The road closures apply to all members of the public, including residents, property owners and visitors, with only emergency services exempt from the restrictions.
Residents seeking to return to damaged or destroyed properties are prohibited from entering closed roads unless formally authorised, as these routes have not been deemed safe for travel.
Visitors are welcome to the wider region but must not attempt to access closed local roads in the Longwood fire-affected area, where conditions remain unpredictable and hazardous.
Murrindindi Shire Mayor Damien Gallagher emphasised that community safety must take priority over convenience.
“While we understand the desire to return to travel as quickly as possible, the reality is that many roads in the Longwood fire-affected area remain unsafe and unpredictable,” he said.
“Trees can fall without warning, road surfaces and safety infrastructure have been damaged, and conditions can change at any time. We are asking people to travel only if necessary, stick to approved routes and avoid driving after dark wherever possible.”
Council is collaborating closely with the Incident Control Centre to assess damage, clear hazards and progressively re-establish safe access to fire-impacted roads.
Teams including arborists, tree contractors, bridge assessors, engineers and construction workers are working across the road network to ensure safe reopening.
“Our crews are working closely with partner agencies to inspect and clear roads as safely and quickly as they can, and I thank the community for their patience and co-operation as this critical work continues,” Cr Gallagher said.
Road conditions can change at any time, with routes potentially reopening then closing again if additional trees fall or further damage is identified.
For current information on road closures and conditions, visit murrindindi.vic.gov.au/longwoodfire
