By Tanya Steele
Core stakeholders in the Healesville Community Emergency Group (HCEG) sub-group for Bushfire management met on Wednesday 17 May to begin the development of a bushfire fuel management plan for the community in earnest ahead of the next fire season.
Graeme George is a long time resident of Healesville and a key member of the group and said the group will develop a landscape management plan to reduce the impact of fires that may occur in the hills on the area.
“We can manage the risks by intervening in the landscapes and make the risks of a fire starting or spreading, or doing a lot of damage, less than it would be if we didn’t take any action,” he said.
Representatives from CFA, the Healesville Sanctuary, the Yarra Ranges Council and widely experienced members of the community met at the council committee meeting room in Healesville.
“We’ve got a lot of talent to work with,” Mr George said.
The group is starting with starting point existing fuel management plans from the townships of Monbulk and Kalorama, Mr George said they are reviewing those and taking a slightly different approach by looking at assets that need protecting at three different levels.
The three pronged approach will be key to developing a fuel management plan for Healesville.
“The built landscape, which includes the town centre, plus all of the dwellings and other buildings and infrastructure, the modified landscapes such as the farmlands, and the agricultural practices and finally the open natural space,” Mr George said.
“it’s more than just protecting more than just protecting the township of Healesville,” he said.
Mr George said they hope to mitigate and reduce the chances of a large event fire starting and taking getting hold.
“It’s slowing down the speed of it, and reducing other impacts, like ember attack and things like that,” he said.
HCEG has now got two separate sub-groups operating in the planning and emergency space – the Hub group and the Bushfire one.
The planned Hub will activate in times of emergency, whilst the Bushfire sub-group is based around preparation.
The Bushfire sub group is supported by the community wellbeing team at Yarra Ranges Council and DEECA’s Safer Together program and hopes to continue meeting and further planning.
Mr George said the group will use the latest science on fire behaviour and risk minimisation to develop their plan then distribute it to landholders in the community before the next fire season.
“We’re preparing for the contingency of fire to minimize the impact that such a fire might have on the town, the other assets in our area and the natural environment,” he said.
Any interested members of the community are welcome to attend these future meetings, the Healesville Community Emergency Group currently has am operational Facebook page.
