Premier Daniel Andrews "mis-spoke" when he outlined how Melbourne residents could gain access to properties for bushfire prevention work, Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville says.
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The Victorian government has announced a simpler process for Melburnians to travel outside the city's so-called "ring of steel" if they need to prepare rural properties for the coming fire season.
The same process will apply if they need to travel more than 25km in Melbourne.
From midnight Wednesday, Melbourne residents can apply to regional councils for a permit.
On Sunday, the premier had said the travel could only happen if a local council had issued a fire prevention notice for the property.
"I think he mis-spoke ... you don't need a fire prevention notice," Ms Neville told 3AW.
"The information wasn't correct yesterday ... this is a simpler process."
Councils will issue the permit if a property is in a fire-prone area or a flood overlay.
The Melbourne resident can then access the property for up to 72 hours, but can return if needed.
They must still stick by their lockdown restrictions, for example not dining at a local hospitality venue while visiting the property.
Ms Neville also said Melbourne residents who have rural properties might need to ask neighbours or local contractors to check whether work is needed.
The permits were announced at the start of Victoria's fire action week ahead of the bushfire season.
Ms Neville said a lot of work had been done around preparations for fighting fires while dealing with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
"It will be a very different fire season, flood season than what we've experienced," she said.
The La Nina weather phenomenon will also mean different conditions this summer.
"We know from the bureau that we're going to have an interesting summer - we're going to have a summer that's going to be a mix of flood, storms and depending on the rain levels, we will have a bushfire season as well," she said.
The state government said it would had a fleet of 51 aircraft to help fight fires, as well as access to up to 100 if needed.
There will be more night surveillance and fire bombing capabilities.
Ms Neville said it had been a "unique year", given the pandemic and last summer's bushfire crisis.
"I have been assured that people feel that people are ready for this," she said of concerns around fatigue among the state's firefighters..
"We're very confident that people are as well-placed as they can be."
She also "absolutely" backed Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp, who has been criticised for his involvement in the botched hotel quarantine program.
"He is a man of huge integrity," Ms Neville said.
Australian Associated Press
