Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) is ramping up slashing activities on public land to reduce the risk of bushfires to Mallee and Central Victoria communities this summer.
Senior Forest Fire Management Officer for Mallee at FFMVic, Nathan Christian said crews would be slashing approximately 1,400 hectares of grass across the Mallee in Robinvale, Mildura, Walpeup, Ouyen, Rainbow, Pine Plains and Nyah.
Meanwhile, about 2,000 hectares of grass is to be slashed across Central Victoria in Avoca, Bendigo, Castlemaine, Cohuna, Maldon, Echuca, Heathcote, Inglewood, Maryborough, Dunolly, Bealiba, Macedon, Tarnagulla, Rushworth and St Arnaud.
“The works have been slightly delayed due to significant rainfall and flooding in the area over the past couple of weeks,” Mr Christian said.
“We carefully monitor weather conditions and will be initially targeting priority areas for slashing that will have the greatest impact on reducing future bushfire risk,” he said.
“Even though our crews are assisting with flood recovery and response along the Murray, it is important slashing still happens to protect the community and environment from bushfires this summer.”
Mr Christian said the majority of the risk to life and property in the Mallee landscape came from grassfires due to townships being surrounded by continuous cropping.
He encouraged households across the Mallee and Central Victoria to prepare 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.
“Reducing bushfire risk is a shared responsibility,” Mr Christian said.
“Fuel reduction of 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.”
Further information on preparing property for bushfires can be accessed at this PS News link.
