By Callum Ludwig
Victoria’s Bushfire Risk Management Report for 2022-2023 was released on 20 December last year, detailing the efforts that went into bushfire management for the year and where fuel loads are at this summer.
The Yarra Ranges, Cardinia, Knox and Maroondah regions all sit within the Port Phillip region, along with most of metropolitan Melbourne.
A long-term residual fire risk target of at or below 85 per cent of maximum levels has been set for Port Phillip, up from the 80 per cent target set in 2015 until the boundary was redrawn in 2019. Residual fire risk is the amount of bushfire risk that remains after bushfires and fire management activities, such as planned burns, have taken place. 100 per cent would represent the maximum risk, where the build-up of fuel loads wasn’t reduced by any planned burns or major fires.
Currently, Port Phillip’s residual fire risk is at 89 per cent, with forest fuel loads in outer Metropolitan Melbourne, which stretches out to townships like Lilydale, Wandin, Silvan and Belgrave at 96 per cent and the Yarra District, which includes high-fire risk townships like Yarra Glen, Warburton, Emerald and Gembrook at 88 per cent.
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