The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) is updating the 2012 Version of the Code of Practice for Bushfire Management on Public Land (the Bushfire Code) and until very recently was seeking feedback.
Following is an overview of the Code:
This extract from the Ministers’ forward expresses the government’s position on the Code:
“The 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission recommended changes to the Code of Practice for Fire Management on Public Land (2006). In response, this Code now sets clear objectives; underpinned by risk analysis and the protection of [human] life as the highest priority. This Code also supports delivery of an expanded planned burning program.
“This Code commits fire agencies on public land to reduce the risk of bushfires to human life. This Code recognises the role of fuel management to reduce bushfire risk over broad areas.”
While the updating project is well advanced some will have an interest in keeping track.
Following is an extract from Updating the Code of Practice for Bushfire Management on Public Land:
Let’s consider what’s at stake here; the 2012 Code specifically addressed PPRR: Prevention, preparedness, response and recovery, long the fundamentals of emergency management, adding emphasis to “fuel management” as recommended by the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. Two update issues mentioned above warrant questioning:
1. Expand the scope of the Bushfire Code to reflect the range of bushfire management tools
Will there be increased emphasis on the use of computers, including AI, rather than boots on the ground to size-up then round up fires and questionable reliance on aerial delivery of water and fire retardant on rampaging fire?
2. Aboriginal self-determination; what does this have to do with effective fire managment?
And while this is happening, following is an extract from The Age “Fire revamp ‘risks emergency reponse’. The full story can be accessed through the link below the extract.
The full story is here Fire revamp ‘risks emergency reponse’
What does this mean, are Victorians witnessing another downgrading of fire management capability for land the responsibility of the State government? Another move by the goverment to reduce costs within DEECA to help bail out the cash stripped Victorian government?
Maybe Victorians would be better off with Forest Fire Management removed from the DEECA octopus and established along the lines of the former Forests Commission of Victoria and under the control of a qualified and experienced Chief Fire Officer. Come to mention it, no mention of Chief Fire Officer Hardman, is that office a victim of cost cutting?
Bears watching!