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DSE Secretary Accepts Esplin Findings

The Secretary of the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Professor Lyndsay Neilson said today that the Department was already well ahead in implementing the recommendations from the interim Esplin Inquiry into last summer’s fires

By Department of Sustainability and Environment - 16th October 2003 - Back to News

The final recommendations from the Inquiry were announced at lunchtime yesterday and were accepted by the Victorian Government. The majority of these relate to the Department.

"The final Report builds on the recommendations which DSE is already implementing," Professor Neilson said.

"The Report found that Victorian emergency management arrangements are sound and have been assessed as being of best international practice. The Inquiry found no evidence of substantial or systematic organisational failure," he said.

It also found that the tactics used in fighting the fires were appropriate in containing them as safely and as effectively as possible given the number, location, accessibility, fuel load, prevailing weather conditions and the resources available.

"The three members of the Inquiry said that the fire agencies, fire fighters and other support groups and ancillary services did an outstanding job for Victoria. I support these comments and reaffirm my admiration for all the staff and their continuing efforts in the fire recovery process," Professor Neilson said.

"Our partnership with the CFA and the community was the highlight of last summer’s response and will continue to be important in the future," he said.

Professor Neilson said DSE had developed a new approach to fire risk management and that preparedness and response were now a year round priority.

Included in the new approach are:

• Increased resources for fuel reduction burning across the State including employing project fire fighters from Spring until late Autumn and providing funds for overtime to allow weekend burning.
• Fuel reduction burning plans are more flexible taking in local and CFA knowledge so that the annual number of suitable weather days can be exploited..
• Fuel reduction burning plans and achievements will be available on DSE’s external web site. www.dse.vic.gov.au
• The ongoing co-operative agreement between DSE and CFA will strengthen processes and focus on safety and incident management plans.
• There will be more joint exercises with DSE and the CFA and a joint training program,including radio communications, is being established.
• DSE is analysing its Model of Fire Cover and is undertaking succession planning to ensure future fire management needs will be met.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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