They are are identified buildings or spaces within the community that may provide some protection from radiant heat, the biggest killer during bushfire.
However, the degree of safety afforded by the location will depend on a number of factors, including the intensity of the bushfire. Please be aware of the following risks associated with Places of Last Resort:
- Going to a Place of Last Resort is an option of last resort when all other plans have failed.
- Places of Last Resort are not an alternative to planning to either leaving early or staying and actively defend your property.
- They are not inherently safe places during a bushfire.
- Many houses will provide more effective protection than Places of Last Resort. Travelling to a Places of Last Resort may be dangerous. Traffic congestion, fire activity, heavy smoke, accidents or fallen trees may block the route there.
- There is no guarantee that you will not be injured or killed by fire or radiant heat when travelling to or sheltering at a Place of Last Resort.
- While emergency services will make every effort to protect people sheltering at Places of Last Resort, there is no guarantee that emergency services will be present.
- There will be no provision for pets.
- There will generally be limited parking. Large numbers of vehicles may further compromise what little protection the area affords.
- No amenities (For example: food, drinks, toilets) will be provided.
Places of Last Resort are not designed to replace a personal bushfire survival plan. CFA advises that everyone should have a written Bushfire Survival Plan that includes the actions in the Understanding Fire Danger Ratings brochure.
Places of Last Resort will not exist in all communities. In some instances there may not be a Place of Last Resort identified in your local area or close to your home.
The best plan is to leave early get well away from the area.
In its Interim Report, the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission recommended that Neighbourhood Safer Places, or ‘NSPs’, be identified and established to provide persons in bushfire affected areas with a place of last resort during a bushfire.
Municipal Council Neighbourhood Safer Places Plan
This Plan is a Neighbourhood Safer Places (NSP) plan for the purposes of the legislation, and contains guidelines which have been developed by the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) to assist the Council in:
- identifying
- designating
- establishing
- maintaining
- decommissioning
places as NSPs within its municipal district.
We must consider each of the factors set out in this Plan.
It should also consider other factors which are specific to our circumstances, including the resources available to our municipality.
Note: There are no Neighbourhood Safer Places identified within the City of Greater Geelong.