Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, has expressed frustration in Parliament that community protection from fire is not a consideration in this government’s roadside clearing program.
“Following the fires, there was some terrific roadside clearing taking place in locations like Gelantipy and Sarsfield late last year by VicRoads contractors, but it was stopped in its tracks after the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) intervened with concerns of impact on native vegetation and the right approvals being obtained.
“What this meant was that the fantastic work being done by the contractor, which was well supported by the community, was halted, which caused considerable angst in this fire impacted area.
Mr Bull raised the matter in Parliament, seeking the support of the Minister to have this work re-commenced, but found the response disappointing.
“What the Minister said was ‘trees can be removed that present an immediate risk to road users’.
“Outside road safety, authorisations have to be obtained to ‘ensure the protection of critical wildlife habitat’. These authorisations are rarely (if ever) granted to reduce fire risk.
“It makes no sense that you can remove vegetation to protect road users, but you cannot remove it to protect lives in fire prone communities.
“My view is roadside clearing should be allowed on roadsides adjacent to houses and particularly in small towns like Sarsfield and Gelantipy. What we saw last summer is the fire spreading along these unmaintained roadsides, that acted as wicks.
“In Gelantipy you could see where the fire did not burn heavily grazed paddocks but was able to continue on its way along roadsides and then into new bush areas. If we don’t maintain the roadsides in rural towns, we are assisting the spread of fire and putting lives at greater risk.
“It seems the Minister and the Department have to decide whether they are going to put human safety ahead of what they call roadside wildlife habitat,” he said.
Caption: Pictured, an example of roadside clearing works that was welcomed by fire affected Sarsfield locals, but who are now devastated that the works have ceased because wildlife habitat has taken precedent over all other considerations.
Thursday, February 4, 2021
