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 endorse 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 endorsed, DEECA's works for planned bushfire management and other associated activities will be approved 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 feedback on draft terms of reference for the assessment (completed)
- finalisation of terms of reference (completed)
- public 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.
Terms of reference
The terms of reference for a strategic assessment detail how Victoria will assess the impacts of the proposed activities.
Public consultation on the draft Terms of Reference closed on 20 February 2026.
What did people tell us?
People told us they wanted clearer information about how decisions are made, stronger oversight and accountability, better monitoring and reporting, consideration of climate change impacts and opportunities to be involved in shaping the process. They also noted the value of aligning with the EPBC Act Reforms that are occurring concurrently.
How did the feedback make a difference?
Feedback from consultation helped shape the final Terms of Reference. Changes include clearer requirements for the strategic assessment, stronger monitoring and reporting expectations, a greater focus on improving information and data over time and requirements to clearly explain the processes for community and Traditional Owner engagement.
The final Terms of Reference also update the Terms of Reference to align the Strategic Assessment with the EPBC Act reforms and National Environmental Standards released by the Australian Government.
View the final Terms of Reference here Victorian Forest Fire Management Strategic Assessment - DCCEEW.
Have your say
The next opportunity for public input will be when the Strategic Assessment Report is released for consultation.
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 endorsement.
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 feedback on the draft terms of reference was accepted from 8 January to 20 February 2026.
The terms of reference set the requirements for the strategic assessment report. The next opportunity for public input will be when the Strategic Assessment Report is released for consultation.
The Australian Government oversees the strategic assessment process.
Yes. The Victorian government is committed to delivering the highest standards for environmental protection.
The Australian Government is implementing EPBC Act Reforms over 2026, concurrent with the development of this Strategic Assessment.
The final Terms of Reference also update the Terms of Reference to align the Strategic Assessment with the EPBC Act reforms and National Environmental Standards released by the Australian Government.
Page last updated: 01/10/26