Press Releases

Deputy Premier and Minister for Emergency Services Peter Ryan today urged Victorians to be vigilant against fire this winter when the likelihood of house fires can increase by up to 20 per cent.

Mr Ryan joined a young burns victim at the Royal Children’s Hospital burns unit to officially launch the joint CFA and MFB Winter Fire Safety campaign and warn Victorians about the high fire safety risks this time of year.

“The Royal Children’s Hospital burns unit is a stark reminder of the human cost of fire ,” Mr Ryan said.

“In 2011 six people tragically lost their lives in residential fires in Victoria, three more than in the year prior. There were 1,04 2residential fires in total last winter causing $20 million worth of estimated damage.

“This winter the CFA and MFB have a very clear message to Victorians – they have an individual responsibility to be vigilant to help minimise the fire risk.”

Mr Ryan said unattended cooking remained the single biggest cause of domestic fires throughout the year with more than one-third of residential fires started in the kitchen.

“The number of fires in bedrooms, caused by heating equipment, also increases dramatically during the winter months, while blocked chimneys can also be a hazard,” Mr Ryan said.

Mr Ryan said the Winter Fire Safety campaign would use a combination of advertising and educational materials that focused on fire prevention in the home.

“The CFA and MFB will be targeting key community groups including schools and maternal child health centres as well as vulnerable groups such as the elderly,” Mr Ryan said.

The CFA and MFB are asking everyone across the state to start their own winter safety campaign by being vigilant, planning ahead and:

• checking that the smoke alarms in your house work;
• plan how you would get out of your house if there was a fire; and
• be aware of fire risks in the home.

For more information visit www.homefiresafety.com.au.

Media contact: Sonia Heath 0413 485 526  Read More

Fish Creek and District Fire Brigade will honour its deceased members on a commemorative rock, unveiled today by Deputy Premier and Member for Gippsland South Peter Ryan. Read More

A $500,000 project to link two national parks in Gippsland via a walking track was officially opened by Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan. Read More

Deputy Premier and Minister for Emergency Services Peter Ryan launched a new campaign today urging Victorians to avoid risk-taking behaviour such as driving, swimming or playing in floodwater.

Mr Ryan said the important initiative was part of the Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) FloodSafe Week campaign running from 30 April to 6 May and would encourage flood risk awareness and preparedness.

“Floodwater is dangerous, you don’t know what you are getting into,” Mr Ryan said.

“We have seen first-hand the devastating effects flooding has had on our community and risk-taking behaviour like driving, swimming or playing in floodwater is just asking for trouble.”

Mr Ryan said from earlier this year widespread flooding had isolated communities, inundated homes and closed hundreds of roads in one of the wettest periods on record for some regions since the late 1800s.

“In the last 18 months alone, both regional and metropolitan Victoria has been hit by extreme and unprecedented rainfall, causing some of the worst floods in the state’s history,” Mr Ryan said.”

Mr Ryan said during the last three major flooding events in Victoria calls for help to the SES jumped ten-fold.

“The message is clear – don’t be fooled. Floodwater may look innocent and placid on the surface, but underneath it is a completely different story. It can change in a minute without warning,” Mr Ryan said.

“Driving through floodwater is the number one cause of adult deaths during floods and playing or swimming in floodwater is just as dangerous, and is the number one cause of child and teenage deaths during floods.

“Aside from the risk of death, floodwater is full of churning toxic waste and hidden debris such as barbed wire and tree branches.

“Even shallow water has enough force to wash your car completely off the road. Once you have lost traction, there is nothing you can do. You can become trapped within seconds.”

Mr Ryan said a new Victorian Government-funded advertising campaign would feature during FloodSafe Week to highlight the hidden dangers lurking within floodwater.

“The catch phrase of this campaign is ‘You don’t know what you’re getting into’, highlighting dangers and targetting risk-taking behaviour such as driving, riding, or playing in floodwater,” Mr Ryan said.

In conjunction with the campaign, SES volunteers will hold events in and around local communities to raise awareness about the dangers of floodwater.

For more information about FloodSafe Week go to www.ses.vic.gov.au.

Media contact: Clare Siddins 0429 507 541  Read More

Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Peter Ryan joined Victoria Police and community representatives in Elmore today to celebrate the official opening of the town’s new $400,000 police station. Read More

Almost $12 million is on offer to emergency services groups for the purchase of vital resources such as rescue equipment, trucks and facility upgrades, Deputy Premier and Member for Gippsland South Peter Ryan said today

Mr Ryan said the Coalition Government’s $11.95 million Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program was offering grants of up to $100,000 to ensure local volunteers are equipped to respond to emergencies and natural disasters.

“Emergency services volunteers play a crucial role in protecting lives and property and the Victorian Coalition Government is pleased to provide record funding to boost the capability of local volunteers to respond to emergencies,” Mr Ryan said.

“From surf lifesavers to fire fighters, our volunteers are the backbone of Victoria’s emergency services, so we want to ensure they have the best equipment available to help them carry on their vital work.

“By committing more money for equipment and upgrades than ever before, the Coalition Government is ensuring our emergency services have the resources they need to continue their vital work for the community.”

Mr Ryan said the grants may be used to pay for upgrades to group facilities or for the equipment needed to assist in emergencies, such as trucks, trailers and generators.

“The VESEP will also contribute $2 for every $1 of funding raised by local volunteer groups,” Mr Ryan said.

The VESEP grants program is open to members of the Country Fire Authority, Victoria State Emergency Service, Life Saving Victoria, the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association and other eligible volunteer groups.

Each agency will distribute specific guidelines on selection criteria, application forms and about application lodgement dates to its members and applications will be assessed by a panel of representatives from government and emergency services organisations.

Further information is available from www.justice.vic.gov.au, or email vesep@justice.vic.gov.au.

Media contact: Ben Bulmer 0437 108 870 Read More

Additional assistance will be made available for flood-affected farms, businesses and communities in two Victorian communities, Commonwealth Attorney-General Nicola Roxon and Victorian Deputy Premier and Minister for Police and Emergency Services Peter Ryan announced today.

Under Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA), flood-affected primary producers, small businesses and not-for-profit organisations in the local government areas of Towong and Indigo can access up to $25,000 for clean-up and recovery grants.

These grants are already available in Greater Shepparton and Moira.

“We want to help these local economies recover as quickly as possible. The grants will be of enormous benefit to help farms, businesses and communities by funding clean-up activities, grants to community service organisations, replacement of damaged equipment, stock and other general repairs,” Ms Roxon said.

Mr Ryan said the latest flood support came on top of existing joint Commonwealth- Victorian government NDRRA funding already announced.

“It is important that these communities receive the assistance they need to get back on their feet as quickly as possible,” Mr Ryan said.

“Both governments are committed to giving a much needed boost to those eligible small businesses and primary producers directly impacted by the floods.

“As more impact data becomes available, the Victorian Coalition Government will continue to work with the Commonwealth to establish which additional local government areas have been severely affected and may be eligible for the $25,000 clean up and restoration grants.”

These grants are in addition to the personal hardship and distress assistance and the funding to councils for the restoration of essential public assets and certain counter disaster operations already provided under the NDRRA for these floods.

Applications for these grants can be made by calling Rural Finance Corporation Victoria on (03) 5448 2600 or visiting www.ruralfinance.com.au.

“The Commonwealth Government, through Emergency Management Australia, will work closely with the Victorian Government to ensure that the affected communities have all the support they require during this difficult period,” Ms Roxon said.

For more information on assistance available please visit www.disasterassist.gov.au.  Read More