MADRA December 2022 News
Fuel Management Group news and booklet
At the October meeting of MADRA’s Fuel Management Working Group, Stephen Mitchell from DELWP/Forest Fire Management in the Gippsland Region Risk Team gave a presentation on risk assessment and PhoenixRapid Fire modelling. Phoenix is a powerful tool that runs simulations to predict fire behaviour under a variety of conditions. It is progressively being updated to include enhanced vegetation mapping and local conditions. The simulations give a range of probabilities on fire risk and the effectiveness of various fuel management treatments, which is crucial to the ongoing work of our local agencies.
Fuel management work is ongoing around Mallacoota and District. The Gipsy Point community recently had a very positive and constructive meeting with the Fuel Management Group to discuss fuel treatments and there are discussions about further nominations for the Joint Fuel Management Plan in our district.
The Fuel Management Group is committed to the sharing of information and continuing conversations on the complex issues we face as a community living in a bushfire-prone area. Building knowledge as a community is an important part of understanding what we observe, as we watch the post-fire regeneration, and in agreeing on long-term plans for reducing bushfire fuel for the protection of our townships.
In conjunction with the Fuel Management Group, Lyn Harwood has just finished work on a booklet, Safer Forests, Safer Homes: Living with bushfire in Mallacoota, which is a valuable addition to the community’s resources and complements the webinars still accessible on MADRA’s website: https://madrecovery.com/fuel-management
A launch of the booklet and a community session is planned for early 2023.
Fuel management queries within the community can be directed to MADRA at any time and can also be made directly to East Gippsland FFM Victoria: email: eastgippsland.community@delwp.vic.gov.au
IGEM meeting
Mallacoota and District community members are invited to catch up with Inspector-General for Emergency Management Tony Pearce to hear and share information about how Victoria is working towards being better prepared for emergencies.
When: Monday 12 December, 5.30pm for 6pm with light refreshments available.
Where: Mallacoota Hotel (Green Room).
To RSVP: book online at Mallacoota-IGEM.eventbrite.com.au or call (03) 8684 7900.
Information on the Fire Season Inquiry is online at igem.vic.gov.au. The IGEM Inquiry reports are both online: https://www.igem.vic.gov.au/fire-season-inquiry/inquiry-reports
There are also summary reports which include all observations, findings and recommendations:
Phase 1 - Preparation and response: https://www.igem.vic.gov.au/fire-season-inquiry/inquiry-reports/inquiry-into-the-2019-20-victorian-fire-season-phase-1-summary
Phase 2 - Relief and recovery: https://www.igem.vic.gov.au/fire-season-inquiry/inquiry-reports/inquiry-into-the-2019-20-victorian-fire-season-phase-2-summary
DELWP update
MADRA has received the following local update from DELWP:
Davis Creek Track is still closed to ALL traffic as it is still too wet for crews to enter and repair.
When there is a window of opportunity with a break in the weather, crews are hoping to get gravel works completed on the Casuarina Walk.
All firebreaks around Mallacoota will be slashed and this is estimated to begin around the end of November. Some areas of firebreaks that are too wet to be slashed will be attended to once dried out.
Cann River work centre crews have been working in the Wangarabell area dealing with hazardous tree works and other works packages. The community will have seen the D4 and D6 dozers along with the grader and crew vehicles passing through Genoa and working in and around Wangarabell.
Track clearing activities will ramp up across the Mallacoota and District area over the coming weeks.
New Project Fire Fighters in Forest Fire Management Victoria (this includes Park Victoria crews) have joined the Cann River work centre and Mallacoota Parks team and been undergoing training in areas of chainsaw and 4WD driving competencies. Once training is completed, they will join crews and be out and about working across the district.
The Snowy District FFMVic fuel management team has been working with the Mallacoota Fuel Management Group on fuel management activities for Gipsy Point and has also contributed to the Safer Forests, Safer Homes: Living with bushfire in Mallacoota booklet.
Housing Co-op session postponed
The Co-op housing session information session we mentioned last update has been postponed; it will likely be held in February. Thank you to those who contacted us to express their interest in the session. We will keep you all updated as details are confirmed. If anyone else would like to register interest in learning about co-op housing, please email us at: madra.3892@gmail.com and we’ll be in touch.