First bushfire refuge to be built in Vic

SYDNEY (AAP) - Oct 13 - The first official fire refuge will be built in Victoria almost three years after the Black Saturday bushfires, which prompted an overhaul of community safety measures.
The Victorian coalition government allocated $1.5 million on Thursday for the pilot project, which will go ahead after an appropriate site is chosen.
Emergency Services Minister Peter Ryan said the pilot is part of a new policy that gives the framework for building and managing refuges.
Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley will lead the project and work with councils, fire services and communities to develop the pilot.
A spokeswoman for Mr Lapsley said a location may be worked out in the next month.
But no date has been set for when the rest of the refuges will be built.
Mr Ryan said the announcement was in line with a recommendation from the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission to replace the existing fire refuges policy following the 2009 Black Saturday fires, which killed 173 people.
But he warned community fire refuges may not always be the best survival option and in some cases, leaving early was the best bet.
"The appropriateness of establishing a community fire refuge will need careful consideration by councils and communities against other available safety options," he said.
"On Code Red days in high risk bushfire areas, leaving early is always the safest option."
Mr Ryan said the former Labor government accepted the royal commission's recommendation to replace Victoria's existing fire refuges policy, but did nothing for 15 months except release a policy paper.
He said the coalition's policy was developed within 11 months of taking office.
The government has pledged to implement all 67 of the royal commission's recommendations.