What you will find on this page: what is the network; network purpose; disclaimer; clusters formed for each fire season; information session details; contacts for more information; community support for network. (links in blue)

Keep up to date by joining us on the Network’s Facebook Page here

Brown Hill Community FireAware Network

Did you know that Brown Hill is in a Bushfire Prone Area?

Latest News

24 January 2020, The Conversation, Out of control, contained, safe? Here’s what each bushfire status actually means. In this record-breaking bushfire season, notifications from emergency managers have become a familiar feature of Australian life. Terms like “out of control” and “contained” are regularly heard as descriptions of the status of fires, but what do they actually mean? These terms vary slightly between Australian states and territory, but as similar firefighting strategies are used Australia-wide, the meanings are comparable. The status of a fire is a description of the stage of the firefighting effort, not the nature of the fire or its likelihood of being a threat. This means that to understand what actions to take when an active fire is nearby, it’s important to follow the advice of your local fire and emergency information sources. Read more here

22 January 2020, The Conversation, Scientists hate to say ‘I told you so’. But Australia, you were warned. Those who say “I told you so” are rarely welcomed, yet I am going to say it here. Australian scientists warned the country could face a climate change-driven bushfire crisis by 2020. It arrived on schedule. For several decades, the world’s scientific community has periodically assessed climate science, including the risks of a rapidly changing climate. Australian scientists have made, and continue to make, significant contributions to this global effort. I am an Earth System scientist, and for 30 years have studied how humans are changing the way our planet functions. Scientists have, clearly and respectfully, warned about the risks to Australia of a rapidly heating climate – more extreme heat, changes to rainfall patterns, rising seas, increased coastal flooding and more dangerous bushfire conditions. We have also warned about the consequences of these changes for our health and well-being, our society and economy, our natural ecosystems and our unique wildlife. Today, I will join Dr Tom Beer and Professor David Bowman to warn that Australia’s bushfire conditions will become more severe. We call on Australians, particularly our leaders, to heed the science. Read more here

6 December 2019, The Conversation, Friday essay: living with fire and facing our fears. It is only mid-November but we have to walk early to avoid the heat. A northerly wind picks up clouds of dust and pollen, sending dirty billows across the paddocks. The long limbs of the gum trees groan overhead. Leaves and twigs litter the road. We stop to pull a branch off to the side. Not even summer yet and already we are facing our first catastrophic fire rating of the season. Normally, I don’t even worry much about fires until after Xmas. In the southern states, it is January and February that are the most dangerous. ths, even though it is hot and unpleasant. Now I’m worried we will have to cancel our pre-Christmas holiday plans. Winter will be the only time we can leave. Read more here

End Latest News

22 January 2021, One area of concern raised by many of our community members is the poor or non-existent mobile phone signal in parts of Brown Hill.The Brown Hill Community FireAware Network undertook an online survey in October and November 2020 and has now produced this report to seek support from all levels of government to commit resources to ensure our community has better access to a critical tool needed in any emergency situation, reliable mobile phone reception. Brown Hill Mobile Signal Survey Report June 2021

Bushfire outlook

Have you ever been in a bushfire ember storm? Click on the image below taken by ABC News of the Sunshine Coast bushfire ember attack during height of firestorm, early September 2019.

Fire invading the suburbs of Canberra 2003

Bushfire Attack Levels (BAL) for buildings in Fire Prone Areas

What are Bushfire Prone Areas? Bushfire Prone Areas are areas that are subject to or likely to be subject to bushfires. To view the Bushfire Prone Area of Brown Hill access the link here. Source: Visualising Ballarat.

Bushfire protection and my property: This is the main Vic DELWP site You can get your own property report from this page in regard to planning overlays. A Guide to retrofit your home for better protection from a bushfire: This guide, among other things provides a simple table that outlines low /moderate and high cost alternatives and sets out different requirements for the BAL ratings. A Guide to Windows and Doors in Bushfire Prone Areas: Another more detailed guide for windows and doors. FAQs – Bushfire Prone Planning – BAL Assessments. Even though this site relates to WA I found the information provided quite useful. Contact City of Ballarat for more specific details on 5320 5500

Also refer to the following FireAware Network pages:

FireAware Network – clusters (providing specific details for each cluster locality): Coorabin Estate; Janson Rd & Stringybark Dr; Russell Sq & Lane St; and Finlay St Sth & Bradbury St.)
FireAware Network – understanding risk of a fire event
FireAware Network – be prepared
FireAware Network – role of emergency services in a fire event
FireAware Network – resources (providing a range of further information – videos; articles; reports)

What is the Brown Hill Community FireAware Network?

The network consists of “walkable” Neighbourhood Clusters, spread across the suburb of Brown Hill – a priority being the households/streets on the urban-rural interface of Brown Hill along the Yarrowee River and the growing number of subdivisions of Brown Hill north of the freeway, all located within the designated Bushfire Prone Area.

(Penny Platypus is the mascot for the Network – learn more about Penny here)

What is the purpose of a cluster?

to provide a yearly reminder of the need to prepare for the fire season;
to present in a variety of ways information that is relevant to a specific neighbourhood;
to highlight that it is everyone’s responsibility to be aware and prepared to act in a fire event impacting on their community or a community nearby;
to encourage in households the “habit” of preparation

Disclaimer

Please note the information provided through the information sessions and web pages is not for the purpose of giving specific advice. The information is offered in good faith for those wishing to know more about the potential risk to their community and wanting to take responsibility for their own informed decisions. The information and material offered is freely available from a number of sources, primarily fire/emergency services sites such as CFA and other State emergency services and research institutions.

Clusters for the 2020/2021 fire season

There are six neighbourhood clusters for the pre-fire season of 2020/2021. Access more details here

Three north of the freeway

Ditchfield/Benson (approx 20 households)
Coorabin Estate (approx. 100 households)
Janson Rd & Stringybark Dr (approx. 60 households)

Three south of the freeway

Mancev Crt (approx. 20 households)
Russell Sq & Lane St (approx. 230 households)
Finlay St Sth & Bradbury St (approx 100 households)

Information sessions available through clusters

Clusters offer information sessions, as requested, to their cluster residents specifically tailored to their location:

Sessions can cover a range of topics, for example:

Presentation of the risk of a fire event impacting on the community of Brown Hill and in particular the neighbourhood cluster location involved:

Myths relating to fire and household safety;
Reality of urban fire risk highlighting ember attacks – varying intensity & duration;
Overview of Brown Hill community risk;
Specific risks to the cluster location;
What it is like to be near a bushfire

Preparing household and property prior to the fire season:

Fire weather awareness – Fire Danger Ratings;
Review of high and low risk within the cluster (direct and indirect impact);
Overview of preparation required for both levels;
Basics for pre-season property preparation;
Basics for household bushfire plans

Wanting more information about the Network?

NETWORK CONTACT: Hazen – hmc433@hotmail.com

CLUSTER CONTACTS details access here

What community support is there for the Network?

The following have offered their support to the Network in a variety of ways as a means to help raise the awareness of residents of Brown Hill of the bushfire risk to the urban interface and assist them in preparing for such an event:

Brown Hill Progress Association

Country Fire Authority (Ballarat local office)

City of Ballarat

Dr Kevin Tolhurst (Tolhurst Bushfire Services)

In 2015 Kevin was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his significant service to science through land and bushfire management, and to the community through providing expert advice at fire emergencies. He works and lives in Creswick and therefore has a wealth of knowledge of our local area.

Gary Morgan AM AFSM; Principal Consultant; Global Wildland Fire Management Services

Gary Morgan former Bushfire CRC CEO was recognised for his significant service to the community with an Australia Day honour in 2018, Becoming a member of the Order of Australia (AM). Gary was awarded this honour for his significant service to the community through emergency response organisations, and to forest and fire research and management. He has spent more than 20 years in senior land and fire management roles. As Victoria’s Chief Fire Officer for public lands, for nine years, he was responsible for the management and deployment of fire suppression personnel. He became the CEO of the Bushfire CRC in mid-2007. He is a long time resident f Ballarat.

PLEA Network

Penny Platypus

Penny is the Network’s mascot, who is a very large platypus, a long time resident of the Yarrowee and was created to promote the “Ballarat’ Regional Conservation Strategy” in the early 1990’s. Penny has come out of retirement to put her name to and support the network. Many thanks to her creator Leanne Westblade (1991).