1. A state of preparation Government, agencies and communities working together. Actions being taken to be ready for the 2009/10 fire season Premier John Brumby 18 August 2009

2. A state of preparation Government, agencies and communities working together All Victorians need to be fire ready One of the most fire-prone areas in the world 13 th year of drought, experts warn another potentially disastrous season Any fire that gets away could cause large scale devastation Protection of life is paramount, whole state must prepare for the fire season Highest risk areas and most vulnerable communities 25 most vulnerable local government areas identified Implementation of enhanced Township Protection Plans – 52 areas.

3. A state of preparation Government, agencies and communities working together

4. The coming fire season could be even worse

5. A state of preparation Government, agencies and communities working together Highest risk areas identified from a mix of factors Dryness –Drought across bush and grasslands Potential for extreme fire behaviour –How much dry vegetation, steep slopes, direction of hills Fire spread potential –A mix of dryness and fuel conditions, which determine how quickly a fire can grow and spread Population density –Number of people, large transient population Easy to leave safely, get help in –Number of usable roads, isolation of community Preparation –Communities with long-standing plans will be better prepared Planning –Recent planning requirements will have mitigated risks of fire.

6. A state of preparation Government, agencies and communities working together Priority Bushfire Areas 2009-10

7. A state of preparation Government, agencies and communities working together The highest risk areas for this fire season Towns in bushland –Barongarook, Bemm River, Blackwood, Bolwarra, Cann River, Cockatoo, Creswick, Dereel, Gembrook, Greendale, Hepburn, Macedon, Mt Macedon, Noojee, Steiglitz, Trentham Towns near bushland –Barwon Downs, Breamlea, Castlemaine, Daylesford, Deans Marsh, Dunkeld, Forrest, Halls Gap, Jan Juc, Junortoun, Kawaren, Lavers Hill, Loch Sport, Mallacoota, Nelson, Peterborough, St Arnaud, Upper Beaconsfield, Woodend Suburbs in bushland –Mt Clear, Mt Helen, North Warrandyte, Warrandyte Suburbs near bushland –Eaglehawk, Maiden Gully, Kangaroo Flat and communities on the western escarpment and the ridge line of the Dandenong ranges Large population centres next to bushland –Bendigo Summer tourist areas –Aireys Inlet townships, Andersons Inlet townships, Anglesea, Blairgowrie, Carlisle River, Lorne, Marengo, Rye/St Andrews, Sandy Point, Wye River townships.

8. A state of preparation Government, agencies and communities working together Maiden Gully Mallacoota Marengo Mt Helen/Mt Clear Mt Macedon Nelson Noojee Peterborough Rye/St Andrews Sandy Point St Arnaud Steiglitz Trentham Upper Beaconsfield Warrandyte/North Warrandyte Woodend Wye River (Wye River/Kennett River/Separation Creek) Aireys Inlet (Aireys Inlet/Moggs Creek/Fairhaven/Big Hill) Andersons Inlet (Inverloch, Venus Bay, Waratah Bay, Walkerville) Anglesea Barongarook Barwon Downs Bemm River Bendigo Blackwood Blairgowrie Bolwarra Breamlea Cann River Carlisle River Castlemaine Cockatoo Creswick Dandenong Ranges Daylesford Deans Marsh (Bambra/Pennyroyal) Dereel Dunkeld Eaglehawk Forrest Gembrook Greendale Halls Gap Hepburn Jan Juc (Jan Juc/Bellbrae) Junortoun Kangaroo Flat Kawaren Lavers Hill Loch Sport Lorne Macedon Areas where enhanced township protection plans will be implemented