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Recommendation 4: Coordinate the implementation of evidence-based fuel management

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.

The actions on this page are identified in the Victorian Government response to Recommendation 4 from the IGEM Inquiry into the 2019-20 Victorian Fire Season - Phase 1 report.

IGEM Recommendation 4: Coordination and implementation

The Inspector-General for Emergency Management (IGEM) recommends that in conjunction with Inquiry Recommendation 2, the State establish or assign responsibility to a single body or entity to lead and coordinate the implementation of evidence-based fuel management policy, practice and assurance and reporting on activities on both public and private land in Victoria.

Actions

Action 4.1: Establish the Office of Bushfire Risk Management

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning will establish an Office of Bushfire Risk Management to lead and coordinate the implementation of evidence-based fuel management policy, practice and assurance and reporting on activities on both public and private land in Victoria.

Action 4.2: Establish an Advisory Panel to advise DELWP on bushfire risk management policy matters

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) will establish an Advisory Board to advise the Secretary to DELWP in relation to key matters pertaining to the work of the Office of Bushfire including any standards or expectations set for land and fire managers, as well as the performance of the Office itself. The board will comprise senior executives from land and fire managers including:

  • the Country Fire Authority
  • Department of Transport
  • Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions
  • Emergency Management Victoria.

Action 4.3: Expand the Safer Together program, increasing involvement of partners across the emergency management sector

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning will deliver an expanded Safer Together program, including increased involvement for Emergency Management Victoria, the Country Fire Authority, Department of Transport and its agencies, and local government by December 2020, as outlined in response to Recommendation 3.

Action 4.4: Release updated regional Bushfire Management Strategies to guide fuel management activities

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and the Country Fire Authority will release updated regional Bushfire Management Strategies to guide fuel management activities across public and private land by December 2020, as outlined in response to Recommendation 3.

An update on these actions can be found in IGEM's progress report

Updated