Fire season 2015-2016

With one of the warmest starts to October on record, we're well into the fire pre-season and there's plenty of action to help the Island stay prepared. Also a reminder for residents and regular visitors should check the resources on our Emergencies page.
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The CFA will be at the Ferry Park to host a brunch with Brigade members on Saturday 24 October 2015, starting at 10.00am. There'll be a presentation of localised information for Raymond Island to ensure we are 'Fire Ready'. Come along and speak with your local CFA.
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The RI Risk Management Community Group recently conducted a field trip on Raymond Island to have a look and discuss different fuel reduction methods. A comprehensive video was produced with some very informative discussion about fuel reduction, a topic that all Islanders need to start thinking about. This video is the start of information that this working group will be posting so Islanders can start discussing and debating this very important topic.

Information night
An information night will be held on Tuesday, 27 October 2015 at the RI Community Hall at 7.15pm to 9.30pm. The evening will begin with a video presentation for those who can't access youtube. 

The RIRMCG was formed in early September to assist the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and Parks Victoria to consult effectively with the Raymond Island community on managing bushfire risk. Representatives of the group include community members and representatives from DELWP, Parks Victoria and Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation.

DELWP District Manager Tambo, Brad Fisher said: “The information session will look at how bushfire risk is assessed and managed on the island and how it will be managed into the future.” “Current activities we are conducting on the island to reduce the risk of bushfire include planned burning, slashing and mulching.”

Member and community contact for the group, Victor Trofimovs said: “We will be exploring the impacts of these activities on Raymond Island’s plants and animals. We want to consider what the bushfire risk is to both the Island’s natural environment and Islanders. We would encourage all Islanders to come to the session, and take the opportunity to share in the information and to ask questions.”

“We hope this information session will be useful when we consider options, later in the year, for managing the bushfire risk and maintaining the natural environment of the Island,” Mr Trofimovs said.

Information about managing bushfire risk on the Island will be made available on the Raymond Island website and at the ferry hub. Updates about the progress of this community consultation process will also be made available.

For further information please contact Victor Trofimovs by email victrof@live.com.au.(Thanks to REG-FM for advertising this event.)

Public Forum
The Information night will be followed up with a Raymond Island Public Forum which will be held at the RI Community Hall on Monday, 23 November 2015, 7.30PM to 9.30 PM.
The forum will be facilitated by Dave Munday.
More information about the forum will be posted in coming weeks.

In the meantime, please view this youtube video, and if you have any question to put to the working group, please email them to Victor.

And finally, in the wake of the Lancefield fires, Sylvia reminds us...

I have been following these events with a heavy heart. The photos of the fires are just heartbreaking. I keep going back to the photos of the koala drinking water from a bottle. Poor little thing is a symbol of all the creatures who died or will suffer from the lack of habitat. God bless the Aussie families who have lost so much.