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Frankston City Council is again preparing for fire season with inspections of properties and fuel reductions works in Council reserves, including manual clearing of fine fuels and controlled burn-offs.
Annual Fire Prevention Actions
Fire Management Plans
Fire Risk Inspections and Actions
Fire Prevention in Natural Reserves
Fire Action Week (11-18 October)
Fire Awareness Information Session
Free Green Waste Service
Sweetwater Creek Bushfire Risk Reduction - Community Meeting
CFA Fire Ready Victoria Sessions
Emergency Management Planning
Fire Hydrant Maintenance
Annual Fire Prevention Actions
Council has a current Municipal Fire Prevention Plan and program of fire prevention works undertaken each year prior to declaration of the fire danger period. It's planned these works will continue and be enhanced through the allocation of additional funding and/or resources.Fire prevention activities in Council parks, reserves and road reserves include:
- Maintaining fire breaks (including grass slashing and maintaining accessibility)
- Vegetation management
- Tree maintenance
- Responding to requests for fire management in specific locations
Council is working through our Municipal Fire Prevention Committee (or MFPC), which includes representatives from local CFA brigades and other agencies, to finalise and implement bushfire plans before the next fire season. Council's Municipal Fire Prevention Plan is a live document audited by the CFA every year.
Fire Management Plans
Council has commenced the review of existing Fire Management Plans and assessment of bushland reserves. The review involves:- Development of Wildfire Prevention and Preparedness Plans
- Identifying the nature and level of the risk for each area, making recommendations to mitigate and manage that risk for the protection of the general community, adjoining properties and residents, as well as Council buildings, facilities and assets and where possible sites or areas of environmental significance or high biodiversity value
- Identifying areas where fuels breaks or fuel reduced zones should be established
- Assessing access and egress issues for emergency vehicles and park visitors
- Assessing buildings or facilities and measures needed to improve safety in the event of a wildfire
- Assessing adequacy of equipment or water supply/access in the event of wildfire
- Undertaking works arising from the review in preparation for the summer season
In addition, a specialist consultant will reassess Frankston City's natural reserves fuel management zones to provide an independent assessment of our current practices and recommend actions. The consultant will specify why each particular fuel management zones is being adopted, not just in relation to the vegetation management, but also assessing the ignition risk, site characteristics (size, aspect and topography, buffers, adjoining land uses and assets, proximity of fire suppression agencies) and local community preparedness.
Fire Risk Inspections and Actions
Each year before the fire season, Frankston City Council undertakes its fire prevention program and it is continuing these activities again this year, working with all agencies (CFA, Police, SES, DSE and other State Government agencies).Council has a Fire Safety Officer who undertakes proactive fire risk inspections across the municipality to monitor/reduce areas of fire risk. Over 1200 properties, including vacant blocks, residential properties, bushland blocks and commercial and industrial areas, in the municipality are inspected for fire risk at the beginning of November.
Residents/property owners who don't have their properties in a fire ready state are issued with a fire hazard notice requiring compulsory clearance of the hazard at the owner's cost.
Fire Prevention in Natural Reserves
Frankston City Council is committed to managing its bushland reserves in a way which combines both environmental conservation values and community safety through fire prevention measures and education.Frankston City has a number of significant natural reserves and Council's Natural Reserve Rangers carry out fire prevention works in all 55 reserves and along roadsides, before the fire danger period every year. Works include fuel reduction and ecological burning in spring and autumn, when weather permits, slashing and maintaining fire breaks and reducing potential fire risks in our reserves.
Council has allocated additional funding from the 2009-2010 Budget for fuel reduction works to be undertaken by contractors (overseen by the Natural Reserves rangers) in a number of natural reserves in the municipality.
The Natural Reserve Rangers patrol natural reserves during the fire danger period on weekends and days of high fire danger, and alert the CFA when necessary.
Fire Action Week (11-18 October)
The State Government has introduced a new initiative: Fire Action Week, to be held 11-18 October as part of preparations for the fire season. Residents are encouraged to clear gutters, move fuels and act on potential fire hazards on their properties during this week.Fire Awareness Information Session
During Fire Action Week Council, with the CFA and key stakeholders, will hold a Fire Awareness Information Session where residents can find out the facts about the fire season, and common sense tips for fire prevention for homes in bushfire prone areas.Speakers at the Fire Awareness Information Session will include Paul Carigg, Operations Officer and Officer in Charge at the Frankston CFA Station; Angus Mair, Fire Safety Officer Westernport Region; Damien Taylor, Council's Fire Prevention Officer; along with other fire management practitioners.
The Fire Awareness Information Session is being held at the Frankston Arts Centre on Tuesday,13 October from 6:30pm. RSVPs are essential by phoning 9784 1931.
Free Green Waste Disposal
RESIDENTS are urged to prepare their properties for the fire season by using Frankston City Council's free disposal service during the weekend of 17-18 October as part of Fire Action Week.
Frankston City residents are eligible to dispose of garden waste only including wood and branches up to 100mm diameter, leaf litter and twigs that can fit in a standard 7 X 4 trailer (no trucks accepted).
Mixed loads (i.e. containing general rubbish) and greenery over 100mm diameter will be charged at the standard gate rates, as will commercial operators.
Residents unable to transport greenery to the Transfer Centre can dispose of tree cuttings and prunings as part of the annual hard waste collection from 19 October to 13 November. Brochures with further details on the collection will be put in letterboxes approximately two weeks prior to your area collection day.
Fine fuels (less than a finger's width) contribute most to the heat and speed of a fire and include dry grass, leaves, twigs and loose bark but does not include larger logs or branches. Minimising fine fuels reduces the heat of a fire and its ability to spread.
This FREE service is only for Frankston City residents who must show identification to access this service. This is expected to be a very popular offer so please allow time for possible queuing
Date: Saturday, 17 October and Sunday, 18 October
Time: 8:00am to 4:00pm (both days)
Where: Frankston Recycling and Waste Transfer Station,
Centenary Park Drive (Melway Ref: 100 F11)
Details: 1300 322 322
Sweetwater Creek Bushfire Risk Reduction - Community MeetingFrankston City Council's Natural Reserves Rangers will be holding a community meeting at Sweetwater Creek during Fire Action Week.
This meeting is aimed at discussing resident concerns specific to the unique topography, bushland and fire risk present within Sweetwater Creek and the surrounding residential area.
Topics to be covered include:
- What is the fire risk from Sweetwater Creek Nature Reserve?
- Community expectations and Frankston City Council's role in minimising fire risk.
- Co-operation between fire management agencies and Frankston City Council
- Fire ecology and wildfire behaviour in Sweetwater Creek.
- How the community can help.
- The individual's role in minimising risk on their own property.
Residents will have an opportunity to learn about all the fire management works going on in the reserve and discuss concerns with one of the Natural Reserves Park Rangers. From the meeting point residents may have the opportunity to walk to nearby areas to further discuss site specific details.
The Sweetwater Creek Bushfire Risk Reduction - Community Meeting will be held on Saturday, 17 October, from 11:00am-noon. Residents are asked to meet at the Sweetwater Creek Nature Reserve Information Board, accessed via the pedestrian laneway between 47 and 49 Fleetwood Drive (Melway Ref: 102 A7).
CFA Fire Ready Victoria Sessions
The CFA is also hosting a number of Fire Ready Victoria sessions. The CFA has informed Council that it aims to hold a minimum 10 Fire Ready Victoria sessions over summer throughout the Frankston City municipality.Many of the sessions will also have Council's Municipal Fire Prevention Officer in attendance, to assist residents who have queries or issues with Council land or neighbours' properties that may require inspection.
Attending these community meetings will help you:
- Gain advice and information about bushfire behaviour
- Identify and reduce your fire risk
- Prepare your property
- Build your plan of action
For details on these meetings, to register your interest or to book a Fire Ready Victoria session for your neighbourhood visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au.
Emergency Management Planning
Frankston City has a Municipal Emergency Management Plan for the management of municipal resources and the co-ordination of community support in the event of major emergencies.The Municipal Emergency Planning Committee (MEMPC), comprising representatives from Council, Victoria Police, CFA, SES, Red Cross, VAS, Coastguard, DHS and other support and relief agencies, regularly reviews and updates the Plan to ensure it is current.
Council has recently revised and updated Municipal Emergency Management Plan (MEMP) in the lead up to the fire season. Upgrades to the plan include improved Emergency Relief Centres, new activation plans, enhanced recovery procedures, linkage to other Council plans, the establishment of a Community Recovery Committee, and is seeking formal agreements with neighbouring municipalities for support.
Fire Hydrant Maintenance
Council maintains over 5,500 fire hydrants across Frankston City to ensure the CFA can easily access water in an emergency. Council's ongoing maintenance includes painting the red and white posts, clearing the lid and surrounds of any overgrown shrubs and installing reflective blue 'cats eyes' on the road to assist night time location of the fire hydrants.We welcome residents' assistance in maintaining their fire hydrants by mowing the surrounds to ensure the hydrant is visible from both sides and avoid parking within one metre of hydrants.
| Keep Informed and Be Vigilant Visit the CFA website: www.cfa.vic.gov.au Call the Victorian Bushfire Information Line: 1800 240 667 Listen to 774ABC Radio |
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