City vow to learn from fire

By Clare Quirk
Updated November 7 2012 - 2:34am, first published August 1 2010 - 12:09pm

THE City of Greater Bendigo will take the Bushfires Royal Commission recommendations on board to make sure the circumstances on Black Saturday never happen again.Premier John Brumby tabled the final report of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission in the Parliament of Victoria on Saturday, and will this week outline an interim response to the Royal Commission’s recommendations. Mr Brumby said there were a significant number of groups and organisations – including local government, volunteer firefighters, environment, tourism, energy, health and building groups and community recovery committees – that want to be kept informed and express their views.“That’s why our government will speak with communities, groups and agencies impacted by the bushfires on how these recommendations may affect them into the future, before final decisions are made, to ensure that the concerns of the community are properly addressed,” he said.Member for Bendigo West and Police and Emergency Services Minister Bob Cameron got off relatively unscathed.The commission found that in receiving updates during the day at home in Bendigo, and then arriving at the Intergrated Emergency Co-ordination Centre at 8pm, “his actions were appropriate.” However, the commission did criticise the fact that “The minister had no direct liaison with the chief officers of the fire services.”“(Minister Cameron) should have formally discussed with the premier the prospect of declaring a state of disaster.” Mr Cameron said a lot of work had happened since Febuary 7, and there was still a lot moreto do.He said he acted before and during the bushfires.“We’re determined to get this right and build on what we have done,” he said.Mr Niemann said the biggest issues that will affect the city will be changes to planning provisions in high fire-risk areas. “Bendigo is known as the city within a forest,” he said. “Assessments will be made about high-risk areas and will need to be interpreted by council.”He said building codes would be included in the assessments, with a view to “how we protect and support the community to make sure this never happens again.”“Clearly there has been significant loss in Bendigo and we don’t ever want to go through that again.“The Royal Commission had to happen and it’s to up to us how we react and respond to it.”Opposition leader Ted Baillieu said Victoria had spent $40 million dollars on a Royal Commission that had heard from 434 witnesses, held 26 community consultations, received 1700 community submissions, 1000 evidence exhibits and 98,000 documents in over a year of hearings. “All John Brumby has to say is that he wants to start consultations all over again to avoid doing anything,” he said. “The Bendigo community deserves better. “

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