Quarrying on Code Red Fire Danger Rating Days
JOHN MITAS, DPI, Earth Resources, General Manager Minerals & Extractive Operations reports on the issue that mining, prospecting and quarrying is not allowed in State forest on Code Red Fire Danger Rating days.
ON days of Code Red Fire Danger Rating, State forests and forest parks are closed to the public. Everyone, including permit holders, licensees, lessees and other people cannot enter a State forest or park where a Code Red forecast applies. On a Code Red day the safest place to be is away from high risk bushfire areas.
Mining, prospecting and quarrying operations that occur within State forest must not allow any employee, agent or contractor to work in State forest on a day of Code Red Fire Danger Rating. To do so may incur penalties and possibly affect liability if an occupational health and safety incident occurs. Arrangements should be made in advance to allow operations to be left safely, securely and unmanned.
DSE is responsible for closing access to State forests and forest parks on days of Code Red Fire Danger Rating. DSE closes access to State forests and forest parks on Code Red days by declaring them public safety zones under the Safety on Public Land Act 2004.
Exemptions for prescribed mines
There are certain groups of people who are exempt from Code Red requirements. If you are someone who works at a prescribed mine or travels to or from a prescribed mine located within State forest, you may be allowed access to State forest on days of Code Red Fire Danger Rating.
For an exemption to apply, it must be a prescribed mine as defined by regulation 5.3.3 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007. The prescribed mine must also have an approved work plan, as defined by section 40 of the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990, and an emergency plan that addresses the risk of bushfires and has been prepared according to regulation 5.3.34 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007.
What is a Code Red Fire Danger Rating day?
The Fire Danger Rating (see Figure 1) predicts how a fire would behave if one started, including how difficult it would be to put out. The higher the Fire Danger Rating, the more dangerous the weather conditions and the more difficulty for emergency services to put a bushfire out if one started.
The highest Fire Danger Rating is Code Red. Days of Code Red fire risk have the worst conditions for a bush or grass fire. Leaving a high risk area the night before a Code Red day occurs, or early in the day, is the safest option.
How do I find out whether a Code Red Fire Danger Rating day is forecast?
Fire Danger Ratings are forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology each day during a fire season for each of Victoria’s nine forecast districts (see Figure 2). Th e forecasts are provided for the following four days. A Code Red day is declared one day before it applies.
During the fire season, the Fire Danger Rating will feature in weather forecasts, broadcast on radio and TV and appear in some newspapers. It can also be found on the CFA (www.cfa.vic.gov.au), DSE (www.dse.vic.gov.au) and Bureau of Meteorology (www.bom.gov.au) web pages, or by calling the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667.
Will I receive a warning from DSE that a Code Red Fire Danger Rating day is forecast?
Due to the size and geographic spread of Victoria’s parks and forests, DSE will not be able to provide individual warnings to all people and work sites within State forests and forest parks on a Code Red day. Gated entries will be closed at relevant parks or visitor sites.
However, it is not possible for all parks and forests to be gated or fenced off as these are vast areas of land with roads running through them that may be required for emergency management activities.
How do I find out if I’m in State forest?
If you are unsure whether you work within State forest, you can check with DSE’s Forest Explorer online map. The online map can be found by:
- Visiting the DSE Forests home page (www.dse.vic.gov.au/forests)
- Click on “Forest Maps” located in the left hand column
- Click on “Forest Explorer Online” link to launch Forest Explorer
- Tick the “Public Land” box located on the right hand side of the screen (within the “Map Backgrounds” folder)
- Click on the “Refresh Map” button (bottom right) to refresh the map
The coloured areas of the map show the categories of public land in Victoria (including State forest). To see which colour represents State forest, click on the “Legend” tab at the top of the screen. The map legend will then appear on the right hand side of the screen. You can use the zoom function to find your location on the map.
The above article is an extract from the November 2010 DPI Newsletter and is available at the following link http://new.dpi.vic.gov.au/earth-resources/whats-new/minerals-and-extractiveoperations-newsletter
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