23 November 2008
PROTECTING MELBOURNE’S CATCHMENTS FROM FIRE
Over 100 Melbourne Water personnel and a water-bombing helicopter will be on standby again this summer to protect Melbourne’s water supply catchments ahead of what has been predicted to be a season of high bushfire risk.
Melbourne Water’s Managing Director, Rob Skinner, said the organisation had a long history of bushfire readiness and was proud to form part of one of the most respected emergency response teams in the world.
“Each bushfire season, Melbourne Water works closely with the Country Fire Authority and Department of Sustainability and Environment in safeguarding about 160,000 hectares of forested catchments,” said Mr Skinner.
“Melbourne Water has more than 30 permanent, accredited fire fighters based at our depots at Wallaby Creek, Healesville, Warburton and Thomson. As in other years, we have recruited an extra 50 seasonal fire fighters and seconded about 30 office staff, all of whom are also accredited fire fighters.
“As part of our preparations with DSE, we’ve cleared 126 kilometres of existing firebreaks around the perimeter of the major catchments.
“We’ve also checked access tracks and tested essential fire-fighting equipment like the radio communication systems, slip-on fire units, pumps, fire tankers and bulldozers,” he added.
A 1400-litre water bombing helicopter, Helitack 344, is again on standby at Olinda and is designated solely to protecting the catchments,” he added.
Mr Skinner said the main long-term threat posed by fire in the catchments was the potential reduction in runoff into reservoirs caused by damage to mountain ash forests, where 70% of Melbourne’s water comes from.
“While mountain ash forests have an amazing ability to regenerate after a bushfire, this recovery can reduce the amount of water that makes it into our reservoirs for decades, which is why we take bushfire preparation so seriously.”
Mr Skinner said measures were in place to minimise any potential effects of bushfires on water supply.
“In the short-term, bushfires leave soot and ash that can be washed from the catchments into the reservoirs. To prevent this being an issue we have the ability to rapidly move water between our nine interconnected reservoirs and away from any bushfire-affected catchments,” he added.
The last major bushfire to affect Melbourne’s water supply catchments was in 1939.
Media Contact: Andrew McGinnes +613 9235 7277 +61 (0)403 930 846