A review into last summer’s bushfires has recommended the introduction of an escort vehicle service to prevent a repeat of the roadblock issues which plagued landholders.
The state Inspector General for emergency management’s Fire Season Compliance Report for 2013-14 was tabled in State Parliament last week.
Police and Emergency Services and Bushfire Response Minister Kim Wells, who has promised to implement the escort vehicle service, requested the report in August in response to 78 significant fires – including the Mickleham-Kilmore and Sunbury-Dalrymple Road blazes – which savaged the state.
The report tackles four areas of concern:
road traffic management; community involvement in fire preparedness, response and recovery; initial attack and utilisation of resources; and cross-border fire arrangements.
It addressed community frustration about traffic management, particularly from landowners wanting greater access to protect their properties, provide care to others and feed or attend to injured livestock.
During the Mickleham-Kilmore fire, thousands of livestock were killed and 13 houses destroyed. A number of roads were also closed for days until the fire threat was downgraded.
The report recommends including locals on incident management teams, developing plans to prioritise the reopening of roads, using fire service resources to provide escorts to vehicles, and establishing an animal welfare working group.
Whittlesea advocacy and communications director Griff Davis said he was pleased the report addressed community concern about roadblocks.
“In some instances, if the traffic management points were moved 100 metres it would relieve a lot of community angst,” he said.
“There is a lot of opportunity there for the CFA and police to better locate the roadblocks.”
Kinglake resident and Whittlesea Township Community Emergency Plan facilitator Michelle Duscombe said she hadn’t read the 105-page report, but she welcomed changes to roadblocks and greater access for animal welfare groups.
Ms Duscombe said the Whittlesea emergency plan would be published later this year.
