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The 2009 Victorian Bushfires: Inter-governmental Cooperation in Practice. Christine Nixon Adviser Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority October 2010. Extreme conditions up to and on 7 February put Victoria on a high level of alert. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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The 2009 Victorian Bushfires:Inter-governmental Cooperation in Practice
Christine NixonAdviserVictorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority
October 2010
Extreme conditions up to and on 7 February put Victoria on a high level of alert
Prolonged drought, with much of Victoria experiencing record low rainfall
Sustained high temperatures in early 2009
On 7 February:
• Most of Victoria experienced temperatures 12-18° above average
• Melbourne city recorded 46.4°C, its highest maximum temperature since records began
• A combination of strong and gusty winds, low humidity and record high temperatures led to extreme fire conditions
Fire behaviour was rapid and extreme Over 700 fires ignited
across Victoria on 7 February
Severe cool change exacerbated fire activity – ‘worst situation you can have’ (Kevin Tolhurst, fire ecologist, Uni Melb)
Fires created energy equivalent to 1500 atomic bombs size of Hiroshima
Fire spotting occurred up to 25km ahead of front (typically 1-2km)
The fire impact 173 people killed 2133 properties
destroyed 1500 properties
damaged 109 communities
in 25 municipalities 430,000 hectares
burnt 8000+ stock losses 12,500km of fencing
damaged Estimated 1 million+
of wildlife lost
Eaglehawk1 fatality, 58 dwellings, 330 ha
Beechworth2 fatalities, 29 dwellings
Kilmore / Murrindindi159 fatalities, 1639 dwellings, 255,300 ha
Churchill11 fatalities, 247 dwellings
24,500 haBunyip
24 dwellings, 26,300 ha
A new Authority was quickly established• The Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority was
formally established in the week following the February 7 bushfires.
• The role of the Authority is to ‘advise governments, coordinate efforts and develop an overarching plan for the restoration and recovery of regions, towns and communities affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires.’
• The Authority will work closely with communities – ‘Communities recover best when they are supported to manage their own recovery’.
• The Authority will work closely with a wide range of organisations and agencies to facilitate the best and most efficient recovery for Victorians.
Lessons Learned
Local Leadership
Community Engagement
Communications – Local / State / Federal
Trained case workers
Data / Identification
Community Service Hubs
Three levels of Government involved
Ready-made plans for the future – Federal / State / Local
Council Leadership