Overview
The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) is undertaking a strategic assessment for planned bushfire management activities on public land in Victoria.
By law, DEECA must do work to prevent bushfires on public land. This includes state forests, national parks and protected public land.
Managing fuel is one of the best ways to prevent fire. This is done by clearing excess grass, leaves, bark, shrubs and small fallen branches in planned areas on public land, including through planned burns.
Bushfire risk is also reduced by maintaining infrastructure like fire towers and remote water points. The strategic assessment’s scope will include delivery of activities for the planned prevention of fire and use of fire for land management purposes and all associated preparatory works.
DEECA must follow Victorian and Australian laws when doing this work.
These laws protect Victoria's plants, animals, ecosystems and heritage.
They include Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES) protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
DEECA is working with the Australian Government to meet this obligation.
It will ask the Australian Government to review and approve how it identifies, manages and protects Matters of National Environmental Significance during planned bushfire management works.
The assessment will authorise how these activities are planned and delivered.
The type of assessment is called a ‘strategic assessment’.
Strategic assessments take a landscape-scale approach to protecting plants, animals and ecosystems of national significance under the EPBC Act.
If approved, DEECA's works for planned bushfire management and other associated activities will be endorsed under the EPBC Act.
The steps to deliver a strategic assessment are outlined in section 146 of the Act: Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 - Federal Register of Legislation.
Key milestones are:
- Australian Minister for Environment and Water agrees to carry out a strategic assessment with the Victorian Government (completed)
- public asked for feedback on draft terms of reference for the assessment
- finalisation of terms of reference
- public asked for feedback on the draft strategic assessment
- finalisation of strategic assessment
- strategic assessment submitted to Australian Minister for Environment and Water
- decision by the Australian Minister for Environment and Water on whether to approve the works under the Act, with any conditions.
Signed agreement
The agreement between the Victorian Government and the Australian Minister for Environment and Water to conduct a strategic assessment was signed on 15 December 2025.
The agreement describes the:
- process to follow for assessment
- requirements under national environmental law.
You can find a copy of the agreement here at Victorian Forest Fire Management Strategic Assessment.
Have your say
The terms of reference will be available for view and public comment in January (date TBC) on the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water website: Victorian Forest Fire Management Strategic Assessment - DCCEEW.
Frequently asked questions
Strategic assessments review how plans, policies or programs and related activities under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) protect Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES).
MNES are listed under the EPBC Act and include threatened species and places of high environmental and heritage value. A strategic assessment allows these activities to be assessed and approved together, rather than project by project.
Strategic assessments deliver conservation and planning outcomes at landscape scale. This approach can be more efficient and effective than doing project-by-project assessments.
DEECA’s state-wide planned bushfire management activities are a good fit for a strategic assessment. This approach gives the community clear information about how DEECA identifies, manages and protects Matters of National Environmental Significance while delivering these works.
The scope of the strategic assessment is set out in the Agreement, which can be found on the following Australian government website: Victorian Forest Fire Management Strategic Assessment - DCCEEW.
DEECA is undertaking a strategic assessment of its planned bushfire management activities.
It will then submit its strategic assessment to the Australian Minister for Environment and Water for approval.
DEECA is aiming for the strategic assessment to:
- streamline approvals for bushfire management activities
- give the community more clarity about how DEECA manages impacts on MNES
- support the delivery of timely planned bushfire management activities.
DEECA notes that the strategic assessment is an evolving process, which will be informed by public consultation and the decision of the Australian Minister for Environment and Water.
Yes. We will deliver works as planned.
Find out more about our Joint Fuel Management Program (JFMP).
Register to be notified about planned burns near you on the Planned Burns website or download the VicEmergency app.
Yes.
Public consultation on the terms of reference will commence in January 2026 (date TBC). Once public consultation commences, you can view and comment on the terms of reference here: Victorian Forest Fire Management Strategic Assessment - DCCEEW.
The terms of reference set the requirements for the strategic assessment report.
The draft strategic assessment report will be available for comment later in 2026.
The Australian Government oversees the strategic assessment process.
Page last updated: 18/12/25