With forecasts pointing to an earlier and potentially more challenging bushfire season, Hepburn Shire residents are being encouraged to prepare now by attending a free Emergency Services Panel in Creswick later this month.
Hepburn Shire Council will host the event at the Doug Lindsay Recreation Reserve on Tuesday, 18 August, bringing together emergency services, government agencies and essential service providers to offer practical advice on preparing for bushfires, storms, floods and other emergencies.
The event comes as emergency authorities warn that the strong El Nino developing in the Pacific Ocean will bring below average rainfall and warmer than average conditions across much of Victoria with increased fire danger during spring and into summer. Emergency Management Victoria has advised that the state could face an earlier than usual fire season if the current drying trend continues, while the Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a warmer and drier spring across much of south eastern Australia.
For Hepburn Shire, emergency preparedness is about much more than bushfires. In recent years the municipality has experienced repeated severe weather events, including damaging windstorms, flash flooding and prolonged power outages. Storms have brought down thousands of trees across roads and powerlines, isolated communities and caused significant damage to homes, businesses and public infrastructure. Flooding has also affected low-lying roads, bridges and creeks throughout the shire, demonstrating that emergencies can occur in any season.
Council’s Director Development and Community Safety, Ron Torres, said the panel provides residents with an opportunity to better understand how emergency agencies work together and what households can do to prepare.
“Emergencies can happen at any time and often without warning,” Mr Torres said.
“This event gives people the chance to hear directly from the organisations that work together to keep our communities safe, understand what support is available, and learn simple steps they can take now to be better prepared.”
Representatives from more than a dozen organisations will participate, including Emergency Management Victoria, the Country Fire Authority, Victoria State Emergency Service, Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, Forest Fire Management Victoria, the Department of Health, Agriculture Victoria, Australian Red Cross, Powercor, Telstra, NBN Co, Triple Zero Victoria, Crime Stoppers Victoria, the Victorian Council of Churches Emergency Ministries and the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.
The free session will run from 10.00 am to 12.30 pm on Tuesday, 18 August at the Doug Lindsay Recreation Reserve in Creswick. Lunch will be provided.
Event Details
Date: Tuesday 18 August 2026
Time: 10 am – 12:30 pm
Venue: Doug Lindsay Recreation Reserve, Creswick
Cost: Free, including lunch
Bookings: Eventbrite
