Preparing local schools for the bushfire season

TO PREPARE Victorian schools for the upcoming bushfire season, the State Government is providing grants to slash vegetation growth and reduce the risk of fire.

Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale announced that Bass Valley Primary School is amongst 332 government schools across 348 campuses in Victoria sharing $8.412 million to carry out essential maintenance work through the Bushfire Preparedness Vegetation Program (BPVP).

“We want our school communities to feel supported and be as prepared as they can and these grants go towards reducing the fire risk as we head into the warmer months,” Member for Bass, Jordan Crugnale said.

The program was introduced in 2018 to help schools undertake the work necessary to clear vegetation around school buildings prior to the bushfire season and in accordance with municipal fire danger periods.

The BPVP also provides a School Support Program, where an accredited Bushfire Planning and Design consultant visits a school twice a year to help them prepare for the upcoming bushfire season while also making sure they complete a Vegetation Management Plan every three years.

Bass Valley PS and Cranbourne South receive $28,148 and $26,366 respectively. A number of neighbouring schools also in this program include Tarwin Lower Primary, Mirboo North Primary and Mirboo North Secondary College.