Victoria’s bushfire management sector is committed to leading the world in bushfire risk management.
It uses the best-available knowledge to inform decisions so that our collective efforts have the greatest impact in reducing bushfire risk and protecting Victorians and the values our community holds dear.
This includes protecting human life, private property, the natural environment, cultural heritage, critical infrastructure and industries that contribute to the livelihoods of Victorians.
While fire is a natural part of many Victorian environments, climate change is increasing the severity and frequency of bushfires.
The 2019–20 bushfires were a tangible reminder that Victoria’s climate is rapidly changing, and we need to continue to improve and adapt our approaches to keep communities safe and maintain the resilience of our natural ecosystems.
The sector strives to continuously learn and improve the way we manage bushfire risk.
We know our land and fire management practices need to respond to current and future challenges, including climate change, population growth and demographic changes.
Government inquiries after the 2019–20 bushfire season made recommendations about key opportunities to improve the way the sector manages bushfire risk.
This – together with significant new investment by the Victorian Government – has shaped a significant program of reform currently underway to drive improvements in our approach and deliver better outcomes for Victorians.
Establishment of the Office of Bushfire Risk Management
Central to these reforms was the establishment of the Office of Bushfire Risk Management (OBRM) within the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action to lead and coordinate the implementation of evidence-based bushfire risk management policy, practice, assurance and reporting across all public and private land in Victoria.
OBRM is reviewing and identifying opportunities to improve Victoria’s end-to-end framework for bushfire risk management, ensuring the sector is working effectively together to achieve shared outcomes and strengthening credibility and assurance over the sector’s work.
OBRM works closely with land and fire management agencies across the state, although responsibility for on-ground delivery remains with the respective agencies.
One of the roles of OBRM is to strengthen monitoring, evaluation and reporting on the management of bushfire risk.
From this year, this report begins its transition from being a Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) publication focussed on fuel management in national parks, State forests and protected public land, to being an OBRM publication that reports on a broad range of interventions undertaken to manage bushfire risk across all agencies and all land tenures.
Victoria's Bushfire Risk Management Report 2021–22
As a first step, this year’s report includes information about the Country Fire Authority’s (CFA) fuel management program and the broad fuel management program delivered by FFMVic, which includes not only planned burning, but other critically important actions such as construction and maintenance of strategic fuel breaks, and clearing of hazardous trees and storm debris following the widespread storm impacts in 2021.
Victoria’s approach to bushfire risk management is underpinned by shared responsibility and brings together Traditional Owners, land and fire agencies, councils, landowners and the community to deliver tailored bushfire risk reduction approaches that draw on our collective knowledge and strengths and reflect local needs.
These partnerships continue to be vital in enabling effective on-ground delivery, regardless of challenging circumstances such as COVID-19, and storm and flood recovery.
In addition to pursuing strong partnerships with Traditional Owners to manage bushfire risk, the Victorian Government and its land and fire management agencies are deeply committed to supporting self-determination, including supporting Traditional Owners to implement the Traditional Owner Cultural Fire Strategy and lead the reintroduction of cultural fire to heal Country.
I am pleased to present Victoria’s Bushfire Risk Management Report for the year ending 30 June 2022.
Georgie Foster
Head of the Victorian Office of Bushfire Risk Management
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