Kirsten Bush Market Regulations Lingard · Pool Parking · Human Resources Manager, Sharon Scott · Truck load limits on Ogilvies Road · Parwanoff Street – Private Road · Great Alpine National Parks Overlay Impacts Roadside drains and Rail Trail Maintenance · Timing of Building Permits · Elvin Street Traffic Calming Device · Beekeeping in Built Up Areas · B-double Trucks in Main Street

303. 303 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

10. ASSEMBLIES OF COUNCILLORS CONT.

Date Type of Assembly Issues Discussed 24 January Councillors’ Briefing Session Conflicts of Interest: 2017 Nil. Councillors: · Paul Volkering · Paul Sladdin Issues Discussed: · · Marg Attley Update on C36 DWMP Amendment · Harry Westendorp · Erril Street Landscape Proposal · Cr Peter Olver · Transport Strategy

· Officers: Footpath Strategy · Chief Executive Officer, Alex Green · Advisory Committees · Development Services Manager, Michael · YTD Position Bismire · · Senior Statutory Planner, Kathy Richardson Priority Projects List · Acting Engineering and Works Manager, · Highton Lane Development Plan Robert Graves · Orange Safari From 3.00 pm · Human Services Manager, Sharon Scott · Additional Playing Fields · Acting Engineering and Works Manager, Paul · Grants Audit Valente · Merrijig Township Zoning · Community Development Coordinator, Kirsten Lingard · Black Spot Telstra Tower · Finance Manager, Mandy Kynnersley · Ridgeline Policy

· Stockmans Rise 27 January Planning Consultation Meeting Conflicts of Interest: 2017 Nil. Councillors: · Paul Volkering Issues Discussed: · Paul Sladdin · 34 Alpine Ridge Drive, Merrijig · Marg Attley · Harry Westendorp

Officers: · Team Leader Statutory Planner, Grant Trenwith

7 February Councillors’ Briefing Session Conflicts of Interest: 2017 Nil. Councillors: · Paul Volkering · Paul Sladdin Issues Discussed: · · Marg Attley Local Government Inspectorate · Harry Westendorp · Community Matching Fund · Cr Peter Olver · Town Approach Precinct Study · 2017-18 Budget Apologies: · · Cr Harry Westendorp Mansfield Keeping Place · Conditions on Planning Permit Extensions Officers: · Hunter Street VCAT Decision · Chief Executive Officer, Alex Green · Governance Co-ordinator, Dawn Bray · Lightwood Court – Long Grass Issue · Community Development Coordinator, Kirsten · Murmuring Way Vegetation Lingard · Greenvale Lane Roadworks · Community Development Officer, Jane Diplock · · Development Services Manager, Michael Completion Date for Mobile Tower Bismire · TV Reception · Senior Statutory Planner, Kathy Richardson · Beekeeping · Strategic Planner, Victoria Brown · · Engineering Manager, Neil Ogilvie Ancona Road Resheet · Principal Information Engineer, Robert Graves · Australia Day · Acting Engineering and Works Manager, Paul · Road Grading at the Pines Valente · From 3.00 pm Lakins Road · Human Services Manager, Sharon Scott · Finance Manager, Mandy Kynnersley, Judy Dixon

304. 304 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

10. ASSEMBLIES OF COUNCILLORS CONT.

Councillors Westerndorp/Sladdin

That the Council note the Assemblies of Councillors as provided subject to the deletion of Cr Westerndorp’s name from the attendance list for the Councillors’ Briefing Session of 7 February 2017. Carried

11. ADVISORY AND SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS

Nil.

12. AUTHORISATION OF SEALING OF DOCUMENTS

Nil.

SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS Councillors : Attley/Sladdin

That Council suspend standing orders to facilitate public question time. Carried

13. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

RESUMPTION OF STANDING ORDERS Councillors Sladdin/Attley

That Council resume standing orders. Carried

14. CLOSURE OF MEETING TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

A Notice of Motion has been received from Mayor, Cr Paul Volkering relating to information which was declared as being confidential under section 77 of the Local Government Act 1989 (the Act) by way of a Council resolution on 19 July 2016.

Given this, the Notice of Motion needs to be dealt with after the meeting is closed to the public as the matter relates to the following provisions of section 89(2) of the Act:

(a) personnel matters; (d) contractual matters; (f) legal advice; (h) any other matter which the Council considers would prejudice the Council or any person.

Councillors Attley/Westerndorp

That the meeting be closed to members of the public under Section 89(2) of the Local Government Act 1989. Carried

The meeting closed to the public at 5.45pm

305. 305 Mansfield Shire Council – Ordinary Meeting of Council: 21 February 2017

Councillors : Attley/Westerndorp

That the meeting be reopened to members of the public at 5.56pm. Carried

15. CLOSE OF MEETING

There being no further business the meeting concluded at 5.57pm.

CONFIRMED this twenty first day of March 2017.

______Mayor

307.