Fire Operations Plan Loddon Mallee Region Bendigo Office Cnr Midland Hwy & Taylor Street Bendigo VIC 3550 Phone No. (03) 5430 4644 Fax No. (03) 5430 4677 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 978-174287-938-3 (Print) 978-174287-939-0 (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 R g D c ’ w d 2 Fire Operations Plan 3 Summary of 2012/13 4 Viewing the Fire Operations Plan 5 How to send us your comments on the Fire Operations Plan 6 Preparation of a Fire Operations Plan 7 How to read the Fire Operations Plan 7 Information provided on schedules 8 MALLEE DISTRICT 9 SCHEDULE 1: Planned Burns 9 SCHEDULE 2: Works Program 28 SCHEDULE 3: Strategic Fuelbreaks 30 MURRAY GOLDFIELDS DISTRICT 31 SCHEDULE 1: Planned Burns 31 SCHEDULE 2: Works Program 51 SCHEDULE 3: Strategic Fuelbreaks 53 2015/16 Loddon Mallee Region 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 Loddon Mallee 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, forest managers and flora and fauna specialists, 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 suggested 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. The best way to look at the Loddon Mallee plan is by visiting www.depi.vic.gov.au/burns to view the interactive map and documents. Alternatively you can visit any of the DEPI or Parks Victoria offices listed on Page 5. Graham Phelps, Regional Director, Loddon Mallee Region 2015/16 Loddon Mallee 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 Loddon Mallee 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. Fire management zones form the basis of this Fire Operations Plan, which deliver the strategies outlined in the Bendigo and Mildura Fire Protection Plans. 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: Loddon Mallee Region 2015/16 Loddon Mallee Region 3 Summary of 2012/13 Bushfires – 2012/13 There were a total of 173 fires in the Loddon Mallee Region for the 2012/13 fire season. Of these fires 114 were in the Murray Goldfields District & 59 were in the Mallee District. A total of 1,712 hectares were burnt by these fires, 1,616 hectares in the Murray Goldfields and 96 hectares in the Mallee. The low area burnt by bushfire fire can partly be attributed to aggressive first attack by DEPI/CFA fire agencies to bring approximately 98% of bushfires under control before the y reached 5 ha in area. The Loddon Mallee Region assisted with Victoria’s planned burning program and fire suppression activities across the state by providing Incident Management Teams, fire-fighters and fire-fighting vehicles. Bendigo was the base site of a ‘First Attack’ Helicopter Trial which proved to be very successful in suppressing a fire in the early stages, often arriving on scene before the ground crews and assisting with 185 suppression drops (e.g. water or retardant). Planned Fuel Reduction Burning Achievements for 2012/13 The planned burn target for 2012/13 state wide was 250,000 hectares, with the Loddon Mallee to contribute 44,795ha to this. The Loddon Mallee planned burning target for 2012 / 2013 was split between two districts, namely the Murray Goldfields and Mallee with targets of 11,366 and 33,429 hectares respectively. The weather conditions during spring provided excellent conditions for planned burning in the region with 51 burns treating 28,244 hectares and allowed a good start to reaching the regions targets. However, the autumn burning window was short, transitioning from extremely dry to cool and moist in only a few weeks. Consequently, in autumn only 11 burns were either completed or partially completed treating 6,900 hectares. Of the 77 burns conducted, 57 in the Murray Goldfields and 20 in the Mallee, a total area 42,381 hectares was treated across the Loddon Mallee. Of this 9,581 hectares were in the Murray Goldfields & 32,799 hectares in the Mallee and achieved 95% of the Loddon Mallee regional hectare target. Other Emergency Management The Loddon Mallee Region supports an all hazards approach to emergency management and continues to assist as required with efforts in flood response, biosecurity and dam integrity. 2015/16 Loddon Mallee Region 4 Viewing the Fire Operations Plan The Plan can be viewed during normal business hours at the following locations: Location Address DEPI Avoca Napier Street (Friday 1pm – 4pm) DEPI Bendigo / Epsom Cnr Mildland Highway & Taylor Street PV Castlemaine Matheson Road (Fri 9am – 4pm) PV Inglewood 100 Southby Road (Wed 1 – 4 pm) DEPI Heathcote 28 Herriot Street (Wed 9am – 4pm) DEPI Maryborough 2/82 Alma Street (closed during lunch) DEPI Rushworth 85 Stanhope Street (Friday 1pm – 4pm) St Arnaud By appointment only, contact David Lanyon on (03) 54951700 CoGB Council Office 125 High Street, Heathcote Loddon Shire Office 37 – 41 High Street, Wedderburn Mt Alexander Shire Office 25 Lyttleton Street, Castlemaine Maldon Visitor Information Centre 93 High Street, Maldon (7 days) DEPI Irymple Cnr Koorlong Ave & Eleventh Street DEPI Swan Hill 324 Campbell Street Ouyen Council Office 79 Oke Street PV Hattah Information Centre PV Speed Carter Street PV Robinvale Higgins Road Gateway Beet 75 Lascelles Street Hindmarsh Shire Municipal Office, Nhill 92 Nelson, Street PV Rainbow 6679 Dimboola – Rainbow Road 2015/16 Loddon Mallee Region 5 Post Office Underbool 31 – 47 Cotter Street Post Office Werrimull Millewa Road Newsagency, Murrayville Cnr Reed St & Gray Street 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 Burning Manager PO Box 905 Mildura VIC 3502 Planned Burning Email contact details: Comments may also be sent by email to: [email protected] 2015/16 Loddon Mallee Region 6 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.