This year we had it covered, with printed signs outside fire stations in Nillumbik Shire, variable message boards (VMB) from CFA HQ, VicRoads and The City of Whittlesea, plus the magnetic plates for CFA and council vehicles.
From left to right. Norman Golgerth Nillumbik council, David Foster City Whittlesea, Ash Deans VicRoads, Paul Elso CFA, Peter Clarke Nillumbik Mayor. Michael Chapman CFA, Rohan Thornton. CFA Photographer Kristie Richmond.
One of the most important messages to get out to our communities was 'Fire restrictions are in force'. The number of illegal burns and fires in Whittlesea Diamond Valley Group and Nillumbik Group areas reduced dramatically this year largely because of education and communication.
We have had a joint approach from CFA, VicRoads, Nillumbik Shire Council and The City of Whittlesea, across Nillumbik and Whittlesea Diamond Valley groups.
The City of Whittlesea restrictions came in first and they had their VMB out in a prominent position on Plenty Road, Whittlesea, advising the community.
As soon as the commencement date of fire restrictions in Nillumbik was advised, the Nillumbik Council put out a VMB and 50 large signboards outside fire stations and in other prominent locations.
Through the Municipal Fire Management Planning Committee (MFMPC) meetings, VicRoads offered Whittlesea Diamond Valley and Nillumbik groups two VMBs each to be strategically located around the municipalities. These locations were chosen by the brigades and were moved every two weeks.
This year, CFA HQ again had two VMBs moving around the two groups.
The final piece of the puzzle is magnetic plates on CFA and some council vehicles saying, 'Fire restrictions now in force'. The magnetic plates are mobile bill boards out in the community to reinforce a consistent message.
This is the first time all organisations have joined forces to enhance community safety and make a big impact on our communities. It's a very powerful message and rather difficult to miss.
We would especially like to thank VicRoads for its VMBs. We didn't expect them but they have made a huge difference, keeping the communities informed and fire safe. VicRoads made managing of the VMBs very simple and gave ownership to the brigades while they were in their brigade area.
We would also like to thank Nillumbik Shire Council and The City of Whittlesea for their cooperation again this fire season, and CFA HQ and District 14 for making the VMBs available again this year.
We are looking forward to all the stakeholders getting together in August to plan for the 2018-19 fire season.
The moral of the story is when we all get together with a single message it works.
Michael Chapman, Whittlesea Diamond Valley Group