Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) crews are slashing across Greater Bendigo to reduce the risk of future grassfires and to protect the community and the environment in the lead up to summer.
FFMVic Senior Fuel Management Officer Jonathan Andrea said due to higher-than-average rainfall this spring, crews had slightly delayed some slashing works to align with the anticipated increase in grass growth.
“We carefully monitor weather conditions and prioritise areas for slashing that will have the greatest impact on reducing future bushfire risk,” Mr Andrea said.
“It is important slashing happens late in spring, because if it’s done too early, it will encourage regrowth before summer and require follow-up treatment.
“Reducing bushfire risk is a shared responsibility - private landowners, council and the Country Fire Authority (CFA) also play an important part in bushfire fuel reduction.
“Fuel reduction on public land can only do so much –communities and households need to know how to be prepared and take action to reduce their bushfire risk.
"We encourage homeowners to be prepared for grass and bushfires by cutting long grass regularly, removing leaves and twigs from the yard and clearing space around their house of all flammable materials.
“If you have concerns about fire hazards on private land or local parks, contact the City of Greater Bendigo on 5434 6000.
“For fire hazard concerns regarding national and state parks, state forests, reserves or unoccupied crown land, contact DELWP on 136 186.”
Mechanical fuel management works such as clearing, mowing, mulching and slashing, are all part of our year-round fuel reduction program to reduce bushfire risk for communities and the environment.
For more information on how we manage the risk of bushfires, please visit: www.ffm.vic.gov.au/bushfire-fuel-and-risk-management/managing-bushfire-risk
For more information on how to prepare you property for bushfire, please visit:
https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/before-and-during-a-fire/fire-ready-kit
