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Gippsland › Latest news › Department of Sustainability and Environment

Final Call For Community Input To Fire Operations Plans

The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) would like to remind the Gippsland community that the closing date for comments on the regional Fire Operations Plan is on Friday September 10.

By Department of Sustainability and Environment - 1st September 2004 - Back to News

DSE Fire Management staff have been encouraging input from communities across the region over the last few months through consultation with CFA brigades and with individual landholders about the planning of future burning operations in the region.

Regional Fire Manager David Tainsh said that while there has always been opportunity for the community to comment on the planned burning program in the region, the Department has been far more proactive this year in asking for community input.

"We have advertised the process extensively this year. We have tried to ensure that everyone has been offered the opportunity to have their say on the planning of burns in the region," Mr Tainsh said.

"Consultation with the community has been thorough and has ranged from formal meetings with CFA brigade members to informal discussion with groups of landholders and individuals on their own properties.

"DSE Fire Management staff value the good working relationships and sharing of knowledge and expertise that they have with the CFA brigades in the region.

"Many of these brigades have assisted with fuel reduction and ecological burns in their local areas and have proved invaluable in providing local knowledge and extra resources for the execution of these burns."

Mr Tainsh thanked everyone who has put forward their ideas and thoughts on the future burning programs for this region and encouraged anyone who would like to have input into the Fire Operations Plans to contact the Fire Management Officer at their nearest DSE office.

The draft plans are available for viewing at the following DSE District offices: Bairnsdale, Bendoc, Cann River, Erica, Heyfield, Noojee, Nowa Nowa, Orbost, Swifts Creek and Yarram.

All community members are invited to examine the Draft Plan and to provide the Department with comments and suggestions for consideration during the development of the Final Fire Operations Plan.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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