Green Bridges Planning Workshop for Trentham and Surrounds
When Thursday 19th November 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Where The Mechanics 66 High St Trentham
Please RSVP to: trenthamsustainability@gmail.com lease RSVP
Following Trentham Sustainability Group’s Living with Fire Risk Forum in September, and the Trentham and District Landcare Network’s AGM, there has been considerable interest in exploring Community Based Bushfire Management (CBBM) using nature-based approaches. The State Government’s Safer Together funded Green Bridges CBBM project provides an opportunity for locals to lead a long-term initiative that is holistic, practical and evidence based.
The project, supported by CFA based facilitator, Sam Strong, aims to identify nature-based bushfire mitigation approaches tailored for the local landscape, residents and landholders by working in partnerships that considers layers of social, environmental and economic assets.
The multi-agency CBBM program has a foundation in strong, long-term partnerships between local communities, land and fire managers, researchers and other agency teams. The strength of relationships underpins this way of working together to help people live in fire prone landscapes and the uncertainties that this brings.
1. Residents from Trentham and Upper Coliban Catchment are invited to this GB CBBM workshop to:
Explore the scope of a community and partnership-based Green Bridges Project for Trentham and surrounding area
Identify high-level themes to tailor the project to meet shared values and objectives for holistic bushfire risk mitigation, while providing ecological and social (including economic) benefits
Form a working group to help guide the approach, supported by the GB CBBM facilitator and partner agencies.
Meet, listen and learn from a range of practitioners, researchers, locals and agency partners on this long-term project!
Of interest are several Green Fire Break trials in southern Australia, where strategically placed lower-flammability vegetation aims to modify winds and therefore fire behaviour, while providing ecological benefits to habitat connectivity, shelter for livestock, native fauna and human wellbeing. Other elements that could be integrated into a strategic landscape scale Green Bridges plan are fire-wise urban green spaces such as residential gardens, management of woody weeds to reduce flammable biomass near ecological and human assets, strategically located wetlands, hydrated buffers such as waterways, low lying depressions and dams, as well as slashing and mowing. These actions form a holistic and complementary addition to other bushfire and land management practices. By linking in with other nature-based bushfire mitigation projects, the local community can also bring their experiences and knowledge to a much wider learning network.
2. Walk and Talk- exploring holistic land management and links to Green Bridges
We will also be kicking off more conversations and learning opportunities relating to Green Bridges/nature-based bushfire mitigation approaches.
On Sunday December 6, 2026, the first of a series of Green Bridges themed Walk and Talks, you will have the opportunity to meet a range of locals, practitioners and experts as we explore how a local farming family are working with holistic land and bushfire management objectives. There will also be opportunities to contribute ideas, interests and questions that build into the Green Bridges project. Further details of the Walk and Talk will be provided in the coming weeks.
We hope you can join us next Thursday, 19 November for this important workshop.