Fire District Review Panel

To ensure our fire and rescue services can adapt as Victoria grows, the independent Panel will review the Fire Rescue Victoria fire district boundaries at least once every four years.

The Panel will provide advice to the Minister for Emergency Services as to whether a change in fire risk makes it necessary to change the boundaries. The Minister will make the final determination on any changes to the Fire Rescue Victoria fire district. Factors that will be taken into account include:

• population
• service demand
• land use.

As part of the review process, the Panel will consult with all relevant stakeholders, including fire agencies and local government.

Recommendations to change the Fire Rescue Victoria fire district boundaries may also result in changes to adjoining Country Fire Authority district boundaries. The Country Fire Authority will be consulted to provide advice on their support arrangements to volunteer brigades to ensure that they have the capacity to respond effectively to the change in fire risk.

The Fire District Review Panel was established on 1 July 2020 by the Fire Rescue Victoria Act 1958 (Vic). The Panel is bound by the legislative obligations under section 4 of the Act.