Vol 26 June 2009

FirePlan Update Vol. 26 – June 2009

Milestones in Integrated Fire Management Planning

State level outcomes

Agencies in focus – local government

The State Fire Management Planning Committee met on Tuesday, 26 May and has agreed to establish a steering group to oversee the development of all risk assessment and planning tools for IFMP. The group will address the need, identified by the state committee, to develop a strategy for the ongoing governance and maintenance of tools and investigate options for engaging specialist expertise in this area. DSE, CFA, MAV, Parks, OESC and MFB are expected to participate in the steering group. The state committee also agreed to trial the MFB Urban Area Profiling Tool in each of the three metropolitan pilot areas and to fund a CFA Agency Liaison Officer for 12 months, who will support the implementation of IFMP at regional and municipal levels.

IFMP aims to ensure that each municipality has an integrated, risk based and community focused fire management planning process, recognising that local government is a key stakeholder in this process. Municipal Association of Victoria and local government representatives on the state, regional and municipal committees will provide valuable insights into local governments’ capacity, role and contribution to fire safety in the community. This role includes land use planning, implementation of building codes, management of fire risks on council owned or managed land, fire hazard inspections, collection of a range of community data and supporting response agencies with local area information and extra resources.

The State Fire Management Planning Committee will meet again on Tuesday, 28 July.

They also play a critical role in planning for and coordinating recovery activities for local communities affected by emergencies.

Regional chairs and executive to meet

“Local Government hopes that by working in partnerships with other agencies, sharing information and resources, fire management planning will better meet the needs of communities and ensure that the implementation of plans is a joint effort,” said Emma Fitzclarence, state committee member for Municipal Association of Victoria.

On June 12, regional committee chairs and the State Fire Management Planning Committee Executive will meet to discuss priorities for state and regional committees. Participants will also discuss and provide feedback on the draft IFMP State Strategy, including the vision, success indicators, principles and time frames.

This article is one of a series that outlines the different roles of agencies and organisations in the IFMP process.

For further information: Email [email protected] Phone: (03) 9262 8469 Produced by Sophie Jackson

IFMP action in Barwon South West Region A municipal working group, which includes representatives from DSE, CFA and local government, has been established in the Barwon South West Region and commenced implementation by capturing existing fire management plans and programs.

Future integrated fire management plans will enhance PPRR planning across all fire risk environments (built, natural, chemical), include the ecological, agricultural and cultural use of fire as a tool plus incorporate community engagement and education.

During recent facilitated workshops, participants have collaboratively captured existing plans into a matrix that measures them across the prevention, preparedness, response and recovery spectrum (PPRR). Existing plans and programs are being measured against six types of risk environments, as defined by CFA precincts. These include Business and Activity Centres, Farming and Rural Living, Industry and State Infrastructure, Bush and Parks and Township and Suburban Living. The most recent workshop, on Thursday, 28 May, added fire management components of plans and programs from DHS, SES, Police, Powercor, VicRoads and Barwon Water to the municipal matrices. The process effectively aggregates current plans, identifies gaps, overlaps and opportunities to improve integration in fire management planning. It will then form a basis for the development and production of the first versions of integrated municipal fire management plans. CFA and DSE are leading the workshops supported by Fire Planning Network Managers and the Borough of Queenscliffe, City of Greater Geelong, Colac Otway Shire, Golden Plains Shire, Surf Coast Shire, Corangamite Shire and Hepburn Shire are participating. Many of the participants found the workshop informative and worthwhile. “Initially sceptical, I now have enhanced understanding of the way forward and confidence in the processes being used to develop integrated Municipal Fire Management Plans,” said Eric Wright MFPO Hepburn Shire.

Agencies in Barwon South West aggregate fire management plans during the workshop.

“The session was an exceptional example of IFMP in action.” John Mealia, CFA Manager Community Safety, Barwon Corangamite Area describes the workshop. Second communications workshop Communications representatives from a range of agencies involved in IFMP met on Wednesday, April 29 to discuss communicating and engaging people in their own organisations about IFMP. Participants agreed that the best way to engage with relevant stakeholders in their own organisation was to use practical examples. Presentations and news articles on IFMP within organisations were discussed as a vehicle for achieving this. The next communications workshop will be held on Monday, June 29.

For further information: Email [email protected] Phone: (03) 9262 8469 Produced by Sophie Jackson