2009 Bushfires in Latrobe City

1. 2009 Bushfires in Latrobe City

2. Today’s Presentation • Overview of the two fire events of 2009 • Impact to our community • Impact to our Infrastructure • Lessons Learned

3. Latrobe City • 1.5 hours east of Melbourne • 1 of Victoria’s four Regional Cities • Community of 85,000 • 4 main towns, 7 small towns

4. Fire Events of 2009 • Delburn Complex, 28 January • Churchill / Jeeralang Complex, 7 February

5. Extent of fire events Delburn – 6,500 hectares Churchill/ Jeeralang – 25,800 hectares

6. Impact to our community • 11 fatalities • 158 houses destroyed • 425 farm buildings destroyed • 16,714 km of farm fence lost • 1,441 stock lost

7. Impact to Infrastructure • 1 bridge damaged beyond repair • App 30 km of sealed road pavement damaged, requiring re-sheet • Guardrails / signs / guideposts etc (around 4,200!) • 1 fire station destroyed • 1 public hall lost, 1 severely damaged • 1 former school building lost • Emergency landfill established – 30,000+ tonnes

8. Lessons Learned – Our People • It was an exhausting experience! • Both the fire events & recovery, and: • Business as usual • Support through access to EAP • Plan, plan, plan – expect the unexpected • Impacts are long lasting

9. Lessons Learned – Our Community • Re-establishment of services and infrastructure fundamental to community recovery • Immediate access to properties / services - Short term, a focus for community rebuilding (Callignee Community Centre / Jeeralang Hall)

10. Lessons Learned – Our Systems / Processes • Duplicated effort in several areas • Relationships absolutely critical to an effective recovery & rebuilding effort • Community partnerships • Professional / agency partnerships • Across the organisation

11. Callignee Community Centre

12. The Age – 19 July 2010

13. Traralgon South Hall

14. Jeeralang North Hall

15. Piggery Road, Boolarra

16. Piggery Road, Boolarra