Residents of Loch Sport will officially have a place of last resort in the event of a bushfire following the establishment of a Neighbourhood Safer Place (NSP) in the community.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Bushfire Response Peter Ryan joined representatives of the Wellington Shire Council and the community to welcome the new NSP at Lions[SK1]  Park today.

Mr Ryan said Loch Sport was one of the state’s most at-risk communities and the development of an NSP had been a priority for the town.

“Loch Sport is a beautiful but particularly challenging location when it comes to bushfire risk and it is pleasing for the community to now have one more option they can include in their bushfire planning,” Mr Ryan said.

“Lions[SK2]  Park was designated by Wellington Shire Council as an NSP after an exhaustive review and investigation process involving state government, local council, the CFA and the Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee.”

Mr Ryan said the Coalition Government had provided $460,000 to the Wellington Shire Council to support the establishment of the NSP at Lions Park.

“To meet the stringent standards required of an NSP the Lions [SK3] Park site needed extensive remediation work including the removal of vegetation and bank stabilisation works,” Mr Ryan said.

Mr Ryan said the Coalition Government had committed $13 million to assist local governments in establishing NSPs and other shelter options in high-risk bushfire locations.

“Difficult locations, like Loch Sport, are in bushland environments and in many cases require extensive works to vegetation, access and egress, and sometimes infrastructure before they can be designated as an NSP,” Mr Ryan said.

“To date 212 places of last resort have been established across Victoria to increase the options available to communities for bushfire planning.

“NSPs, however, are places of last resort in the event that all other plans fail, and individuals and communities must plan ahead, understand the risks and be aware of the safest available options in the event of a bushfire,” Mr Ryan said.For more information about NSPs visit: www.saferplaces.cfa.vic.gov.au