Wandin Fire Brigade

Expert BAER (Burned Area Emergency Response) Teams and local specialists continue to develop recovery and rehabilitation strategies. Key recovery work has commenced, specifically around road and track rehabilitation and environmental rehabilitation.

Residents looking for information from the Country Fire Authority relating to private land recovery efforts should contact the CFA Bushfire Recovery Team on 5964 6573.

PLANNED BURNS FOR AUTUMN

Residents and visitors should be aware that the 2009 autumn planned burning program is about to begin across the State. Asset protection burns are planned for most districts and include the Otways coast, the Wombat Forest/Macedon areas and portions in the Dandenong Ranges. Strategic broad scale burning is also a high priority, particularly in East Gippsland.

Prescribed burns are planned at strategic locations to improve protection for townships as well as provide ecological benefits and fuel reduction. Burns are conducted by DSE with support from Parks Victoria and the CFA and advice from the Bureau of Meteorology.

Please be aware that seeing smoke may cause some anxiety for people, especially people impacted by the recent bushfires. We ask for the community’s patience throughout this program.

Consultation with communities for this season’s burns has already commenced in some locations and will continue throughout the season. Local communities will be notified by DSE of any planned burns in their area, as in previous years. 

Information about planned burns can be accessed at dse.vic.gov.au/fires or by phoning the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667.

CLOSURES AND SAFETY

One of the risks in the parks and forested areas affected by fire are falling trees and dropping limbs. This will be an ongoing hazard in burnt-out areas into the foreseeable future. Please avoid travel to these park and forest areas until you are advised that it is safe to do so. For further information about fires on public land go to www.dse.vic.gov.au/fire

Following the extensive wildfires in the area many roads and tracks remain closed to protect residents and visitors from potential injuries. The follow list outlines the key park closures in the area.

Kinglake National Park - The Horseshoe Lagoon Nature Conservation Reserve campground near Trawool has reopened and is available for camping. The rest of this park is closed to visitors until further notice. This includes the major sites of Masons Falls picnic area, Jehosophat Gully picnic area, The Gums camp site as well as all walking tracks in the park.

Lake Eildon National Park - Fraser and Jerusalem Creek Campgrounds are now open for camping. The remainder of the park remains closed.

Maroondah Reservoir Park - This park is closed to visitors until further notice.

Yarra Ranges National Park - The Badger Weir and Rainforest Gallery Picnic Ground have been reopened. However the rest of the park remains closed to visitors until further notice. This includes Lake Mountain, Lady Talbot Drive, Cambarville, Mount Donna Buang and Donnelleys Weir.

INCREASED POTENTIAL FOR FLOOD & STORM DAMAGE POST FIRES

In many fire areas all of the vegetation and surface of the soil has been burnt to ashes or rock.

This creates the potential for more runoff from rainfall and the force and speed of water flow can be significantly increased. When rainfall is heavy this may create major safety hazards and flash flooding in lower areas. The potential for this type of flash flooding may continue for up to several months after the fire until vegetation becomes re-established.

Further information can be found at www.ses.vic.gov.au.  In a flood or storm emergency call the SES for emergency assistance on 132 500.

PERSONAL RECOVERY

The Department of Human Services offer a range of support services including personal, emotional, psychological and financial help. DHS has set up community service hubs in ten of the affected communities.

The primary purpose of these hubs is to respond to immediate human needs and then they will move to more flexible services according to local community needs.  These hubs are essentially a one-stop-shop for government services in these communities and are currently located at Flowerdale, Narbethong, Buxton, St Andrews, Arthurs Creek, Strathewen, Kinglake, Kinglake West, Marysville. For further information go to www.dhs.vic.gov.au

Nillumbik Shire Council - Nillumbik Shire Council has established a Recovery Coordination Centre (RCC) to coordinate the bushfire recovery effort. This is the first point of contact for all bushfire recovery related queries to Council, both via telephone and email. If you would like information about Council issues relating to bushfire recovery, please phone the RCC on 9433 3111 or email rcc@nillumbik.vic.gov.au.

Shire of Yarra Ranges - The Yarra Glen Memorial Hall is operating as the region’s key recovery centre. A major focus of the centre, operating Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm and Saturdays from 10am to 2pm, is on providing residents with a coordinated response to their ongoing needs for assistance and information. For further details please visit www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au or phone 1300 368 333.

Murrindindi Shire Council - Key information for residents within the Murrindindi Shire Council can be asscessed via www.murrindindi.vic.gov.au