Recommendation 6: Increase the application of non-burning fuel management treatments
Find out what the government is doing in response to this recommendation from the IGEM Inquiry into the 2019-20 Victorian bushfire season: Phase 1 report.
On this page
The actions on this page are identified in the Victorian Government response to Recommendation 6 from the IGEM Inquiry into the 2019-20 Victorian Fire Season - Phase 1 report.
IGEM Recommendation 6: Non-burning fuel management
The Inspector-General for Emergency Management (IGEM) recommends that the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (or the single entity referenced in Recommendation 4) – supported by other organisations with a legislated responsibility for fuel management – plan for and increase the application of non-burning fuel management treatments including mechanical means.
The annual fuel management report should include the non-burn component of fuel management treatment, track annual change, and provide a comparison to the previous three years.
Actions
Action 6.1: Expand the permanent network of strategic fuel breaks across Victoria
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning is enhancing Victoria’s network of strategic fuel breaks and is planning for how this can be expanded further in preparation for the 2020-21 fire season.
The creation and maintenance of strategic fuel breaks is a key mechanical treatment as Victoria adapts to the reduced window available for planned burning due to climate change.
Action 6.2: Report on additional data regarding the non-burn component of fuel management treatment on public land
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning will include additional data regarding the non-burn component of fuel management treatment on public land, track annual change, and provide a comparison to the previous 3 years as detailed in DELWP’s 2019-20 fuel management report.
Action 6.3: Identify key arterial roads that provide strategic advantage for firefighting and conduct risk reduction works
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning will work in partnership with DoT, other road and rail managers, the Country Fire Authority and local government to identify key arterial roads that provide strategic advantage for firefighting, and work together to conduct priority fuel treatment works ahead of the 2020-21 fire season.
Action 6.4: Increase investment in non-burning fuel management treatment, including mechanical treatment
The Victorian Government will increase its investment in non-burning fuel management treatment, including mechanical treatment, through the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Country Fire Authority, Department of Transport and local government.
Action 6.5: Expand the permanent network of strategic fuel breaks across Victoria
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning will expand the permanent network of strategic fuel breaks across Victoria by December 2022.
Action 6.6: Continue to deliver year-round fuel management activities and enhance bushfire first attack capacity
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning will continue to deliver an expanded 365-day per year fuel management program to respond to earlier and longer bushfire seasons and enhance Victoria’s first attack capacity including personnel, plant and equipment.
Action 6.7: Develop a strategy for the transition and retention of forestry contractors and their specialist skills
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning will develop a strategy for the transition and retention of forestry contractors by June 2021. This will ensure ready availability of specialist skills and machinery for the creation of fuel breaks, removal of hazardous trees and reopening of roads remain available to support bushfire and emergency management operations.
Action 6.8: Increase investment in the management of hazardous trees to ensure safe forest access for firefighters
The Victorian Government will increase its investment in:
- the construction and maintenance of public land roads and bridges (for example, upgrading timber structures to fire-resistant materials)
- management of hazardous trees
- vehicles and equipment to ensure that firefighters can safely access the forest for fire prevention
- preparedness
- fuel management (including planned burning and mechanical treatment)
- suppression and recovery operations under conditions of increased fire frequency and intensity.
These activities are targeted at improving access to public native forests.
Action 6.9: Identify and conduct fuel management along major arterial roads to complement strategic fuel breaks
To complement new fuel breaks on public land, DELWP and DoT will work in partnership to identify, prioritise and conduct fuel management along major arterial roads where road positioning provides strategic advantage for bushfire suppression.
Action 6.10: Investigate vegetation management measures that support both biodiversity conservation and fuel reduction
Department of Transport will also investigate vegetation management measures for the benefit of both biodiversity conservation and fuel reduction, such as the removal of invasive shrubs and the restoration of low biomass native grasslands.
An update on these actions can be found in IGEM’s progress report
Updated 5 August 2022
About the VIC Government
- The Premier and ministers
- Find a Vic Gov department, agency or service
- Strategies and policies
- Inquiries and royal commissions
Grants and programs
Jobs and careers
Arts, culture and heritage
Business and the workplace
- Mentally Healthy Workplaces Framework
- Portable Long Service Authority
- Victoria’s racing industry
- Workforce Inspectorate Victoria
- Liquor licensing, sale and supply
Communities
- Children
- First Peoples - State Relations
- Finding records
- Gender equality & women’s leadership
- LGBTIQA+ equality
- Multicultural communities
- Seniors Online
- Veterans support and commemoration
- Volunteering in Victoria
- Youth Central
Education and training
- Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority
- Early childhood education – information for professionals
- Kinder: Best Start, Best Life
- Education – information for parents
- Schools.Vic - information for schools
- Education grants, programs, awards and events
- PROTECT
- TAFE, training and universities sector
- TAFE Victoria
- Victorian Skills Authority
- Apprenticeships Victoria
- Learn Local
Environment, water and energy
Finance and economy
Health and social support
- Family violence reform
- NDIS Worker Screening Check
- NDIS and disability services and support in Victoria
- Patient Review Panel
- Transforming Trauma Victoria
Housing and property
Law and justice
- Adoption
- Births, deaths and marriages
- Honorary justices
- Machete ban
- Safeguarding Victorians against terrorism
- Stolen Generations Reparations Package
- Victims of Crime
- Victorian Racing Tribunal
Safety and emergencies
- Emergency Recovery Victoria
- Victorian Emergency Relief and Recovery Foundation
- Emergency Recovery Resource Portal
- How well do you know fire
- Fire Services Reform
- Water safety
- Marine Search and Rescue
Science and technology
- Data sharing and open data
- Data.vic - discover and access Vic Gov open data
- Developer.Vic - portal for API developers
- Go.vic URL shortener
- Vic Gov IT project dashboard
- Victoria’s free public wi-fi network
- Cyber security in the Victorian Government
Sport and recreation
Traffic and transport
- Cameras Save Lives
- Transport Fines
- Getting Around
- Transport Planning
- Transport Future
- Climate Change and transport
- Future Directions For Transport
- Transport projects
- Ports and Freight
Working in the Victorian Government
- Single Digital Presence home
- Accommodation and Library Services
- Executive employment in the Victorian public sector
- Budget, procurement and funding
- Careers in the Victorian Government
- Council and Regulator Toolkit
- Guidelines for working in government
- Join a government network
- Standards and guidelines
- VicFleet CarPool
- Victorian Government style guide