The Fire Wise project aims to improve, share, test and demonstrate our understanding of how numerous species of indigenous plants can be retained or planted in strategic locations around the built environment, to better protect our assets from bushfire and enhance our local biodiversity.
With a mix of educational materials, seminars, property planning, seed collecting and plant propagation courses, the project will raise the profile of fire planning and ‘Fire Wise’ awareness within the community.
Fire Wise demonstration sites at Meeniyan and Loch are now complete. Seventeen hardy folks (some from the Nerrena Tarwin Valley Landcare Group and Meeniyan Community Garden) braved the rain at Meeniyan on Saturday July 20 to plant out a garden and two shelterbelt demonstration areas. The following Wednesday at Loch we planted out a garden and a shelterbelt demonstration. We were joined by works crew members from the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation and the Bass Coast Landcare Network, along with two volunteers from the Strzelecki Lions Club and Loch Nyora Landcare group. A huge thanks to the groups already mentioned for their support, and especially to the South Gippsland Shire Council for all their help in site preparation, planning and planting on the days. In the coming months signs will be developed to explain more about the project to rail trail visitors. Both sites include a diverse mix of native species with suitable species for all properties. You can easily view the planting sites from the Great Southern Rail Trail.
As part of this project we held a webinar. Justin Leonard (Research Leader – Bushfire Adaption, CSIRO) and Hayley King (CFA community engagement coordinator) spoke about building design and surroundings, and how vegetation can help with ember attach, wind attenuation and moisture retention to reduce risk. See their presentations in the video below.
The Fire Wise project is spreading and adding to knowledge that grew out of some pioneering research that Lakes Entrance Community Landcare initiated in 2021. They found that many native plant species have fire-retardant and/or fire-resistant properties that make them a good choice for properties in fire-prone areas. Such plants can reduce wind speed, absorb radiant heat, and trap embers.
SGLN and Bass Coast Landcare Network are working together to on some online resources which will update the garden and shelterbelt design fact sheets developed by Lakes Entrance Community Landcare (click here to see them). The updated resources will be made available here when they are complete.
The Fire Wise Project is funded by the Australian Governments Preparing Australian Communities program in partnership with the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife (FNPW). FNPW is an environmental charity organisation, that has been assisting communities to restore and conserve Australia’s natural environment for more than 50 years.
This project will run until March 2025. To hear about events and training days sign up for our enews at the bottom of this page, keep an eye on our events calendar, or for further information contact Cassie at cassie@sgln.net.au.
This project received grant funding from the Australian Government through the Preparing Australian Communities local stream.
