Bushfires & Crisis Management Preparation

Latest News

Victorian Bushfire Business Investment Fund

The Australian and Victorian Governments have established a $10 million Victorian Bushfire Business Investment Fund to encourage private sector investment and job creation in areas affected by the February 2009 Victorian bushfires.

The Fund aims to restore and improve the business capacity of these areas and enhance economic development to ensure their sustainable future.

Private sector investors who are looking at expanding their business or establishing a new business are able to apply.  Successful applications will demonstrate their ability to improve employment, business and economic opportunities in fire-affected regions.

Click here to read about the Overview of the Victorian Business Bushfire Investment Fund

For more information about the Victorian Bushfire Business Investment Fund go to http://www.wewillrebuild.vic.gov.au/financial-and-personal-support/business-investment-fund.html

Planned burning

During an average summer, hundreds of bushfires occur in national parks, state forests, state parks and reserves across Victoria. Many fires are controlled before they cause much damage, but some become extremely hot and fast moving. To help manage the risk of intense bushfire, the Victorian Government, through the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and Parks Victoria, carries out activities to reduce fuel, often with the help and expertise of the Country Fire Authority (CFA).

To read more about DSE's planned burning program click here http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenfoe.nsf/childdocs/-5F5BCF631ED14DA0CA25760300103C44?open

Preparing for the unexpected

Handling cancellations

Tourism Alliance Victoria has received a number of enquiries from accommodation providers regarding cancellations and bushfires. Guidelines on cancellations can be found at the Consumer Affairs Victoria website The TAV Factsheet “Customers who want to cancel” is also available on this website under ‘Publications’.

Tourism Alliance Victoria and Tourism Victoria are also working on a cancellation policy template that tourism businesses and operators can use as a reference tool. Once this template is ready, it will be available to download from this webpage.

Tourism Victoria's Crisis Essentials Guide

The ‘Crisis Essentials’ guide aims to provide essential information to tourism businesses about how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a crisis event.

An emergency can have a profound affect on a tourism business whether it directly impacts upon the business or simply occurs within the same region, state or country. Tourism regions are vulnerable to public perceptions of health and safety. An emergency in your area can potentially result in a downturn in visitation to your business. This guide will help you to get organised so you can recover more quickly from any emergency incident.

The ‘Crisis Essentials’ guide will support the more comprehensive ‘Open for Business’ crisis management publication. Hard copies of the guide are also available from Tourism Victoria on ph: 03 9653 9777.

Tourism Victoria also has bushfire awareness information aimed at visitors and consumers. For details go to http://www.tourism.vic.gov.au/bushfiresmart/

Small Business Victoria - Is your business prepared for bushfire?

Small Business Victoria have prepared a checklist and other resources to help business owners prepare a bushfire response plan. For details go to http://www.business.vic.gov.au/BUSVIC/STANDARD.HTML/PC_63616.html

VECCI Fact Sheet

The Victorian Employer Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also compiled a fact sheet "Be Fire Ready". In particular, the fact sheet contains IR advice which may be useful to employers. Click here to download the fact sheet.

Useful Contacts (preparing for and during a crisis)

Country Fire Authority - New Fire Danger Ratings

There is a new national system of fire danger ratings now in place. To learn what the new fire danger ratings are, and what action is recommended for each rating, and for fire ban information, fire plan information and fire threat updates visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au

Bureau of Meterology

For all weather forecasts visit www.bom.gov.au

Park closures

For licensed tour operators operating on public land, visit www.parkweb.vic.gov.au for information about park closures or call the Parks Victoria Information Line on 13 19 63

Road closures

For road closures check the Vic Roads website http://traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au or call 13 11 70

For latest bushfire information

Check the CFA www.cfa.vic.gov.au and DSE websites www.dse.vic.gov.au or call the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667. Sky News TV also an emergency broadcaster.

Callers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech/communication impairment may call textphone/ telewriter (TTY) on 1800 122 969

Transport

For updates on rail and bus transport visit V/Line http://www.vline.com.au/index.aspx?sid=0

For Suburban trains visit  http://www.metrotrains.com.au/

Updates on family and friends

Concerned about family or friends call the National Registry and Inquiry Service 1800 727 077

If travelling, listen to ABC Local Radio, community radio stations

ABC Local Radio Frequencies:

Recovery Assistance - Useful Contacts (post-crisis)

Our Community

Our Community has packaged up in one place all the various ways people can help out and give to people affected by the Victorian bushfires through our Giving Centre - which is proudly supported by our alliance partner Westpac Bank. The page describes where to:

Donate Money (Online, at Banks & Australia Post Offices);

Donate Time;

Donate Blood;

Donate Clothes or Furniture;

Donate Blankets;

Help Animals; and more!

The page is at www.ourcommunity.com.au/bushfirehelp

Victorian Bushfire Information Line

For: emergency payment information, counselling, offers of assistance.

Ph: 1800 240 667

Website: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/emergency/current-events/bushfire

Centrelink

For: emergency payment eligibility and information.

Ph: 180 2211

Website: www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/emergency/vic_bushfires.htm

Australian Red Cross

For: Victorian Bushfire Appeal 2009 - donations of money, blood and essential items such as food and clothing

Ph: 1800 811 700

Website: www.redcross.org.au

Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation Bushfire Appeal 2009

For: donations

Ph: 03 9633 0000

Website: www.lmcf.org.au

Other charities – Salvation Army, Brotherhood of St Laurence, St Vincent de Paul

For: donations of clothes and household goods

Websites: www.salvationarmy.org.au, www.bsl.org.au, www.vinnies.org.au

Community Relief Centres

For a list of Emergency Relief Centres: www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/emergency/vic_bushfires.htm

Black Saturday, 7 February 2009

Victoria's bushfire tragedy

Like all Victorians, the tourism industry is shocked and saddened at the devastation wreaked by the bushfires across the State. We extend our deepest sympathies to all those who have lost loved ones, and in particular our thoughts are with those that have also lost their tourism livelihoods. click here to read the full release

Victoria's attractions supporting the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund

Many Victorian communities have suffered terribly in recent weeks from the effects of bushfires of unprecedented ferocity. As a result, Victoria’s tourism attractions have banded together to do their bit as an industry to support these communities and individuals that have been severely impacted by the bushfires. 

On Monday 9th March (Labour Day holiday), many attractions will donate the day’s general admissions takings towards the Red Cross’ Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund. Tourism Victoria supported this initiative - see attached

$51M help for businesses damaged or destroyed by bushfires

The Commonwealth and the Victorian Governments are standing by businesses directly damaged or destroyed by the bushfires, with the $ 51 million first stage of a joint package to assist small businesses focusing on subsidised low-interest loans, business assistance grants and business re-start mentors.

Read the full press release here - http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/premier/$51m-help-for-businesses-damaged-or-destroyed-by-bushfires.html

Further information on the assistance package including the eligibility criteria is available from Business Victoria at www.business.vic.gov.au or by phone on 13 22 15.

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