BlairgowrieCommunityFirePreventionActionGroup

TheSecretary,EnvironmentandPlanningCommittee,ParliamentandPlanningCommittee,ParliamentHouse,SpringStreet,EastMelbourne.Vic.3002DearSecretary,

Re:InquiryIntoFireSeasonPreparedness.Onthenorth,south,eastandwest,BlairgowrieisboundedbydegradedweedinfestedNationalParks,andothergovernmentownedreservesthat,compoundedwithotherfactors,createaHighFireDangerrisktoourcommunityduringtheFireSeason.WehavemonitoredverycarefullythesomewhatconfusedwayinwhichthefireriskinBlairgowriehasbeenassessedbygovernmentanditsagenciesandthecontradictorypolicieswithinandbetweenagencies.Oursubmissionwillgiveyourinquiryaninsightintothisconfusion.InanapparentattempttoestablishafreshdialoguewiththeVictoriancommunity,theStateGovernment,withthesupportofourfirefightingagencies,hasdecidedtoundertakeafireyearprogramtoharmonisepoliciesacrossgovernment.Ourgroupwelcomesthisinitiative.Thefactthatitwilltakefiveyearstoundertakethisprocess,givesusallanindicationastothescaleoftheproblem.Oursubmission,fromabottomupperspective,willconfirmtheurgentneedforthisreview.Thefactthatwehavethreeseparatefire‐fightingorganisationsinVictoria,withdifferentculturesandtraditions,incompetitionforbudgetsandreportingtodifferentministers,isonlypartoftheproblem.Wehaveidentifiedmultipleexamplesofunresolvedpolicyissuesthatexistwithinagencies,butindoingso,weareremindedthatsomeofthesetensionsrelatetobasicdifferencesofopinionthatexistwithinsociety.Thesedifferencesonfirepreparednessstandardspermeatepolicyoutcomesatlocal,stateandnationallevels.Thereisanurgentneedforaconsensusbetweenpeopleandgroupswithstrongconservationvaluesandthosewhowishtoprovideagreateremphasisoncommunitysafety.

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DifferentViewsInBlairgowrie,wehaveidentifiedconflictingviewswithinandbetweenagenciesandwithinourcommunityonthebalancebetweenconservationvaluesandcommunitysafety.

DifferentopinionsonthewidthofFire‐Breaks

DifferentopinionsontheneedforfirebreaksbetweentheNationalParksandresidentialBlairgowrie.

Differentopinionsontheneedforfirebrigadeaccesstracksintothe

NationalPark

DifferentopinionsonthedegreeofbushfiredangercausedbyweedinfestationourNationalParksandReserves

Differentopinionsonthemethodoffuelloadreduction,controlledburns,

mechanizedclearingorhandclearing

ThelocalcommunityhasnotadoptedCFAevacuationadvicetotheBlairgowriecommunityforCodeRedandExtremeleveldays.

TheBushfireRoyalCommissionandtheEmergencyServices

CommissioneradvocatetheuseofCommunityAlertSirens.MrLapsleyhasacknowledgedthattheCommunityAlertSirenatWyeRiversavedlives.TheCFAdoesnotsupportasystemofCommunityAlertSirens.

Ourlocalpoliticalrepresentatives,GregHuntMHR,MartinDixonMLAandDanielMulinoMLC,aswellasFireServicesCommissioner,CraigLapsleyhaveallvisitedBlairgowrie,andhaveacknowledgedtheseverityoftheproblem.TherelevantgovernmentdepartmentDWELPdoesnotacknowledgethedanger.SignificantIssuesStatewide

Theneedfornewstatelegislationtoclarifyresponsibilityforthecontrolofroadsidevegetationandfuelloads

Theneedforlegislationtoclearlydefinetheultimateresponsibilityforfirepreparednessmeasuresacrossthestate

TheneedforextendedpowersfortheMunicipalFirePreventionOfficer

TheapplicationtoVictoriaofthe2005FindingsoftheProductivityCommissionsreportonthehighcostofdisastersandthelackofmoneyfordisastermitigation

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ThelackoffirebreaksbetweenNationalParksandcountrytownsWeexpectthatmanyoftheissueswehaveoutlinedabovewillbecommontotheexperienceofothercoastalcommunitiesandsomecommonthemeswillemergestatewideduringyourinquiry.HowevertherearesomespecificissuesinBlairgowriethatyoumaywishtoacknowledgeinyourfindings,especiallyinthefollowingareas.1.ASpecialStudyonFireRisk‐SouthofMelbourneRoadThereisaneedforanacrossagencyinvestigationonthecompoundingissuesthatmaketheareassouthofMelbourneRoadsuchadangerousareainbushfireconditions.Weshouldidentifythemitigationwork(includingpreventativeburns)thatneedstobeundertakenonthisendofthePeninsulatoreducethisrisk.ThisinvestigationwouldrequireanindependentChairofsomeconsiderablestanding,andtosecurecommunityownership,itshouldincludecommunityrepresentation.2.SupportaNewEvacuationandAccessRoadfortheSouthernPeninsulaVicRoadshasidentifiedtheneedforanewarterialroadalongtheexistingfreewayreservethatalreadyexistsbetweenRosebudandBlairgowrie.Onthegroundsofcommunitysafety,thisproposedevacuationroadshouldbenotedandsupportedinyourfindings.3.CommunityAlertSirensWithsuchahighsummer‐timepopulation,theinstallationofCommunityAlertSirensatBlairgowrieneedstobeendorsedinyourreport.4.EvacuationPlansThetworecentbushfireemergenciesontheMorningtonPeninsulaledtomasspanicandconfusion.Evacuationplansrequire,inadvance,apreparedandinformedcommunity.Wesuspectthatthisproblemexistsinmostcoastalcommunities.Blairgowrieneedshelpwithitsevacuationplansandthiscouldbehighlightedinyourfindings.

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Ourdetailedsubmissionisattached.MurrayHomes

ChrisEkinsmyth

BlairgowrieCommunityFirePreventionActionGroup.Note:MurrayHomeswillbeawayintheNorthernTerritoryandQueenslandfromWednesday16JuneuntilmidSeptember2016.Co‐ConvenerChrisEkinsmythwillbeavailableforfurtherconsultationoverthewintermonths.PleasenotethatthegroupistomeetwiththeHonDavidDavisatBlairgowrieonFridayJune10.

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SubmissionEnvironmentAndPlanningCommittee.

ParliamentofVictoria.InquiryintoFireSeasonPreparedness.

From:BlairgowrieCommunityFirePreventionActionGroup

FirePreventionIssuesInBlairgowrieTheCFAhaswarned“thatunderSevere,ExtremeorCodeRedWeatherConditions”ourlocalcommunitiescouldface“largescalelossoflifeandproperty”.1.CoastalVegetationBurnsInbushfireconditions,coastalvegetationburnswithgreatferocityinVictoriaandsouthernAustralia.Blairgowrieistotallysurroundedbyweedinfestedcoastalvegetation.2.HighFireDangerRatingBlairgowriehasbeendesignatedbytheCFAasahighfiredangerarea.2.1WhyThisRisk?2.1.1Highfuelloadsexistonbothpublicandprivatelands.2.1.2LimitedAccessandEvacuationRoadsInnormalsummerconditionstrafficjamsoccurfrequently.2.1.3HolidayHousesBurnManybeachhomesoflighttimberconstructionwithexposedtimberdecksarelocatedincoastalscrub.2.1.4RoadsatRiskFireproneweedinfestationexistsalonglocal,collectorandthemainevacuationroads.

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2.1.5SummerandFireSeasonsCoincideThecoincidingofthebushfireseasonandthesummerholidaysmeansthenormalpopulationofBlairgowrieincreasesfrom2,200to25,000people.Mostofthesepeopleinholidaymodehavelimitedexperienceofbushfireconditionsandhavenofireplan.Mostdonotknowtheyareinahighfiredangerarea.2.1.6WaterPressureLimitedWaterPressureintheBlairgowrie,SorrentoandPortseaareasrepresentsamajorconstrainttofirefightingcapacity.ArecentrestaurantfirelocatedjustabovesealevelatSorrentorequiredtheattendanceofanadditionalhighcapacityCFATankerfromFrankston.Ittooktenfirecrewsonehourtoextinguish,andthebuildingwastotallydestroyeddespitethefirstfiretruckarrivingoneminuteafterthealarm.Howwouldwecopeinbushfireconditions?3.FireRiskfromtheNorthTothenorthofBlairgowrie,theforeshorereserve,southsideofNepeanRoad,isweedinfestedcreatingapathwayforfireintoresidentialBlairgowrie.MinisterLisaNevillehaspromisedexternalfundingfortheForeshoreCommitteetoimplementitslongdelayedfireplan.Thiswillrequiresubstantialfundstoreducethegroundlevelweedinfestation,andmechanicalmeanswillneedtobeadoptedinseverallocations.Preventativeburnsinthislocationarenotappropriate.4.FireRiskFromtheEastThisistheleastlikelyoptionbuttheexistingfreewayreserve,whichrunsfromRosebudWesttoBlairgowrie,containshighlevelsoffireproneweedinfestationanddoesrepresentanobviousfirepathwayintoBlairgowrie.Incertainweatherconditions,whenthereisa“high”overBassStrait,stronghoteasterlywindscandevelopandafirerunningwestalongthereservethroughRyemustbeconsideredapossibility.Lastyearaftersustainedurgingfromourfiregroup,VicRoadsundertooksomeworktoclearsomeoftheweedinfestation.Mostofitstillexists.5.FireRiskFromTheWestTheMorningtonPeninsulaNationalParkFirePathRespondingtoatraditionallateafternoonchangefromthenorth‐west,westandthensouthwest,thepoorlymaintainedandweedinfestedNepeanPeninsulaandMorningtonPeninsulaNationalParksatPortsea,SorrentoandBlairgowrie,

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provideaperfectpathwayforabushfiretorunthroughtheParkandintoBlairgowrie.Tocounterthispotentialthreat,20metrewide,North‐SouthFirebreaks,havebeeninsertedintotheParkwithinPortseaandSorrento.Inresponsetourgentrepresentationfromthisfirepreventiongroup,MinisterLisaNevillehasthisyearauthorizedtwoadditionalfirebreakswithintheparkatHughesRoadwhichisattheborderbetweenSorrentoandBlairgowrie,andatStJohn’sWoodRoad,Blairgowrie.6.WidthofFireBreaksTheissuescanvassedinItem5aboveraiseanimportantandvexedissue.TheBushfireRoyalCommissioncametotheviewthattowork,firebreaksneededtobewideenoughtoinitiallycontainafirewithlimitedfirebrigadeintervention.SomeexpertwitnessestotheRoyalCommissionindicatedthatafirebreakinVictorianconditionsneededtobeatleast70metreswide.Theexistingnorth–southfirebreaksintheMorningtonPeninsulaNationalParkwouldnotholdafirefrontinExtremeOrCodeRedconditionsbutareintendedforbackburningpurposes.Therearedifferentviewsonthewidthoffirebreakswithinandbetweenagenciesandtheissuehasbeeninthetoohardbasketfortoolong.ThisissueneedstobeexaminedbytheParliamentaryCommittee.WepointouttheshortestdistancebetweenthefrontandthebackbeachesonthePeninsulaareatHughesRoadandStJohn’sWoodRoadsinBlairgowrie.Theseroadslinkthebayandoceanbeaches.Properclearingwithintheparkandalongtheseroadsides,wouldbeamajorsteptosecureBlairgowrie.Ithastakensixyearstohavethisissueaddressedandthiskindofdelayandconfusionisevidentstatewide.7.FireRiskFromtheSouth7.1CompoundingRiskFactorsFortheareasouthofMelbourneRoadanumberofcompoundingissueshavecreatedextremelevelsofrisktopropertyandlives.

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7.1.1WeedinfestedParkThehighlydegradedandpoorlymaintainedMorningtonPeninsulaNationalParkisamajorfactorinourassessment.DWELPdeniesthattheMorningtonPeninsulaNationalParkrepresentsanyfireriskatalltoBlairgowrie.FromacomputermodeldevelopedbyDWELP,basedondataprovidedbytheweatherstationatCerberusinWesternPortBay,andfromarecentlyestablishedprivateweatherstationatSorrento,itarguesthatachangefromthenorthwestswingingaroundtosouthwestwouldnothavethecapacitytobringafireintoresidentialBlairgowrie.DWELPclaimsthatevenondayworsethanCodeRedandwithnofirebrigadeinattendance,abushfirewouldnotleavetheParkandenterresidentialBlairgowrie.NofirebreaksalongthenorthernboundaryofthePark,noaccesstracksforfirefightingunits,excessivegroundlevelweedsandanincreasingpatternofhotanddryconditionsdoesnotallowustoacceptthe“noriskassessment”ofDWELP.WebelievethattheCFAandtheMorningtonPeninsulaShirecurrentlyacceptourjudgment.AlthoughwearepleasedthatDWELPhasturnedtocomputermodelingforassessingfirerisk,itis,nevertheless,atechnologystillinitsexperimentalstage.Asyetitsfindingscannotbeconsidereda“science”andmoredevelopmentworkneedstobeundertaken.OurcommunityisnotassuredthatwearesafefromafirebreakingoutoftheParkintoresidentialBlairgowrie.8.CallintheUmpire!ThereisnoobviousmechanismwithinGovernmenttoresolvethisdifferenceofopinion.TheInspectorGeneralofEmergencyManagementhasdeclinedseveralinvitationstovisitBlairgowrie,toexaminefirsthandtheunresolved,complexandcompoundingissues,thatmakeBlairgowrie,especiallysouthofMelbourneRoad,apotentialdeathtrap.TheInspectorGeneralbelieveshehasnopowerstointerveneinsuchmatters.AnInspectorGeneral,whodoesnot,willnot,orcannotinspect,isunableprovidetheessentialassurancetothecommunityenvisagedinhisappointment.IftheInspectorcannot,underexistinglegislation,inspectandrequireagenciestoactonthefirepreventionissuesthenwhichofficialshouldhavethisauthority?ShouldadditionalpowerbevestedintheofficeofInspectorGeneralofEmergencyManagement?OrshouldthesepowersbevesteddirectlywiththeEmergencyManagementCommissioner?

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Shouldtherebeanewstatutoryappointmentwithstatewideresponsibilitiesforfirepreparedness?IncountryareasshouldadditionalpowersbeprovidedtotheMunicipalFirePreventionOfficer?AlthoughtheCFAalreadyhassomeexistingpowerstoactonfirepreventionissuesitseemstohaveretreatedwithinitselfandseesitselfasessentiallyafirefightingorganization.Throughitsassociationwithotheremergencyservicesitismovingawayfromitstraditionallinkswithsomeitscountrycommunities.Itsincreasingroleinoperatinginurbanareashasfurthercomplicatedthisprocess.Itappearstobeadoptinga“brotherhoodculture”anditsabilitytoinfluencecommunityopiniononfirepreventionissuesisbeingprogressivelydiminished.TheCFAneedshelp.Itneedsanimprovedcapacitytoservethecommunitiesitservesbyprovidinggoodlocaladviceonfirepreventionmeasures.Maturevolunteerswhoshouldnotbeusedinfirefightingdutiescouldbetrainedforthistask.8.ControlledPreventativeBurnsPreventativeburnshavebeenusedsuccessfullyinthePortseaPrecinctoftheNepeanNationalPark.GiventheconfidenceofDWELPinitsassessmentthatabushfirewithintheNationalParkatBlairgowriewillnotenterresidentialareasinanycircumstances,therecanbenoargumentagainsttheuseofcontrolledburnstocontrolthehighinfestationofweedsintheBlairgowriesectionofthePark.HowevergiventhecurrentconditionofthePark,DWELPwouldnotdaretoundertakecontrolledburnsinBlairgowrie.Theriskisjusttoohigh.Why?TherearenofirebreaksalongthenorthernboundaryoftheparkwhereitmeetsresidentialBlairgowrie.Inseverallocations,firepronebrushfencingdefinestheofficialboundaryoftheparkwithprivateresidentialblocks.Generally,therearenoaccesstracksfromthelocalroadnetworkintotheparkforfirecrews,andthisisamajorconcernoftheCFA.Becauseofcrewsafetyissues,ourlocalCFAcrewshaveadvisedanumberofourcommunitiesgroups,thatinbushfireconditions,theywillnotenterthedangerousareasouthofMelbourneRoad.

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9.RoadsideVegetationArisingfromtheLancefieldfireswenotedanumberofadversecommentsfromcommunitymemberscomplainingabouthighfuelloadsonlocalroads.Thisisastate‐wideproblem.OvermanydecadesGovernmenthasmaintainedthatfarmersshouldberesponsibleforremovingweedsandexcessfuelloadsalongthecountryroadsthatborderfarmingproperties.Manyfarmersrespondbypointingoutthat,astheroadsareownedbygovernment,governmentshouldinturnberesponsibleforfireandweedmanagement.Thisproblemisexacerbatedatgovernmentlevelbytheconcernthatthelastexamplesofmanynativetreesarefoundonlyalongcountryroads.Thesetreesareimportantseedbanksforfutureplantings.Asaresultpermitsmayberequiredbyfarmerstoundertakeclearanceworkalonggovernmentownedroads.Statewideastandoffexists.Countryroads,inbushfireproneareasneedtobemadesafeforaccessandevacuationpurposes.Theoverrelianceontreestocksalonglocalroadsforseedretentioncouldbeovercomebyplantingtreesinplantationswithinfarmsandawayfromevacuationroads.Stepsneedtobetakentoresolvetheongoingproblemastowhomorwhichorganisationsareresponsibleforweedandfirepreventionmeasuresalonglocalandmainroadsthroughoutthestate.ThisproblemalsoexistsinBlairgowrie,exceptthereisonesignificantdifference.GenerallypeoplelivingfulltimeinBlairgowriewillacceptresponsibilityforclearingtheirnaturestrips.Mostwillwishtousetheirlawnmowers.HowevergreenplanningoverlaysexistinBlairgowrieandCouncilrequiresplanningpermitsforwhatlocallandownersjudgeasplaincommonsensemeasures.DespitethreatsoflegalactionbyCouncilfromtimetotime,manypeople“votewiththeirmotormowers”inkeepingtheirnaturestripsclearandtidy.Whatthecouncildoesnotknow,theCouncildoesnotworryabout,sooverthelastfiveyearswehaveseenanincreasingnumberofpeoplerespondingtothefirepreventionmessageandtakingcontroloftheirnaturestrips.Councildoesnothavethestafftooverseethisissueandneedstomodifyitsapproach.

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WehaveproposedthatCouncilplacesadviceonitswebpageonhowlocalratepayerscanmeetfirepreventionmeasureswhilemaintainingconservationvalues.Wesay:Keeptheindigenoustreesandshrubs,totallyremoveallweedsandtrim,whererequired,the‘firesmart’groundcover.Increasinglyholidayhomesarebeingmaintainedtohigherfirepreventionstandardsandwithencouragementandadvicefromcouncilweareconfidentthattheroadsideissuecanberesolvedthroughtheweb‐basedmeasureswehaveoutlinedabove.Howeverthestatelegislationonroadsidevegetationalongcountryroads,andinurbanandsemiurbanareas,isconfusedandthelegalpowersandauthorityofgovernmentanditsagenciesremainuntested.Thelegislationframeworksonroadsidevegetationneedtobeexaminedtoprovidesafepassageforaccessandevacuationpurposes.10.AccountabilityIssues10.1MunicipalFirePreventionOfficerTheFirePreventionofficerintheShirehasverylimitedpowers.Hecanonlytakeactiononfirepreventionissuesonprivateland.Hehastheresponsibilityformonitoringmorethan120,000privatehousesandbuildings.Heisquicklybroughtintolineifhewandersintotheissuesassociatedwithfireriskonpublicland.Hehasnopowersregardingfuelloadsoncouncilreserves.Hehasnopowersontheissuesofhighfuelloadsalongevacuationandcollectorroads.ThisistheresponsibilityofothersectionsoftheShirethathavebroaderresponsibilitiesinregardtovegetationoverlays.Bynaturethesestaffhavestrongconservationvalues.Thisisinnowayapersonalcriticismastheyarepeopleofintegrity,buttheyalloperateinanorganizationwherethebalancebetweenconservationandfiresafetystandardsisalwaysinafluidstate.ThistensionisexaminedunderSection9ofthissubmission.Thussaid,weneverthelessrecordourconfidenceintheworkofMrDamienTaylor,theFirePreventionOfficerwithMorningtonPeninsiulaShirewhounderstandsthefireriskonpublicandprivateland,andtotheverylimitsofhisrestrictedpowers,hasworkedhardtomaketheMorningtonPeninsulaasaferplace.

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10.2ShireChiefExecutiveOfficer.ThepreviousChiefExecutiveOfficerhadahands‐offapproachtofirepreventionandleftthetensionsassociatedwiththeimplementationoftheRoyalCommissionrecommendationstootherstosortout.ThenewlyappointedChiefExecutive,MrCarlCowie,whoengagedwiththeEmergencyServicesCommissionerMrCraigLapsley,immediatelyaddressedthefireriskissues.AtthesametimetwosignificantbushfiresincoastalvegetationwithintheShireforcedCounciltotakenote.WepointoutthatacommittedCEOwhoispreparedtofacethe“politicalrisks”associatedwithbushfireprevention,andwhodisplaysstrongleadershipskillscanmakeadifference.ItwasonlywhenMrLapsleyandMrCowieteamedupdidweseeprogressintacklingdecadesofneglectonthePeninsula.YoumaywellconsiderastategovernmentinitiativetorequireShireChiefExecutivesOfficerstoattendbriefingsessionsorganizedonaregionalbasisbyEmergencyServices.Itwouldalsobehelpfultohave“PersonalPerformanceIndicators”foreachCEOtoincludealeadershipassessmentonbushfirepreventionmeasures.ShouldtheMunicipalFirePreventionOfficerreportdirecttotheCEOifeachShire?TosafeguardtheindependenceofthispositionshouldthisofficialoperatewithintheCFAortheofficeoftheEmergencyManagementCommissionerwithguaranteedaccesstothecouncildatabase?FollowingmajorfireswehavenotedthatatfollowuptownmeetingshaveexposedtheFirePreventionOfficertounfaircriticismforlackofpreparationagainstthebushfirerisk,alwaysmatterswelloutsidehiscontrolandinfluence.10.3UnresolvedPolicyConflictswithinourCommunityTheShireCouncilisatthisstageisnotinclinedtoaddresstheconflictwithinourcommunityonthebalancebetweenconservationvaluesandtheneedtomakeourcommunitiessafer.WebelievethatthetrialprogramalongCanterburyJettyRoad,BlairgowrietoreducethehighfuelloadsatgroundlevelwhileretainingtheindigenoustreessuchasMoonah,BanksiaandSheOak,represents,inourview,anoutcomethatcouldbeacceptabletoallparties.Howeveratcouncillevel,theShireseemstobereluctanttoconvene,atourrequest,arepresentativemeetingofconservationandcommunitygroupstoexplorethisissueandtopreparethegroundforanewconsensus.

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Thisisanunresolvedlocalissuethatalsopermeatesthedebateatlocal,stateandnationallevels.11.ClimateChangeTheShirehasastrongpositiononclimatechangeandhasbeenrepresentedatthelasttwointernationalmeetingstodecideaglobalpolicy.MovestocreateacarbonneutralpolicybytheShireisthemostimportantpolicyoutcomeofthisengagement.WithclimatechangescientistspredictingwarmertemperatureswithmoreextremeweathereventsitwillbeimportantthattheShirecomestotermswiththeneedtoadoptstrongerweedandfuelreductionstrategies.Thesearedifficultissuestofaceinahighfiredangerareawheremanywishtosupportconservationvalues.Wenotewithsomeinterestthathome‐buyersinBlairgowriearepreparedtopayhighpricesforpropertiessouthofMelbourneRoad,anareagenerallyconsideredtobeaveryhightoextremefiredangerarea.Mostofthebuyersseemunawareoftherisksassociatedwithlivinginthisarea12.HouseInsuranceInsurancerateshaveincreasedinhighfiredangerareasbutwithnewbuildingrequirementsthecostofreplacinghousesdamagedbybushfireissuchthatmanyofourcommunitymaybewellunderinsured.Thisfactormayhelptoexplainthetendencyofpeoplefromburntoutcommunities,tojoinclassactionsagainstgovernmentanditsagenciesforfailingtoundertakeadequatefirepreventionmeasures.Theinsuranceindustryinthefuturecouldprovideapricesignalbywayoflitigationagainstlandownersandgovernmentagenciesthatfailtoimplementfirepreventionmeasures.WealsofacetheprospectthatInsuranceCompaniesmayinthefuturerefusetoprovideanycoveragainstbushfireindefinedareas.ThefireriskassessmentsissuedbytheCFAarebeingcarefullyexaminedbytheinsuranceindustrywhichistakingtheClimateChangewarningsveryseriously.WhatwouldhappeniftheInsuranceIndustryfailedtoprovidebushfireinsurancecoverforpeoplelivingsouthofMelbourneRoadorotherhighriskareasinthestate?

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13.RecommendationsofProductivityCommissionon“NationalDisasterFunding”WerecommendthattheParliamentaryEnquirystudythisreportwhichwasprovidedtotheFederalGovernmenton17December2014andpublicallyreleasedon1May,2015.ThisreportsuggeststhatthepresentarrangementsfortheFederalGovernmentto“underwritedisasterreliefisnotsustainableandfundingshouldbedirectedateffectiveplanningandmitigationofrisks”.Thereportalsofound“thatGovernmentsover‐investininpostdisasterreconstructionandunder‐investinmitigation.”14.BackgroundNotes14.1AboutBlairgowrie.BlairgowrieiscurrentlyassessedbytheCFAashavinga“HighBushfireDangerRating”.ThetownshipsofSorrentoandPortseaandpartsofRyehavethesamehighfiredangerratings.Blairgowrie,islocatedeastofSorrentoandwestofRyeontheNepeanPeninsula,andisaconstituenttownoftheMorningtonPeninsulaShire.Ithasapermanentpopulationofapproximately2,200people,mostlyretirees,andhasbothapermanentandholidaypopulationinexcessofthecombinedpopulationsofSorrentoandPortsea.Duringsummerandthecoincidingfireseason,ourbestestimateoftheholidaypopulationofBlairgowrie,includingdayvisitors,isinexcessof25,000people.Alargepercentageofitshousingstockcanbestbedescribedas“holidayhomes”.14.2AboutTheBlairgowrieCommunityFirePreventionActionGroupThegroupwasformedsoonafterBlackSaturdayandafterassessinglocalfirepreventionissues,madeasubmissiontoTheBushfireRoyalCommission.ThissubmissionisavailableinfullontheCommission’sWebSite.Ithasmaintainedacritiqueontheprogressinimplementinglocally,therecommendationsoftheRoyalCommission.

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IthaspresentedfireplansforBlairgowriebasedontheneedforthereductionofhighfuelloadsonbothpublicandprivatelands.ThegroupcampaignedsuccessfullyfortheestablishmentofasatellitefirestationatBlairgowrie.TheconceptofinternalfiredefencelineswithinBlairgowrie,alongthemajorcollectorandevacuationroads,supportedbyroadsidefuelreductionprogramshasbeenadoptedbygovernmentagencies.Recently,MinisterLisaNevilleagreedtoadditionalinternalnorth‐southfirebreakswithintheMorningtonPeninsulaNationalParkatHughesandStJohn’sWoodRoads.AdditionalexternalfundinghasalsobeenapprovedbytheMinisterforfuelreductionintheForeshoreReservesouthofNepeanRoadbetweenBlairgowrieandRye.TheprovisionofnewandorupgradedMobileTelephoneTowersarenearcompletionwithinBlairgowriefollowingoursuccessfulrepresentationstotheEmergencyServicesCommissioneroncommunitysafetygrounds.NegotiationsarecurrentlyunderwayfortheprovisionofCommunityAlertSirensforBlairgowrie.TheVicRoadsproposedarterialroad,alongtheexistingFreewayReservebetweenRosebudWestandBlairgowrie,isbeingsupportedbytheGrouponcommunitysafetygrounds.TownMeetingshavebeenorganizedandtheGroupreportsbackmonthlytoourlocalcommunityorganization,Community3942.Becauseofapossiblearsonattack,theGrouphasmaintainedalowprofileduringthesummerfireperiods.Moreworkneedstobeundertakenoncommunityevacuationplanning,andmitigatingtheseverefiredangersouthofMelbourneRoad.15.OurThanksWearedelightedthatMartinDixon,MLAandDanielMalino,MLChaveengagedwithourcommunityandhavebeenpreparedtoinspectthehighfiredangerareasinBlairgowrie.Theirsupporthasbeenpivotalinturningaroundtheinertiaanddecadesofneglect.Theirwillingnesstoworktogetherasourlocalmembersofparliamentisalsomuchappreciated.WemustalsoacknowledgetheinspiringsupportandleadershipwehavereceivedfromtheEmergencyServicesCommissionerMrCraigLapsley,whohasvisitedusovermanyyearsandwhohasagainacceptedourinvitationtomeetourcommunityleadersinOctober,2016.

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ThedecisionoftheStateParliamenttoexamineindepththefirepreventionchallengesfacingourstate,hasalsoprovidedgreatencouragementandwehopethattheinformationwehaveprovidedmaybeofassistancetoyourinquiry.Muchworkneedstobedone!MurrayHomesandChrisEkinsmythBlairgowrieCommunityFirePreventionActionGroup31sMay,2016

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