INQ104
Recommendations for this Inquiry
INQ-ref | REC-UID | CODE | SubCode | SrcNUM | Recommendation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
INQ104 | REC104-2189 | B - Preparedness | 39 - Disaster Risk Management | 2.61 | That DSE and CFA as part of their long term planning, and in conjunction with the Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology, consider ways in which evidence for climate change and El Niño–Southern Oscillation cycle impacts on the likelihood of unplanned fire, can be better incorporated into preparedness |
INQ104 | REC104-2190 | F - Research and technology | 13 - Mapping and data quality | 6.38 | That DSE institute additional routine data storage and analysis to supplement current climate records with at least daily 3 pm values for the Grassland and Forest Fire Danger Index, and Keetch-Byram Drought Index, for selected high quality stations representing a cross-section of environments thr |
INQ104 | REC104-2191 | F - Research and technology | 13 - Mapping and data quality | 6.39 | That DSE and CFA, recognising that the Bureau of Meteorology does not routinely store all variables required to produce the calculations and indices necessary for research and planning into fire occurrence and behaviour, develop appropriate systems to ensure that such current and historical infor |
INQ104 | REC104-2192 | A - Responsibility | 24 - Govt responsibility | 8.25 | That, according to available scientific evidence, a decision regarding cattle grazing in the High Country should not be based on the argument that ‘grazing prevents blazing.’ |
INQ104 | REC104-2193 | A - Responsibility | 38 - Agency/Department Reporting | 9.30 | That if ‘link’ burns continue to be used, then on-site weather sequences and fuel conditions marking successful (‘within explicit prescription’) and unsuccessful burns be documented. |
INQ104 | REC104-2194 | A - Responsibility | 38 - Agency/Department Reporting | 9.31 | That the success of current buffers in terms of assisting suppression operations be continually reviewed, evaluated and documented. |
INQ104 | REC104-2195 | A - Responsibility | 38 - Agency/Department Reporting | 9.32 | That the creation of buffers by chaining and then burning swaths of mallee be explicitly monitored for: |
INQ104 | REC104-2196 | E - Agency Organisation | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | 9.33 | That, as a result of this monitoring, weather conditions for the safe conduct of burning in such operations should be defined. |
INQ104 | REC104-2197 | A - Responsibility | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | 10.65 | That a review of the fuel management zones be implemented with a view to reducing the number of zones so as to focus clearly on (i) asset protection (especially at the Public/Private land interface), and (ii) ecological burns. |
INQ104 | REC104-2198 | E - Agency Organisation | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | 10.66 | That an explicit formulation of the interactions between terrain, fuel, ignition pattern, time of day and weather be created to better define those days suited to prescribed burning. |
INQ104 | REC104-2199 | E - Agency Organisation | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | 10.67 | That evidence of the rekindling or otherwise of spring prescribed burns in forests be assembled and a model constructed and tested to see whether or not some days in spring could be used for prescribed burning in certain circumstances and places, especially in Zone 1. |
INQ104 | REC104-2200 | A - Responsibility | 38 - Agency/Department Reporting | 11.71 | That DSE: |
INQ104 | REC104-2201 | F - Research and technology | 26 - Research | 11.72 | That DSE undertake a formal study of the level of prescribed burning in south western Australia for its possible application in Victoria by comparing respective fuel arrays, terrain, weather, ground access, staff, prescribed burning days, areas conducive to prescribed burning and fire response sy |
INQ104 | REC104-2202 | F - Research and technology | 13 - Mapping and data quality | 11.73 | That DSE and CFA map all unplanned fires greater than four hectares on public and private land in order to further develop an understanding of the risk to rural Victoria from unplanned fires. |
INQ104 | REC104-2203 | C - Response | 11 - Evacuation and shelters | 13.23 | That CFA further develops the information supporting the decision to stay or go, to incorporate a better understanding of both the likely consequences of leaving home at inappropriate times, and the conditions and |
INQ104 | REC104-2204 | A - Responsibility | 9 - Community education | 13.53 | That the three fire agencies (CFA, DSE and MFESB) develop and implement a joint Statewide fire awareness education and information program aimed at encouraging a higher degree of personal and household self-reliance. |
INQ104 | REC104-2205 | A - Responsibility | 9 - Community education | 13.54 | That CFA should remain the lead agency in delivering the community education and information program to rural Victoria. |
INQ104 | REC104-2206 | A - Responsibility | 9 - Community education | 13.55 | That CFA and MFESB: |
INQ104 | REC104-2207 | A - Responsibility | 9 - Community education | 13.56 | That the Coordinator-in-Chief of Emergency Management directs that all emergency management agencies review, by June 2004, terminology and language in current communication and public education material to ensure it is clear, easily understood and consistent, particularly with regard to fire. |
INQ104 | REC104-2208 | A - Responsibility | 9 - Community education | 13.57 | That CFA and MFESB encourage householders to review their fire safety plan annually. |
INQ104 | REC104-2209 | A - Responsibility | 9 - Community education | 13.75 | That CFA, in conjunction with isolated small communities, develop and promote a suite of appropriate fire readiness and fire management strategies to meet their needs. |
INQ104 | REC104-2210 | A - Responsibility | 9 - Community education | 13.76 | That CFA reports to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services on recommended solutions and implementation strategies for isolated small communities by June 2004. |
INQ104 | REC104-2211 | A - Responsibility | 9 - Community education | 13.77 | That CFA clarifies and restates the roles and function of existing Community Fireguard Groups (including their relationship to the Municipal Fire Prevention Plan) to members, co-ordinators, Incident Controllers and Municipal Emergency Resource Officers, prior to the 2003-2004 fire season. |
INQ104 | REC104-2212 | A - Responsibility | 9 - Community education | 13.78 | That Community Fireguard Group co-ordinators’ names are supplied to their local municipality for the 2003-2004 fire season, and are updated annually for use in information exchange should a Municipal Emergency Co-ordination Centre or Incident Control Centre be established. |
INQ104 | REC104-2213 | A - Responsibility | 9 - Community education | 13.79 | That CFA provides technical advice to Community Fireguard Groups in the selection and purchase of appropriate equipment and protective clothing for use on their own land. |
INQ104 | REC104-2214 | A - Responsibility | 9 - Community education | 13.80 | That CFA, recognising the value of the Community Fireguard Group program, undertake a review by June 2004 to identify opportunities to further develop the program to ensure its continuing appropriateness in preparing communities for fire into the future. |
INQ104 | REC104-2215 | C - Response | 8 - Communications and warnings | 13.93 | That the Coordinator-in-Chief of Emergency Management directs the Media sub-committee of the State Emergency Response Committee to review the use of the Standard Emergency Warning Signal and its accompanying message. |
INQ104 | REC104-2216 | C - Response | 8 - Communications and warnings | 13.97 | That Victoria include an agenda item for both the National Emergency Management Committee and the National Meeting of Emergency Services Ministers recommending that the Australian Communications Authority review both the Commercial Radio Codes of Practice and Guidelines, and Community Broadcastin |
INQ104 | REC104-2217 | D - Recovery | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | 13.103 | That CFA, in their education and information packages, encourage appropriate insurance cover, and ensure that insurance becomes a part of the householder’s annual checklist. |
INQ104 | REC104-2218 | D - Recovery | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | 13.104 | That Government work with the insurance industry to explore options for incentives such as a reduction in premiums for those who take appropriate self-protection measures on their properties, similar to incentives for anti-theft home security |
INQ104 | REC104-2219 | E - Agency Organisation | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | 14.46 | That, following the review of Forest Industry Brigades, the Country Fire Authority Act 1958 be amended to ensure that the Forest Industry Brigades, which are acting in an approved manner, have the same powers and rights as other Brigades when attending fires on public land or interstate. |
INQ104 | REC104-2220 | C - Response | 2 - Emergency powers | 14.47 | That CFA should not be given the power to direct Forest Industry Brigades to engage in fire prevention and suppression activities off their land and that decision should remain the responsibility of the plantation company. |
INQ104 | REC104-2221 | A - Responsibility | 35 - Business and Industry in relation to industry | 14.57 | That CFA and the Plantation Industry jointly develop and agree on Fire Prevention Guidelines for Plantations by June 2004, to be then promoted and distributed by the Industry. |
INQ104 | REC104-2222 | A - Responsibility | 22 - Role of local Gvt | 14.58 | That Municipal Councils: |
INQ104 | REC104-2223 | B - Preparedness | 10 - Infrastructure | 14.91 | That Government review legislation for utilities operating within the State to ensure their involvement in regional fire preparedness and mitigation planning. |
INQ104 | REC104-2224 | E - Agency Organisation | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | 14.92 | That the Country Fire Authority Act 1958 be amended to: |
INQ104 | REC104-2225 | A - Responsibility | 24 - Govt responsibility | 14.93 | That the Victoria Emergency Management Council establish a sub-committee by June 2004 to ensure an all-agency and appropriate industries’ policy framework is developed and agreed in respect to the planning for fire prevention, mitigation and suppression. |
INQ104 | REC104-2226 | E - Agency Organisation | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | 14.94 | That the new Municipal Fire Management Plan is informed by the policy directions of the subcommittee of the Victoria Emergency Management Council. |
INQ104 | REC104-2227 | E - Agency Organisation | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | 14.95 | That the Municipal Fire Management Plan amendment includes appropriate provisions for the audit of the plans including: |
INQ104 | REC104-2228 | A - Responsibility | 25 - Inquiry, audit, lessons management and after action review | 14.96 | That the Government identifies an appropriate body, or bodies, to undertake the audit of the Municipal Fire Management Plans. |
INQ104 | REC104-2229 | E - Agency Organisation | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | 15.11 | That DSE and the Department of Primary Industries formalise an agreement by the 2003-2004 fire season documenting the policies, procedures and financial arrangements relating to the availability of Department of Primary Industries staff to be trained and released for fire prevention and suppressi |
INQ104 | REC104-2230 | A - Responsibility | 24 - Govt responsibility | 15.12 | That DSE investigates whether such agreements should exist with other government Departments and agencies, particularly those with officers located in rural Victoria who may be involved in fire response and support operations in the future, based on their expertise and experience. |
INQ104 | REC104-2231 | D - Recovery | 6 - Insurance and legal liability | 15.13 | That DSE commences discussion with the Victorian WorkCover Authority in respect to employer liability for those staff being released to, and directed, by another agency in fire prevention and suppression activities. |
INQ104 | REC104-2232 | A - Responsibility | 24 - Govt responsibility | 15.23 | That Government in the development of its statewide water policy includes appropriate consideration of access to water for firefighting. |
INQ104 | REC104-2233 | C - Response | 34 - Local knowledge | 15.24 | That communities, public land managers, Water Authorities and Catchment Management Authorities jointly identify and implement local and environmentally sound solutions to improve the availability of water for firefighting through the Municipal Fire Management Planning process. |
INQ104 | REC104-2234 | E - Agency Organisation | 12 - EM agency and authority | 15.25 | That the fire agencies develop contingency plans in relation to access to water for firefighting, including where appropriate, the use of static, large volume water tanks. |
INQ104 | REC104-2235 | E - Agency Organisation | 16 - Training and behaviour | 15.40 | That DSE and CFA review selection and training programs for Incident Controllers and Incident Management Team members to ensure that they include all necessary competencies in recognition that technical skills are only one component of the required attributes. |
INQ104 | REC104-2236 | E - Agency Organisation | 32 - Doctrine, standards, and reform | 15.54 | That the Statewide Fire Control Priorities: |
INQ104 | REC104-2237 | E - Agency Organisation | 12 - EM agency and authority | 15.67 | That CFA continues to work with its Brigades to complete the integration of AIIMS-ICS with the Group Structure for full implementation by the 2004-2005 fire season. |
INQ104 | REC104-2238 | C - Response | 15 - Inter-service cooperation | 15.76 | That the Victorian fire agencies negotiate with their counterparts in New South Wales and South Australia to put in place agreements for mutual aid and the development of cross border strategy for the management of fires burning in the vicinity of, or across, State borders, and these agreements a |