NOT EVERYONE CAN TAKE THE HEAT
WHO ARE YOU LOOKING OUT FOR?
An important focus of the BeReady Warrandyte Committee is our Heatwave Project. It examines the dual risks of bushfire and heatwave, paying particular attention to the potential contradiction between the “leave early” fire message and the “stay indoors” heatwave message.
Nillumbik and Manningham Councils have funded the project with additional cash contributions from the Warrandyte Community Association and the Warrandyte Market Committee.
Heatwave is a largely hidden emergency, with more people dying of heat-related illness in Australia than any other natural disaster. In urbanised areas, all of the general heatwave advice applies, such as closing the blinds to reduce the heat inside your home. However, within a Bushfire Prone Area, residents have an added risk of bushfire on hot days so need the blinds open to monitor their surrounds. This is just one example of the conflicting messages for bushfire and heatwave which have prompted BeReady Warrandyte to launch a new project on heatwave risks. In addition, public services in Bushfire Prone Areas may also be curtailed or cease altogether on days of extreme heat. For example, Medical Clinics may have reduced hours or shut altogether. Buses may not run if there is a heightened risk of bushfire.
The project promotes awareness of heatwave and bushfire risks amongst senior residents, and identifies practical strategies to assist them. Initial work has involved round- table discussions with elderly residents, collection of case studies and stories of personal resilience from bushfire affected residents, and identification of community networking models which can be trialled in the Greater Warrandyte area. Close contact is being maintained with staff from both Councils and relationships established with agencies such as Red Cross and other community organisations facing similar challenges in Victoria’s peri-urban areas.