FAQ

As a community we understand the devastating impact of bushfire. Understanding how we can work better together to prevent, prepare, respond to and recover from the threat of bushfire is the focus of a new municipal fire planning initiative.

The Manningham Municipal Fire Management Plan is a new and collaborative approach to fire management that details the collective efforts of a range of agencies and stakeholders in identifying and managing the risk of fire in the local community.

The primary objective of the Plan is the protection of human life. The Plan assists individuals in understanding their level of exposure to bush and grass fire, with the information able to be used to guide decision making.

The Plan has been prepared by the Manningham Municipal Fire Management Planning Committee, which includes representation from:
• Manningham City Council
• Country Fire Authority
• Metropolitan Fire Brigade
• Parks Victoria
• Department of Sustainability and Environment
• Victoria Police

The Plan identifies localities and key community assets at risk of fire, assigns agency responsibility and, where possible, nominates actions and treatments (strategies) to minimise the risk.

Community assets include things like roads, schools, childcare centres and aged care facilities.

These assets have treatments (strategies) assigned to minimise the risk, such as fire breaks, roadside vegetation management, burn programs and community education programs.

Understanding what the fire planning agencies are doing may help to guide your own fire preparation and management of your bushfire risk to life and property.

Taking responsibility for understanding the risk of bushfire in your area and what you can do to reduce the risk is relevant to everyone. The CFA provides a range of services to help you prepare for the threat of bushfire.

Every individual is responsible for knowing what to do and where to go in case of bushfire.

A formal submission will be given to the Municipal Fire Management Planning Committee for review and may, if appropriate, be included in the Plan. 

Comments made in the discussion forum will not be considered a formal submission, however they will be presented to the Municipal Fire Management Planning Committee for review and may assist in future planning or communications around fire management in Manningham.

Each Municipal area in Victoria with a bush or grass fire risk is required to develop a Municipal Fire Management Plan (the Plan). The Plan has been developed to identify fire risks, community assets at risk, outline how the risk can be minimised and allocate agency responsibilities for managing treatments.

Victoria is one of the most bushfire prone environments in the world and the threat of bushfire will always be present. However, through active participation by individuals, the community, the fire services sector and government; working together, sharing ideas, we can improve how we plan, prepare, respond and recover from bushfires. The Plan is an important step forward in demonstrating how we can all work better together.

The Plan has been developed for your Municipal area, to look at how the agencies can work better together to identify and minimise bushfire risks. Your local knowledge and input is important and we invite you to participate in the planning process.

The Plan does not replace the need for individuals to undertake their own fire preparations and to develop a personal fire plan. Talk to the CFA about developing a plan for your home and the safety of your family.

The development of the Plan reflects a true collaboration between members of the Municipal Fire Management Planning Committee, represented by all major fire planning agencies and other stakeholders including Manningham City Council, Country Fire Authority, Metropolitan Fire Brigade, Parks Victoria, Victoria Police, VicRoads, Melbourne Water, Yarra Valley Water, Department of Human Services and Department of Sustainability and Environment. The community will play an important role in reviewing and commenting on the Plan.

Assets and their risk rating were identified through a rigorous assessment process using the Victorian Fire Risk Register (VFRR) aligned with ISO 31000. Following asset identification and risk assessment, the current treatments to mitigate the risk were then identified and analysed.

Treatments options are the tools and tactics different agencies use to reduce the risk of bushfire. Treatment options include things like strategic fire breaks, roadside slashing programs, vegetation management and targeted community education programs. Through this consultation we are asking the community to review and suggest additional assets as well as suggest alternative treatment options for assets.

Treatments such as planned burns and specified vegetation management programs undertaken by DSE are articulated within the Region’s Fire Operations Plan which has been placed on the DSE website for public comment and is outside the scope of this consultation process.

The safety of our residents is our priority. The Plan outlines and links all the fire management activities in our community, providing a one-stop-shop for all agencies and the community to better understand fire planning and preparedness.

Understanding what the fire planning agencies are doing may help to guide your own fire preparation and management of your own property. The threat of bushfire is real for many Victorians. Taking responsibility for understanding the risk of bushfire in your area and what you can do to reduce the risk is relevant to everyone.

Every individual is responsible for knowing what to do and where to go in case of bushfire.

Upon conclusion of community consultation on 29 March 2013, each submission will be assessed and considered for inclusion in the Manningham MFMP by the Manningham Municipal Fire Management Planning Committee.

Fire Planning and Management is an ongoing process and the Municipal Fire Management Plan is no exception. The Plan is a living document and the Committee will strive for continuous improvement of the asset and risk register and its treatments.