Fire Operations Plan Gippsland Region Traralgon Office 71 Hotham Street Traralgon VIC 3844 Phone No. (03) 5172 2111 Fax No. (03) 5172 2100 Email: [email protected] The location and boundaries of proposed planned burn/worksites shown on the attached maps are only approximate and indicative. The precise boundary of any planned burn will be identified on site by DEPI before operations begin. Published by the Victorian Government Department of Environment and Primary Industries Melbourne, October 2013 © The State of Victoria Department of Environment and Primary Industries Melbourne 2013. This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Authorised by the Victorian Government, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne. ISBN 978-1-74287-934-5 (Print) ISBN 978-1-74287-935-2 (pdf) For more information contact the DEPI Customer Service Centre 136 186. Disclaimer 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 therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Accessibility If you would like to receive this publication in an accessible format, such as large print or audio, please telephone 136 186, or email [email protected] Deaf, hearing impaired or speech impaired? Call us via the National Relay Service on 133 677 or visit www.relayservice.com.au This document is also available in PDF format on the internet at www.depi.vic.gov.au Contents Regional Director’s Foreword 2 SCHEDULE 3: Strategic Fuelbreaks 106 Fire Operations Plan 3 SOUTH GIPPSLAND DISTRICT 113 Summary of 2012/13 4 SCHEDULE 1: Planned Burns 113 SCHEDULE 2: Works Program 122 Viewing the Fire Operations Plan 4 SCHEDULE 3: Strategic Fuelbreaks 124 How to send us your comments on the Fire Operations Plan 4 SWIFTS CREEK DISTRICT 125 Preparation of a Fire Operations Plan 5 SCHEDULE 1: Planned Burns 125 How to read the Fire Operations Plan 5 SCHEDULE 2: Works Program 132 SCHEDULE 3: Strategic Fuelbreaks 139 Information provided on schedules 6 BAIRNSDALE DISTRICT 7 SCHEDULE 1: Planned Burns 7 SCHEDULE 2: Works Program 25 SCHEDULE 3: Strategic Fuelbreaks 38 BAW BAW DISTRICT 39 SCHEDULE 1: Planned Burns 39 SCHEDULE 2: Works Program 46 SCHEDULE 3: Strategic Fuelbreaks 47 HEYFIELD DISTRICT 48 SCHEDULE 1: Planned Burns 48 SCHEDULE 2: Works Program 65 SCHEDULE 3: Strategic Fuelbreaks 67 ORBOST DISTRICT 69 SCHEDULE 1: Planned Burns 69 SCHEDULE 2: Works Program 96 Report Subtitle 1 Regional Director’s Foreword The Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) and Parks Victoria carry out fire prevention activities on Victoria’s public land to help reduce the impacts of bushfires to communities and the environment. Our Fire Operations Plans outline where these fire prevention activities are intended to be carried out over a three year period, if weather and other conditions permit. These activities include planned burning, slashing, mowing and clearing works, track works and construction of fire breaks. Each year we review and update the Gippsland Fire Operations Plan based on the latest local information. The plan is shaped by feedback and knowledge from local communities and key stakeholders such as the CFA, local councils, Parks Victoria, forest managers and technical specialists within DEPI, as well as key industries. The Fire Operations Plans are an important part of our work to reduce the risk of damaging bushfires. We make changes to the plans wherever we can, but the decision to carry out fire prevention activities is always driven by the need to reduce the impacts of bushfires to our local people, property and the environment. DEPI also works with interest groups and the wider community to understand how planned burns may impact people and industries and to gain important local knowledge to better plan burns. Michael Timpano, Regional Director, Gippsland Region Fire erations lan 2015/16 Gippsland Region 2 Fire Operations Plan This document contains the proposed fire prevention and preparedness works to be delivered for the period 2013/14 to 2015/16 within the Gippsland Region. This Plan covers all public land including all national parks, State parks and regional parks and all State forests. Numerous other small reserves and Crown land are also included. The area covered by this Plan is shown in Map 1. The Plan is prepared, and will be implemented, in accordance with the Code of Practice for Bushfire Management on Public Land, Fire Management Manual 2.1: Fire Operations Planning and other relevant DEPI Instructions, Manuals and Guidelines. The Code of Practice for Bushfire Management on Public Land has just been reviewed. To access a copy of the Code, visit www.depi.vic.gov.au, DEPI Home > Fire & Emergencies > Managing and Fighting Fire. The Code establishes a framework for bushfire management (including planned burning and bushfire response) on Victoria's public land. The objectives for the fire management zones are outlined in the Code and form the basis of this Fire Operations Plan. It should be noted that burns associated with logging regeneration as well as small heap and grass burns are not included in the Fire Operation Planning process. The locations of strategic fuelbreaks are included for information only. These activities are approved via other DEPI and Parks Victoria processes. Map 1: Gippsland Region Fire erations lan 2015/16 Gippsland Region 3 Summary of 2012/13 Weather conditions at the start of 2012-13 were wet due to heavy rain across Gippsland in June 2012. However rainfall was normal to slightly less than normal from July to November, which presented some opportunities for planned burning during spring, mainly in the Asset Protection and Bushfire Moderation Zones. Windstorms in September produced tree damage and wind-throw which required additional works for fire access and burn preparation. A hot, dry continental air-mass developed across central Australia in late December and continued through January which resulted in extreme fire weather conditions in Gippsland. Lightning activity resulted in numerous fires during December, January and February. The conditions resulted in a very busy fire season with a total of 175 fires and 105,000ha burnt; the majority of fires (80%) were controlled to less than 5 ha. There were 2 major bushfires in Gippsland, the Harrietville – Alpine South fire; the southern portion of which (14,437ha) was managed by Gippsland; and the Aberfeldy – Donnellys fire (86,840ha). Fire weather conditions quickly moderated in East Gippsland in March, which enabled % of Gippsland’s planned burning program of 97,600ha to be completed by mid-April. Wet conditions delayed the start of planned burning in the remainder of Gippsland, but dry conditions during May allowed a concerted effort to achieve a total area treated by planned burning of 114,942ha (244 burns) for Gippsland. Viewing the Fire Operations Plan Viewing the Plan online: You can also view proposed planned burns and other works in the Plan online through: Downloadable maps and planned burn lists at: www.depi.vic.gov.au/burns How to send us your comments on the Fire Operations Plan Although the public comment period for the 2013/14 – 2015/16 Fire Operations Plan has now closed, your comments are still welcome. Please be aware that your comments may be included in next years Plan. Contact Details: All comments and suggestions about the Fire Operations Plan should be sent in writing to: Planned Burn Manager 71 Hotham St Traralgon 3844 Planned Burning Email contact details: Comments may also be sent by email to: [email protected] Fire erations lan 2015/16 Gippsland Region 4 Preparation of a Fire Operations Plan The development of a Fire Operations Plan involves the identification of planned burns and other works by DEPI, Parks Victoria and other interested stakeholders. Values and priorities must be balanced in the development of the Plan including: relevant legislation and Departmental policies relating to environmental and cultural heritage protection, and Important note: emergency management; The ability to carry out burns is dependent on seasonal various Departmental fire instructions and guidelines, particularly the Fire Operations Planning Manual 2.1; and local weather conditions. To allow for this, planned burns from the second and third years of the Plan are relevant Fire Protection/Fire Management Plans; considered as contingencies for the first year. This the Code of Practice for Timber Production; means that a second or third year burn may be brought relevant Forest Management and Park Management Plans; forward to the current year to replace a burn planned for the first year. biodiversity, soil, water, economic and cultural values within the District; and environmental, cultural or economic strategies which could be impacted by the Plan’s implementation. Where necessary, prescriptions for particular values maybe specified for each burn which are then incorporated into individual Burn Plans. These prescriptions are reviewed annually to take into account experience from burning operations in the previous season. How to read the Fire Operations Plan Each Fire Operations Plan consists of District Sub Plans containing a number of District Schedules, followed by Regional schedules. District Schedules: Schedule 1 – Planned Burns. This schedule lists planned fuel reduction, ecological and other planned burns by indicative year for the three year period. Schedule 2 – Works Program. This schedule lists the fuel management works program to support the planned burning program. Schedule 3 – Strategic Fuelbreaks. This schedule provides an overview of strategic fuelbreaks to be constructed or maintained during the three year period.