FirePlan Update
Milestones in Integrated Fire Management Planning
State level outcomes
The State Fire Management Planning
Committee met on Tuesday, 26 May and has
agreed to establish a steering group to oversee
the development of all risk assessment and
planning tools for IFMP.
The group will address the need, identified by
the state committee, to develop a strategy for
the ongoing governance and maintenance of
tools and investigate options for engaging
specialist expertise in this area.
DSE, CFA, MAV, Parks, OESC and MFB are
expected to participate in the steering group.
The state committee also agreed to trial the
MFB Urban Area Profiling Tool in each of the
three metropolitan pilot areas and to fund a CFA
Agency Liaison Officer for 12 months, who will
support the implementation of IFMP at regional
and municipal levels.
The State Fire Management Planning
Committee will meet again on Tuesday, 28 July.
Regional chairs and executive to meet
On June 12, regional committee chairs and the
State Fire Management Planning Committee
Executive will meet to discuss priorities for state
and regional committees.
Participants will also discuss and provide
feedback on the draft IFMP State Strategy,
including the vision, success indicators,
principles and time frames.
For further information:
Email info@ifmp.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 9262 8469
Produced by Sophie Jackson
Vol. 26 – June 2009
Agencies in focus – local government
IFMP aims to ensure that each municipality
has an integrated, risk based and community
focused fire management planning process,
recognising that local government is a key
stakeholder in this process.
Municipal Association of Victoria and local
government representatives on the state,
regional and municipal committees will
provide valuable insights into local
governments’ capacity, role and contribution
to fire safety in the community.
This role includes land use planning,
implementation of building codes,
management of fire risks on council owned or
managed land, fire hazard inspections,
collection of a range of community data and
supporting response agencies with local area
information and extra resources.
They also play a critical role in planning for
and coordinating recovery activities for local
communities affected by emergencies.
“Local Government hopes that by working in
partnerships with other agencies, sharing
information and resources, fire management
planning will better meet the needs of
communities and ensure that the
implementation of plans is a joint effort,” said
Emma Fitzclarence, state committee member
for Municipal Association of Victoria.
This article is one of a series that outlines the
different roles of agencies and organisations
in the IFMP process.
IFMP action in Barwon South West Region
A municipal working group, which includes
representatives from DSE, CFA and local
government, has been established in the
Barwon South West Region and commenced
implementation by capturing existing fire
management plans and programs.
Future integrated fire management plans will
enhance PPRR planning across all fire risk
environments (built, natural, chemical), include
the ecological, agricultural and cultural use of
fire as a tool plus incorporate community
engagement and education.

During recent facilitated workshops, participants

have collaboratively captured existing plans into
a matrix that measures them across the
prevention, preparedness, response and
recovery spectrum (PPRR).

Existing plans and programs are being

measured against six types of risk
environments, as defined by CFA precincts.
These include Business and Activity Centres,
Farming and Rural Living, Industry and State
Infrastructure, Bush and Parks and Township
and Suburban Living. Agencies in Barwon South West aggregate
fire management plans during the workshop.
The most recent workshop, on Thursday, 28
May, added fire management components of
plans and programs from DHS, SES, Police, “The session was an exceptional
Powercor, VicRoads and Barwon Water to the example of IFMP in action.”
municipal matrices. John Mealia, CFA Manager Community
Safety, Barwon Corangamite Area
The process effectively aggregates current
describes the workshop.
plans, identifies gaps, overlaps and
opportunities to improve integration in fire
management planning. It will then form a basis
for the development and production of the first Second communications workshop
versions of integrated municipal fire
management plans. Communications representatives from a range
of agencies involved in IFMP met on
CFA and DSE are leading the workshops Wednesday, April 29 to discuss communicating
supported by Fire Planning Network Managers and engaging people in their own organisations
and the Borough of Queenscliffe, City of Greater about IFMP.
Geelong, Colac Otway Shire, Golden Plains
Shire, Surf Coast Shire, Corangamite Shire and Participants agreed that the best way to engage
Hepburn Shire are participating. with relevant stakeholders in their own
organisation was to use practical examples.
Many of the participants found the workshop
informative and worthwhile. Presentations and news articles on IFMP within
organisations were discussed as a vehicle for
“Initially sceptical, I now have enhanced achieving this.
understanding of the way forward and
confidence in the processes being used to The next communications workshop will be held
develop integrated Municipal Fire Management on Monday, June 29.
Plans,” said Eric Wright MFPO Hepburn Shire.

For further information:

Email info@ifmp.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 9262 8469
Produced by Sophie Jackson