Fire Safety Plan for Strathewen
Background
In response to members concerns about making Strathewen a safer place in future fire seasons the SCRA successfully gained funding to support development and dissemination of a Strathewen Community Fire Safety Plan.
Members of the SCRA who would like to contribute to the Working Group or participate on a Community Reference Group should provide an Expression of Interest to the SCRA secretary, Mary Avola.
Working Group
Development of the plan will be guided by a Working Group (of manageable size) consisting of :
- SCRA Committee Members - Geoff Raftery convenor, Steve Pascoe, David Brown, Malcolm Hackett
- Community members
- Arthurs Creek-Strathewen CFA Brigade - representative, David McGahy
- Region 14 Community Safety Manager
- Nillumbik Shire - Fire Emergency Management Officer
- Parks Victoria -- representative
VBRRA has provided the project with sufficient financial support to enable us to invest in appropriate consulting expertise.
Community Reference Group
We anticipate broad interest in the development of the plan and have provided opportunities for input through establishment of a Community Reference Group as well as reporting sessions to the SCRA and wider community.
Purpose of the Project
To increase community understanding about the behaviour of fire events which may threaten personal and property safety in Strathewen and to support residents in decisions about their property preparations and personal fire plans.
To draw on the experience and expertise of residents, local authorities and recognized experts in examining the factors which would lead to a safer Strathewen including environmental and land management issues, government and authority policies, fire scenarios, recent experience.
To work collaboratively with the Environment Recovery Action Plan team to ensure common purpose and clear messages.
To explore existing formal and informal communication strategies which could provide reliable local information prior to a fire event and which may assist with communication during and after a fire.
To examine issues associated with Strathewen's access and egress during and after a fire event.
To examine the issues associated with non residents caught in Strathewen during a fire event including participants using the Recreation Reserve, Public Hall, visitors and families who travel to Strathewen Primary School, trades people and local workers.
To draw on recent experience and CFA assessment tools to examine locations and strategies which may provide higher levels of protection during a catastrophic fire event for residents and visitors who are caught in the open.
