The Selby Primary School had a surprise relocation last week in the Hills after being informed that their bushfire at-risk rating had changed.
A hot and windy day on Thursday tipped the fire danger rating to high, so students and staff had to relocate to Heany Park Primary School in Rowville.
The school informed their community that the school has been re-categorised as a Category 0 on the Department of Education’s Bushfire at-risk register (BARR) on 14 October.
“Our designated shelter-in-place building no longer meets the stringent requirements,” read the correspondence.
“This is a temporary measure put in place to support the safety of staff and students.”
With work on the building not anticipated to be complete by the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) until early 2026, term four may now be challenging for the Selby Primary School community, with hotter weather just around the corner.
A spokesperson from the Department of Education told Star Mail on Friday 17 October, that the safety of students and staff is their priority.
“The community can be assured project planning is underway to rectify the Shelter in Place building compliance issues,” they said.
As the Selby Primary School’s Bushfire shelter-in-place building no longer meets current stringent requirements, the Department of Education have advised that this means the school has a lower threshold for pre-emptive action and will need to relocate to a safer school setting on days of a BOM forecast of ‘High’ fire danger rating for the Yarra Ranges LGA.
Should the school at any stage be considered at risk over the warmer months, they will communicate plans at the earliest opportunity to the school community.
The development comes just as CFA informed community on a state level that Victorians can expect a hotter and drier summer this year and that communities should be preparing their properties and creating a Bushfire Plan, with a total fire ban called for the Mallee District on Thursday 16 October.
The BOM have stated that daytime temperatures for November to January are likely to be above average for much of Australia, while overnight temperatures are very likely to be above average almost nationwide.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said that with most of Victoria experiencing low rainfall, there is an increase in fuel, such as dead plant material and vegetation, which has the potential to support significant bushfire potential.
“It is going to be a challenging fire season, and with the commencement of fire danger periods, it is a good reminder to ensure those last bits of preparation get done.”
The Selby Primary School, as a BARR Category ‘0’ school, will now need to relocate, undertake learning from home arrangements or close in accordance with their pre-approved plan on a day of forecast High and Extreme fire danger rating.
All schools must nominate a building or buildings on their school site that provides a last resort temporary sheltering option against the hazards and threats most likely to impact the school. This building known as Shelter-in-Place building(s) will be used in the event that evacuation from the site is no longer a viable option, until either the emergency has passed, or a more suitable alternative is available or as an assembly point prior to evacuation.
“The VSBA will undertake this work in early 2026,” said the Department of Education spokesperson.
