News Service from House Harris

Vic: Bunkers mooted for homes in bushfire rebuild

MUDGEGONGA, Vic, Feb 10 AAP - Homes rebuilt in Victoria's bushfire wasteland may be forced to include fire bunkers.

As the Victorian government fears the bushfire fatalities could top 200, Premier John Brumby mooted new building codes for homes in fire-prone areas.

Fire bunkers, flame-resistant building standards and more fire breaks in forests could result from Australia's worst bushfire disaster.

Mr Brumby said like the Darwin recovery after Cyclone Tracy, reconstructed homes would have to meet tougher standards.

"If you think back to Cyclone Tracy in 1974 when the whole city of Darwin was just razed to the ground, it was rebuilt with houses which were cyclone-proof - they were built to new specifications," he said.

"So it may well be that all the homes there have to built to higher specifications.

"I'm sure people will look at things like bunkers as well, (like) where they have in the United States for twisters and things like that to provide fire protection."

Mr Brumby said more fire breaks through forest areas might also need to be considered but not everyone would support clearing bush.

The measures are expected to be raised at a Royal Commission, announced on Monday, to investigate the weekend tragedy.

The government has appointed outgoing police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon to head a Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority that will examine changes to planning and fire protection laws.

Mr Brumby warned tighter controls were inevitable as the inquiry would consider planning, design and fire protection issues that may have contributed to the disaster.

He ruled out abandoning a reconstruction of devastated towns, saying people flocked to towns like Kinglake for their natural beauty, and most wanted to return.

"I think we've got to put 100 per cent of our emphasis on protecting and saving lives in the future," he said.

"I think it is likely you will see a range of recommendations from the Royal Commission about tighter building standards, higher level of standards - recognising the fact that, in what is now clearly a climate change environment, we are going to see more extreme weather events.