General News
19 November, 2024
Grass removal underway
Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) crews are currently focused on cutting grass on public land in the Murray Goldfields District to reduce the risk of grassfires this summer.
FFMVic Murray Goldfields acting district manager, Aaron Gay, said crews will be slashing a total of 2000 hectares across 700 locations in the coming weeks.
“One of the ways that we reduce bushfire risk in the lead up to summer is by managing long dry grass by slashing, which compliments other activities such as planned burning, mulching and spraying,” he said.
Works are taking place across Bendigo, Castlemaine, Maldon, Chewton, Charlton, Inglewood, Wedderburn, St Arnaud, Heathcote, Rushworth, Avoca, Kyneton, Macedon, along river frontage from Cohuna to Echuca and surrounding areas and are expected to be completed in December.
“Grass slashing works are carefully timed to align with the anticipated increase in grass growth, if it’s done too early, it will encourage regrowth and require follow-up treatment,” Mr Gay said.
“In the Murray-Goldfields District, we start this work in the north and move toward the south to align with the changing grass conditions.”
Forest Fire Management Victoria crews carry out fire preparedness work all year round to reduce the risk posed by bushfires and grassfires to our communities.
Reducing bushfire risk is a shared responsibility. Fuel reduction on public land can only do so much — and that’s why we also work with the CFA to help people understand how to prepare and take action to reduce bushfire risk.
“We encourage residents to cut long grass remove leaves and twigs from the yard and clear space around the house of all flammable materials,” Mr Gay said.
Reducing fuels like grass, leaves, bark and fallen branches means a fire would be less intense and slower to spread. Less fuel for fire helps firefighters keep bushfires smaller and contained before they pose a risk to people, communities and the environment.
If there is an area of concern on public land that has not been attended to ahead of December 20, contact the DEECA Customer Service Centre on 13 11 36.