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Review of Fire RefugesWellington Shire Council is to decommission most of the fire refuges within the Shire and review the provision of others following the recommendations of a stare government report. By Wellington Shire Council - 11th April 2006 - Back to News "A state government review of Fire Refuges identified safety issues with the current system," said Cr Malcolm Hole, mayor of Wellington Shire Council.
"The government review recommends Councils only confirm refuges where no other options exist and only after a careful risk assessment" said Cr Hole.
"After our own review, we have identified that the majority of refuges are not required or are located in potentially dangerous locations. Others may need significant upgrades.
"We support the CFA’s preferred approach of urging people to either plan ahead and stay and defend property or completely leave a fire threatened area well before a fire arrives," said Cr Hole.
Council had considered a report to review fire refuges at a Council meeting last December, but held the matter over until this month to more fully understand the issues and take on board community comment. It has now agreed to close most refuges and review the provision of others.
The state government review, completed in October 2005, recommended that any fire refuges that are buildings be constructed to the latest bushfire building standards and that enough water and fire fighting equipment be provided at the refuge to defend it during the passage of a fire.
"Council fire refuges have relied mainly on local halls and other areas that simply could not meet any of the new recommended standards", said Cr Hole.
"It is beyond the resources of Council to rebuild all these facilities and bring them up to the new standard.
"Additionally the report recommends that only Council-owned properties be used as refuges, and this causes a major problem as most of our fire refuges were schools, halls and other properties owned by non-Council organisations or private individuals. To replace all these facilities with Council properties would be impossible," said Cr Hole.
Fire refuges are an optional part of fire planning for Councils in Victoria, with only a handful of Councils maintaining a fire refuge system.
Wellington Shire Council will be removing signage from all fire refuges that are to be decommissioned.
Local CFA Manager Community Safety Murray Ravenhall, said that the CFA preference has always been for people to either prepare their property so that they can stay and defend it or completely leave a fire threatened area during extreme fire weather.
"They should only stay if they have a well planned fire defence for their property, are physically fit and have adequate resources to put that plan into effect.
"It makes our job easier if we do not have to split our fire fighters and equipment defending isolated pockets of people scattered throughout a fire area. We would like to concentrate efforts on controlling the fire," said Mr Ravenhall.
Wellington Shire Council and the CFA are urging all residents and visitors to develop their own plan of action for the event of a fire.
"In brief you should make an early decision as to whether you will evacuate the area completely or stay and defend your property," said Cr Hole.
Further information on planning for a fire, and what to do in the event of a fire, can be obtained from the CFA by telephoning the Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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