By Tyler Wright
Storm debris removal works will continue in the Dandenong Ranges National Park and Silvan Reservoir catchment and some tracks in the area will be closed to the public while the works are carried out.
This comes as the sheer volume of last year’s storms continue to pose a bushfire risk in the years ahead.
Roughly 220 hectares of land within the Dandenong Ranges National Park and Silvan Reservoir were severely damaged as a result of last year’s disasters, the Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning (DELWP) said.
And in some areas, up to 90 per cent of the forest canopy is now on the forest floor.
Forest contractors, including VicForests, have been engaged to assist Forest Fire Management (FFM) Victoria in the recovery efforts due to the scale of the operation.
“Our main priority is re-establishing safe access for the public and firefighters as well as reducing longer-term bushfire risk,” FFM Victoria Regional Recovery Manager Shane Vandenborn said.
While road closures may cause an inconvenience for locals and the works may disrupt the habitat of local wildlife, Mr Vandenborn said it is done to ensure the safety of the “public, contractors and our staff while heavy machinery is in the area”.
“Removing debris from the forest floor and alongside fire access tracks will further reduce the risk of future bushfires and give firefighters safer access,” he said.
“This important work will create an overall safer environment the public can enjoy.”
Significant work has been done since June 2021 to prioritise the reopening of fire access networks and clear finer fuels, DELWP said.
