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Draft 2012/13 – 2014/15 Fire Operations Plan – South West Region The location and boundaries of proposed planned burn/worksites shown on the attached maps are only TABLE OF CONTENTS approximate and indicative. The precise boundary of any planned burn will be identified on site by DSE before operations begin. REGIONAL DIRECTOR’S FOREWORD 3 DRAFT FIRE OPERATIONS PLAN 3 SUMMARY OF 2011/12 4 HOW TO SEND US YOUR COMMENTS ON THE FIRE OPERATIONS PLAN 4 HOW TO READ THE FIRE OPERATIONS PLAN 5 INFORMATION PROVIDED ON SCHEDULES 5 FAR SOUTH WEST DISTRICT 6 SCHEDULE 1: PLANNED BURNS 6 SCHEDULE 2: WORKS PROGRAM 15 SCHEDULE 3: STRATEGIC FUELBREAKS 16 SCHEDULE 4: FIRE INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT 17 OTWAY DISTRICT 18 SCHEDULE 1: PLANNED BURNS 18 SCHEDULE 2: WORKS PROGRAM 29 SCHEDULE 3: STRATEGIC FUELBREAKS 30 SCHEDULE 4: FIRE INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT 31 MIDLANDS DISTRICT 32 Published by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment Melbourne, September 2012 SCHEDULE 1: PLANNED BURNS 32 44 ISBN 978‐1‐74287‐612‐2 (print) SCHEDULE 2: WORKS PROGRAM ISBN 978‐1‐74287‐613‐9 (online) SCHEDULE 3: STRATEGIC FUELBREAKS 45 SCHEDULE 4: FIRE INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT 46 © The State of Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment 2011 This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the WIMMERA DISTRICT 47 provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. SCHEDULE 1: PLANNED BURNS 47 Authorised by the Victorian Government, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne. SCHEDULE 2: WORKS PROGRAM 58 For more information contact the DSE Customer Service Centre 136 186. SCHEDULE 3: STRATEGIC FUELBREAKS 59 IRE NFRASTRUCTURE ANAGEMENT 60 SCHEDULE 4: F I M Disclaimer SOUTH WEST REGION SCHEDULES 61 This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and SCHEDULE 5: PLANNED BURN AREAS DECLARED AS PUBLIC SAFETY ZONES 61 therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on EFERENCE REAS 62 any information in this publication. SCHEDULE 6: R A SCHEDULE 7: AMENDMENTS TO FIRE MANAGEMENT ZONES 63 www.dse.vic.gov.au Page 2 of 63 Draft 2012/13 – 2014/15 Fire Operations Plan – South West Region Regional Director’s Foreword Draft Fire Operations Plan This document contains the proposed fire prevention and preparedness works Following the Victoria Bushfire Royal Commission (2009), the Victorian to be delivered for the period 2012/13 to 2014/15 within the South West Region. Government committed to an increased planned burning program on public land to reduce fuel loads to help protect the community and environment This Plan covers all public land including all national parks, State parks and from the impact of bushfires. regional parks and all State forests. Numerous other small reserves and Crown land are also included. The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and Parks Victoria (PV) are responsible for undertaking planned burns on public land. The area covered by this Plan is shown in Map 1. Each year DSE prepares three‐year Fire Operations Plans to identify where The Plan is prepared, and will be implemented, in accordance with the Code of planned burning and other fire prevention works will be undertaken on public Practice for Bushfire Management on Public Land, Fire Management Manual land. 2.1: Fire Operations Planning and other relevant DSE Instructions, Manuals and Guidelines. The Fire Operations Plan, which applies to land managed by DSE and Parks Victoria, shows proposed activities such as: The Code of Practice for Bushfire Management on Public Land has just been planned burns; reviewed. To access a copy of the Code, visit www.dse.vic.gov.au, DSE Home > slashing, mowing, mulching and scrub clearing activities; and Fire & Other Emergencies > Publications & Research. The Code establishes a framework for bushfire management (including planned burning and bushfire works to maintain existing fuelbreaks. response) on Victoria's public land. The objectives for the fire management Each Plan is prepared in consultation with communities, local councils, key zones are outlined in the Code and form the basis of this Fire Operations Plan. stakeholders, Parks Victoria, CFA and technical specialists within DSE. It should be noted that burns associated with logging regeneration as well as DSE also works with interest groups and the wider community to understand small heap and grass burns are not included in the Fire Operation Planning how planned burns may impact people and industries and to gain important process. The locations of strategic fuelbreaks are included for information local knowledge to better plan burns. only. These activities are approved via other DSE and Parks Victoria processes. The Proposed Fire Operations Plan can be viewed online and has also been Map 1: South West Region made available for viewing at the locations listed in page 4 of this document. Your comments are welcome either in writing or by email. I encourage your input into this Proposed Fire Operations Plan. The Approved Fire Operations Plan will be published in October 2012. Laurie Dwyer, Regional Director, South West Region Page 3 of 63 Draft 2012/13 – 2014/15 Fire Operations Plan – South West Region Summary of 2011/12 Viewing the Fire Operations Plan Viewing the Plan online: Bushfires – 2011/12 You can also view proposed planned burns and other works in the Plan online through The fire season for the South West Region saw 96 fires which is significantly lower an online interactive map, downloadable PDF maps and planned burn lists at: than the 30 year average of 167 fires. This is a reflection of the wetter and cooler conditions experienced across much of the Region. www.dse.vic.gov.au, Fire & Other Emergencies, Planned Burns and then select Fire Operations Plans. Planned burning achievements – 2011/12 During 2011/12, 135 burns were conducted, treating an area of 33, 870 hectares. Planned burns for 2012/13 – 2014/15 Office locations for viewing the Plan: This Draft Fire Operations Plan includes 415 fuel reduction, ecological and other burns The Plan can also be viewed during normal business hours at the following locations: with a total planned area of 154, 683ha to be delivered over the three years. Location Address Grains Innovation Park (DPI/DSE) 110 Natimuk Road, Horsham Heywood DSE 12 Murray Street, Heywood Colac 83 Gellibrand St, Colac 3250 Sebastopol 25 Vickers St, Sebastopol 3356 How to send us your comments on the Fire Operations Plan Contact Details: All comments and suggestions about the Fire Operations Plan should be sent by email to: [email protected]. Comments may also be sent in writing to: Planned Burning – Planning Coordinator 402 Mair Street Ballarat, VIC 3550 Page 4 of 63 Draft 2012/13 – 2014/15 Fire Operations Plan – South West Region Preparation of a Fire Operations Plan Regional Schedules: The development of a Fire Operations Plan involves the identification of planned Schedule 5 – Planned Burn Areas Declared as Public Safety Zones. This schedule burns and other works by DSE, Parks Victoria and other interested stakeholders. identifies areas declared under the Public on Safety Land Act 2004. Values and priorities must be balanced in the development of the Plan. including: Schedule 6 – Reference Areas. This schedule identifies Reference Areas that are adjacent to a burn, are within a planned burn area, or have a planned burn included relevant legislation and Departmental policies relating to environmental and within their area. cultural heritage protection, and emergency management; various Departmental fire instructions and guidelines, particularly the Fire Schedule 7 – Amendments to Fire Management Zones. This schedule lists proposed Operations Planning Manual 2.1; amendments to the Fire Management Zones. relevant Fire Protection/Fire Management Plans; Information provided on schedules the Code of Practice for Timber Production; District – the DSE District in which the work site is located. See Page 2 Map for relevant Forest Management and Park Management Plans; boundaries. biodiversity, soil, water, economic and cultural values within the District; and Burn Status – a status of ‘Proposed’ indicates that a burn is new on this Plan. Burns environmental, cultural or economic strategies which could be impacted by the with a status of ‘Planned’ have been approved on the previous years Fire Operations Plan’s implementation. Plan. Previously approved burns may be burnt prior to the approval of this Plan. Where necessary, prescriptions for particular values maybe specified for each burn Burn Number and Name / Road Name / Address – an identifier for each burn or planned which are then incorporated into individual Burn Plans. These prescriptions are work site. reviewed annually to take into account experience from burning operations in the Location – a bearing and distance of the work site from the nearest major previous season. township/locality. Important note: Land Manager – the organisation responsible for day‐to‐day management of the works The ability to carry out burns is dependent on seasonal and local weather conditions. To site ‐ DSE (Department of Sustainability and Environment); PV (Parks Victoria); MW allow for this, planned burns from the second and third years of the Plan are considered (Melbourne Water). as contingencies for the first year. This means that a second or third year burn may be Burn Season – indicates the preferred season in which the burn will be completed. brought forward to the current year to replace a burn planned for the first year. Burn Type – indicates the purpose of the burn including fuel reduction burn (FRB), ecological burn (ECO) or forest regeneration (REG). How to read the Fire Operations Plan Fire Management Zone (FMZ) – an area of land upon which fire is managed for specific Each Fire Operations Plan consists of District Sub Plans containing a number of asset, fuel and ecological objectives.

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