With the hot summer months upon us, Murrindindi Shire Council is urging all residents to review their bushfire prevention and preparation plans.
Murrindindi Shire Council’s Municipal Emergency Management Committee Chair Councillor Sandice McAulay said that at the same time, Council has been looking at its own practices to ensure it is prepared for the fire season.
“At its final meeting in December 2017, Council reviewed its policy which guides the services Council will offer on Code Red days,” said Cr McAulay.
“The Policy on ‘Council Service Provision on Code Red Days’ outlines changes to Council’s service delivery on days the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) declares to be ‘Code Red’ days in the North Central Fire Ban District.
“These are the most dangerous days from a fire risk perspective, with fire behaviour predicted to be uncontrollable and fast moving.
“This policy aims to ensure our staff, volunteers and members of the public are not exposed to undue risk on Code Red Days if they’re conducting Council business or accessing our services.
“While there were only very minor changes made to update the policy, these changes relate largely to Council’s new methods of communication, which have broadened over the last year to include the social media platform Facebook.
“We also rolled out a new website in 2016 and that platform would also be used to communicate information about changed Council services on a Code Red Day – along with links to approved emergency websites,” added Cr McAulay.
“If a Code Red Day is announced, the Country Fire Authority (CFA) will urge people to enact their Bushfire Survival Plans and leave areas of high bushfire risk, either the night before, or early in the morning.
“Council is likely to operate with altered or reduced service levels if a Code Red Day is declared. We are talking about very dangerous weather conditions that pose extreme risk to life and property should a fire start,” she said.
“The principle which guides whether any given Council service will operate on a Code Red Day is that of ensuring we protect our staff and the community. We don’t want to see people put at risk during days where the State’s highest fire danger rating has been declared. We will try to avoid all non-essential travel by Council staff, and will also cancel outdoor operations – we need to ensure that fires do not accidentally start due to our outdoor operations.”
Code Red days are generally confirmed by the Bureau of Meteorology and may be predicted up to four days in advance.
If a Code Red Day is declared council will update information regarding any changes to services on its website at www.murrindindi.vic.gov.au and on its Facebook page (@murrindindishirecouncil).
Council’s Code Red Policy is available here or at Council offices in Alexandra, Yea and Kinglake.
