ALPINE Resorts Victoria (ARV) has started its annual bushfire preparation program for the 2023-24 summer, and is calling on alpine communities to support efforts to protect alpine resorts by helping with clean-up and maintenance activities.
ARV resorts are well aware of the impact that bushfires in the alpine regions can have, the most recent being the 2019-20 ‘Black Summer’ bushfire which affected Falls Creek, Mt Hotham and Mt Buller/Mt Stirling.
As a result, ARV resorts are proactive about bushfire preparation, which started in spring in Victoria’s alpine areas with the assistance of Victoria’s Country Fire Authority (CFA).
“Everything an individual property owner does to help protect their own property also has a wider benefit – it helps the whole resort avoid impact from a bushfire,” said Elise Armitage, ARV Head of Property and Planning.
“We know the devastating impacts a bushfire can have on a small community.
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“By doing a relatively small amount of work together before the bushfire season, we can significantly support firefighting efforts by reducing some of the risk.”
Alpine property owners need to be proactive in their preparations leading up to the bushfire danger period.
The CFA’s Mark Owens, Commander of the Alpine Service Delivery Team, agrees.
“It’s important for people to be aware that Victoria’s fire services don’t have the resources to protect individual properties.
“If there are fires in one location, there will be fires in other locations.
“Our first priority therefore is to protect life.
“Our second priority is to defend critical infrastructure, like water and power supplies,” said Commander Owens.
ARV’s resort management teams have been working with the CFA since October to provide support to property owners, with fire preparation days already held at the resorts.
“Just because it’s still green doesn’t mean anyone can afford to be complacent,” he said.
“The weather is likely to turn warm quickly, and when you consider the distance that alpine property holders have to travel to get to their properties, it could be too late if you wait too long to prepare.”
Most property owners at ARV’s alpine resorts don’t live at the resorts year-round, and many only visit during the winter season.
It’s important for these property owners to ensure maintenance and clean-up is done during the ‘green season’ to protect their properties and the resort as a whole.
ARV’s property owners are responsible for general clean-up on their leases, including removing fuel such as long grass, fallen limbs, wood, rubbish, leaf litter, twigs and bark, and closing all property windows and doors and reducing or sealing gaps in buildings.
