Melbourne Bushfire Protection Program

In July 2009, Parks Victoria received $21 million over four years to improve fire preparedness on public land around the urban and fringe areas of Melbourne.

The Melbourne Bushfire Protection Program (MBPP) includes a focus on increased fire prevention works and improved community information and engagement.

Program delivery is being led by Parks Victoria in partnership with the Department of Environment and Primary Industries, the Country Fire Authority, Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board and Municipal Association of Victoria.

The program area extends across greater Melbourne from the Mornington Peninsula, to the Dandenong Ranges, Lower Yarra Valley and west to Melbourne's grassland reserves and the Werribee River.

The program will reduce the risk of bushfire to communities and assets in Melbourne's urban and fringe areas by:

• Reducing fuel loads
• Building on existing programs of planned burning
• Improving standard and quality of fuel breaks
• Enhancing response capability with additional fire fighting resources
• Building on existing community bushfire education and engagement programs to improve preparedness, prevention and community safety.

Improved fire planning will also ensure that the environmental effects of fire protection works on our parks are fully considered. Many of these areas around Melbourne have significant values that need to be protected.

This report summarises the first year achievements of the Melbourne Bushfire Protection Program:

• MBPP Progress Report July 2009 to June 2012

Fire preparedness works

Information on works occurring, including fuel breaks and burns planned for individual parks, can be found under the 'fire management' tab on specific park pages.

Vegetation removal on a public land boundary

Interim planning provisions are still in place to simplify residents' entitlements to clear vegetation around their homes to prepare for the threat of fire in the warmer months, for example, clearing around buildings and along fence lines. Fence line clearing can include public land that is managed by Parks Victoria. Find out more...