New arterial roadworks

Bridge Inn Road, Mernda

Wednesday 25 July to Tuesday 30 October, 9.00am - 3.30pm

 

• Near Cravens Road
• Lanes closed in both directions as required
• Traffic will be alternated through the open lane
• Speed limit reduced to 40km/h
• Private contractor works
• Melway: 390 E9

BLEVE

Why being close to a BLEVE is a bad thing...

BLEVE stands for either:

• Boiling liquid Expanding vapour explosion, or
• Blast Leveling Everything Very Effectively

Geoff

Strathewen Fire Safety Project: Fire Behaviour Presentation

The Strathewen Fire Safety Project has Nicholas Gellie, a fire ecologist, preseting a talk on fire behaviour on Black Saturday. This is on Wednesday 27 June, 19:30 - 21:30 at the Peter Avola Pavilion in Strathewen.

Burning oil video clip

This is a short video clip of how to handle a burning oil fire in the kitchen.

Multi Agency Specialist Appliance Display

The Knox CFA are holding a Multi Agency Specialist Appliance Display on Sunday 22 April 09:00 - 13:00 at the Knox CFA Running Track Precinct.

Update on Dead and Dangerous Trees on Eagles Nest Rd

Hi All

This is an update on where we are at with getting works done on Eagles Nest Rd.

The arborist has delivered his report. The report identified trees that required removal or pruning to make safe.

Based on the assessment we have engaged a contractor to commence work on the removal/ pruning of 26 high priority and 45 moderate priority trees.

Our contractor has indicated that the works will commence in early April.

Our arborist is due to complete his report on the rest of the fire affected area. When we have this we will allocate available funding to prioritised works.

Regards

Justin

Justin Murray Executive Officer Emergency Management  |   Nillumbik Shire Council  |   PO Box 476  |  Greensborough  Vic  3088

Fire Note - Erosion risk to water supplies

Dear Bushfire CRC partners, researchers, subscribers and friends

Erosion and local flooding after fire in mountainous terrain can have adverse impacts on water resources and infrastructure.

Seasonal outlook - May-May 2012

Rainfall:

• A drier autumn is more likely in Tasmania and southern Victoria. See http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/rain.seaus.shtml

Temperature:

• Warmer nights are more likely over NSW, eastern SA and much of Victoria. See http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/temp.seaus.shtml

VFBV calling for volunteer opinions on Emergency Communications

APCO Australasia Conference & Exhibition
(APCO - Association of Public Communications Officials of Australia and New Zealand)

VFBV has been invited to make a presentation at the Australasian APCO Conference in early March 2012 where national and international communications executives and telecommunications industry leaders will assemble at this major trade conference and exhibition.

VFBV on behalf of CFA volunteers has been invited to make a presentation to this industry gathering, the title and theme of our presentation:

TITLE “If I could get what I wished for” – What Australia’s Volunteers (Fire-Fighters) want from public safety communications

Black Saturday - Third Anniversary, 2012 - Remembrance Activities

As we all know, Tuesday 7 February 2012 is the third anniversary of the 2009 Victorian bushfires. As the day approaches, many people will be remembering and reflecting on the events that took place.

A number of councils and community groups in fire-affected areas are planning events where local communities can gather, remember and reflect.

For a snapshot of remembrance events being held, please select the following link: http://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/fire-recovery-unit/fru-news-room/commemorative-events

Regards,

Sam Chhay
Acting Manager Human Resources
Northern & Western Metropolitan Region

Diamond Jubilee Medal

The Queen is issuing a Diamond Jubilee Medal to emergency service personnel that have completed at least 5 years service.  Commonwealth countries are eligible.  Australia is submitting only a very few names, whereas Canada is submitting 60,000.

There is a petition in progress trying to change this: http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/diamondjubilee

Please sign if you are interested in supporting this cause.

Geoff

Seasonal outlook - Feb-Apr 2012

Rainfall:

• The chances of a wetter or drier February to April are roughly equal over most of southeast Australia. See http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/rain.seaus.shtml

Temperature:

• Warmer days are more likely over Tasmania, Victoria and southeastern SA. See http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/temp.seaus.shtml

Event Flyer: Knox Group Multi Agency Specialist Appliance Display

Please find attached our flyer for our multi agency specialist appliance display Sunday 22 April, 2012.

We would very much appreciate it if you could distribute and post the flyer within your agency/group/district/brigade so as many personnel as possible are aware of the event.

To date we have received amazing support from all emergency agencies involved and we believe the day will now be something very special for those who can attend.

If you have any questions at all in relation to the event please don’t hesitate to contact myself or Craig, our numbers and emails are on the flyer.

Thank you for your support for the display and for distributing our flyer within your agencies.

Regards

Ian Atherton
Deputy Group Officer (Group Training)
Knox Group

Seasonal outlook - Jan to Mar

Rainfall:

• No strong odds for Tasmania and most of Victoria. See http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/rain.seaus.shtml

Temperature:

• Warmer days are more likely over most of southeastern Australia. See http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/temp.seaus.shtml

Nillumbik Draft Environmental Education and Biodiversity Strategy

Nillumbik has issued their Draft Environmental Education and Biodiversity Strategy for public consultation.  I have (a very large) hard-copy if any wishes to read it and provide feedback to the council.

The documents are also available on the council website: www.nillumbik.vic.gov.au

Comments on the Environmental Education Policy are due by 23 December 2011 (I've only just received it, so I suspect they are managing the dates to not receive any feedback!)

Comments on the Biodiversity Strategy are due by 10 February 2012.

I have contact details if you require them.

Geoff

Seasonal outlook - Dec to Feb

Rainfall:

• A drier season is somewhat more likely across most of Tasmania, southern Victoria and southeastern SA. See http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/rain.seaus.shtml

Temperature:

• Warmer days are more likely over Tasmania, Victoria and southern parts of both NSW and SA. See http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/temp.seaus.shtml

Black Saturday class action briefing

Briefing held by CFA at Whittlesea Fire Station Monday 24 October regarding Black Saturday class action for the Kilmore East fire. My notes:

All those who lost property or were affected by Black Saturday are in the "class". The action is being taken against SPI (SP Ausnet), who have then brought in CFA, DSE and Vicpol, and one of their sub-contractors (UAE?).

Three options are available for us:

1. Opt-out of the class by notifying the Supreme Court by end January 2012. Notices will soon appear in newspapers on how to do this. You may take this option if you want to pursue your own action against SPI, as an example.

2. Do nothing. You'll remain in the class, but there will not be any outcome for you.  Your name is not on any list.

3. Submit a claim to be included in the class action. Maurice Blackburn will likely put ads in the paper towards the end of 2012 on how to do this. Your insurance company may force you into this option as there is usually a clause in your policy covering this.

The action is going to court January 2013 and is estimated to take 6 months. The argument is more likely to be legal/technical rather than on facts. It is unlikely that we would be asked to be witnesses, and if we are, we can decline. They could subpoena us, but that's highly unlikely as they would not want a hostile witness.

CFA does not need to know whether any members are making a claim. That is a personal choice.

I hope this helps those that couldn't attend the meeting.  I'm happy to answer further questions based on what was discussed at the meeting, but if you have any detailed or complex questions, you really need to contact your own solicitor or Maurice Blackburn for advice.

Geoff

Seasonal outlook - Nov to Jan

Rainfall:

• Wet season favoured for most of southeastern Australia. See http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/rain.seaus.shtml

Temperature:

• Warmer season for the southeast. See http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/temp.seaus.shtml

Stroke identification

• Stroke identification

Federal Government's enquiry into the insurance industry

We have just had our attrention bought to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the operation of the insurance industry during disaster events.

To gauge community concerns relating to this inquiry, the Committee is conducting an online survey. The survey is targeting members of the community who have made a disaster-related claim on their insurance policies in the last 5 years. Responses are due by Friday 15 July 2011.

The Committee cannot investigate or make rulings on particular insurance claims, but invites submissions which address the processes of insurance claims and dispute resolution, and invites policy holders to complete the online survey.

For more information and a link to the survey go to http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/spla/insurance/info.htm