FIRE authorities are struggling to reach their set burning targets, according to a leaked report.


Member for Yan Yean and Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Danielle Green said communities in the Whittlesea, Mitchell, Murrindindi and Nillumbik Shires have been left exposed, including Eden Park, Wandong and Heathcote Junction, with only 16 per cent of the target achieved in the Central Region.


She said the State Government had let down Victorians living in fire prone areas.


“In the central region you’ve got some of the highest bushfire prone areas in the central hemisphere, particularly areas abutting the Kinglake Ranges.


“It’s very easy to burn hectares and hectares of remote area to reach a target but it’s much more difficult to do the right thing and burn close to near where people live to provide the best level of protection.


“Politics and budget cuts are coming before people’s safety.”


Ms Green also highlighted the State Government’s decision to postpone Fire Action Week, the rejection of fire authorities request for a third ‘Elvis’ aircrane and a lack in funding for CFA station upgrades.


However, the Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith said the Coalition Government is delivering on its targets and will continue to do so for the safety of Victorians.


“Despite wet conditions and flooding last year the planned burns program achieved the greatest amount of burning that has ever been conducted in Victoria and substantially more than the former Labor government ever achieved,” he said.


“For this year the preparation work has been done and when the conditions are right planned burning will occur.”