By Mikayla van Loon
Some of the Yarra Ranges’ highest bushfire risk schools have been granted funds to carry out preparation works ahead of the 2024-25 summer season.
Over 330 state schools shared in $8.4 million to carry out essential maintenance work through the Bushfire Preparedness (Vegetation) Program (BPVP).
In the urban and foothills area, these schools included Billanook Primary School ($29,251), Birmingham Primary School ($31,034), Croydon Community School ($19,684), Montrose Primary School ($30,606), Mount Evelyn Primary School ($28,273), Yarra Hills Secondary College ($29,405) and Yarra Ranges Special Development School ($29,575).
These schools were selected because of their listing on the Bushfire at Risk Register (BARR).
Yarra Hills Secondary College Mount Evelyn campus principal Leighton O’Donnell said the grants ensured school grounds are safe and up to standard heading into bushfire season.
“The College uses its gymnasium as the designated Shelter-In-Place building and completes ongoing safety assessments to make it prepared for the bushfire season,” he said.
“The Department of Education allocates funds annually to ongoing safety and maintenance works. These works include gutter cleaning of leaf matter on rooftops, tree lopping and branch removal, unblocking of drain pipes and clearing of ground vegetation.
“The staff, students and local school communities are alerted to the maintenance works and are given regular education and safety training through its emergency management procedures.”
The Yarra Ranges is home to 157 schools and early childhood education centres registered on the BARR which fall into either category two or three, meaning they are at the higher end of the risk scale.
The BPVP also provides a School Support Program, where an accredited Bushfire Planning and Design consultant visits a school twice a year to help them prepare for the upcoming bushfire season while also making sure they complete a Vegetation Management Plan every three years.
“We know how devastating bushfires are and just how long-lasting their impacts can be, and that’s why we’re continuing to support schools to be as fire-ready as possible,” education minister Ben Carroll said.
“These grants will help more than 330 schools at risk of fire clear vegetation – to protect their classrooms and facilities in the event of a bushfire.”
The program was first introduced in 2018 to help schools undertake essential vegetation clearance around school buildings prior to the bushfire season and in accordance with municipal fire danger periods.
