Zeehan Bushfire Mitigation Planning

West Coast Council has welcomed work by the Tasmania Fire Service to develop a Community Bushfire Mitigation Plan for Zeehan.

“Creation of this Plan will provide Zeehan residents with some confidence that in the event of a bushfire there has been adequate planning to ensure the protection of people, assets and other things valuable to the community,” West Coast Mayor Phil Vickers stated.

The Tasmania Fire Service has identified Zeehan as being a high priority bushfire-prone community. The Community Bushfire Mitigation Plan will be added to other protection planning already completed for the town, including a Community Bushfire Protection Plan and a Bushfire Response Plan.

“The Mitigation Plan will take a local-level focus in reducing bushfire risk for Zeehan,” Lyell Dean from the Tasmania Fire Service said, “A detailed field-based survey of landscape features, bushfire fuels and important community assets and infrastructure will be undertaken as part of the planning process.”

West Coast Council’s role in emergency management is one of leadership, support and fostering partnerships which will be vital to the successful development of the Mitigation Plan.

“Council, along with other key agencies, will be working in close consultation with TFS throughout this process and we encourage Zeehan residents to be involved in the process where possible, through community meetings and providing local information,” Mayor Vickers said.

The Zeehan Community Bushfire Protection Plan is available via the TFS website at www.fire.tas.gov.au, with emergency management information and resources available on this website and at Council's website. A letter detailing the process will be delivered to Zeehan residents this week.

Letter to Zeehan residents: Letter to Zeehan residents regarding bushfire mitigation planning(249 kb)