Storm recovery in Wright Forest, Cockatoo
Channel: Department of Energy, Environment & Climate Action
Date: 2024-04-09

Our crew from Gembrook worked alongside Victoria State Emergency Service to clear roads and driveways to make sure locals could safely enter and exit their properties following severe storms in February. With the assistance of contractors, our crew has since worked hard to make Wright Forest Bushland Reserve safe for the public and firefighters.

Within a week of the storm, many fallen trees and branches that engulfed forest tracks had been removed, and hazardous trees made safer where possible or removed.
Hanging broken branches – “hangers”– pose a significant risk to bushwalkers or firefighters underneath them, as they can drop at any time.

This work was essential to: 
👉 Improve safety for bushwalkers
👉 Minimise increased bushfire risk to the surrounding community caused by storm debris 
👉 Make sure firefighters can access forest tracks in the event of a bushfire.

Because crews were able to respond quickly to fallen trees and debris, a planned burn was able to be completed within Wright Forest last week. Without planned burning, bushfires will be bigger and harder for our firefighters to control.

While some logs were donated to the Victorian Axeman Association for woodchopping events, most of the fallen trees have been transported to a firewood collection site and made available for community use. 

Find your closest collection site here: https://www.ffm.vic.gov.au/firewood/firewood-collection-in-your-region

For info about Wright Forest, including track closures, visit: https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/sites/bailey-road-picnic-area