Hotter, Drier, Riskier: Bushfire in the Colac-Otway Region

With bushfire seasons getting longer and more intense, how can our communities be safer and better prepared?

Join us for a community forum focused on the increasing risk of bushfires in the Colac-Otway region. We’ll hear from experts, emergency services, and community leaders about what’s changing in our environment, what it means for fire risk, and — most importantly — what governments can do to prepare us.

Whether you live in town or on the land, this is a chance to hear from experts with lived experience of fighting and defending against bushfires, as well as those who have survived fires and now advocate on behalf of communities like ours. Come along to learn, ask questions, and connect with others working to protect our communities.

Keynote speaker Greg Mullins AO of Emergency Leaders for Climate Action (and former Commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW) will be accompanied by speakers from Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action and Australian Firefighters Climate Alliance. After hearing from these speakers, candidates standing for the seat of Wannon in the 2025 federal election will be invited to share their views and answer questions.

Join us from 6:00pm for a BBQ before the event kicks off. The forum will commence from 6:30pm.

Please register now to secure your seat.

Several groups are collaborating to hold this forum:

• The Colac Otway Climate Action Team has been active in the community for years, and has members who live in Colac and surrounding bushfire-threatened areas such as the Otway Forest. 
  
• Emergency Leaders for Climate Action advocates for fire and emergency services to be equipped to protect Australian communities from increasingly frequent and damaging extreme weather events. 
  
• Australian Firefighters Climate Alliance does similar work at the local level to organise volunteer firefighters. 
  
• Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action is a non-partisan community organisation made up of people from across Australia who have been deeply impacted by bushfires. They share their powerful stories and make the case for stronger action on climate change to protect communities from worsening bushfires.