SMOKE likely to be visible across the Bendigo region in coming days is no cause for concern, authorities say.
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The smoke will be the result of the Department of Environment and Primary Industries and Parks Victoria conducting planned burns in Maiden Gully on Saturday and two in Kangaroo Flat on Sunday.
The continuation of four planned burns will also take place in Fryerstown, near Castlemaine, tomorrow.
Additional planned burns are scheduled to take place in Eaglehawk and Sedgwick areas in the next 10 days.
DEPI Murray Goldfields district manager Paul Bates said two of the burns west of Kangaroo Flat on the weekend were next to homes that backed onto Bendigo Regional Park.
"These planned burns are located strategically to reduce bushfire risk to people and property in Kangaroo Flat and surrounds from a bushfire approaching the area from the north west," he said.
Mr Bates said planned burning reduced bushfire fuel such as dead wood, leaf litter, bark and shrubs.
"Less bushfire fuel means fires are less intense and slows them down making it easier for firefighters to control them before they threaten lives and assets," he said.
He said the planned burns were dependent on good conditions and were subject to change.
"DEPI and Parks Victoria work closely with the Bureau of Meteorology and will only start a burn when we assess the weather conditions, such as humidity, temperature and wind speed, are suitable," he said.
"Every burn we do now means we are better prepared for the coming fire season."
For information, visit www.depi.vic.gov.au/burnsmap or call the Victorian Bushfires Information Line on 1800 240 667.