Municipal Fire Management Plan 2013–2016 - Nillumbik Shire ...

Risk TreatmentThe relevant road authority is responsible for treatments that relate to the management of vegetationwithin the road reserve. For information on treatments relating to specific roads, please contact theresponsible authority.Nillumbik Shire Council will prioritise the allocation of funding for fire prevention works to treat priorityroads. The most effective and cost efficient treatments will be applied.Communication and Consultation:Consultation will take place in accordance with the strategy developed as part of the Municipal FireManagement Plan.Monitor and Review:This risk assessment process and the effectiveness of risk treatments will be monitored and reviewedon at least an annual basis. To enable this, a risk register of identified priority roads will bemaintained.Priority Road Works Plan (DSE Exemptions)BackgroundA new exemption has been introduced to the Victoria Planning Provisions that simplifies the processfor road managers to manage native vegetation on roadsides for bushfire risk mitigation.In developing the exemption the group was guided by the following principles:Any new exemption should be simple and clear and enable road managers toundertake vegetation treatments on roadsides to reduce bushfire risk.State-wide consistency, in the risk assessment methodology used to assess bushfirerisk by all road managers is preferable.The link between the risk assessment, determination of appropriate treatments andsubsequent works should be transparent. This should be noted in a relevant planwhich is part of an existing integrated approach to emergency management.Significant environmental impacts should remain part of the planning permit processto ensure that standard impact assessment is applied.No permit is required to remove, destroy or lop vegetation to reduce fuel loads on roadsides tominimise risk to life and property from bushfire of an existing public road managed by the relevantresponsible road authority (as defined by the Road Management Act 2004). The exemptionincorporates a risk based approach that will ensure that native vegetation is removed in areas thatpose the greatest bushfire risk to the community.Under the exemption, road managers will be required to:undertake a roadside bushfire risk assessment using an agreed process, focusing onpriority roads;identify appropriate vegetation treatments for priority roads and record the results ofthis in a plan.Nillumbik Municipal Fire Management Plan 2013-2016 Page 24