PLANNED burns by the Department of Sustainability and Environment will concentrate on areas around Eaglehawk and Maiden Gully in its Fire Operations Plans.
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The DSE’s long-term fire prevention plans were released yesterday, detailing planned burns and other fire-prevention activities for the north-west region.
The fire operations will target areas in the region that were highlighted by concerned locals in written submissions.
More than 200 submissions from interested groups and individuals were received across the north-west region.
DSE north-west regional land and fire manager Scott Falconer said the feedback helped form part of their operations.
Mr Falconer said the latest plans outlined where planned burns, slashing, track work and construction of fire breaks were intended to be carried out over the next three years.
He said DSE made changes to the plans where they would not impact on the primary goal of reducing risk to communities.
“Each year we talk to communities and a range of stakeholders to update the plans with the latest local information,” Mr Falconer said. “As a result of this feedback, a number of modifications have been made to the plan to maintain biodiversity values while continuing to ensure we protect communities from the risk of bushfires as we move into summer.”
The map for the Bendigo region details groupings of planned burns around Mandurang, Myers Flat, Sedgwick and the Whipstick forest for the 2012-13 period.
Mr Falconer said planned burns could only be carried out with the right weather conditions and would be reviewed each year.