Thousands of Victorian students will be safer this summer with the Andrews Labor Government making sure schools in the state’s highest fire danger areas are better prepared for bushfires. Acting Premier and Minister for Education James Merlino today inspected Billanook Primary School in the Dandenong Ranges, which will have its bushfire shelter area audited and upgraded under the $10 million program. “We’re making sure Victorian students living in high bushfire risk areas are safer at school with these vital bushfire safety upgrades.” Mr. Merlino commented “Every Victorian government school has a place to shelter from bushfires as a last resort, and this program will make sure the shelters at 200 schools in the highest fire risk areas are even safer.”
Mr. Merlino explained that the fire shelter areas at 200 government schools in high-risk areas around the state will be upgraded under the program, including vegetation removal, gutter cleaning, and the installation of gutter guards, door and window fire shutters, water tanks and sprinklers. Bushfire preparation audits have already been completed at 51 high-priority schools and work is underway to make sure they are bushfire ready for the first day of term one, 2017. Forty more schools will have their shelter areas audited next month, with the final 109 school audits completed by June.
“Children are in school at a critical time of the year when it comes to fire risk in Victoria, and these very practical measures have the potential to protect children when they need it most.” Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley commented.
Mr. Lapsley explained that these bushfire safety upgrades – combined with the newly funded school emergency SMS service and existing school emergency plans like closing on Code Red days and off-site evacuation protocols – mean students in Victoria’s high bushfire risk areas are safer at school.

The 200 schools receiving bushfire safety upgrades