What is being done to manage fuel in the National Park?
Information on planned burns across the Yarra Ranges municipality is available on the:
When will the tree debris on the corner of Falls Road and Mt Dandenong Tourist Road be removed?
Clean-up and debris removal is linked to the fuel break work planned in the Dandenong Ranges National Park.
Forest Fire Management has an access an interactive map of all the Joint Fuel Management Program works that are planned and the location of fuel breaks.
In addition, and in general, fuel break and fire access clearing is continuing across the park and fuel break slashing will commence in the lead up to summer.
What clean-up is planned for Singleton Reserve and Burke’s lookout.
Singleton Reserve is a small and unique parcel of land; close to roads and houses. It is not identified as having an immediate fire risk.
External advice is being sought to determine suitable longer term management approaches encompassing vegetation and fire risk management and its future use.
Parks Victoria will engage with the community once the external advice has been received to develop options for the future management of the site. An initial assessment of some of the remaining trees on site have not identified an immediate safety risk.
What plans are in place to manage the trees/fuel on Olinda Creek Road (Parks Victoria land) and access along the Olinda Creek Corridor?
The Olinda Creek corridor is a 'Landscape Management Zone' so is not part of the planned burn program. The focus of work is on clearing strategic access roads and fuel breaks.
Some areas may well be left to break down naturally. Forest Fire Management has information on planned burns, including location of fuel breaks. Maps are also available for download on the interactive website. (Go to Greater Melbourne / Metropolitan map for information relating to the Dandenong Ranges and surrounds).
How will fallen trees left in the reserve behind The Avenue, Montrose be managed to reduce the fire threat to neighbouring houses?
This area, known as the St Marks burn unit, is being prepared for planned burning this Spring or next. Tracks have / will be cleared tracks and the fuel break maintained. Fuel moved into the bush will be addressed during burning.
How will the fuel load on the west face of the Dandenong Ranges National Park (below Sunset Avenue and Edith Court) be managed?
This area has Mountain Ash and is a wetter forest type therefore is not an area identified where a planned burn can occur. Alternative management strategies include a fuel break upgrade, and mulching.
Burning is conducted in the dryer forest that starts from around Viola Ave to the north towards the TV Towers and from The Basin - Olinda Road South towards School Track and Old Coach Road.
How do I arrange for trees from public land that fall on private land to be cleared before summer / fire season?
Contact the adjoining land manager - Parks Victoria on 13 19 63 or Yarra Ranges Council on 1300 368 333.
If you see something that looks like it is in danger of falling please call – some example of issues you might see are provided here:
Tree issue examples Yarra Ranges Council
Where can I find out more about fuel management and planned burns on public land; including the consideration of wildlife, habitat, environmental values, climate change and effectiveness?
Areas identified for planned burns and other fuel treatments such as mulching or slashing undergo a values checking process where values are identified by biodiversity officers and land managers.
These values are then considered in the planning stage where things like the timing or season of the burn may alter or areas may be excluded from fire. The values checking process also identifies aboriginal heritage such as scar trees or artefact scatter sites so we can protect or exclude them from fire.
Information on numerous reports including ecosystem, monitoring and resilience can be found on the Forest Fire Management website and other relevant information on climate change can be found on the DELWP website.
Where can I find details about proposed fuel reduction burns including burn objectives, burning prescriptions and biodiversity values within the burn area?
You can search for fuel reduction burns by postcode on the Forest Fire Management website.