In the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, around 2,500 homes were destroyed. In the aftermath of this devastating event there was discussion, particularly in the Royal Commission, on the role of garden design and vegetation as a significant factor in houses survive bushfire impact.

In response to this discussion and subsequent recommendations Country Fire Authority (CFA) developed the ‘Landscaping for Bushfire’ booklet and an online tool which provides developers, local government, homeowners and gardeners with guidance on how to best use garden design and plant selection to minimise bushfire risk.

It holds value in the community because gardening is a popular pastime and an activity that most homeowners do. Homeowners that have an awareness of bushfire risk understand that vegetation plays a role in bushfire impacts. However traditional fire services safety messages about garden maintenance and plant selection have been of limited benefit and impact.

Landscaping for Bushfire closes that gap. It does so by demonstrating that a bushfire smart garden is more than tidying up and the removal of trees. It challenges popular beliefs about fire retardant plants, and the role of trees, by demonstrating that garden layout and plant placement is more important than the flammability attributes of plant species.

It was produced with the collaborative effort from numerous experts and stakeholders including, fire ecology consultants, the Melbourne University Burnley Campus and Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD). Feedback was sought and provided by Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV) and the other fire services.

This paper will explain how to engage participants around the key principles involved when designing a garden as part of a broader preparation of a house and garden.

This program connects homeowners with their personal bushfire risk and provides a practical and personal approach to bushfire impact mitigation.