Firefighters in the north east of the State have improved access to some of their most bushfire prone areas now following the completion of a series of road projects by Forest Fire Management Victoria’s (FFMVic) crews and contractors.
FFMVic’s Deputy Chief Fire Officer at Hume, Aaron Kennedy said timing was everything when it came to responding to bushfires, particularly in remote forest areas.
“By getting firefighters and machinery on site as quickly as possible, we greatly improve the chance of controlling fires before they spread and impact communities and the environment,” Mr Kennedy said.
“Across the region we have completed $2.1 million of works in the third year of the program to improve the condition of critical forest access roads,” he said.
“Better roads, with less hazardous roadside trees, give firefighters safer access when responding to bushfires, while also providing the community safer evacuation routes during an emergency.”
Mr Kennedy said FFMVic crews and contractors had completed 84 road projects in forest areas, totalling more than 1,340km.
“Thirty-five local businesses helped carry out the work, providing more jobs for community and helping forest contractors maintain and gain skills that allow them to help fight bushfires in remote and difficult terrain,” he said.
“Additional works are planned in the lead up to summer, including managing fuel loads and road and bridge upgrades across the region.”
He said the works would also improve access to some of the region’s most popular recreational reserves and tourist destinations.
The FFMVic’s road projects were part of the State’s Reducing Bushfire Risk program.
