Yesterday the Victorian government announced a $1.5 million pilot project for the community refuges.

Unlike the Neighbour Safer Places, the refuges will need to be built to specific standards and be capable of surviving a major fire.

Member for Benalla Bill Sykes believes several alpine settlements in his electorate would benefit from the refuges.

“Dinner Plain, Falls Creek, Bogong Village, Bright and Wandiligong all have limited escape options and leaving early on code-red days is not always practical,” he said.

“But at the moment I’m still waiting for the details of the pilot project to filter down to see the chances of them being included.”

But a spokeswoman for Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said the project would look at recognised high risk areas.

No town or settlement in the North East was included in the list of 52 high-risk towns in the state ahead of last year’s bushfire season.

“The Victorian government has provided $1.5 million to progress an immediate pilot program for community fire refuges,” the spokeswoman said.

“Ongoing funding may include contributions from the commonwealth, state and local governments, community and private sources.

“High-risk bushfire areas which have limited survival options, where no Neighbourhood Safer Place can be established, where communities have access and egress issues and leaving early is not a practical option, will be the target of the pilot program.

“For example, an isolated community located in heavily forested country.

“The Fire Services Commissioner will work with local government and communities to identify appropriate sites.”

Victorian Deputy Premier and Minister for Emergency Services Peter Ryan said community fire refuges were designated, purpose-built or modified buildings open to the public that could provide short-term shelter from a bushfire.

“It has been critical to get the terms of the policy right to create an environment in which community fire refuges can be established in the very high bushfire-risk locations where other survival strategies are not possible or likely to fail,” he said.

“Community fire refuges are one of a number of contingency shelter options contained in Victoria’s bushfire safety policy framework.”

Mr Ryan said a community fire refuge may not always be the most effective survival option.

“The appropriateness of establishing a community fire refuge will need careful consideration,” he said.