The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (or the single entity referenced in Recommendation 4) – supported by other organisations with a legislated responsibility for fuel management – plan for and increase the application of non-burning fuel management treatments including mechanical means.
The annual fuel management report should include the non-burn component of fuel management treatment, track annual change, and provide a comparison to the previous three years.
DoT investigated vegetation management measures for the benefit of both biodiversity conservation and fuel reduction through a pilot research project on grassland restoration, in conjunction with Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority and La Trobe University.
The project found that native grasslands (ideally regularly burnt) are an effective roadside fuel break for fire management and for biodiversity conservation.
Following the pilot study, DoT has identified the location of a second grassland restoration corridor project (Woorndoo-Streatham Road Corridor), dependent upon funding.
DoT plans to incorporate these findings into business-as-usual roadside maintenance planning where funding allows and for future budget investment proposals. DoT advised that the findings will also be considered for inclusion in its next review of the VicRoads Standard Specification Landscape Works (Section 720), expected in late 2023.
DoT investigated vegetation management measures for the benefit of both biodiversity conservation and fuel reduction through a pilot research project on grassland restoration, in conjunction with Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority and La Trobe University.
The project found that native grasslands (ideally regularly burnt) are an effective roadside fuel break for fire management and for biodiversity conservation.
Following the pilot study, DoT has identified the location of a second grassland restoration corridor project (Woorndoo-Streatham Road Corridor), dependent upon funding.
DoT plans to incorporate these findings into business-as-usual roadside maintenance planning where funding allows and for future budget investment proposals. DoT advised that the findings will also be considered for inclusion in its next review of the VicRoads Standard Specification Landscape Works (Section 720) , expected in late 2023.