Residents of Benloch and surrounding areas have welcomed a progress report that shows the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning is on track to meet commitments made following last year’s Lancefield-Cobaw bushfire.
But they say the real test will come before and after planned burns in the lead-up to future fire seasons.
The report, released last week by the government inspector-general for emergency management, found 13 of 22 recommendations and nine of 10 additional commitments had been delivered.
A 266-hectare planned burn in the Cobaw Ranges near Lancefield broke containment lines on October 3 and again on October 6.
Close to 3000 hectares were eventually burnt, while four houses, 25 sheds and many kilometres of fencing were destroyed.
An independent inquiry handed down in November found the burn had been “inadequately resourced” from the start.
Then environment minister Lisa Neville confirmed that the approvals process that led to ignition on September 30 “basically” involved one person.
Department acting chief fire officer Darrin McKenzie said last week’s report showed the department was making good progress, but there was more to be done.
“We made a commitment to the people of Lancefield and the broader community that we would make significant improvements,” he said.
The report stated that risk assessment processes had been improved and rules and triggers for reviews of burn plans implemented.
A community service charter has been published and a statewide compliance audit completed.
Training of staff is ongoing, while a broadening of focus on the management of bushfire risks was “on track”.
Darren Burns, who runs Benloch’s Weekaway holiday camp and has been involved in meetings with ministers and the department, said the response had been pleasing.
“But I feel we won’t know how a lot of it has gone until the next time a burn-off goes through the area,” he said.
“The fact they’re moving on all 22 [recommendations] is a good thing, but until it actually happens we won’t really know.”
While buildings were not damaged, most of the 21 hectares of bushland on Mr Burns’ Kitchenhams Road property were burnt out by the fire.
He is among the 50-or-so residents still working through claims with the government’s insurance agency.
