FirePlan Update
Milestones in Integrated Fire Management Planning
Update from the Chairman
Following the tragic events of this fire season, it
has become clear that agencies need to
continue their support for the implementation of
the IFMP process and the development of tools
to assist this work.
IFMP will play an important role in the future of
fire management in Victoria, providing
communities with a vehicle to assist with all
elements of fire planning and management.
Fires like the ones experienced in Bendigo and
Cardinia prove that fire can affect any
community, not just those in a rural environment.
It is more important than ever that communities
work together at a planning and management
level to prevent any further occurrence of the
severity of the fires we have just experienced.
Key elements of IFMP such as the
establishment of regional committees and
municipal trials are underway with increased
interest and support from local agencies. This is
our opportunity to ensure the successful
implementation of IFMP.
I look forward to the IFMP processes and tools
becoming a core element of fire planning and
management across this state, providing an
opportunity for local communities to embrace
new and better ways of working together.
Brian Parry AM
Chair
State Fire Management Planning Committee
For further information:
Email info@ifmp.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 9262 8469
Vol. 24 – April 2009
Outcomes from the State Committee
A number of topics were discussed at the
meeting on 31 March, including dispute
resolution processes and the Victorian Fire Risk
Register (VFFR). Outcomes were as follows;
• Dispute resolution and non-participation
processes were approved by the
committee for inclusion in the EMMV
• Terms of Reference for RSFMPC’s were
approved for inclusion in the EMMV
• Evaluation of VFFR trials in Mansfield
and East Gippsland are underway with
provisional evaluations expected from
Mansfield at the end of April and East
Gippsland at the end of June
• The SFMPC executive committee has
been tasked with monitoring the VFRR
trials with a view to adoption of the tool
and associated processes as a state
wide standard.
IFMP Communication Workshop
On Thursday 29 January 2009, the first meeting
of the IFMP agency communication
representatives was held. Those in attendance
found it useful to receive an overview of IFMP
and how it is planned to evolve across the state.
Key messages, target audiences and channels
of communication delivery were also discussed.
It was agreed that communication
representatives would go back to their agencies
and discuss agency specific communication
options with their state IFMP representative.
State Support Team Manager, Norm Free
stressed that the IFMP implementation is one
that will evolve and does not aim to establish yet
another communication layer, but rather work leadership group would meet bi-annually, in
within existing communication frameworks and order to share knowledge and maintain
distribution processes. consistency in approach.

A central list of key stakeholders for each

organisation is being prepared to enable more
targeted delivery of communication messages.
Communication representatives were asked to
source examples of collaborative planning work
that could be used to demonstrate and promote
the IFMP process within their own organisations
and also to other member agencies. The IFMP
website will be used to house these examples
and any other completed promotional work.

A follow up workshop will be held on

Wednesday 29 April 2009 to provide updates
and progress further.

For further information contact:

Sophie Jackson Geoff Conway and Tony Murphy at the
IFMP Communications Coordinator Metropolitan Joint Agency Meeting
s.jackson@cfa.vic.gov.au
9262 8384
Victorian Fire Risk Register

Fire Chiefs attend IFMP metropolitan meeting
MFB Chief Fire Officer, Tony Murphy and CFA
Deputy Chief Officer, Geoff Conway attended a
meeting on Monday 1 April that brought together
the IFMP leadership group from the North West,
Eastern and Southern Metropolitan regions.
The meeting aimed to ensure consistency in the
implementation of IFMP across the three regions
and assist with the establishment of regional
committees.
The committees will be responsible for
developing Regional Strategic Fire Management
Plans, which will encompass fire prevention,
preparedness, response and recovery.
“It’s important we meet the expectations of the
community and establish these committees to
deliver a holistic approach to fire planning.” said
Tony Murphy.
To ensure an integrated approach, a range of
agencies attended the meeting and will be
represented on the regional committees.
The Victorian Fire Risk Register (VFRR) is a tool
that can be used for wildfire to inform the risk
assessment approach.
The VFRR is a process that identifies assets at
risk from fire; it then assesses the level of risk
to these assets and provides a range of
treatments to mitigate them. Treatments may
include activities such as fuel reduction,
community education programs and safety
audits.
It will also provide a practical, easy to use set of
tools including; a series of large maps which
display assets at risk accompanied by the
mitigation treatments. This will be supported by
a brief document outlining the context,
community participation strategy, summary of
the assessment process, and a textual record of
all elements and treatments.
It is anticipated that this will assist in further
enhancing the integrated fire management
process.

Meeting delegates agreed that the three regions

would continue to work closely together and the

For further information:

Email info@ifmp.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 9262 8469
 Your Fire Planning Network Managers
If you would like more information about IFMP please
contact the Fire Planning Network Manager in your
region:

Barwon South Western

Jill Golland jill.golland@ifmp.vic.gov.au
0488 678 532

Eastern (Metro)
Kim Morris kim.morris@ifmp.vic.gov.au
0447 385 962

Gippsland
Jude Kennedy and Leah McCann working on David Johnson david.johnson@ifmp.vic.gov.au
the Victorian Fire Risk Register 0438 743 134

Grampians
For further information contact: Jeni Taylor jeni.taylor@ifmp.vic.gov.au
Jude Kennedy 0488 304 560
Coordinator Business Improvement Systems
CFA Hume
Shaun Huguenin shaun.huguenin@ifmp.vic.gov.au
j.kennedy@cfa.vic.gov.au 0429 020 632
9262 8346
Loddon Mallee
Darryl Glover darryl.glover@ifmp.vic.gov.au
0407 809 902
Other risk tools
North & West (Metro)
Matthew Howe matthew.howe@ifmp.vic.gov.au
The search is still on for other tools that will 0488 327 567
help to inform the planning process
particularly for identification of structural and Southern (Metro)
Catherine Clancy catherine.clancy@ifmp.vic.gov.au
chemical risks. Should you have any
0458 356 799
information you think might assist please
email info@ifmp.vic.gov.au or phone 9262
8469.

For further information:

Email info@ifmp.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 9262 8469