Victorians planning to rebuild on sites assessed as BAL-FZ* now have the choice of five roofing systems tested to meet the new Australian Standard.

Building Commissioner, Tony Arnel, welcomed the results of the testing and encouraged building designers and builders to familiarise themselves with the roofing systems to assist and advise bushfire affected communities to rebuild their homes.

“We are pleased to have a range of roofing systems that meet the rigorous testing under the new Standard. It will give people the confidence of knowing that these new roofing systems are suitable for those areas that have been assessed as Bushfire Attack Level-FZ,” Mr Arnel said.

“This independent research and testing is a great example of industry partners working together for the greater benefit of the Victorian community.”

The new roofing systems tested to meet the new Australian Standard are:

• The TBA Firefly Roof System.
The tested system incorporates an internal timber truss system where a Firefly Plus 60 blanket and other components are fitted over the roof area, fascia and eaves.
The system released covers valleys, barge, hips, gables and the basic roof structure and it is understood that this system may be able to be used with other roofing components.
For more information, visit http://www.tbafirefly.com.au

• Roof tiling systems developed by the Roofing Tile Association of Australia.
As well as the basic roof test, the RTAA developed and tested other components.
The system released covers valleys, barge, hips, gables and the basic roof structure.
The development of these roof systems was funded by all of the manufacturers of roof tiles across Australia.
For more information, visit http://www.rooftile.com.au

• Several systems based around roofing made from Bluescope Steel Limited COLORBOND® steel, roof battens made from TRUECORE® steel or timber, fire-resistant insulating board or plywood and timber trusses.
These were developed in conjunction with Promat Australia Limited and Forest and Wood Products Australia Limited.
For more information, visit http://www.bluescopesteel.com.au

• Promat Australia Limited’s main roof solution using PROMATECT® 40 Mineral Bound Magnesia board.
These were developed in conjunction with Bluescope Steel Limited and Forest and Wood Products Australia Limited.
For more information, visit http://www.promat-ap.com

• Forest and Wood Products Australia Limited’s Roofing Solutions systems as developed in conjunction with Bluescope Steel Limited and Promat Australia Pty Ltd.
For more information, visit http://www.timber.org.au

The Victorian Government introduced the new residential bushfire construction building Standard, AS 3959-2009 in March 2009 responding to the need to better protect our bushfire affected communities.

“This is a great milestone for all those families and homeowners wishing to rebuild after the devastating bushfires and paves the way for these people to have a choice of building systems that contribute to their safety in the future while providing flexibility in design,” said Mr Arnel.

* The new Standard sets out six Bushfire Attack Levels (BAL) with corresponding construction requirements. BAL-FZ is the highest Bushfire Attack Level.

For further information please contact Anne Pavey from the Commissions on:
03-9285-6474 or visit www.buildingcommission.com.au

Victorians who choose to build a bunker or private bushfire shelter on their property will be required to adhere to new regulations.

Planning Minister Justin Madden today announced interim regulations and an accreditation process for construction of bunkers or private bushfire shelters which will come into effect immediately and provide clarity to Victorians until proposed new national are introduced next year.

The Victorian Building Commission has worked in partnership with the Building Regulations Advisory Committee to develop the regulation and accreditation process.

“It is absolutely vital that people considering building a bunker or private bushfire shelter are aware of the risks and requirements that they need to meet for such a bunker to be considered a safer place of last resort “ Mr Madden said. 

“Bunkers or shelters cannot be relied upon to save lives.

“Victorians living in bushfire-prone areas should have a Bushfire Survival Plan and be practising it. We understand that there are some people who are considering installing bunkers or private bushfire shelters.

“That’s why we are putting in place interim regulations to provide Victorians who do decide to build a bunker or private bushfire shelter with a clear set of guidelines they need to adhere to. This is about ensuring people in bushfire-prone areas have all of the information and are aware of conditions they need to meet.

“If people do choose to construct a bunker or private bushfire shelter they will be required to obtain a building permit and adhere to regulations and an accreditation process.”  

Under the accreditation system, manufacturers are able to apply to the Building Regulations Advisory Committee for accreditation of their products. 

The Committee will consider the application taking into account expert and test reports and appraisals. Products accredited by the Committee will receive a Building Regulations Advisory Committee Certificate of Accreditation.

“Our Government and agencies are rolling-out significant new measures and record resources for the firefighting effort – there has never been a greater effort to make our state as fire-safe and as fire-ready as possible,” Mr Madden said. 

Mr Madden said in order to obtain a permit to build a fire bunker or private shelter residents would need to purchase a bushfire bunker or shelter which is accredited or satisfy a building surveyor that it meets the requirements contained in the regulations.

Consumer Affairs Minister Tony Robinson said Consumer Affairs Victoria would work with the Building Regulations Advisory Committee and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to monitor the market to ensure consumers were not misled.

“We live in one of the most fire-prone areas in the world and we all need to work together to make our state as fire-safe and as fire-ready as possible.”

Fore more information on being Fire Ready visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au for more information on the bushfire bunker or private bushfire shelter registration and accreditation process visit www.buildingcommission.com.au

Hundreds of leaders from the 78 communities affected by the tragic 2009 Victorian bushfires were officially recognised today during a special function at Government House.

The Premier John Brumby joined the Governor of Victoria, Professor David De Kretser and representatives from the Rudd Government for the official event to recognise the hard work and dedication of 350 community members involved in driving the recovery effort.

In the aftermath of the fires, the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority (VBRRA) supported the Community Recovery Committees (CRCs) in every community affected to drive the local recovery and rebuilding priorities for their communities.

Each committee includes representatives from the community and together with council members from the 21 bushfire-affected local councils worked with VBRRA to identify visions for their towns which were backed by $193 million from Commonwealth and Victorian government to deliver rebuilding priorities.

Mr Brumby congratulated the Community Recovery Committees and representatives from the local councils for the immense effort and dedication to working with and supporting their communities in the difficult rebuilding process. 

“In the days and weeks after the tragic fires, Victorians united in their grief but also united in their determination to recover and rebuild,” Mr Brumby said.

“Today is an opportunity to publicly thank all of those involved, particularly the CRC members who came together after the fires despite their own losses, to represent and support their communities and coordinate local recovery efforts.
 
“CRC members worked tirelessly over many months to develop long-term Community Recovery Plans which identify priorities for reconstruction and recovery, many of which were incorporated into the Rebuilding Together Plan for statewide reconstruction and recovery.”

Parliamentary Secretary for the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction, Bill Shorten, said the government would continue to listen to the needs of affected communities.

“The recovery and reconstruction effort is the largest Australia has ever faced and the role the CRCs have played in this effort has been instrumental,” Mr Shorten said.

“Representatives of these committees and local councils are to be commended for their contribution to the significant support they have provided their communities as they regenerate, rebuild and recovery.” 

VBRRA chair, Christine Nixon, said she was looking forward to continuing to work with CRCs as the rebuilding effort continued.

“Over the next several months we will be working closely with CRCs to implement the projects and initiatives identified in the Rebuilding Together Plan and to assist in the funding of other priorities,” she said.

“There have been many unsung heroes of the Victorian bushfires including the many CRC members who have been so dedicated and worked so hard for the future of their communities.”

Fire authorities are undertaking record fuel breaks around key water catchments to protect Melbourne’s water supply from the bushfire threat this season.

Crews are creating over 500 kilometres of fuel breaks around forested water supply catchments with 420kms completed so far and a further 80kms currently being built. 

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Works commenced today on the $7 million stage one building of the Marysville Community Learning, Health and Recreation Hub in a significant step forward for the fire-devastated town.

Education Minister Bronwyn Pike and Commonwealth Parliamentary Secretary for Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction Bill Shorten today turned the first sod on stage one of the hub, the town’s new primary school and early learning centre.

“We will continue to stand by communities as they recover and rebuild their homes, communities and lives following the worst natural disaster in our nation’s history,” Ms Pike said.

“We know that Marysville families want their children to return to school here as soon as possible and we’ve been working closely with the community to progress this important project.

“That’s why today is such a significant milestone for the Marysville community who have worked so hard to develop a new vision for their town.

“This is not just about rebuilding the school – we are building a brand new community centre which will provide spaces for social and arts activities, meetings, functions and sports and recreation.

“It will be home to the new school as well as a kindergarten and children’s centre and health centre, providing top-quality education opportunities and health services for Marysville families.”

Ms Pike said stage one would involve construction of a primary school and early learning centre and a maternal and child health consultation room. The primary school would be ready for students to move back in term two next year.

A shared foyer, administration, staff and resource areas will service both the new school and early learning centre, with all facilities under the one roof and linked to the community hub. Contract Control Services will build the first stage of the new Marysville Community Learning, Health and Recreation Hub.

The $7 million stage one works on Marysville Community Learning, Health and Recreation Hub forms a key part of the $193 million Rebuilding Together Plan which is a joint Commonwealth and Victorian Government package to drive recovery in communities across the state, announced by the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the Premier John Brumby in September.

“The Rudd Government is committed to working with the State Government and VBRRA to rebuild Marysville in the way the residents want it rebuilt,” Mr Shorten said.

“We want to make sure that the residents of Marysville have the infrastructure they need for a bright, prosperous future.

“This Learning Hub will help deliver the best education possible to the children of Marysville, as well as providing other community facilities.”

Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Maxine Morand said the hub would form the heart of the Marysville community.

“This project is about more than rebuilding – it is about providing Marysville families with high quality facilities that they can benefit from and enjoy in their community,” Ms Morand said.

Member for Seymour Mr Ben Hardman said there are great benefits in co-locating these services close to each other.

“It will mean greater convenience for families accessing services and close integration between services, for example, having health services provided to children in the preschool and primary school,” Mr Hardman said.

The $193 million Rebuilding Together Plan allocated $5.2 million in new funding for the hub, building on $1.8 million already allocated for the primary school.

A new $14 million Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund package will provide support to people who lost immediate family in the 2009 Victorian fires and suffering financial hardship with a new scholarship scheme to encourage students affected to pursue their studies.

Appeal Fund chair Pat McNamara and Premier John Brumby today announced $10.9 million for a Compassionate Financial Support scheme to assist those who lost immediate family in the fires and $3 million to provide higher education scholarships to young people affected by the fires.

Under the Compassionate Financial Support package immediate family members of the 173 people who tragically died in the Black Saturday and Gippsland fires and are in financial hardship as a result, may be eligible to receive an immediate grant of $25,000. Some individuals who are suffering extreme financial hardship may then be eligible for a further needs-based payment of up to $50,000.

Mr McNamara said the support for the immediate family of the bereaved recognised that some families lost their primary breadwinner or had reduced capacity to earn an income because of trauma suffered post the Black Saturday fires.

“You can never compensate someone for losing a husband, a wife, a child or a parent,” Mr McNamara said.

“This new scheme recognises that many people who lost loved ones in the bushfires are not only suffering emotional distress, but have in some cases been faced with large debts and little capacity to address that situation.

“It is about trying to alleviate some of the anxiety associated with the financial hardship some of these people face and helps to assist in the long-term recovery process.”

Under the new $3 million Scholarship Program, scholarships of $15,000 per year will be provided for 66 students from towns and communities directly impacted by the fires who are financially constrained to undertake tertiary or vocational education from 2010 and beyond.

The scholarships will assist those students whose current financial capacity to undertake tertiary study is limited and who have the academic performance and ability to complete their chosen course of study. Further scholarships for students currently in years 10 and 11 will be considered by the Appeal Fund in coming months. 

Mr Brumby congratulated the Bushfire Appeal Fund for its decision and said the scholarships would encourage more students in bushfire-affected areas to undertake tertiary education by assisting them with costs such as text books, transport, living and other expenses.

“Victorians, Australians and people from across the world have donated so generously to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund and this latest decision strikes the right balance between targeting support to where it is needed most and reflecting the generosity in which the funds were donated,” Mr Brumby said.

“These scholarships will provide more young people with a great opportunity to consider taking their studies further and alleviate the financial burden that may have been impacting on their decisions about their plans for 2010. “ 

Immediate family members, such as spouses and parents, who received the initial $10,000 payment as part of the $1.7 million Compassion and Bereavement package earlier this year to assist with urgent and immediate costs may be eligible for the Compassionate Financial Support.

In cases where the family lost more than one family member, a single payment will be made but the Fund will consider special circumstances for additional support on a case-by-case basis.

Children and young adults who lost one or both parents in the bushfires are already being supported through the Bereaved Children payment.

“There will be many people who will not be eligible, but are no doubt suffering because of their loss,” Mr McNamara said.

“However, the Panel felt it was important and appropriate to assist those most directly impacted by the loss. We feel this is the best way to reflect the intent of the donors who gave an unprecedented $386 million to the Fund.”

To Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund has raised $387 million and $357 million has been allocated. A further $30 million is yet to be allocated with the Fund’s focus now on initiatives that support communities to rebuild.

http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/bushfireappeal

The Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority (VBRRA) in partnership with the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) have secured funding to get Kinglake Ranges Radio up and running again.

VBRRA Chair Christine Nixon and the Federal Parliamentary Secretary for the Bushfire Recovery, Bill Shorten, today announced that almost $50,000 would be provided to secure the future of the radio station.

“The ABC established a radio station in Kinglake soon after the fires, which proved instrumental in not only providing valuable up-to-date local information in the aftermath of the fires, but valuable training to individuals in operating a radio station,” Ms Nixon said.

“The station became so important to the community, they wanted to continue to utilise their newfound skills and continue to utilise this important asset after the ABC concluded its services.”

The radio station was identified as a priority in the Kinglake Community Recovery Plan, provided to VBRRA in September.

Mr Shorten said the funding, the majority of which VBRRA had negotiated through its philanthropic donor register, would cover start-up costs including purchasing radio equipment.

“I have met with the Kinglake community and it is clear that they want the radio station to continue,” Mr Shorten said.

“The station has done a great job in keeping the community informed and lifting its spirits in the difficult months after February 7th, and will now be able to keep on helping the community as Kinglake rebuilds.”

FRRRs Chairman, the Rt Hon Ian Sinclair AC, said the Foundation was proud to support such a needed community asset which will support the whole community for the future.

He said the project was evidence of how philanthropy, communities and the Government can work together.

The grant has been made possible through the Collie Foundation from the ANZ Trustees.
Kinglake Ranges Radio has indicated it would derive its ongoing income through membership, sponsorship, fundraising and grants to cover that station’s running costs.

Members of the steering committee say that as the only dedicated radio station in the Kinglake Ranges area, they are committed to providing quality, community-based radio for citizens in the area.

The official opening of the radio station will take place on Tuesday 1 December.