Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary

• The Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary
  28.8 hectares (65 acres) of recreated habitat that was once part of a large hospital facility and is now a major centre for research and education towards ecology and biodiversity.
• The Gresswell Forest Nature Conservation Reserve (NCR)
  50 hectares (110 acres) of remnant River Red Gum woodland.
• The Gresswell Habitat Link (NCR)
  17 hectares (42.5 acres) of remnant native grassland and open woodland providing an essential wildlife corridor and biodiversity link between the Wildlife Sanctuary and Gresswell Forest NCR.
• The Gresswell Hill (NCR)
  9 hectares (19 acres) of remnant River Red Gum woodland.

The Sanctuary staff work closely with the Melbourne Fire Brigade (MFB), the Department of Sustainability & Environment (DSE), and other local authorities, in undertaking fire protection measures throughout the Wildlife Sanctuary and the Crown Land Nature Conservation Reserves (Gresswell Forest, Gresswell Hill, Gresswell Habitat Link) to protect people and property, and minimise the consequences of a fire.

Prior to each fire danger period the University has completed and has checked a number of key fire protection measures, including:

• A network of over 19km of 45 pruned & mown, truck-sized tracks and fire-breaks are maintained, connected to the Sanctuary's 44 gates.
• There are regular localised burn-offs, conducted each year, to reduce fine-fuel loads & dead weed patches, and help reduce the fire risk; 20 were successfully carried out in 2008.
• Regular inspections by the local MFB fire crews from Bundoora fire station, and yearly on site inspections with the MFB Northern Zone fire safety Commander, are undertaken to assess preparedness; detailed inspections were last conducted in December and November 2008.
• Signposting of fire emergency numbers (000 and 9479 2222) are included on all new signage.
• Water hydrants for MFB use are located along all streets, within easy reach of the Sanctuary and Nature Conservation Reserves.