I rise to speak on the recent fires in my electorate, including a large fire in the Victoria Valley complex in the Grampians region and a grassfire west of Portland that threatened properties last week.
The fire in the Grampians region has now been put out after it burnt for more than two weeks covering an area of approximately 36 000 hectares. I have read numerous articles in the media regarding the extent of community support for the Country Fire Authority and the Department of Sustainability and Environment, as well as support for all land and property owners affected, which has been very moving.
In fact it has been extraordinary to see in the public notices in a range of local newspapers, that community members have taken out classified advertising space to thank all of those who have assisted with protecting their homes from the various fires that have broken out across the region. Members of the community in various news articles have told telling stories about how various members of the community have gone out of their way to help save their property.
Firefighting resources deployed to fight the Grampians fire included over 300 personnel with over 100 firefighting vehicles and 12 aircraft working in the area, and there was also a major grassfire where residents at Cashmore were evacuated while water-bombing aircraft helped get control over a 127-hectare fire.
I sincerely thank everyone for their dedication and all the work involved over the fire season.