The Inspector-General for Emergency Management recommends that the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (or the single entity referenced in Recommendation 4) lead the development and distribution of evidence-based land and fuel management tools for use by all legislated fuel management organisations to ensure a common approach to fuel management.
DELWP will ensure that all land and fire management agencies and local government have ongoing access to current bushfire risk information and will investigate the appropriate mechanism/s to deliver this by June 2021.
DELWP has identified FFMVic's annual fuel management reports as its core communication tool for bushfire risk information (refer to Action 3.5 on page 64 of IGEM's 2021 progress report). DELWP also provides bushfire risk information through regional bushfire management strategies (refer to Action 3.2 on page 62 of IGEM's 2021 progress report).
DELWP is also developing an online bushfire risk information communication tool. DELWP provided IGEM with a copy of its Risk 2.0 Enhancing Statewide Bushfire Risk Modelling story map aimed at enhancing stakeholder understanding of bushfire risk modelling and the risk-based approach to fuel management. DELWP has also developed a prototype risk story map which highlights variation in risk across the state and bushfire risk engagement areas on private land.
In addition to the above resources, Victoria's Joint Fuel Management Program (JFMP) is a statewide program that manages fuel on public and private land over the next three years. The JFMP integrates a risk-focused bushfire management approach and was developed in consultation with local councils and other stakeholders. More information on the JFMP can be found at ffm.vic.gov.au/bushfire-fuel-and-risk-management/joint-fuel-management-program (External link)
DELWP also engages with land and fire management agencies to assist with their understanding of bushfire risk. For example, DELWP advised that FFMVic has piloted standardised risk assessment processes which provide bushfire risk information for linear landscape features. These assessments have been used to provide updated bushfire risk information to DoT in relation to its road network and to South East Water on its assets (including sewerage pumping stations, water pumping stations, water storage facilities, and treatment plants).