2009 Bushfire response and recovery

Crisis Essential Guide to help tourism operators this bushfire season

On October 14th 2009 the Victorian Government launched a guide for tourism businesses to assist in preparing, responding and recovering from events like bushfires.

The Premier John Brumby, Tourism and Major Events Minister Tim Holding and Police and Emergency Services Minister Bob Cameron launched the Crisis Essentials Guide in Aireys Inlet as part of Fire Action Week.   Download your copy here, or visit www.tourism.vic.gov.au.

Mr Brumby said the guide would be available to all Victorian tourism businesses ahead of the approaching fire season.

"The task for us all is to work together to prepare our State for a fire season that's shaping up to be every bit as bad or worse than the season we've just experienced," Mr Brumby said.

"This guide gives clear and decisive information about what tourism operators need to do to protect their business in the event of a crisis. It will be supported by a series of briefings and workshops for tourism businesses located in high fire risk areas.

"We want to ensure the safety of all Victorians and this guide is just one more way that we can arm tourism operators with the information they require to actively respond when in need.

"There are just 13 days until the start of the fire season and after 13 years of drought conditions remain dry across Victoria, despite the recent rain."

The guide provides advice and information to tourism operators including:

• How to identify, assess and manage risks;
• Information on developing a brief plan that outlines how to respond in an emergency or bushfire situation; and
• Information on the importance and best ways to communicate with existing and potential customers.
• How to ensure business continuity immediately following an emergency situation.

"Bushfires can have a profound affect on a tourism business whether it directly impacts upon the business or simply occurs within the same region. Tourism regions are vulnerable to public perceptions of health and safety," Mr Brumby said.

Tourism Victoria will also commence a campaign this summer aimed at raising visitor awareness of the bushfire safety risks in Victoria and understanding of what they need to consider when planning a holiday in high-risk bushfire areas.

Mr Holding said experience from previous bushfires in Victoria or other natural disasters is that we need to support tourism operators to respond and recover from these events.

"Unfortunately many tourism operators around Victoria have experienced bushfires and have witnessed first hand the impact that they can have on their business even if their property is not directly affected by the fires," he said.

"By planning for bushfires in advance we can limit the impact it has on these businesses and jobs in the tourism industry and be ready for the return of tourists to these areas."

Mr Cameron urged all Victorians to get involved in Fire Action Week initiatives.

"I urge all Victorians, no matter where you live or what your fire experience has been, to get fire ready - identify your risk, prepare your fire plan, clean up your properties and get involved in your local fire preparation activities," Mr Cameron said.

The ‘Crisis Essentials' guide will support the more comprehensive ‘Open for Business' crisis management publication which will be available in late October. 

To assist you with preparation and planning the CFA's Fire Danger Rating Brochure is available to download here and from www.cfa.vic.gov.au.    

$10 million for tourism bushfire recovery

The Australian and Victorian Governments have announced details of the $10 million Victorian Bushfire Tourism Industry Support Package to assist regions economically affected by the February bushfires.

The package provides $3 million for the enhancement and redevelopment of tourism infrastructure, $1 million to support regional events and $6 million for marketing of the bushfire affected areas.

The funding has already supported a number of key events in the affected regions including a number of High Country events.

The Victorian Bushfire Tourism Industry Support Package will also provide:

• $2.2 million for Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges marketing
• $1.5 million for High Country/Australian Alps marketing
• $1.5 million for Gippsland marketing
• $600,000 for Murrindindi marketing
• $100,000 for Goldfields marketing
• $100,000 for Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges marketing
• $50,000 for Grampians marketing
• $50,000 for outdoor education 
• $30,000 for the Australian Alps Mapping Project

Federal Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson said the assistance package was already working to deliver economic benefits to the affected communities and attract visitors back to the regions.

"The affected regions have also been assisted in marketing their strengths to key international markets at the Australian Tourism Exchange in June," Mr Ferguson added.

Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Tim Holding encouraged people to support the regions through continued visitation to the affected areas.

"Spring is a fantastic time of year for regional Victoria and there are so many activities, festivals and attractions on offer in bushfire affected regions," Mr Holding said.

Now the first phase of bushfire tourism recovery activities have been finalised (February 2009 - June 2009), the second phase of recovery activities for the High Country will commence.  Victoria's High Country is in the final stage of receiving their bushfire recovery allocation for tourism bushfire recovery marketing activities, effectively commencing 1st July 2009.   

High Country Marketing 

North East Victoria Tourism, in conjunction with the regional High Country Bushfire Response and Recovery Committee, has finalised the Bushfire Recovery Strategic Plan.  The strategy has been signed off by the National Bushfire Taskforce.  2009 / 2011 recovery marketing activities are now in full swing.

This strategy takes into account and aligns itself with the following documents:

• NEVTi Regional Marketing Plan 2009-12 (pending)
• Regional Tourism Action Plan (Tourism Victoria)
• Victorian Alpine resorts Nature Based Tourism Strategy 2009 (BART)
• Australian Alps National Landscapes Master Plan (pending)

The strategy outlines how recovery funding will be utilised to provide support and business development that will allow our region and industry to rebuild from this natural disaster.  It also hopes to support industry through the current global financial crisis by supporting new initiatives and emerging products to establish themselves in the marketplace. 

It is part of North East Victoria Tourism Inc's role to assist in our region's response to, and recovery from, this natural disaster.  NEVT is working closely with Tourism Victoria and industry in our region to coordinate effective recovery strategies and initiatives.  NEVT will coordinate the implementation of the High Country Bushfire Recovery Strategy. 

High Country Bushfire Response & Recovery Committee  

The High Country Bushfire Response and Recovery Group (HCBRRG) convened for its initial meeting in Wangaratta on Friday 20^th February 2009.

Made up of key stakeholders from industry and local government across the High Country, the group was charged with developing a strategy that will enable the tourism industry of North East Victoria  recuperate from these tragic bushfires. The board is made up of the following:

• Will Flamsteed - Chair and spokesperson - Will was Executive Officer with NEVT at the time of the bushfires.  Since then Will has moved on to work with Falls Creek Resort Management.  For continuity and to utilise the valuable experience Will has in bushfire response and recovery, he has continue to chair this group, but has been working closely with Susannah Doyle (new) Executive Officer of NEVT on the bushfire recovery strategy.
• Dean Belle (Mansfield Provender and Councillor)
• Libby Bain (Alpine Shire)
• Stuart Perry (Indigo Shire)
• Lisa Baylser (Parks Victoria)
• Nerida Kerr (RDV)
• David Chitty (Adventure Operator and Chair Outdoor Education Group)
• Catherine Smith (Beechworth Chamber of Commerce and Carriage Motor Inn)

Keep informed

Visit Tourism Victoria's corporate website for the latest information and useful links regarding bushfire recovery and response.