Mallacoota will host its inaugural community safety and resilience event from 10am on Saturday, September 17, with the focus on bushfire mitigation, emergencies and their aftermath.
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“For us it’s not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’ we experience a severe bushfire event,” an event spokesman said.
“Although we have, so far, avoided a summer crisis in recent years, it is no real indicator of the potential extreme risk this area faces every fire season.
“No better reason for bringing our communities together with experts for an exchange of information and ideas on how best to address general community preparedness for, and understanding of, the likely impact of emergencies,” he said.
Hosted by Noel and Cate Bruce, on their farm on the Mallacoota-Genoa Road, the event is designed to bring the community together, and highlight inter-agency co-operation to keep landholders and communities informed and safe.
Some of Australia’s foremost authorities in their respective fields will be speaking at the event. including Australian National University adjunct professor and award winning author of ‘The Biggest Estate on Earth’, Bill Gammage; eminent eucalypt scientist, silviculturist and author of ‘Firestick Ecology’, Vic Jurkis; and, East Gippsland Wildfire Taskforce chairman, John Mulligan.
Former CSIRO fire ecologist, Malcolm Gill, will look at how bushfires penetrate towns, while other experts will address vermin and weeds, land management, birdlife and companion animals.
On Saturday evening a formal forum will be held at which all participants can contribute to a conversation with the community regarding the subject of “to burn or not to burn”.
Organisers hope it will become an annual event.
All emergency services will be represented and there will be displays and demonstrations as well as entertainment, a barbecue, open garden, bike riding and kayaks.
The costs is $5 per person or $10 for a family, with all proceeds going to the firefighters of Mallacoota and Gipsy Point and community safety and resilience groups.