The Department of Environment and Primary Industries is encouraging western suburbs residents to look online at its draft bushfire plans for the next few years.
DEPI’s Draft Fire Operations Plans detail the locations of planned burns and when they’re likely to take place between July 2014 and June 2017.
Planned burning is one of DEPI’s most important fire prevention activities. It reduces fire fuel and helps with ecological management and forest regeneration.
There are nine planned burns in Brimbank in 2014-15, ranging from 1.3 hectares to almost 30 hectares.
Smaller burns are scheduled to take place in Keilor North, Cairnlea, Keilor East and Sunshine.
Burns of between six and 14 hectares are flagged for Derrimut, Cairnlea and Kealba, while large burns of about 21 and 30 hectares are planned for Keilor East and Derrimut, near Fitzgerald Road South.
All burns in Brimbank are on public land managed by Parks Victoria.
DEPI Port Phillip district manager Dan White said all burns in Brimbank were grassfire burns, mainly carried out for ecological purposes.
“While there is a short-term fuel reduction benefit, it’s really for ecological purposes to protect local flora and fauna, including species such as the growling grass frog,” he said.
He said burns were normally finalised three or four days ahead of the scheduled date, depending on weather conditions. Residents would be notified and traffic management measures would be in place where necessary.
The approved Fire Operations Plans will be available next month at www.depi.vic.gov.au
