‘Crucial this summer that those who haven’t lived in bushfire-prone areas before, understand local risks’

Tens of thousands of Victorians who moved to the coast and country to escape Covid lockdowns may not have the knowledge and skills to prepare for – and deal with — bushfires, it’s feared.

There are fears tens of thousands of Victorian sea changers that moved to escape Melbourne’s draconian Covid lockdowns are not prepared for Australia’s first serious bushfire season since Black Summer.

Residents in coastal towns including Lorne and Torquay, as well as regional cities such as Ballarat, Wodonga and Echuca are being urged to quickly get up to speed as they are in high risk, or bushfire affected areas.

More than 80,000 people nationwide moved to the regions in 2021-22, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said it was vital that treechangers undertook the necessary fire preparations for their new properties.

“Seeing the treechange that has occurred after Covid has been a great thing for our regions and the small businesses in those towns,” Senator Watt said.

“After a couple of wetter years, it’s crucial that this summer those who haven’t lived in bushfire-prone areas before understand the local risks, prepare their Bushfire Survival Plans and know where to go for information in an emergency.”

A Grampians local defends his property against a bushfire. There are fears newbies to the area may not have the same know how.

The savage Mallacoota fires saw people transported by landing craft to an ADF vessel.

Recent rainfall has helped to reduce the immediate bushfire risk across Victoria.

However, authorities warn that extreme and persistent heatwaves would quickly dry out the soil and return the state to a heightened risk.

Retired businessman Joe Forbes, 57, is planning to relocate from Melbourne to Lorne full-time after buying a house in the holiday destination two years ago.

Mr Forbes said he decided to join the Lorne CFA brigade eight months ago to improve his understanding of bushfires in the Otways and get involved in the community.

“My own preparations at my place have improved a lot,” he said. “In the country it’s the community that come out to help, unlike in the city.”

Surf Coast Shire Mayor Liz Pattison said people who had moved to the area during the pandemic had varying degrees of knowledge about bushfire preparedness.

Cr Pattison said the council had held information sessions, had advice online, and inspectors going around to make sure people clean up their properties.

“While Torquay is less bushfire prone than other areas, there is still a need to educate a significant new population of over 2,500 people who moved between June 2020 and June 2022,” she said.

“Action taken on private property can greatly reduce the risk to lives and properties. Whether you are living, working, or visiting the Surf Coast Shire, it is essential to understand, plan and prepare for bushfire.”

The Great Ocean Road has a devastating history of bushfires, with more than 100 properties were destroyed during the Christmas Day blaze in 2015.

In a boost to Australia’s aerial firefighting capability, authorities will also have access to a large air tanker – a Boeing 737 – operated by specialists that can drop up to 15,000L of retardant or water.

Firefighters battle the 2015 Christmas Day blaze near Separation Creek.

“It is critical that Australia has access to a sophisticated, flexible aerial firefighting capability to respond to bushfires, protect communities and support firefighters on the ground,” Senator Watt said.

“We all know the devastation that bushfires can wreak on communities across the country.”

He said state governments and fire authorities had a wealth of information for those in regional and rural areas, adding the federal government had also funded a free bushfire resilience app.

He said the site-specific risk assessment would also help put downward pressure on insurance premiums.

“Households can now measure the bushfire resilience of their own home through a star-rating system and receive a customised action plan to make practical, evidence-based bushfire safety improvements to their homes,” Senator Watt said.

Originally published as ‘Crucial this summer that those who haven’t lived in bushfire-prone areas before, understand local risks’