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