The Fire Wise project aims to improve, share, test and demonstrate our understanding of how numerous species of indigenous plants can be retained or planted in strategic locations around the built environment, to better protect our assets from bushfire and enhance our local biodiversity.
With a mix of educational materials, seminars, property planning, seed collecting and plant propagation courses, the project will raise the profile of fire planning and ‘Fire Wise’ awareness within the community.
It will also include establishing two demonstration sites along the Great Southern Rail Trail, at Loch and Meeniyan. The demonstration sites will include a diverse mix of native Fire Wise plant species, planted in both a garden and a shelterbelt arrangement.
The Fire Wise project is spreading and adding to knowledge that grew out of some pioneering research that Lakes Entrance Community Landcare initiated in 2021. They found that many native plant species have fire-retardant and/or fire-resistant properties that make them a good choice for properties in fire-prone areas. Such plants can reduce wind speed, absorb radiant heat, and trap embers.
SGLN and Bass Coast Landcare Network are working together to on some online resources which will update the garden and shelterbelt design fact sheets developed by Lakes Entrance Community Landcare (click here to see them). The updated resources will be made available here when they are complete.
The Fire Wise Project is funded by the Australian Governments Preparing Australian Communities program in partnership with the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife (FNPW). FNPW is an environmental charity organisation, that has been assisting communities to restore and conserve Australia’s natural environment for more than 50 years.
This project will run until March 2025. To hear about events and training days sign up for our enews at the bottom of this page, keep an eye on our events calendar, or for further information contact Cassie at cassie@sgln.net.au.
This project received grant funding from the Australian Government through the Preparing Australian Communities local stream.
