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

1. INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXTWhat is Integrated Fire Management Planning?Integrated Fire Management Planning is an all-agency planning approach to managing the fire riskacross the State of Victoria, with planning occurring at three levels—State, Regional and Municipal.Nillumbik is a member of the Northern and Western Metropolitan Regional Strategic Fire ManagementPlanning Committee (‗NWM RSFMPC‘)—one of eight regional committees operating across Victoria.At a municipal level it is a forum to ―build and sustain organisational partnerships, generate a commonunderstanding and shared purpose with regard to fire management and ensure that plans of individualagencies are linked and complement each other.‖(Integrated Fire Management Planning Guide,2010).The Municipal Fire Management Plan (MFMP) is risk based and has been developed using theprinciples outlined in the Integrated Fire Management Planning (IFMP) Framework and Guide, andthe Guidelines for Municipal Fire Management Planning, Part 6A: Emergency Management ManualVictoria.The development of this plan has also been influenced by the National Strategy for DisasterResilience. This has been adopted at a national level as a ―resilience-based approach to disastermanagement….. Application of a resilience-based approach is not solely the domain of emergencymanagement agencies; rather, it is a shared responsibility between governments, communities,businesses and individuals.‖ (COaG, 2009)Sections 1 through to 6 of this Plan contain an overview of the municipal district, fire managementobjectives, and plan reporting and review.A separate Appendices section provides detail on risk identification treatment options, statutoryobligations, mapping and community engagement. Mapping forms a significant part of this Plan,providing a visual representation of the local fire risk.Contents of the Appendices section will evolve as risk-based processes and tools are refined andbusiness plans aligned accordingly.Authority for the planThis Municipal Fire Management Plan (MFMP) has been produced by and with the authority of theNillumbik Shire Council pursuant to Section 20 of the Emergency Management Act 1986; and will bedeemed to fulfil Section 55A of the CFA Act 1958. The development and implementation of theMFMP sits with the MFMPC and corresponding agencies. The MFMP is a sub plan of the NillumbikShire Council Municipal Emergency Management Plan (MEMP). MFMP‘s have a three year planningcycle being reviewed on a 12 month basis from the endorsement of the plan.Purpose of the PlanThe purpose of the Nillumbik Municipal Fire Management Plan is to address potential fire threats onboth public and private land across the prevention, preparedness, response and recovery spectrum.The Plan will be reviewed and updated each year to incorporate any new strategies, programs andtools developed by the State Fire Management Planning Committee (SFMPC)—and to ensure itmeets stakeholder and community needs and expectations.This plan scopes and provides treatment options to reduce the risk of fire, yet will not eliminate all risk.Nillumbik communities must acknowledge they will continue to reside in high fire prone areas. Thereare a number of localities within the Shire rated Very High to Severe, even when all availabletreatment options have been applied. During a fire event, property loss is inevitable and loss of lifepossible. Living in these areas requires an acceptance of this risk.Nillumbik Municipal Fire Management Plan 2013-2016 Page 6