A community consultation program on the management of bushfire emergencies in the ACT has been launched by the Minister for the Environment and Emergency Services, Mick Gentleman.
Mr Gentleman said the ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) and the Environment Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate would run the consultation program with the aim of updating the ACT’s Strategic Bushfire Management Plan.
He said the plan set out how bushfire risk was strategically managed in the ACT and was reviewed every five years in consultation with stakeholders and the community.
“We’re asking the community to share their ideas, values and expectations for the plan,” Mr Gentleman said.
“This important overarching document directs bushfire management throughout the ACT. The plan allows our emergency services and fire managers to flexibly implement measures to reduce bushfire risk.”
He said the consultation was also an opportunity for Canberrans to learn about how bushfire risk in the Territory was reduced.
“The ESA has declared that the bushfire season will be extended by one month to 30 April because of dry conditions and continuing elevated fire danger,” Mr Gentleman said.
“By the end of April, the ACT will have experienced an eight-month bushfire season — the longest ever.”
He said this was a timely reminder that just because summer was over, the bushfire risk was not.
Canberra should always be bushfire ready, he said.
The 80-page strategic bushfire management plan can be accessed at this PS News link and comments can be made on the YourSay website at this link.
