DEECA Loddon Mallee

DEECA Loddon Mallee Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action - Loddon Mallee region This page keeps you informed of DEECA's activities in the Loddon Mallee region.

Our climate is changing and the effects are being felt around the world. Victoria has set an ambitious climate action agenda with a strong focus on establishing a renewable energy sector, reducing emissions and preparing for a future with less water. At the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, we will lead this exciting work, bringing together the energy, environment, climate acti

on, water, agriculture and resources portfolios, in addition to its vital role in emergency management. We are working to meet strong targets to halve emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. We are rapidly progressing work to grow a strong renewable energy sector here in Victoria to support our solar, battery and offshore wind initiatives, ensuring that people have access to reliable and affordable energy. We are supporting our agricultural, water and resources sectors to adapt and become more resilient to the effects of climate change while driving sustainable production and economic growth. Victoria has an unmatched native landscape and we continue to work with Traditional Owners and other partners to protect and preserve it, ensuring a healthy, resilient and biodiverse environment. Bringing these portfolios into a single department allows us to draw on knowledge and expertise of these critical sectors and work together to deliver the Victorian Government’s leading climate action and environmental protection agenda. The northern part of the Loddon Mallee region extends 400 kms along the Murray River from the South Australian border in the west to Echuca in the east. The southern part of the region is the geographic centre of Victoria and extends as far south as the Macedon Ranges, within 50kms of Melbourne. Larger population centres are Bendigo, Mildura, Swan Hill and Echuca. There are ten local government areas. We value the comments and contributions we receive on social media. While we encourage people to join the conversation, we will not tolerate disrespectful, offensive, crude, hateful or irrelevant comments, or comments that make another person feel unsafe. Please keep all comments and discussion respectful and courteous. You can view our full social media policy on our website.

01/06/2026

Visitors to Victoria’s parks and forests are being reminded that majority of the seasonal road and track closures will begin from 11 June, following the King’s Birthday long weekend.

Closures help keep visitors safe and protect roads and tracks from winter damage caused by rain and snow.

Each year, Forest Fire Management Victoria, Parks Victoria and the Conservation Regulator enforce road and track closures across public land from June to November.

Before heading out, check road and track closure and local conditions:
➡️ Check the weather forecast
➡️ download the VicEmergency app
➡️ Check which roads are open and suitable for your vehicle

For more information, visit ffm.vic.gov.au/permits-and-regulations/closures-of-parks-and-forests or contact DEECA Customer Call Centre on 136 186.

FFMVic Chief Fire Officer Chris Hardman has thanked communities as he reflects on a busy start to the year. With the rel...
28/05/2026

FFMVic Chief Fire Officer Chris Hardman has thanked communities as he reflects on a busy start to the year. With the release this week of the AFAC Winter Seasonal Outlook, Mr Hardman says FFMVic will continue taking every opportunity to reduce risk ahead of a potential early start to the fire season. Read more:

Winter is almost here, and so far I think we’ve had the fastest, longest, busiest year I can recall for quite some time

We’re currently doing planned burning to keep Victoria safer from bushfires.Want to receive a text or email when planned...
28/05/2026

We’re currently doing planned burning to keep Victoria safer from bushfires.

Want to receive a text or email when planned burns are happening near you?

Sign up for alerts on the Planned Burns Victoria website www.vic.gov.au/plannedburns.

Yorta Yorta Nations Aboriginal Corporation in partnership with Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic), will be conducting a cultural burn in Wyuna - Millers Bend in the Lower Goulburn National Park.

Cultural burning is called Woka Bitja in Yorta Yorta Language, which means ‘Country fire’.

This burn will involve the use of fire under carefully managed conditions.

Woka Bitja is cool, slow burning to promote healthy Country. Less intense than a fuel management burn, it stimulates growth of native plants that depend on fire, increasing biodiversity.

Woka Bitja holds significant spiritual, social and ceremonial importance and remains an important practice for Yorta Yorta People today.

Without planned burning and other fuel management works, bushfires will be bigger and harder for our firefighters to control.

🔥You may see or smell smoke.
👀 Watch for our crews and follow their directions.
📞 If you experience symptoms that may be due to smoke exposure, please seek medical advice or call NURSE-ON-CALL on 1300 60 60 24.
🌐Detailed information about current air quality throughout Victoria can be found at www.epa.vic.gov.au

Unexpected weather conditions can mean plans change at the last minute and a burn may not go ahead, even if communities have already been notified. When this happens, our crews will continue to monitor the conditions and re-schedule the burn for a later date.

VicEmergency - Loddon Mallee

27/05/2026

“Fuel management through planned burns doesn’t just change fire behaviour, it changes outcomes.”

On one of Victoria’s worst fire days, that statement proved true.

On January 9, with extreme heat and powerful winds, firefighters arrived to a lightning-caused blaze near Taradale, that had all the ingredients to become uncontrollable. Spot fires could have spread kilometres ahead and threatened communities.

But then as the fire entered an area where previous planned burns had been undertaken, it changed behaviour:

🔥Flames dropped to just 50 cm
⏳The fire slowed dramatically
✅ Spotting decreased

Suddenly, crews had a chance.

They moved in. They contained it. They stopped it.

All because of fuel reduction work done years earlier.

On a day when many other communities were losing homes and communities were in crisis, Taradale, Malmsbury, and even Kyneton could easily have faced the same situation.

Read the full story to see how planning, science and persistence helped protect communities on a Catastrophic day https://www.ffm.vic.gov.au/media-releases/how-planned-burning-helped-stop-a-taradale-fire-on-a-catastrophic-fire-day

VicEmergency - Loddon Mallee
Rochester Community Page
WIN News Bendigo
ABC Mildura Swan Hill
Swan Hill Guardian
Loddon Herald
Channel 7 Regional
The Rainbow Argus
The Bendigo Advertiser
The Maryborough District Advertiser

🌏What happens when Aboriginal knowledge meets across continents?Four Canadian visitors recently attended DJAARA’s Scrub ...
26/05/2026

🌏What happens when Aboriginal knowledge meets across continents?

Four Canadian visitors recently attended DJAARA’s Scrub Track cultural fire in Strathdale, Bendigo.

Learning alongside local practitioners and sharing their own experiences of cultural burning 🔥

The result?
Shared learning, powerful connections, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Discover how cultural fire is building global connections and strengthening Aboriginal land management.

To learn more, visit https://www.ffm.vic.gov.au/media-releases/across-continents-connected-by-fire

Victoria’s 10inTen program is giving native fish and aquatic species a real chance of survival.At the purpose built Snob...
20/05/2026

Victoria’s 10inTen program is giving native fish and aquatic species a real chance of survival.

At the purpose built Snobs Creek Conservation Hatchery, experts are protecting, breeding and returning critically endangered species to waterways across south eastern Australia.

The hatchery provides vital insurance against threats like bushfires, drought and floods and restores native fish to Country to help strengthen rivers for the future.

May marks two years of the 10inTen program at the hatchery, with big wins for Victoria’s most threatened freshwater species:
✔️ First ever captive breeding of Glenelg freshwater mussels, with juveniles released back into the Crawford River.
🐟 Successful breeding and release of McDowall’s galaxias and Moroka galaxias, both critically endangered.
💧 Wimmera river blackfish bred in captivity for the first time, with releases planned across the Grampians.

🔗 Learn more: https://www.ari.vic.gov.au/research/threatened-plants-and-animals/animals/a-conservation-hatchery

Research and releases continue as scientists work to rebuild aquatic populations across Victoria.

👉 10inTen is a collaboration between the Australian Government, DEECA’s Arthur Rylah Institute, the Victorian Fisheries Authority, Traditional Owners and conservation partners, working together for healthier rivers and threatened freshwater species.

14/05/2026

DJAARA plans to conduct Djandak Wi (a Dja Dja Wurrung cultural burn) on Thursday 14 May at Paddys Ranges in partnership with Forest Fire Management Victoria.
🪶 Proposed burn date - 14 May
🪶 Location: 3.1km E of Daisy Hill
🪶 Size: 1.25ha
Djandak Wi is a slow, gentle burn – however, you may see or smell smoke.
📞 If you experience symptoms that may be due to smoke exposure, seek medical advice or call NURSE-ON-CALL 1300 60 60 24
🦅 Djandak Wi means ‘Country Fire’ in Dja Dja Wurrung language. It is a cool, slow, patchy burn to promote healthy Country.
🌱Cool fire stimulates growth and germination of native plants, and promotes biodiversity.
🌱Djandak Wi gently reduces fuel loads - protecting community and assets while respecting the needs of native plants and animals.
This traditional cultural practice holds significant spiritual, social, and ceremonial importance for Dja Dja Wurrung People as it has done for tens of thousands of years.
🔥 Learn more:
Read DJAARA’s Djandak Wi strategy here: https://bit.ly/4c9OOfG
Look up Forest Fire Management Victoria Planned Burns: https://plannedburns.ffm.vic.gov.au/ See less

We’re currently doing planned burning to keep Victoria safer from bushfires.Want to receive a text or email when planned...
07/05/2026

We’re currently doing planned burning to keep Victoria safer from bushfires.

Want to receive a text or email when planned burns are happening near you?
Sign up for alerts on the Planned Burns Victoria website www.vic.gov.au/plannedburns.

If weather and forest conditions are right, firefighters will light the following burns in the coming days:

📍Wyuna – Millers Bend Lower Goulburn National Park (1 hectare) Traditional Owner burn with Yorta Yorta

Without planned burning and other fuel management works, bushfires will be bigger and harder for our firefighters to control.
🔥You may see or smell smoke.
👀 Watch for our crews and follow their directions.
📞 If you experience symptoms that may be due to smoke exposure, please seek medical advice or call NURSE-ON-CALL on 1300 60 60 24.
🌐Detailed information about current air quality throughout Victoria can be found at www.epa.vic.gov.au

Unexpected weather conditions can mean plans change at the last minute and a burn may not go ahead, even if communities have already been notified. When this happens, our crews will continue to monitor the conditions and re-schedule the burn for a later date.

VicEmergency - Loddon Mallee
Campaspe Shire Council
Wyuna Fire Brigade
Nathalia Fire Brigade

We’re currently doing planned burning to keep Victoria safer from bushfires.Want to receive a text or email when planned...
30/04/2026

We’re currently doing planned burning to keep Victoria safer from bushfires.

Want to receive a text or email when planned burns are happening near you?

Sign up for alerts on the Planned Burns Victoria website www.vic.gov.au/plannedburns.

If weather and forest conditions are right, firefighters will light the following burns in the coming days:

📍Whipstick – Brights Lane (18 hectares) Traditional Owner burn with DJAARA

Without planned burning and other fuel management works, bushfires will be bigger and harder for our firefighters to control.

🔥You may see or smell smoke.
👀 Watch for our crews and follow their directions.
📞 If you experience symptoms that may be due to smoke exposure, please seek medical advice or call NURSE-ON-CALL on 1300 60 60 24.
🌐Detailed information about current air quality throughout Victoria can be found at www.epa.vic.gov.au

Unexpected weather conditions can mean plans change at the last minute and a burn may not go ahead, even if communities have already been notified. When this happens, our crews will continue to monitor the conditions and re-schedule the burn for a later date.

VicEmergency - Loddon Mallee
City of Greater Bendigo
Pyrenees Shire Council

📣𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝟏𝟕.𝟓% 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬?😱The concession runs between ...
27/04/2026

📣𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝟏𝟕.𝟓% 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬?😱

The concession runs between 1 May and 31 October each year, and is available to:
💳Health Care Card holders
💳Pensioner Concession Card holders
💳Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card holders

You may also be eligible for the Annual Electricity Concession which could save you hundreds on your electricity bills each year.

Call your energy retailer today to check your concessions are being applied.

More information at services.dffh.vic.gov.au/energy

Address

189/229 Lyttleton Terrace
Bendigo, VIC
3550

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61136186

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