CITIES such as Bendigo face the highest risk to life and economic assets from bushfires in the Loddon Mallee region.A comprehensive plan to manage bushfires for the next decade in the Loddon Mallee Region has been released for public comment by the Loddon Mallee Regional Strategic Fire Management Planning Committee. The plan has revealed that the Central Goldfields and Loddon shires are the most vulnerable municipalities, with communities and individuals facing barriers to preparing for, responding to and recovering from a bushfire.Mildura and Bendigo carry the highest risk of grass and bushfires and big population centres such as Bendigo also face the highest risk to life and economic assets.The plan showed about 90 per cent of fires in the Bendigo region were started by human activity.Chairman of the committee and CFA Loddon Mallee regional manager Pat O’Brien said the purpose of the plan was to assess all factors that contribute to the risk of fire, including the length of the fire danger period and the proximity to houses.“In Bendigo’s case there is a very significant amount of forest around the city, a large population and a long fire danger period,” he said.“We also know that in Bendigo 90 per cent of fires are started by human activity, not necessarily arson but machinery and human error.“The Loddon Mallee Region is one of the hottest and driest in the state and bushfires are an ever-present part of life. “The whole community has the potential to be impacted by a bushfire, and the whole community is the key to preventing and planning for bushfires. “I’d encourage everyone to have their say on how we keep all our communities safe.”This is the first time a strategic bushfire management plan has been collated for the region. It stretches from the Macedon Ranges to Mildura and will be used for Municipal Fire Management Plans.The plan has identified four key strategies for the region.Local communities can have their say over the next six weeks by accessing the draft plan at www.ifmp.vic.gov.au