Natural and Cultural Heritage Rehabilitation core capability
Protect natural values and cultural heritage values through appropriate planning, mitigation, response, and recovery actions to preserve, conserve, rehabilitate, and restore them consistent with post-disaster community priorities and best practices. This process is to be undertaken in compliance with applicable environmental and heritage preservation laws, along with consultation with all affected communities, including Victoria’s First Peoples and Traditional Owner groups.
Critical Task Table 18: Agency roles mapped to the VPF, by critical tasks within the Natural and Cultural Heritage Rehabilitation core capability
Critical Task 18.1: Identify natural heritage values and cultural heritage values at risk in affected areas, in consultation with all affected communities, including Victoria’s First Peoples and Traditional Owner groups.
| Agency | Activity | Additional alignment to critical tasks |
|---|---|---|
| CMA | Assess all river waterway damage that poses a threat to the stability of river systems | 11.1, 18.2 |
| DEECA | Surveying and protecting threatened ecosystems, native plants and animals - identify key ecosystems, biodiversity values and species that may require intervention when affected by an emergency | 1.1, 1.2, 11.2 |
| Surveying and protecting threatened ecosystems, native plants and animals - provide scientific and technical advice to Lead Response agencies to minimise impact of the emergency event on high value ecosystems or species | 4.3, 4.4, 18.2 | |
| Surveying and protecting threatened ecosystems, native plants and animals - relief coordination of surveying and protecting threatened ecosystems, native plants and animals | 11.2, 18.2, 18.6 | |
| DPC | Support the protection and management of Aboriginal cultural heritage on public land | 3.2 |
| PV | Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) to rehabilitate, restore and reinstate public land and tourism and visitor assets managed directly by PV from the agreed date of transition from emergency response to recovery, including: * recovery and rehabilitation of natural values, cultural values, tourism and visitor assets affected by an emergency on parks, reserves, rivers, waterways and local ports managed by PV (in collaboration with DEECA and DH) * clean-up following oil or chemical pollution incidents on parks, reserves, rivers, waterways and local ports managed by PV (in liaison with DEECA, or their agents, and the EPA) * clean-up of fish death incidents (in collaboration with EPA and DEECA) * assist with the recovery and rehabilitation of other public land affected by an emergency * and other water-based recovery actions affected by an emergency | 16.7, 16.8, 18.4, 18.5 |
Critical Task 18.2: Undertake assessment of risk posed to natural and cultural heritage values, in consultation with all affected communities, including Victoria’s First Peoples and Traditional Owner groups.
| Agency | Activity | Additional alignment to critical tasks |
|---|---|---|
| CMA | Assess all river waterway damage that poses a threat to the stability of river systems | 11.1, 18.1 |
| Lead agency responsible to develop and prioritise bushfire and flood recovery programs for CMA assets/waterways | ||
| DEECA | Surveying and protecting threatened ecosystems, native plants and animals - develop response options for key ecosystems and species | 1.1, 1.3, 4.4 |
| Surveying and protecting threatened ecosystems, native plants and animals - provide scientific and technical advice to Lead Response agencies to minimise impact of the emergency event on high value ecosystems or species | 4.3, 4.4, 18.1 | |
| Surveying and protecting threatened ecosystems, native plants and animals - relief coordination of surveying and protecting threatened ecosystems, native plants and animals | 11.2, 18.1, 18.6 | |
| EPA | As a technical support agency receive notifications for fish deaths, assess and triage reports, make interagency notifications, issue public information where required, and undertake a regional investigation with support of local agencies where practicable, to determine the likely cause of the fish death event before identification and transfer to the relevant agency for ongoing management.[4] | 2.3, 4.4, 4.5, 11.2, 18.4 |
| PV | Support DEECA with the enforcement of regulations that relate to the safe use of campfires to protect the natural and cultural values of the PV estate and other public land, through the provision of trained authorised officers, and in accordance with the Parks Victoria Enforcement policy and procedures. | 3.2, 7.1 |
Critical Task 18.3: Coordinate and undertake stabilisation works on private and public land to remediate response actions.
| Agency | Activity | Additional alignment to critical tasks |
|---|---|---|
| CFA | Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) to replace essential stock and domestic water used during bushfire firefighting operation activities | 18.4 |
| CMA | Recovery Support Agency (RecSA) to restore, clear and rehabilitate waterways managed by CMAs, and support DEECA and PV in their lead role of rehabilitating, restoring and reinstating public land and tourism and visitor assets DEECA or PV are directly responsible for managing to mitigate risks, as well as public land and assets CMAs are responsible for. | 18.5, 19.3 |
| Support DEECA to deliver its recovery activities to restore impacts of river erosion where there is an immediate danger of the formation of river breakaways and/or immediate danger to CMA assets | ||
| Councils | Coordinate the clean-up activities for the disposal of deceased animals (domestic, native and feral) on council-owned or managed land | 18.4, 18.5 |
| Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) to undertake the assessment, restoration, clean-up and rehabilitation of public buildings and assets that are council owned and managed | 18.4, 18.5 | |
| Recovery Support Agency (RecSA) to DEECA and PV to rehabilitate, restore and reinstate public land and tourism and visitor assets DEECA or PV is directly responsible for managing to mitigate risks | ||
| Undertake erosion control on council owned and managed land to help manage risk to public safety, natural and cultural assets and values, and infrastructure | 18.4, 18.5 | |
Recovery Support Agency (RecSA) to:
| ||
| DEECA | Surveying and protecting threatened ecosystems, native plants and animals: Recovery Coordinating Agency (RecCA) for wildlife and threatened ecosystems and species, and Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) to develop and implement protection activities to support ecosystem recovery and regeneration | |
| Melbourne Water | Provide emergency works to alleviate flooding and clearance of waterways and drainage assets after flooding has occurred |
Critical Task 18.4: Coordinate and undertake natural values rehabilitation works, in consultation with all affected communities, including Victoria’s First Peoples and Traditional Owner groups.
| Agency | Activity | Additional alignment to critical tasks |
|---|---|---|
| CFA | Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) to replace essential stock and domestic water used during bushfire firefighting operation activities | 18.3 |
| CMA | Implement bushfire and flood damage restoration programs for bushfire and flood affected waterways | |
| Recovery Support Agency (RecSA) to support DEECA, EPA and PV in fish death clean-ups where the fish death event is due to natural causes, and where the CMA has the resources. The CMA will lead a local fish death clean-up and larger scale clean-ups depending on resource availability | ||
| Support DEECA to deliver its recovery activities to implement balanced bushfire and flood recovery programs consistent with funding allocated | 19.5 | |
| Support response agencies through the provision of advice on emergency stabilisation and other activities to arrest river breakaways, and the removal of debris accumulation threatening structural stability of public assets in consultation with expert advice | 3.2, 11.3 | |
| Councils | Coordinate the clean-up activities for the disposal of deceased animals (domestic, native and feral) on council-owned or managed land | 18.3, 18.5 |
| Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) to undertake the assessment, restoration, clean-up and rehabilitation of public buildings and assets that are council owned and managed | 18.3, 18.5 | |
| Undertake erosion control on council owned and managed land to help manage risk to public safety, natural and cultural assets and values, and infrastructure | 18.3, 18.5 | |
| DEECA | Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) to lead fish death clean-ups in waterways on public land managed for non-commercial purposes by DEECA, where the fish death event is due to natural causes. Support agencies (CMAs, Melbourne Water, VFA – refer to Table 18: Natural Environment) will support fish death clean-ups where they have the resource capacity. | |
| Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) to rehabilitate, restore and reinstate public land and tourism and visitor assets it is directly responsible for managing to mitigate risks, and support PV and CMAs to deliver these responsibilities on public land and assets for which they are responsible | 19.3 | |
| Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) to support the resilience of public land assets managed directly by DEECA, PV and CMAs | 19.3 | |
| Wildlife affected by an emergency event, including marine and freshwater pollution - provide advice on appropriate management and release of wildlife from rehabilitation | 4.5, 4.6 | |
| Wildlife affected by an emergency event, including marine and freshwater pollution - rehabilitate wildlife following veterinary assessment and work in conjunction with rehabilitators | ||
| Wildlife welfare arising from emergency events - rehabilitate wildlife following veterinary assessment and working in conjunction with rehabilitators | ||
| Wildlife welfare arising from emergency events: * Relief Coordinating Agency (RelCA) for animal welfare * Control Agency and Relief Lead Agency (RelLA) for responding to wildlife welfare arising from an emergency event, including fire, flood and extreme heat. Response scope defined by individual hazard plans for the emergency type, including: o Victorian Response Plan for Heat Stress in Flying Foxes o Victorian Response Plan for Wildlife Impacted by Fire * undertake welfare assessments of impacted wildlife where safe to do so, consistent with endorsed hazard plans * ensure the veterinary assessment and treatment of wildlife taken into care * provide advice to government and emergency agencies regarding impacts of animal welfare for wildlife * inform and coordinate animal welfare organisations, volunteer groups or community groups wanting to contribute as required | 3.1, 3.2 | |
| DJCS | Community Corrections Services can support in the clean-up and restoration of communities, including waterway restoration, weed eradication, large-scale tree planting, countering soil erosion, rubbish collection, fence maintenance and other community projects | 18.5, 19.4 |
| DPC | Recovery Support Agency (RecSA) for the protection and management of Aboriginal cultural heritage places and values on public land affected by emergencies and associated activities | 18.5 |
| EPA | As a technical support agency receive notifications for fish deaths, assess and triage reports, make interagency notifications, issue public information where required, and undertake a regional investigation with support of local agencies where practicable, to determine the likely cause of the fish death event before identification and transfer to the relevant agency for ongoing management.[4] | 2.3, 4.4, 4.5, 11.2, 18.2 |
| Melbourne Water | Lead the delivery of the following recovery activities - mitigate immediate short-term further public health risks associated with waterways and drainage networks where damaged from third-party events/emergencies (e.g. water run-off from structure fires) through recovery efforts | 18.6 |
| Lead the delivery of the following recovery activities - support the recovery and rehabilitation of areas directly impacted by the failure of Melbourne Water’s assets or systems | 3.2, 17.4 | |
| Lead the delivery of the following recovery activities fish death clean-ups where the fish death event is on a water corporation managed water body. | ||
| Recovery Support Agency (RecSA) to DEECA, EPA and PV to support fish death clean-ups where the fish death event is on a Melbourne Water managed catchment area and where the fish death event is due to natural causes. It is at Melbourne Water’s discretion to lead a fish death clean up at a regional or state scale. | ||
| PV | Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) to rehabilitate, restore and reinstate public land and tourism and visitor assets managed directly by PV from the agreed date of transition from emergency response to recovery, including: * recovery and rehabilitation of natural values, cultural values, tourism and visitor assets affected by an emergency on parks, reserves, rivers, waterways and local ports managed by PV (in collaboration with DEECA and DH) * clean-up following oil or chemical pollution incidents on parks, reserves, rivers, waterways and local ports managed by PV (in liaison with DEECA, or their agents, and the EPA) * clean-up of fish death incidents (in collaboration with EPA and DEECA) * assist with the recovery and rehabilitation of other public land affected by an emergency * and other water-based recovery actions affected by an emergency | 16.7, 16.8, 18.1, 18.5 |
| Water Corporations | Lead fish death clean-ups where the fish death event is on a Water Corporation managed water body at a local or regional scale. |
Critical Task 18.5: Coordinate and undertake cultural heritage values rehabilitation works, in consultation with all affected communities, including Victoria’s First Peoples and Traditional Owner groups.
| Agency | Activity | Additional alignment to critical tasks |
|---|---|---|
| CMA | Recovery Support Agency (RecSA) to restore, clear and rehabilitate waterways managed by CMAs, and support DEECA and PV in their lead role of rehabilitating, restoring and reinstating public land and tourism and visitor assets DEECA or PV are directly responsible for managing to mitigate risks, as well as public land and assets CMAs are responsible for. | 18.3, 19.3 |
| Councils | Coordinate the clean-up activities for the disposal of deceased animals (domestic, native and feral) on council-owned or managed land | 18.3, 18.4 |
| Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) to undertake the assessment, restoration, clean-up and rehabilitation of public buildings and assets that are council owned and managed | 18.3, 18.4 | |
| Undertake erosion control on council owned and managed land to help manage risk to public safety, natural and cultural assets and values, and infrastructure | 18.3, 18.4 | |
| DJCS | Community Corrections Services can support in the clean-up and restoration of communities, including waterway restoration, weed eradication, large-scale tree planting, countering soil erosion, rubbish collection, fence maintenance and other community projects | 18.4, 19.4 |
| DPC | Recovery Support Agency (RecSA) for the protection and management of Aboriginal cultural heritage places and values on public land affected by emergencies and associated activities | 18.4 |
| PV | Recovery Lead Agency (RecLA) to rehabilitate, restore and reinstate public land and tourism and visitor assets managed directly by PV from the agreed date of transition from emergency response to recovery, including: * recovery and rehabilitation of natural values, cultural values, tourism and visitor assets affected by an emergency on parks, reserves, rivers, waterways and local ports managed by PV (in collaboration with DEECA and DH) * clean-up following oil or chemical pollution incidents on parks, reserves, rivers, waterways and local ports managed by PV (in liaison with DEECA, or their agents, and the EPA) * clean-up of fish death incidents (in collaboration with EPA and DEECA) * assist with the recovery and rehabilitation of other public land affected by an emergency * and other water-based recovery actions affected by an emergency | 16.7, 16.8, 18.1, 18.4 |
Critical Task 18.6: Establish recovery monitoring of natural and cultural heritage values, in consultation with all affected communities, including Victoria’s First Peoples and Traditional Owner groups.
| Agency | Activity | Additional alignment to critical tasks |
|---|---|---|
| DEECA | Surveying and protecting threatened ecosystems, native plants and animals - relief coordination of surveying and protecting threatened ecosystems, native plants and animals | 11.2, 18.1, 18.2 |
| Melbourne Water | Lead the delivery of the following recovery activities - mitigate immediate short-term further public health risks associated with waterways and drainage networks where damaged from third-party events/emergencies (e.g. water run-off from structure fires) through recovery efforts | 18.4 |
Critical Task 18.7: Transition recovery services and programs to previous management arrangements.
The department acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past and present.